Da´Il E´Ireann

Vol. 674 Tuesday, No. 1 10 February 2009

DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

DA´ IL E´ IREANN

TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL—Neamhcheartaithe (OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised)

Tuesday, 10 February 2009.

Ceisteanna—Questions Taoiseach ………………………………… 1 Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Priority Questions …………………………… 14 Other Questions …………………………… 24 Adjournment Debate Matters …………………………… 29 Leaders’ Questions ……………………………… 30 Request to move Adjournment of Da´il under Standing Order 32 ……………… 35 Order of Business ……………………………… 35 Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2009: Referral to Select Committee ………………………… 40 Stabilisation and Association Agreements: Referral to Select Committee …………… 40 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (resumed) …………… 40 Private Members’ Business Hospital Services: Motion…………………………… 62 Adjournment Debate FA´ S Training Programmes ………………………… 88 Community Employment Schemes ……………………… 90 FA´ S Training Centres …………………………… 92 Home Help Service …………………………… 94 Questions: Written Answers …………………………… 97 DA´ IL E´ IREANN

DI´OSPO´ IREACHTAI´ PARLAIMINTE PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

TUAIRISC OIFIGIU´ IL OFFICIAL REPORT

Imleabhar 674 Volume 674

De´ Ma´irt, 10 Feabhra 2009. Tuesday, 10 February 2009.

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Chuaigh an Ceann Comhairle i gceannas ar 2.30 p.m.

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Paidir. Prayer.

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Ceisteanna — Questions.

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Ministerial Travel. 1. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach the procedures in place in his office to regulate the use of the Government jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40577/08]

2. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach the procedures used by his office to regulate and monitor the use of the Government jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46100/08]

3. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach the procedures in place in his Department in respect of the use of the Government jets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46595/08]

4. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Taoiseach if changes are proposed in the procedures for the use of the Government jet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1778/09]

The Taoiseach: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. 1 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions

[The Taoiseach.]

The procedures my predecessor outlined to the House on use of the ministerial air transport service, MATS, most recently on 22 April 2008, have not changed. The position is that my approval is required prior to the service being used. Procedurally, requests for use of the service are made by Ministers’ private secretaries to my office and are dealt with, in the first instance, by the staff of my office. Requests are examined by my staff with regard to the need for and purpose of travel, the destination and other logistical details. Any necessary clarification or further information is sought at that point. All screened requests are then submitted to me for my consideration and approval, if deemed appropriate. Once approved, all operational matters are settled directly between the office of the Minister in question and the Department of Defence or Air Corps. No changes are proposed in the procedures for the use of the ministerial air transport service. All applications for use of MATS are considered in the context of its efficiencies.

Deputy Enda Kenny: Is the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley, speaking for the Government when he says that members of the Government could make substantial savings by travelling on commercial flights? Does the Taoiseach have any figures on the use of commercial flights by Ministers? Is the Gulfstream jet back in operation? I understand it costs \7,100 an hour. It was out of commission for several months in 2008 and, after a major overhaul costing almost \2 million, something went in it three weeks later and it was stranded for a while. What is the situation? I know it is an aging aircraft, but if these machines are well serviced, they have a very long lifespan. Is the Minister, Deputy Gormley, speaking for the Government when he says there will now be a big shift onto commercial air flights? What is the status of the Gulfstream? Is it operational and fully ready to fly?

The Taoiseach: Where appropriate, scheduled flights are used by Ministers. In addition, use is made of the ministerial air transport service when it is the only way for a Minister to get to meetings and carry out his or her ministerial functions. It offers the type of flexibility that scheduled flights cannot provide. It is not tied to set routes or timetables. The jet can also use military as well as civil airports and it can lead to significant savings in travel time. When considering applications for the use of Government jets, regard is had to the availability of scheduled flights as well the differences in financial costs and levels of emissions. A balance has to be struck. Even though sometimes there may be significant cost differentials, other factors such as the level of flexibility available, the purpose of the travel, destination, route, timings and passenger details warrant use of a Government jet as opposed to alternative scheduled flights. They are used, as the Deputy knows, interchangeably. Regarding the Gulfstream, as the Deputy knows, it has been in service for 17 or 18 years and has an annual overhaul as required by the service guidelines applying to it. It is operational and is kept in proper repair by the Air Corps.

Deputy Enda Kenny: I recognise the value of having a jet for the prime minister of a country and the busier Departments. We had this argument before. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, has been very upfront about carbon footprints. There is no extra carbon footprint when one takes a commercial flight because it is going anyway. I do not believe Prime Minister Blair ever had the use of a government jet.

Deputy Noel Dempsey: Always. 2 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions

Deputy Enda Kenny: Had he?

Deputy Martin Cullen: He used the RAF.

Deputy Noel Dempsey: He always flew with the RAF.

Deputy Enda Kenny: He used the RAF, but that is a different carbon footprint, as the Ministers know. Does the Taoiseach have a figure for the carbon footprint per kilometre of the Gulfstream and the Lear jets? I am not sure how that is calculated, but if it can be calculated for cars, it can be done for jets. Given that the Minister, Deputy Gormley, is very agitated about this matter, I note that the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Mary Coughlan, and the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O’Dea, went on a failed mission to Austin, Texas, to talk to Mr. Michael Dell prior to the Dell announcement, which, we are told, cost \164,000. I just checked before coming to the Chamber and an economy American Airlines flight leaving Dublin tomorrow and returning in two days would cost \1,000 for the two Ministers. However, since they are Ministers, it would cost \9,000 if they travelled business class to Dallas. An internal flight to Austin would be very reasonable. When the request was made for both Ministers to fly to Texas, the Taoiseach’s Department vetted it. Would it not have been considered that substantial savings could be made if both Ministers flew comfortably in business class to Texas? Has the Taoiseach since issued reminders that, where possible and within reason, people should fly commercially when such flights are available?

The Taoiseach: On the specific issue, there was a requirement to meet with the managing director of Dell very quickly in regard to impending decisions and it was the right thing to do in the circumstances. I am informed by the Department of Defence that, in keeping with normal practice in the aviation business, it is not possible to assign an exact cost to any particular mission. However, on the basis of an approximation to actual costs, the average direct cost of \4,000 per hour would be a more reasonable measure. These are costs which arise while the aircraft is being flown and include maintenance, fuel and support services. One is at times required to meet a number of people from one stage to another and the jet is used for that purpose. Scheduled flights could not be used in situations where, for example, one is going to Luxembourg and Berlin before continuing on to London.

Deputy Enda Kenny: I recall the former Taoiseach, Mr. Reynolds, stopping off in various locations.

An Ceann Comhairle: Never mind that.

The Taoiseach: The idea in these modern times that Government business can be conducted without requiring the use of these facilities is not correct. In the interest of getting work done and then returning, it is important they are used. It is also important, where it is appropriate and in line with timings, etc., to use scheduled flights. I have done so myself.

Deputy Enda Kenny: In regard to carbon footprints, how are these calculated for a jet such as that used by the Government?

The Taoiseach: Specific questions about levels of emissions, etc., should be addressed to the Minister for Defence. 3 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Govern- ment, Deputy Gormley, was explicit on this matter. He stated that we could get rid of the Government jet in the morning and it would not cause us any problem whatsoever. Does the Taoiseach agree with that statement? Would he agree, for example, that since the first purchase of a Government jet in 1980, there has been a huge increase in the availability of commercial flights and access from this country to various parts of Europe and elsewhere and that perhaps the Minister is correct that getting rid of the Government jet would not cause any problems? What is the status of the Minister’s statement? The notion of what is termed “collective cabinet responsibility” used to exist. I would like to know if the Minister’s opinion is in fact the Government’s opinion and how the Taoiseach might feel if the House put the statement to the test. What is the Taoiseach’s view of the Minister’s statement? Arising from the Taoiseach’s earlier reply to Deputy Kenny on the procedure whereby Mini- sters apply to his Department for the use of the Government jet and are either approved or refused, how many applications were received by the Department in the past year for the use of the jet and how many of these were refused?

The Taoiseach: I do not have that information to hand and will have to get it for the Deputy. The Department of Defence has information on the detailed arrangements regarding the numbers of flights, who goes where and whatever else. In regard to the first matter, a Government jet is necessary to conduct our business. It is not required in all cases or at all times by all Ministers and it is not used in all cases or at all times by all Ministers. In the context of doing business, it is necessary to make these facilities available. In the course of one’s work, occasions arise when one moves from one capital to another. It would not be possible to do that through scheduled flights alone but it is not something that is sought to be used inappropriately. The Government jet is used in the conduct of Government business and so that one can get back the same day rather than wait overnight for flights, thereby ensuring one is available the following morning or day to do one’s job here at home. It is part of the conduct of business of Government and it is the practice of all Governments of which I am aware, in particular those in the European Union.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: Is the Government jet used where there are available direct scheduled flights between Irish airports and the capital concerned? For example, is it used in connection with business in Brussels and, if so, how many times has it been used given the reasonably regular scheduled service to that city? The Taoiseach referred to the Government jet. There are three such aircraft or two and a half at least. The Beechcraft was acquired in 1980 and Gulfstream IV was acquired in 1991. Are there any plans to replace those aircraft?

The Taoiseach: Gulfstream IV has been in service for almost 17 years and is at this point the longest serving aircraft of its type in the world.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: Is it safe?

The Taoiseach: Yes, thankfully it is.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: I am glad to hear that.

The Taoiseach: The Learjet which was purchased some time ago caters for shorter flights to Europe and so on. The Beechcraft is used by the Air Corps for aircraft training purposes. It is 4 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions not used often, if at all, for travel purposes given, as stated, it is 29 years old. They are the aircraft available. On the Deputy’s other question, the Government jet is used from time to time in connection with business in Brussels bearing in mind what time meetings are taking place and at what time people are required to be back home. This type of service is not guaranteed on scheduled flights. It is not possible to use scheduled services in all cases though they are used by personnel doing business in Brussels on a regular basis.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: Is it necessary for the Government to maintain three aircraft?

Deputy Dermot Ahern: Two.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: The Taoiseach indicated that one of the aircraft is being used by the Air Corps. Would it not be better for the Government to dispose of it or to sign it over to the Air Corps? The Taoiseach shared with us statistics in regard to the use of Government jets by Ministers. Can he provided us with the statistics in regard to the use of commercial airline services by Ministers as a first choice? Does the Taoiseach have information in respect of foreign travel catered for by scheduled flights operated by commercial airlines and, if so, will he share that information with us? Last Saturday, we all raised a cheer in celebration of Ireland’s win over France. When listening earlier to questions from my colleagues, I was reminded of the Taoiseach’s rugby interests and his attendance last year at the Heineken Cup final in Cardiff. The Taoiseach may recall the heavy water which he and Ministers Cullen and Martin got into in respect of their exploration of Welsh-Irish relations during their attendance with Mr. Morgan at the cup final in Cardiff. Did the Taoiseach, arising out of that early experience in his role as Taoiseach initiate any new regulations or standards which Members, Ministers or taoisigh should meet in respect of the use of the Government jet or jets? Will the Taoiseach accept there was quite a brouhaha in that regard at the time? It certainly raised some questions that merited address at the time. Leaving aside inappropriate use of Government jets by Ministers and taoisigh, will the Taoiseach comment on inappropriate use of Government jets for the transport of unofficial representatives. For example, for the visit last year by the Minister, Deputy Harney, to the United States in an effort to inform herself of further measures to privatise health services, I understand she was accompanied by her husband. Is it appropriate that those who are not Government Ministers, including family, acquaint- ances and so on — where does one draw the line — have the opportunity to accompany Ministers on ostensibly official business representing the Government? If this is the case, is it frequent or infrequent? Is there any regulation in regard to offsetting the cost through a contribution? Arising out of the exposure of that trip, did the Taoiseach take any steps or further actions following his Cardiff experience to set in train more appropriate guidelines for the use of Government jets into the future?

The Taoiseach: As I said earlier, the same regulations apply now as applied in my predecessor’s time; there has been no change in the arrangements. With regard to the question of accompaniment, if people are on official visits, it is possible to be accompanied from time to time by one’s spouse, although it does not often happen. With regard to the question of the use of scheduled flights, I speak for myself and if the Deputy wants more general information he would be best to put his questions to the Minister 5 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions

[The Taoiseach.] for Defence. In regard to my own situation, since I became Taoiseach I have travelled to the United States and Japan on official visits by scheduled flights. I have travelled by way of Government jet to Brussels for Council meetings and I have travelled to a number of capitals during the course of preparing for European Council meetings by Government jet. It would not have been possible to conduct those meetings in the time available where it not for the Government jet.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: Nobody is in dispute about the usefulness of the facility in regard to specific instances. However, given the Taoiseach has indicated that, as Taoiseach, he has employed the use of commercial airline scheduled flights, does he agree that the information in regard to the ratio of use between commercial airline scheduled flights and the use of the Government jet, across not only his own Department but all Departments, would be a useful aid to having a better picture and understanding of the balance, if such exists, and if it applies as a balance across the board? Finally, from the experiences I have instanced that attracted a degree of public attention and some critical voices, has the Taoiseach in the course of his tenure introduced any new rulings or indications of what he expects from Ministers? Has he communicated to his colleagues across the Cabinet the standards he would like to see applied in the use of this facility?

The Taoiseach: I do not have to apply my standards to anyone else. The standards are simply applied as appropriate in line with the regulations. I have always used these facilities on the basis of official visits or official work. As I said, the workload for officeholders both at home and abroad is such that on many occasions obtaining a scheduled flight place is not an option, particularly due to the times involved, with many meetings held in the evening and so on. Other work is ongoing during the course of the day, including coming to and being answerable to this House. When one leaves for a meeting abroad, there may be criticism as to why one is not still at home, answering questions, having probably done so for an hour or two that morning. One cannot win. The bottom line is that one has to do the job that has been assigned to one to the best of one’s ability, using the facilities as appropriate, and obviously being mindful of the cost effectiveness of these issues where long flights and other flights can be accommodated by scheduled arrangements with normal aircraft, which are often used, as I have indicated.

Deputy Paul Kehoe: I was surprised to read in the newspaper this morning the comments of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy John Gormley, concerning the Government jet. I have no difficulty with the Government using a jet, because the job of the Government is to govern and there is a need for one. Has the Minister, Deputy Gormley, raised the matter of getting rid of the Government jet directly with the Taoiseach? Will the Taoiseach confirm, if he has the details before him, how many times the two Green Party Ministers and the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Trevor Sargent, have used the Government jet since taking office? This is typical of the Green Party, speaking out of both sides of the mouth.

The Taoiseach: I do not accept that. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, was answering a question in respect of a wide-ranging interview on the radio.

Deputy Paul Kehoe: Did he raise the matter directly with the Taoiseach?

The Taoiseach: I am about to answer the question. The fact that the Minister was responding to a wide-ranging interview and gave his opinion on these matters is fine. These matters are 6 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions not raised directly with me. However, the question of offsetting the carbon footprint from the use of air travel by Ministers is an arrangement which the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has brought into place. Indeed, he has backdated the arrangement to the beginning of the Administration in 2007 following the general election. Initiatives have been taken by the Minister concerned from a carbon emissions point of view. This was a good initiative and one which heightens awareness of the issue and ensures there is an offset in respect of any carbon emissions arising as a result of the use of these aircraft for Government purposes. It is a good initiative.

Deputy Paul Kehoe: Can the Taoiseach confirm how many times the Minister has used the jet since taking office?

The Taoiseach: No, I cannot.

Social Partnership Agreement. 5. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the ratification by ICTU and IBEC of the Towards 2016 review and transitional agreement, 2008 to 2009. [43597/08]

6. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Government with the social partners under the Towards 2016 process is due; if an agenda has been agreed for the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43598/08]

7. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Taoiseach if his attention has been drawn to the decision of a group, details supplied, not to pay the wage increases agreed under Towards 2016, review and transitional agreement, 2008 to 2009; his views on the implications for social partnership of this decision; if he has plans to meet the group to discuss this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45070/08]

8. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of the social partnership agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46567/08]

9. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach when he will next meet with the social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46568/08]

10. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recent activities of the national implementation body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46571/08]

11. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach when the cross-Departmental team on infrastructure and public private partnerships will next meet; the number of meetings of the team planned for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46581/08]

12. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach the proposed work of the National Economic and Social Council during 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46583/08]

13. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meetings with the social partners on 17 and 18 December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48111/08]

14. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach if he will make a statement on the publication on 18 December 2008 of the Government’s framework for economic recovery. [1002/09] 7 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions

15. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach if he will say when he will meet the social partners to discuss issues in regard to the current national agreement. [1004/09]

16. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussions with the social partners regarding the economic recession and the implications for the social partnership process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1774/09]

17. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Taoiseach when the interdepartmental team on infrastructure and public private partnership last met; when the next meeting is due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3144/09]

The Taoiseach: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 17, inclusive, together. Agreement was reached on the review and transitional agreement 2008-09 on 17 September 2008. The transitional agreement sought to provide certainty and stability during a period of great change and difficulty facing the economy while maintaining the orderly conduct of industrial relations. The transitional agreement was subsequently ratified by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the main employers’ body, IBEC, on 17 November. I have noted the recent letter from IBEC to ICTU on the application of the pay terms of the agreement in the private sector. I understand that representatives of ICTU and IBEC have had direct discussions on this and other issues related to the implementation of the agreement. In this regard, I believe it is important to note that the transitional agreement 3 o’clock contains robust “inability to pay” provisions specifically designed to take account of current economic realities. I was disappointed that the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, did not consider it possible to ratify the agreement last November. While recognising the very real difficulties experienced by CIF member companies, I am of the view that these difficulties could be addressed successfully within the social partnership agreement, provided all parties approached the issues in a constructive way. In the period subsequent to the conclusion of the transitional agreement in September, there has been a serious deterioration in the global economy, greatly exacerbating domestic economic and fiscal pressures. The Government responded by bringing forward the date of the 2009 budget and subsequently published a framework for sustainable economic renewal in December, which outlines a set of measures to support a return to sustainable growth and jobs in the medium term, while also identifying the need for short-term measures to stabilise the economy and public finances. The Government invited the views of the social partners on implementation of the framework for sustainable economic renewal and on the immediate fiscal adjustment required in 2009. The social partners engaged in extensive and meaningful discussions on these issues over recent weeks. On Wednesday, 28 January the Government and social partners agreed on a framework for a pact for stabilisation, social solidarity and economic renewal. That framework acknowledged that urgent and radical action was required to restore stability to the public finances, to maximise short-term economic activity and employment and to improve competitiveness. Last week there were intensive discussions between the Government and social partners to attempt to agree within that framework on the key elements of the fiscal adjustment required. In the context of the discussions, the Government tabled proposals to achieve a full-year saving of \1.4 billion through the introduction of a pension levy in the public service. The unions decided that they were not in a position to agree to that proposal. While this is regret- 8 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions table, it does not mean that the engagement was a failure. The overall framework for eliminat- ing the current budget deficit by 2013 was agreed and the need for a \2 billion adjustment this year on a credible basis was also agreed. The need for a significant contribution to be made by the public service pay bill in achieving that adjustment was also agreed, as were the links to the economic renewal strategy published in December. The Government’s decisions last week on achieving the \2 billion adjustment were taken within these parameters and in accordance with principles agreed with the social partners. In respect of the public service, implementation will be discussed in the normal way with the public service committee of ICTU. The social partnership process focuses on engagement and the sharing of analysis, as well as the forging of specific agreements. The discussions over the past few weeks have deepened the shared understanding of the challenges facing the economy. The inability of ICTU to agree to the Government’s proposals does not mean that the partnership process has failed. The overall framework agreed with the social partners remains in place and the Government, for its part is committed to its implementation. We are available to continue discussions on the implementation of the overall framework. I am chairing a Cabinet committee which will implement the Government strategy for economic renewal. A senior officials group chaired by my Department supports the work of this Cabinet committee. Relevant Ministers will report regularly on progress in the key action areas, as well as bringing forward new proposals consistent with the strategic direction of the framework in their respective areas of responsibility. Given the importance of focusing on the agenda for economic renewal, and the role of investment in infrastructure in that regard, the work of the Cabinet committee on housing, infrastructure and PPPs, and its supporting cross-departmental team is subsumed by these new arrangements. Apart from the pay provisions, the transitional agreement contains a comprehensive set of commitments dealing with such issues as employment rights and compliance; workplace learning and upskilling; employee representation; the regulation of employment agencies and temporary agency workers; and pensions and public procurement. Following ratification of the agreement, work has commenced on the implementation of these commitments which, in the employment law area in particular, will involve several significant new Bills. In addition, a monitoring and review process with representatives from IBEC, ICTU and all relevant Departments has been established to oversee progress on all of these issues. The agreement also sets out an agenda for public service modernisation which builds on the extensive commitments contained in Towards 2016. There is an ambitious programme of work getting under way in this area on foot of the publication last November of the report of the taskforce on the public service and the Government statement on transforming public services. The Cabinet committee on transforming public services will oversee this transformation programme. The national implementation body, NIB, which comprises representatives of Government, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and IBEC, and is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, continues to meet as necessary to oversee delivery of the industrial peace and stability provisions of the Towards 2016 transitional agreement. The NIB has dealt with several important disputes in recent months, including the issue of restructuring Aer Lingus, and is overseeing a process undertaken by the Labour Relations Commission which is aimed at supporting the implementation of a 37.5 hour working week for 9 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions

[The Taoiseach.] nurses. Meetings of the body also provide opportunities for informal discussions on some broader issues relating to the social partnership process and the industrial relations climate generally. These discussions are held regularly. The National Economic and Social Council’s last few meetings discussed Ireland’s current economic crisis and will continue to contribute to the evolution of thinking in this regard. Its work programme for 2009 also includes the following studies — the role of the European Union in Ireland’s economic and social development; preparation of Ireland’s first social report; climate change and sustainable energy; standards and accountability in human services in Ireland; and innovation — widening and deepening Ireland’s innovation policies in the context of globalisation.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach referred to the transitional agreement which the social partners negotiated last September. Is that agreement not now in tatters? The Construc- tion Industry Federation said that it would not partake in it. IBEC, which ratified it, announced recently that it will not honour its pay terms. Last week in the House the Taoiseach effectively said the same, that in respect of employees in the public service the pay terms of that agreement cannot be honoured. A string of industry representative bodies covered by the joint labour committees have indicated they are having difficulty paying the terms of the legally enforceable employment regulation orders in their industries. Since the agreement was negotiated the Taoiseach announced a budget which imposed an income levy, or tax on incomes, a reduction in a variety of tax reliefs applying to pay as you earn, PAYE, workers and the introduction of, or increase in, several levies and charges. In addition, he announced last week a 7.5% average so-called pension levy on public service employees which is in effect a pay cut for those employees. While there is much lip service being paid to the concept, principle and desirability of social partnership, the reality is that the agreement at the heart of the social partnership process is now in tatters. There is little or no prospect of the pay elements of that agreement ever being implemented.

The Taoiseach: We have social partnership structures and processes in place. It is true that we have a pay freeze in the public sector until October. We indicated that we would not be able to pay the instalments due in October 2009 and June 2010, due to current financial arrangements. Representatives of ICTU and IBEC have had discussions on the private sector pay agreement and others issues related to the implementation of the agreement. There are difficulties, strains and problems, as a result of the deterioration of the economy since the agreement was made in September. Assumptions have since considerably changed on things like inflation trends, which would have informed the basis of the agreement in September. We have a voluntary system of industrial relations in this country. We have had centralised agreements in the past, and they have brought benefits. It is true that there are strains and difficulties, but it is only through continuing dialogue that these issues can be resolved.

Deputy Enda Kenny: There was a report in the newspapers today that ESB workers will take a two year pay freeze, and will not receive the 2.5% pay instalment due in June. What is the Taoiseach’s view of corporate governance in the ESB, when the Minister for Communi- cations, Energy and Natural Resources only heard of the acceptance of the 3.5% increase from the media? Does the Taoiseach regret that the pay increases were awarded in September, in view of the fact that the financial crisis has worsened considerably since then?

10 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions

The Taoiseach commented last week that he would listen attentively if there was a tweaking of the pension levy proposals that might bring the unions back on-side. A number of those union personnel were quite upset at being put in the position of being decision makers, when they were not elected so to be, even though their contribution has been important. Has the Taoiseach made contact with the unions in respect of any tweaking on the pension levy proposal? If he has made such contact, has there been any response? Is he considering the idea of looking at the lower paid members of the public sector when evaluating the pension levy? Many of those members will be required to pay a pension levy for a pension that they will effectively never receive, as they will be entitled to the State contributory pension in any event. This is causing a great deal of anger and pressure on the families of thousands of those workers.

The Taoiseach: As I said, we have a voluntary system of industrial relations in this country, and employers and unions agreed a pay deal last September. There is flexibility within that pay deal for those companies that wish to claim inability to pay. If companies that have profits and are in a position to pay decide to proceed with payment, they will be in compliance with the pay deal that was agreed between the employers and the unions and ratified by the employers’ body and the union members on 17 November last. That is the position on the first point. The second point obviously relates to developments since then. That particular company’s approach is an indication of the sensitivity it wishes to show to other workers who are in a far more difficult situation. It has stated its intentions, at this stage, regarding any further amounts that are due under the deal. I hope that will confirm that the company is trying to add to public confidence. There is a requirement to show restraint, even in those companies that have an ability to pay the first instalment of the deal. Agreement was reached between management and unions, in line with the voluntary nature of this country’s industrial relations system. I would like to make the point that at the time, Fine Gael’s spokesman on finance issued a statement to the effect that he welcomed the deal. I presume the representatives of unions and workers in firms that are in a position to pay, or have the ability to pay, will be knocking on doors to inquire whether the deal that has been struck will be honoured.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd: The customers will pay in the case of the ESB.

The Taoiseach: I refer to the agreement that was formally adopted and endorsed by representative bodies on both sides after the negotiations were completed. What was Deputy Kenny’s other question?

Deputy Enda Kenny: I asked whether the pension levy scheme can be tweaked.

The Taoiseach: At last Tuesday’s press conference, I was asked what attitude I would take in respect of proposals that might be made in respect of the levy. I indicated that if the scheme had the effect that was being suggested in some quarters, we would examine it. I did not say we would not look at it. Obviously, the substance of any proposal would have to be considered. I made it clear that its content would have to enable one to raise the \1.4 billion the scheme is designed to raise. As Deputy Kenny knows, it applies to all workers in all sectors of the public service, including civil servants, health care workers, members of the Defence Forces and teachers. I take the point that any levy, by its nature, is an imposition. We have had to consider this issue in the context of the need for a wider economic response to the budgetary situation in the public finances and to aspects of the wider economy such as competitiveness. We made it clear in our discussions that the bulk of the savings would have to come in this area. If we did not do so, we would have had to consider making savings in the social welfare 11 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions

[The Taoiseach.] system or through the dislocation of services in non-pay areas. That was the decision the Government took. It motivated the decision that was announced last week. As Deputy Kenny said, some people at the lower end of the scale have been taken out of the tax net altogether as a result of the introduction in recent years of a more progressive income tax system. Ques- tions such as future pension entitlements, and the security of tenure one enjoys in the meantime, also arise. These are all considerations. Some people will have a difficulty with it in any event, regardless of the line of argument that is taken. Decisions were taken on the basis of the situation the Government had to confront.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: During the negotiations, why did the Government leave it so late before it proposed the public service pension levy? Surely the Taoiseach realised the unions could not have run with such a proposition. How does he respond to the view, which I have heard expressed by many people, that the Government made a conscious decision not to be serious about trying to reach agreement with the trade unions during the talks? How does he respond to the view, which has considerable support, that the Government had taken comfort from an already indicated IBEC agreement on the measures involved and decided, with the support of many in the media — not least the Independent Group which was in a full flow tirade of abuse directed at the public service and the trade unions — to hell with it, it would run with it, go for broke and let the negotiations collapse? Will the Taoiseach give us his view on these charges? Will he confirm that the social partnership process has been seriously damaged as a result of the collapse of the negotiations and that if it is to be rebuilt — this is an important point — the public service pension levy will have to be revisited?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I will take a brief supplementary from Deputy Gilmore.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: We have had situations in the past where we have had no national agreement and others where we have had national agreements where occasionally employers pleaded inability to pay. We have never had a situation where we have had a national pay agreement which virtually nobody will pay. The Government will not pay it and IBEC says it will not pay it. It is a pay agreement which is now a fiction. Does the Taoiseach have any plans to reconvene a meeting of the social partners to arrive at a real understanding or agreement on matters relating to pay, taxes, levies and all that goes with it? The average family does not know where they stand. The prospect of a pay increase is off the table. In many cases, jobs are at risk. The question of pay cuts is on the table in many areas, including, effectively, in the public service. Now the Taoiseach and all his Ministers are talking about the prospect of tax increases sometime later in the year. The average family has no idea what their personal and family budgets are for the year. It would be a good idea if the Taoiseach reconvened a meeting of the social partners to get some real understanding as to the situation on pay, given that what we have currently is a fiction. The Government has an agreement on paper, which, as everybody knows, will not be implemented. It will only succeed, ultimately, in bringing the whole theory of social partnership into disrepute.

The Taoiseach: I do not agree with the contentions of either Deputy O´ Caola´in or Deputy Gilmore in terms of what they had to say. Deputy O´ Caola´in is the first, I understand, to question the good faith of the partners, including the Government, on the detailed and long negotiations that took place. No one who came out of those talks — people with whom we have been dealing on an ongoing basis — made the assertions he has just made. That indicates not only the inaccuracy of those assertions, but the fact that they have no foundation in fact. 12 Ceisteanna — 10 February 2009. Questions

Everyone strove to see if an agreement was possible. The engagement was sincere and real efforts were made. Unfortunately, at the end of the day, it was not possible to find agreement on those aspects that were required in terms of the savings, but there was agreement that those sorts of savings were required, that public service pay, remuneration and pension would form an important part of the identification of those savings.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: Why did the Taoiseach bring it in at late as he did?

The Taoiseach: I will come to that point, but I want to make this first point, namely, that the Deputy is incorrect because he is trying to suggest there was some sort of a predetermined outcome here. That was not the situation. We tried over a period of weeks, as I said we would, to see if it was possible to obtain consensus on the matter. It was not possible, unfortunately, but the Deputy does not have to question the bona fides of everyone who was in there. That is the easy thing to do when one is outside the door, playing the hurler on the ditch game. People were in there making a sincere effort, on behalf of their country, their constituencies and those whom they represent — they have different interests which are equally legitimate — to try to find a way forward in what is a very difficult situation for everybody. I refute and reject the picture painted by the Deputy regarding everyone’s intentions and efforts. The second point I would make in regard to——

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: It was not everyone’s, it was just the Government’s.

The Taoiseach: No, it is not just the Government’s. The Deputy is wrong on that and he should accept he is wrong.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: If I am wrong, the Taoiseach should show me I am.

The Taoiseach: I have listened to those who represent other interests at those talks, but the assertions the Deputy made were not made by anybody else. Deputies will be aware also that the talks covered a long agenda linked to the headline issues under the framework agreed some days before. Each issue required lengthy and detailed consideration in turn and, in accordance with normal practice in these types of negotiations, there were very experienced and skilled negotiators on all sides. Issues in respect of pay were discussed after all the other issues were dealt with. That said, social partners were aware from an early stage that the majority of the \2 billion savings was required to be found from the public service pay bill, and that a pensions levy was the most likely vehicle for securing these savings. In the immediate aftermath of the breakdown of the talks, the contention was made that it was a surprise that this issue arose and the stage at which it arose. Anybody who knows anything about the dynamics of negotiations knows that such was not the case. Obviously, an orientation in the discussion took place over the weekend. One waits to see the way ahead. It would have been a requirement of some of the negotiators to know where the Government was going on some issues in order that they could look at the issue they had in hand. To suggest, simplistically, that there were many inexperi- enced people who did not know what they were doing is an injustice to the negotiating skills and track record of all those people.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: Nobody suggested that except the Taoiseach.

The Taoiseach: The Deputy suggested it. I heard that it——

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: That is the interpretation. 13 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

The Taoiseach: That was suggested within hours of the breakdown. That was the picture that was painted. What was first broadcast on radio, namely, the first couple of inserts on “Morning Ireland”, became the picture. That is incorrect. With regard to the points made by Deputy Gilmore, there are instances where the pay agreement is being honoured, or has been paid. As Deputies know, there are inability-to-pay clauses and there has been a serious deterioration since those negotiations were completed. The assumptions upon which they were made have changed. All that has happened because of the unprecedented situation which this and every other country faces. The context is the deepening economic recession which is enveloping, not only the advanced economies of the world, but all parts. The question of reconvening talks is a matter, therefore, that would require the agreement of all sides. The present position of the trade union movement is that it has an agreement and that those who are in a position to pay should pay and those who have a problem should proceed, in the normal way, to use the terms of the agreement to address issues and to try to deal with these matters at enterprise levels. That is the position. It is not a question of the agreement being disregarded in that respect. Obviously, there are difficulties, stresses and strains that are reflected in the new economic reality with which we contend.

Priority Questions.

————

Energy Prices. 76. Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way he will proceed with an energy price review through the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER; the timescale for the review announced in February 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4855/09]

77. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the energy regulator’s decision to reduce the price of electricity by a two-digit number will be made; if he will ensure that a price ceiling be set rather than a price fixed; the other changes he will make to ensure that energy prices are reduced in the interests of competitiveness here and to help ameliorate fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5060/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together. Encouraging a competitive energy supply is a key policy objective for the Government. Rising energy costs are a major concern for all sectors of the economy and for consumers. The regulation of ESB customer supply electricity tariffs and BGE gas tariffs is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, under the Electricity Regulation Act 1999 and the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002. I welcome that the CER announced on 1 December 2008 there would be no further increase in the price of gas from January 2009 and that there would be a small average decrease from that month of just less than 1% in the price of electricity supplied by ESB Customer Supply. This decision is reflective of recent easing in international fossil fuel prices. I also welcome the substantial rebate of about \400 million being provided by ESB to all electricity customers, irrespective of their supplier, which has helped to stabilise electricity prices for 2009. The two-phase approach to tariff regulation adopted by the CER last year resulted in price increases in the Irish market which were lower than those in some of our neighbouring markets. 14 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

In Great Britain, for example, independent suppliers increased electricity tariffs by more than 26% on average, and gas tariffs by more than 40% on average in 2008, in response to increasing fossil fuel prices. By contrast, regulated tariffs in Ireland increased by an average of 17.5% in the case of electricity and 20% in the case of gas. In taking this phased approach, the CER took account of the difficult economic situation and the impact of price increases on business and consumers, including vulnerable customers. The CER has previously demonstrated an ability to adapt its tariff regulation process in line with evolving market conditions. I note, for example, the CER decision to end tariff regulation for large electricity users in 2006, based on its conclusion that there is a sufficient level of competition in this market. The majority of large industrial and commercial electricity customers are currently supplied by independent suppliers. Many of these large industrial consumers are on fuel variation tariffs and have already experienced the benefits of falling gas prices. The CER is required to ensure that regulated tariffs are cost reflective. However, I believe it may be possible to lower energy costs to consumers in a non-distortionary fashion, through an expedited review of tariffs. To achieve this, I have asked the energy regulator to undertake an immediate review of options to bring forward a reduction in electricity prices. As I stated in this House last week, if current trends in energy prices, particularly gas, continue, I would expect a double-digit cut in electricity and gas prices to become a reality later this year. I also expect that, in the context of this review, the CER will advise on additional non- discriminatory and pro-competition measures that may be taken to bring about reductions in energy prices in the short-term. The ESB rebate, which I mentioned earlier, demonstrates the type of imaginative solutions that can be developed when all parties work together to ensure the best outcome for energy consumers in Ireland. I expect the timeframe for implementation of any reductions to become clearer in the coming weeks as we develop a better understanding of these potential measures. The priority for the Government is to ensure that we act swiftly in the interests of energy consumers.

Deputy Simon Coveney: I agree with the Minister that it is important the Government acts swiftly in respect of these matters. The Minister was instructed by the Taoiseach to undertake an energy price review and he is acting on that. He has raised the bar somewhat by saying he expects a double-digit energy price reduction this year. Presumably, he is talking about households. What I and others wish to hear from him today is when we will see the short-term price review he spoke of today. How long must we wait for that? Bord Ga´is will launch a new product next week, supplying electricity to homes for prices that are 10% to 14% cheaper than those the ESB currently charges. How can that be? If that is the case — it is — does the Minister agree the regulated price for households is too high? Can we expect a double-digit reduction in the regulated price for households to feature in the short-term review he mentioned today? Concerning the broader review of energy price regulation, can we expect the double-digit reduction in energy prices for the commercial-industrial sector? That sector is not subject to direct price regulation but is subject to the influence of regulation in terms of the regulated price set by the CER for both networks and supply. Both are services supplied by the ESB.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I confirm that what we are talking about, primarily, is the household sector. As I said earlier, unlike householders, since 2006 the large business consumers have operated in an unregulated market. Because of the nature of the contracts they have, these sectors are already seeing a double-digit reduction in prices, arising in particular from lower international gas prices. The immediate timeframe set out is for the regulator — who was asked 15 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.] to see whether that expected reduction can be brought forward — to come to Government within three or four weeks with a range of different options. I refer to the debate we had here last week during Private Members’ time. There are a number of options in this regard, each of which might have advantages and disadvantages. In my contribution I set out the disadvantage of a unilateral reduction from the ESB because of the effect it would have on competition. I also mentioned the disadvantage of repeating the generous act the ESB undertook last year in forgoing \300 million in its revenue stream and a further \100 million this year from the sale to Endesa. To transfer that across the market is not a satisfactory outcome because it could endanger some of the investments we want the ESB to make. My preferred option, if it is possible in a non-distortionary manner that does not affect competition and investment plans, which is important, is to see whether the regulator can bring forward such reductions from the October date we expected. I was looking at the gas prices again this morning. If one looks forward for the next six months or year — and most of the contracts are done forward — the price of gas is sufficiently low for us to confidently expect a double digit price reduction. The exact month in which it occurs must be advised by the regulator. That is the timeframe within which we are working. Bord Ga´is must announce its plans. I will not pre-empt——

Deputy Simon Coveney: In which month can people expect a response from the Minister on whether electricity prices will be reduced?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: First I want the regulator, in discussion with all the players, to come forward with options. I will not pre-empt that task it has been set.

Deputy Simon Coveney: I am asking for a timeframe.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: The timeframe for that work is the next three to four weeks. The regulator will return to the Government with those options and we will make a call on it.

Deputy Liz McManus: Does the Minister accept that his desultory approach to this is insufficient to the task? People’s incomes are plummeting and their utility bills are soaring. I do not know how insulated the Minister is from the realities of life but I will give a couple of quick examples in case he is not aware. Sheila’s bill was \250, now it is \323. Brendan runs a business. In 2002 the bill was \800. The equivalent bill now is over \3,000. Sea´n’s bill was between \600 and \800; he was away for Christmas, yet his latest bill was \1,250. Eileen had no Christmas tree, yet her ESB bill went up by \25. That is what people live with. For the Minister to attend the House and refer to a range of options is an inadequate response to the daily experiences encountered by people. When can people expect the two-digit reduction the Minister has promised Will he ensure there is a price ceiling rather than a fixed price to allow, at long last, for some good value for people who struggle with their bills? For too long we have seen competitiveness sacrificed on the altar of competition. Does the Minister recognise we have to open it up in a way that meets the needs of consumers? What will the Minister do to assist businesses that cannot compete? We have one of the highest levels of energy bills in Europe and we are operating in an incredibly difficult economic climate. Does this not require urgency on the Minister’s part to deal with this issue once and for all?

Deputy Simon Coveney: He is doing nothing about it. 16 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

Deputy Eamon Ryan: At the centre of our energy policy is the interest of Irish householders and businesses, to ensure we can give them a secure, competitive and clean electricity supply. The policies we are following will do exactly that. We are not following competitive policies for the sake of some ideological reason but from the clear understanding that the introduction, particularly in recent weeks, of very large international utilities into this market will be the most important factor in continually driving down prices for the Irish householder and business community over the next year, five years and ten years. That will deliver them lower prices. This is a crucial investment and development we must support and see through. We must not turn it upside-down by completely getting rid of a regulatory system that is in place and acts as a crucial piece of infrastructure in an electricity market.

Deputy Simon Coveney: Nobody is suggesting that.

Deputy Liz McManus: Nobody is suggesting that.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: This is my point and we are doing that. The process of examining the options is the correct choice. One should not rush into this like a headless chicken, slashing and demanding change. One should work through how to proceed in a way which maintains the various objectives and brings down prices consistently. A short-term decision could, in the long run, lead to higher electricity prices, which would be against the interests of Irish householders. That is why one is better to let the regulator work with the various companies involved in the area to come back with options from which the Government can make the call. That is our central policy objective and is the right approach in this area. It will bring down electricity prices. We know that is coming from the price of the raw materials. A proper, regulated and competitive market is the best way to extract every last cent of price reduction we can from the sector rather than making an initial decision that misses that opportunity.

Deputy Simon Coveney: Today the Minister said he will try to do something for householders who have high electricity bills but will invite options in three or four weeks’ time. He is doing nothing for the businesses of the country which are overcharged for electricity. As a result, Ireland is an uncompetitive destination in terms of energy cost competitiveness. The Minister says he will continue as normal and we will stick with the energy regulation plan that has been there for the last ten years. No electricity cost adjustments will be made in response to a recession or as part of an economic recovery plan.

Deputy Liz McManus: In these very bleak times the Taoiseach announced he would deal with energy prices and that the Minister would have an extraordinary review with the regulator. That means the Minister has to show results. What he said today clearly indicates he is still stuck in a rut. He has not altered his position in the face of the economic climate and the personal difficulties people have, which should give him the sense of urgency that is required. When will people, at a time when they desperately need it, benefit from the two-digit price reduction the Minister and his Taoiseach have promised on behalf of the Government?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: The energy policy we are following is the right policy to reduce prices and I will stick to that policy because it will deliver for the public.

Deputy Simon Coveney: By 2015 or 2020. That will do much for the recession.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: It is the correct policy for us to build additional power plants in Cork, which the ESB and Bord Ga´is are building. It is the correct policy for us to see companies such as Endesa spending \800 million developing existing plants so we can get them on stream. 17 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

Deputy Simon Coveney: Yes, it is.

Deputy Liz McManus: Turn out the lights.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: That will bring down prices.

Deputy Simon Coveney: It is a pricing problem.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: The Deputies must understand the fundamental reasons why we have had high prices and recognise the policies we are pursuing are addressing that fundamental reason. That will be the best guarantee for the public that prices will be reduced.

Deputy Liz McManus: I want to know what the Minister is doing for people now.

Deputy Simon Coveney: He did not even know when the ESB decided to spend an extra \20 million on salaries. He did not know it was happening until he read it in the newspaper. That is how on top of his brief he is.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: The second main reason we have high prices is our dependence on fossil fuels. The consistent determination by my Department, the Government and I to switch ourselves away from that reliance will be the second best guarantee that prices will be reduced. The crucial third part of energy policy that one sticks to and gets right is having a fair and competitive regulatory system that will deliver lower prices.

Deputy Liz McManus: The Minister should not preach.

Deputy Simon Coveney: Stick to the script.

Deputy Liz McManus: The time for preaching is over. It is time for the Minister to do the business to keep people in business. If he does the business, people will stay in business.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I am confident that because we are following such a course, because international prices are reducing, we will see lower prices. That will be done in the proper fashion.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister did not even keep an eye on salaries at the ESB. That show the extent to which he is on top of his brief.

Alternative Energy Projects. 78. Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of the \26 million package announced in January 2008 in respect of ocean energy programmes which has been spent; the reason promised grant aid to companies has not been awarded; the further reason applications for grant aid were only sought as recently as November 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4856/09]

Deputy Eamon Ryan: Approximately \1 million was spent on the ocean energy programme in 2008. The grant aid programme for companies is one element of a wide-ranging suite of initiatives intended to accelerate and strengthen the development of ocean energy technologies in Ireland. These are managed by the ocean energy development unit, which is located at Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI. The ocean energy grant aid programme for industry was launched publicly in August last. Responses were processed during September and October and full applications were sought during November. Agreement on funding levels in accordance with EU State aid rules is now 18 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions being finalised and the first contracts will be issued in a matter of weeks. I am advised that the pace of expenditure will accelerate, increasing to around \7 million in 2009. This will contribute to the delivery of the Government’s high priority goal of supporting the development of Ireland’s ocean energy potential in a reasonable timeframe. The ocean energy development unit was established last year within SEI. The unit manages the ocean energy strategy and administers the substantial funding provided for the benefit of researchers and project developers. The unit commenced the grant aid programme in its first year. It has also invested in the creation of a state-of-the-art national ocean energy facility at University College Cork, which work will continue into 2009. It is also managing the development of a grid-connected wave energy test site off the west coast. In addition, in the same period, the unit has established an advisory group comprising my Department, the Commission for Energy Regulation, the coastal zone management division, Enterprise Ireland, EirGrid, ESB Networks, IDA Ireland, the Marine Institute and Science Foundation Ireland to coordinate the activities of these agencies in developing and delivering an efficient roadmap for ocean energy. The unit has also commenced work on the delivery of studies of common interest to the sector, including a study on the engineering and specialist support requirements for the sector to enhance Ireland’s capability to maximise participation in the construction and operation of wave and tidal systems; a review of the planning regime for ocean energy development; a strategic environmental assessment for ocean energy in Irish waters; an investigation of partnership with industry for data gathering and processing; and a detailed review of the macro- economic benefits that ocean energy can deliver for Ireland. The delays in launching the grant aid programme have not diverted us from the ten-year development plan set out in our ocean energy strategy. These technologies are very much at research and development phases, and devices are using different approaches to try to generate electricity from the ocean. The ocean energy unit is working closely with developers to develop and finalise their project applications. I am satisfied that all components of the ocean energy package are now under way and are being advanced at a pace consistent with the priority the Government attaches to this area. I am confident this programme will greatly assist in realising Ireland’s huge potential in this area and will allow us to meet the Government’s target of generating 500 MW of ocean energy by 2020.

Deputy Simon Coveney: I thank the Minister for his reply. It was on 15 January 2008 that the Minister announced this initiative. He announced that \1 million would be spent on a world class, state-of-the-art national ocean energy facility in UCC in 2008, that \2 million would be spent in 2008 to support and develop a grid-connected wave energy site near Belmullet, and that \2 million in grant aid would be provided in 2008 under the ocean energy prototype fund for developers of this type of technology. How much of that \5 million was actually spent in 2008?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: As I said in my answer, roughly \1 million. Everyone would like to see all the money being spent. The primary reason it was not was the delay in setting up the ocean energy unit. This is a ten-year timeframe that was set out about three years ago in our ocean energy strategy. It was set out in four quarters, with the first quarter to be reviewed at the end of 2007. It was on that basis that we decided we would move to the next phase, just prior to commercialisation, in January. Crucial in this was the setting up of the ocean energy unit, and while I regret the delay, I feel we have set up the unit with the right people. This is a crucial development which will allow us to spend money this year and catch up. We need to catch up because this is an area in which there is major potential. While I regret the delay in setting up the unit and the consequent inability to spend the various budgets, I believe we have 19 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.] got the unit and the strategy right, and the money will be spent this year or next to allow us to catch up.

Deputy Simon Coveney: Can I confirm that the Minister is saying that because only \1 million was spent out of the \26 million fund last year due to delays, which may be under- standable, we are spending \7 million in 2009 on this initiative? My understanding is that in 2010 we will be spending the remaining \18 million on funding ocean energy projects. Is that correct?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: There will be no shortage in budget availability to meet the needs we have.

Deputy Simon Coveney: They are specific questions.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I am not going to forecast next year’s budget, but the Government attaches the highest priority to this area and will not be found wanting when it comes to budget allocation.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister announced that \26 million would be spent. Will it be spent?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: It is not all about budget.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister is all about announcements and not delivery. That is the problem.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: It is not all about figures.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister should say that to the companies.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: One of the valuable things that has been done is the work of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in examining the need for us to develop our ocean planning strategy, so we could get that right. It is probably the first and most crucial hurdle we need to overcome in the first half of this year so that companies that are investing significant moneys have real confidence in the planning system. Budgets are important, but——

Deputy Simon Coveney: Is the Minister committing a budget of \26 million over the next two years?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I am committing on behalf of the Government to giving this area the highest priority and to making the necessary funding available to deliver on the strategy we have set out.

Deputy Simon Coveney: I am sorry, but that is the usual bluff.

Deputy P. J. Sheehan: All commitments and no figures.

Electricity Generation. 79. Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made on the roll-out of net meters here; the timescale for the availability of feed-in tariffs for micro-generation units selling electricity back to the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4857/09] 20 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

Deputy Eamon Ryan: As well as providing valuable information for both the consumer and electricity supplier, net metering allows micro-scale renewable energy projects in domestic settings to export electricity to the grid. The typical electricity meter installed by the ESB in the past will not operate in reverse and cannot therefore support a net metering programme. The smart metering programme will resolve this barrier in time. However, I am examining alternative ways of integrating micro-scale renewable energy systems into the electricity grid as soon as possible. An alternative approach is to provide a guaranteed price for electricity exported to the grid from micro-scale projects. The renewable energy feed-in tariff, REFIT, support scheme operated by my Department provides a fixed price to electricity producers. However, it also relies on electricity suppliers’ voluntarily contracting with electricity producers to purchase the power produced. Suppliers have demonstrated in the past that their interest is in purchasing power from large-scale projects producing electricity in commercial quantities only. Micro-scale plants are of a much smaller size and require a different solution outside the REFIT programme. My Department is currently working closely with the Commission for Energy Regulation and other stakeholders to put in place in the short term an appropriately structured payment system for micro-generated electricity exported to the grid, which will operate separately from the REFIT mechanism. In addition, Sustainable Energy Ireland is proposing a micro-generation pilot programme under which research and field trials will be conducted, including support for between 50 and 60 installations of micro-scale projects on a pilot basis. The field trials will address a range of issues, including grid connection and technical standards, to ensure the power security, safety and quality of installations. CER and ESB Networks have amended the rules associated with connecting micro-scale plants so that generators of less than 6 kW on single-phase cables and 11 kW on three-phase electricity supply cables can now connect to the grid without prior authorisation. Following these changes, SEI has arranged to publish a guide to connecting renewable and combined heat and power electricity production plants to the electricity network, including advice for micro-generators, which will be of assistance to those connecting micro-scale plant to the network. In addition, revised planning guidelines from my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government establish an exemption from planning consent requirements for micro-scale projects of suitable height. Work is now concluding on the design of the programmes referred to and I expect to make an announcement on the detailed arrangements for micro-scale projects in the coming weeks.

Deputy Simon Coveney: I suspect I agree with the Minister when I say that micro-generation and the decentralisation of energy generation generally is a significant opportunity for job creation. The key element of this is the export tariff that people can get by supplying power from micro-generators back to the electricity grid. My understanding at the moment is that the proposition from the ESB is to pay 9 cent per kilowatt hour. This does not compare favourably to what is on offer in other parts of Europe. That is about as charitable as I can be. In France, the equivalent figure is 45 cent per kilowatt hour. We are a long way from agreement on the right tariff. Will the Minister give his view on whether the recent ESB proposed tariff is appropriate? Second, the Minister is true to form with regard to net metering. In November 2007, he announced that 25,000 homes would have net meters installed in a pilot project, while in September 2008 he said it would be 21,000 customers. To date, how many smart meters have been installed and are functioning in homes? Am I correct that under the timeframe the Mini- 21 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

[Deputy Simon Coveney.] ster has set we will have to wait until February 2011 to get some feedback on the findings of the pilot project in net metering?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. The 9 cent per kilowatt hour is there as an instrument to break the logjam that has existed for years whereby nobody would or could purchase the power. Part of the measures we want to put in an interim package is that there would be a further price support measure which would complement that to provide an incentive. It is just an interim measure. We have also commissioned very detailed analysis of each of the small micro generation sectors to consider the more long-term, sustainable approach to encourage the development of this generation system. The price we will put in will be an interim measure. It will provide a more significant price support than the 9 cent referred to but it is, in itself, only an interim measure. We can examine Spain, Germany, France and the countries the Deputy mentioned to consider their experience. What one does not wish to do, which has happened in some of those countries, is set a very high price and then undermine the market by having to claw that back or bring it down. We must set an appropriate price that allows people, particularly dairy farmers, businesses and farms, to erect the windmills or other devices that would work very effectively in the Irish landscape and weather and give them an ability to sell on. That price is only a fraction of what I believe the proper support price should and will be. Regarding net metering, I will refer back to the Deputy on the exact number of meters delivered to date, but we are on target for installing the 21,000 meters so we can test how householders use the meter and how it works. That is the right way to do this. People can criticise and say we should have installed 500,000 by now but my experience with a range of different projects in which we have engaged is that one first tests the item in the real world. It is not a small test; a total of 21,000 houses is a significant sample of the population. That will provide the figures and analysis that will allow us to deploy it across the country, which I am confident we will do. I am confident that we are ahead of other countries. Members of the Opposition are critical that we are not further advanced but we are ahead of most other jurisdictions. Crucially, we are ahead in terms of learning from the mistakes. Other countries have installed smart meters but the meters were not necessarily as smart as they would have liked two or three years later. It is appropriate for us to get it right, and that is what we are doing.

Deputy Simon Coveney: My understanding, and the Minister can correct me if it is wrong, is that only 250 of the 21,000 have so far been installed. While I am anxious to support the roll-out of smart meters, as are many other people because it leads to other technologies, the problem is that we are utterly frustrated by how long each stage is taking before smart meters will be commercial after the pilot project phase. It will be 2012 or 2013 at the earliest.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: In conjunction with the roll-out of micro-generation here, we will provide access to 4,000 of the smart meters we have available to farmers, small businesses or householders who might wish to generate their own power supply and sell it back to the grid. We will provide that on a basis that it gets rid of that as a block to the development of microgeneration. We are using the smart meters which are available to us and which we can deploy in a way that kills two birds with one stone — it develops a new power supply system whereby people can supply power to the grid and provides lessons that we can then apply to the rest of the country.

22 Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

Natural Gas Grid. 80. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans in place to extend the natural gas infrastructure in north Tipperary; the timescale for doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4858/09]

Deputy Eamon Ryan: The development and expansion of the natural gas network is, in the first instance, a commercial matter for Bord Ga´is E´ ireann, BGE, which is mandated under section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, which is a statutory, independent body, has, since 2002, been charged with all aspects of the assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and-or operate a gas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. I have no direct statutory function in the connection of towns to the gas network. The CER in 2006 approved a new network connections policy, which created the opportunity to reassess the feasibility of connecting certain towns to the gas network. In order for any town to be connected to the gas network, certain economic criteria need to be satisfied as a prerequi- site. This is to ensure that, over a certain period, the costs of connecting the town to the network are recouped through the actual consumption of gas and the associated tariffs. The policy allows for the appraisal of a town either on its own or as part of a regional group of towns. In this context, BGE is carrying out a comprehensive assessment of towns not already connected to the national gas network. I am advised that Ballina and Newport in north Tipperary are already connected to the natural gas network. Nenagh, Roscrea and Thurles are included in a total of 42 towns being examined as part of phase three of this assessment, which is scheduled for completion in April this year. BGE’s final report will outline which towns or groups of towns would be economically viable for connection, within the revised connection policy criteria. In the event that the appraisal indicates that Nenagh, Roscrea or Thurles are viable for connection, I am advised that it may be possible to assess additional towns in close proximity in that context.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: I am disappointed that the Minister started his reply by stating he has no responsibility for this and that it is a commercial matter for Bord Gaís E´ ireann. Prelimi- nary results from the analysis carried out by DKM indicate subvention from the State will be required to have gas delivered to the towns of Thurles, Nenagh and Roscrea. According to the report, a sum of \11 million will be required in the case of Thurles, but it is only \3 million if it is linked with Callan and Tipperary town or a cluster of towns. The Minister should not hide behind Bord Gaís. The Government must put facilities in rural Ireland that facilitate job creation and competition and enable industry to thrive and prosper in those areas. Will the Minister’s Department commit money under the national development plan to enable the IDA, which is promoting industry in the area, to put money 4 o’clock into those schemes for towns such as Thurles, Nenagh and Roscrea? Will the Government rise to the occasion and ensure there is competitive infrastructure in rural areas like elsewhere in Ireland? Industries such as creameries and bakeries are at a disadvantage of possibly 30% when compared to similar industries in other counties that have the facility of natural gas. Will the Minister indicate that the Government is committed to supplying the funds to enable Bord Gaís, as it wishes and is prepared to do, to provide this infrastructure in north Tipperary?

23 Other 10 February 2009. Questions

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I would be happy to see gas being provided to Tipperary, Thurles, Callan or any of the towns mentioned. However, we must revert to the discussion we had earlier. We must keep our electricity and energy prices low and competitive. It would be easy to come to this side of the House and take on responsibility for the allocation of infrastructure such as this if one could promise it left, right and centre and disregard the actual cost to the consumer at the end. If a grid was built to an area where there might not be an economic case for doing so, and I am not saying that is the case in any of those towns, it would put the price of gas and electricity up for every other town. Any Member of the Opposition would scream foul and point out that the gas prices were too high. That is why this issue is left within the regulatory system and Bord Ga´is. It is not a political decision. It is better that it is done on an assessment of how to keep prices low as well as providing the obvious benefits of gas for manufacturing, bakeries and so forth. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot scream prices are too high and in the next breath scream that the grid must be built to a place where it might not be economical but might bring other benefits.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: I do not accept the Minister’s analogy. Infrastructure must be put in place to attract people and industry to an area. What was the cost of the 35 jobs that were lost in Taylor Made, Templemore, yesterday because of energy prices, following the 24 lost last December? That is a total of 59 job losses. What is the cost of that to the State?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I want to bring gas to those locations to bring the cost of energy down to help people keep their jobs. However, in doing so one must be careful that one does not cause jobs to be lost in another town because the price of its gas connection is increased. There is a complex algorithm and a complex balancing act that must be done to meeting the economic objectives of having a wider gas network, at the same time keeping our gas prices low so that we hold on to the jobs we have.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: We need equal treatment in rural Ireland. We do not want all the money spent within the Pale.

Other Questions.

————

Telecommunications Services. 81. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the management contract for the MANs network phase II has been signed; and the return on investment that the State is receiving in financial terms from the MANs II. [4618/09]

Deputy Eamon Ryan: A total of 58 of the 60 phase II MANs, which provide state-of-the-art, fibre, open access networks to 64 towns across the country are now completed. Construction of the Edenderry network will be completed this year while the Kinsale network will be con- structed in parallel with planned main drainage works next year. All completed phase II networks are being managed, maintained and operated on an interim basis by the technical services firm Magnum Opus on behalf of my Department. Magnum Opus will manage the phase II MANs until such time as a management services entity is engaged for the phase II MANs — MSE 2. The engagement of MSE 2 is currently the subject of a procurement process, which is expected to conclude before the end of March 2009. 24 Other 10 February 2009. Questions

The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Govern- ment. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. Previous initiatives such as the Global Crossing deal, the group broadband scheme, grant aiding ESBT, and MANs phase I, as well as current initiatives such as Project Kelvin, the national broadband scheme and MANs phase II, have all underpinned the pro-competition policies that are now bearing fruit. Policies built on the cornerstone of competition provide the investment certainty that the electronic communications market needs. Service providers fully understand that Government intervention, by way of funding infrastructure, will only occur where the market has failed to bridge a digital divide. Such policy and intervention initiatives, including phase II of the MANs programme have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2 -10 mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg’s report, have a connection in the speed category of 2-10 mbps. It is important to consider the MANs in the context of these market developments. They have provided all service providers with access to local markets and encouraged the roll-out of DSL in the relevant towns. They have assisted the IDA in the attraction of foreign direct investment and, more recently, are being considered by mobile broadband operators who wish to deepen the fibre in their networks to cater for the rapidly increasing demand for bandwidth by mobile users. While information regarding the revenue generated from the phase II MANs is commercially sensitive and I do not propose to release details of the revenue generated at this time, I do believe that the MANs will play an ever increasing, and crucially important, role in our competitive electronic communications market.

Deputy Simon Coveney: I would appreciate it if the Minister could stick to the question, which is specifically about the metropolitan area networks phase II. We can have the debate on some of the other issues the Minister raised on another day. My concern here is that in July last the Department chose a preferred bidder to manage MANs phase 11. Some 58 metropolitan area networks under phase II are completed. It has cost the State approximately \80 million to provide that infrastructure. The Minister tells us, because it is convenient for him, that he cannot tell us the revenue he is getting from that \80 million of expenditure on the 58 MANs that are waiting to be lit up and add backbone to the broadband infrastructure across the country. The reason the vast majority of them are not being used at all is that we do not have an entity managing this infrastructure on behalf of the State. I asked the Minister last November why his Department had not signed a management contract to allow the preferred bidder — or somebody else, I do not mind — to manage that infrastructure on behalf of the State. MANs phase I is bringing in a great deal of money to the Government in terms of usage. The MANs phase I are being used by all broadband providers in Ireland with the exception of one or two, yet MANs phase II, at a cost of \80 million, is not being used at all. The MANs phase II are not being managed properly because the Minister and his Department are delaying putting a management contract in place. Why is that delay continuing?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: It is very simple. We want to get the right deal for the Irish people. One tries to manage the negotiations or arrangements so that one gets a proper deal. 25 Other 10 February 2009. Questions

Deputy Simon Coveney: It was due in July last.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: If we considered——

Deputy Simon Coveney: It is eight months late.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: In the arrangements we had in place where we were still completing certain MANs and where the ones that were finished were available through the interim operations, Magnum Opus managed them.

Deputy Simon Coveney: They are not available.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: It was appropriate for us to try to get a best possible deal for the State and for the people in order to open them up. That is what we are doing. In March of this year, as I stated in my reply, I hope to be able to sign off on that if we can get a good deal for the State. Part of the job of Government——

Deputy Simon Coveney: What is the delay?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: ——is to work in the taxpayers’ interest.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Does Deputy Coveney have a supplementary?

Deputy Simon Coveney: Absolutely. The Minister speaks of looking after the taxpayers’ interest. We have spent \80 million of taxpayers’ money on this infrastructure and it is not being used. This is dark fibre sitting in the ground not being lit up——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Ask a question.

Deputy Simon Coveney: ——because it is not being managed.

Deputy P. J. Sheehan: That is correct.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister has not given a satisfactory explanation for the time delay between July last and now. He now states that we will not see it until the end of March because he wants to get a better deal for the taxpayer. The taxpayer is losing by the day because we do not have a satisfactory broadband infrastructure across the country, partly because we have a great many wires and fibre in the ground that are not being used because of delays in the Minister’s office. Maybe he could tell us how many of the 58 MANs phase II under interim management are being used at present. He stated they are available for use and I dispute that. How many of the 58 are being used and why is the Department delaying putting a contract in place for the proper management of this expensive piece of broadband infrastructure?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: This infrastructure will be used effectively because, as I stated in my response, we will see mobile operators and others availing of it. We will not leave it there stranded in the ground.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister has done so for nearly a year.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: No. It is proper for us to get the market arrangements right for that so that we get a good deal for the State. I would prefer to do that and take the time to get it right rather than get a bad deal quickly. 26 Other 10 February 2009. Questions

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: They will be obsolete before then.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Allow the Minister to speak.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: They will not. The reason for this long-term investment is that in the medium term, which is a ten-year horizon, fibre will become increasingly important and we will see a range of services connected to that.

Deputy Simon Coveney: Did he choose a preferred bidder in July last?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: The arrangements——

Deputy Simon Coveney: Did he choose a preferred bidder in July last?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: One does not negotiate in public. One does not go out and do the business of the State in an open timeframed way.

Deputy Simon Coveney: I am not asking the Minister to do that. I am asking him to negotiate and come to a conclusion.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: One negotiates to get the best deal. I believe we will get that in terms of management of the MANs II. This infrastructure will provide a vital role among a range of different support measures the State is taking to provide broadband across this country.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Ceist Uimh. 82.

Deputy P. J. Sheehan: The Minister is dillydallying. Dunmanway does not have the infrastructure.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I am not dillydallying at all. In the past two years broadband numbers have gone from approximately 0.5 million up to 1.25 million.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Minister, I called Question No. 82.

Deputy Simon Coveney: No thanks to the Minister.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I will quite happily sit on that record.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: The Minister will be sitting on the MANs.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I take it the Minister proposes to take Questions Nos. 82 and 96 together.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I beg your pardon, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Alternative Energy Projects. 82. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on criticisms that a year after the \26 million ocean energy programme was unveiled, only a fraction of the funding has been released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4549/09]

96. Deputy Sea´n Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress that has been made in meeting the targets that the State has set for itself in terms of delivery of electricity power generation from wave energy sources. [4598/09] 27 Other 10 February 2009. Questions

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 96 together. The Government is giving high priority to supporting the development of Ireland’s ocean energy potential. As the Deputies are aware development of this renewable energy source is at the very early stages and will require considerable research to bring it to fruition as a general source of energy. In this regard I launched the multi-annual ocean energy package last year. While I accept that progress in 2008 was somewhat slower than targeted I can report that significant progress has been made in completing the necessary preliminary tasks to ensure the proper functioning and financial management of the programme. The ocean energy development unit base has been established within Sustainable Energy Ireland, SEI. This unit will manage the ocean energy strategy and generally administer the scheme. Since its establishment the unit has invested significantly in the creation of a state-of-the- art national ocean energy facility in University College Cork. The unit is also managing the development of a grid-connected wave energy test site off the west coast. It has also commenced the ocean energy prototype fund, which will assist research projects in this area. The first tranche of applications and allocations from the fund will be decided within a matter of weeks. In addition, I have also announced the introduction of a new feed-in-tariff under the REFIT scheme for wave and tidal technologies of \220 per megawatt hour, which will be available to future full-scale projects connected to the grid. The unit has also established an advisory group comprising my Department, the CER, the Coastal Zone Managing Authority, Enterprise Ireland, EirGrid, ESB Networks, IDA Ireland, the Marine Institute and Science Foundation Ireland, to co-ordinate the activities of these agencies in developing and delivering an efficient roadmap for ocean energy. The ocean energy development unit has also commenced work to deliver studies of common interest to the sector including a study on the engineering and specialist support requirements for the sector in order to enhance Ireland’s capability to maximise participation in the construction and operation of wave and tidal systems; a review of the planning regime for ocean energy development, a strategic environmental assessment for ocean energy in Irish waters, to investigate partnership with industry for data gathering and processing, and a detailed review of the macroeconomic benefits that ocean energy can deliver for Ireland. Expenditure in 2008, at just over \1 million, reflects the fact that each of the component measures was in the process of being established and I am advised that this pace will accelerate and the full allocation of \7 million in 2009 will be spent. I am confident that delivery of the Government targets of 75 MW by 2012 and 500 MW by 2020 — which should be seen as the base of our ambitions, not a limit on them — from ocean energy technologies will be enabled as the current research and prototype development and that Ireland’s considerable potential in this area can be realised.

Deputy Liz McManus: Does the Minister accept the gulf between his rhetoric and his record is such that it leaves him vulnerable to criticism? When he launched this so-called \26 million programme on ocean energy in January 2008, he said he was setting out to ensure Ireland would win the race in establishing a viable ocean energy device. Will he not accept that other countries are in the process of winning that race and that we have failed in regard to the first ambition the Minister set out for himself? He said we had the most sophisticated State-support system for ocean energy in the world. He has not been able to get his unit up and running in time to spend the \5 million he was supposed to spend last year, so sophisticated is his record in terms of support. 28 Adjournment 10 February 2009. Debate Matters

Will the Minister outline exactly how the \26 million will be spent? He has already lost one year, where he has spent only \1 million. This year he is talking about \7 million; what is the situation as regards the following year, 2010? I have a specific question, too, on the applications, which were sought only in November by the Department. How many applications have been sought, how many proposals have been received and what is the funding available for them?

Deputy Sea´n Barrett: Does the Minister not see the potential of both offshore wind and wind energy in this area? Has he not got the wherewithal to ensure we are the world’s leading experts in this area? This is something that is natural to this country. We, on the Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, have prepared legislation in this regard because we do not even have modern legislation to deal with this. This legislation got buried until people such as myself and others started to make noises. Is the Government serious about the \16 billion investment in this area? Is it serious about getting this up and running? Ireland is an island stuck in the Atlantic, where we have natural resources second to none. Can he not please show us action to ensure we become the leading country in the world in this area?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: We have in our country a cluster of new independent Irish companies that have real opportunities to become world leaders in this area. They are working with international utilities and investors that are seriously considering investment in Ireland. We have to get a number of measures right for that. The budget figures are important, but they are not the crucial constraints. What Deputy Barrett says is true. The first thing they want is certainty around planning and community support. When one talks to the companies considering investment here, these are the first issues about which they are concerned. In that regard, I am confident we have the right people in the ocean energy unit. It may be some months late, but I prefer to get the right people in and the right strategy in place while taking the type of advice we are being given on the planning side, and putting that into action.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Government spend is \26 million.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: The budget will not be measured in the \10 billion or \20 billion about which we are talking here. We are talking about a large multiple of that, if any one of these devices becomes commercially viable.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister will not even confirm the budget of \26 million.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: This is as important for the State, to my mind, as the date when Intel erected a small cabin in Leixlip, because if one of these devices works and takes off, we shall be talking in terms of billions, not tens of millions. The crucial test for us is getting community support behind it because that is what the investors need in terms of confidence about planning and getting our planning system right. The ocean energy unit within our Department, in conjunction with others, is charged with delivering on that task.

Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

Adjournment Debate Matters. An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 21 and the name of the Members in each case: (1) Deputy Ulick Burke — the problems experienced by FA´ S apprentices who have been made redundant, in finding alternative employment; (2) Deputy Kieran O’Donnell — the need for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to release the commit- 29 Leaders’ 10 February 2009. Questions

[An Leas-Cheann Comhairle.] ted funding for the Limerick regeneration project to enable housing, infrastructural and other programmes to commence immediately, to restore public trust in the project; (3) Deputy Frank Feighan — the need to make changes to the qualifying criteria of community employment schemes; (4) Deputy Joe Costello — the need to maintain FA´ S facilities at Jervis Street, Dublin; (5) Deputy Seymour Crawford — the need to reinstate home help in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; (6) Deputy Brian O’Shea — the need to prevent the closure of St. Brigid’s ward at St. Patrick’s geriatric hospital, Waterford, with the loss of 19 public beds; (7) Deputy John Cregan — the threatened closure of the agriculture college in Pallaskenry, Country Limerick; (8) Deputy Sea´n Barrett — the need to discuss the proposed serious cuts by Dublin Bus to bus services in Loughlinstown, County Dublin; (9) Deputy Dinny McGinley — the crisis in the fishing industry as a results of operating the EU’s “days at sea” rule controlling the catches of the white fish fleet, its urgent serious impact on employment in the north-west and the urgent need to amend the legislation to rescue the sector from terminal decline; (10) Deputy James Breen — the need to sanction an extension in respect of Barefield national school, County Clare; (11) Deputy Ciara´n Lynch — to ask the Minister for the Envir- onment, Heritage and Local Government to lay before the House details, including financial implications of his plans to enable local authorities to lease estates from developers as outlined by the Minister of State in recent days and to lay out his programme to spend \20 million in leasing currently idle properties from developers; (12) Deputy Noel J. Coonan — to ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when an application for funding for a new fire station facility in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary will be provided, taking into account the extreme deteriorating conditions at the establishment, and health and safety concerns; and (13) Deputy Tom Sheahan — the many serious issues affecting fishermen in west Kerry and leading to the decline of the fishing industry in the area, mackerel quotas and the “days at sea” rule being just two of the many issues. The matters raised by Deputies Ulick Burke, Frank Feighan, Joe Costello and Seymour Crawford have been selected for discussion.

Leaders’ Questions. Deputy Enda Kenny: I want to give the Taoiseach some credit today. I was glad to hear him speak a piece of his mind last week. He spoke so well that he caused some type of media frenzy, a type of love-in of the words of the Taoiseach. If it was not so serious, it would be great. The fact we have more than 326,000 people out of work, that there is a crisis of confidence in the banking system and no sign of a visible plan or strategy from Government means desper- ation for hundreds of thousands of families. A person rang me after the Taoiseach’s contribution and said that if Deputy Brian Cowen made two more speeches like that the recession would be over. If matters were not as serious as they are that would be funny. The Taoiseach made some fundamentally important points in that contribution, such as understanding who we are, what the national interest is, engaging, listening to people, working in solidarity and co-ordination in order to move Ireland out of the financial and economic crisis. One of the methods being adopted by Government is the pension levy. I want the Taoiseach to understand that, given the extent of the cutbacks and savings required, the Fine Gael Party agrees with the figure of \2 billion put up by the Government. All sections of society, particularly the public sector, which did not cause the problem but is being asked to pay for the majority of it, are willing to play their part in moving the economy out of the crisis caused by the mismanagement of Government over the years. It appears to me, from talking to a broad range of people, that they are prepared to play their part, but they want the system to be fair and balanced. It is clear, however, that anomalies have arisen from the Government’s 30 Leaders’ 10 February 2009. Questions conclusions and the announcement of the pension levy scheme. The lower paid are being crucified as a consequence of the pension levy, and there are examples of those on higher earnings having to pay less than some on lower incomes. In the interests of what the Taoiseach said last week about fairness, engagement, solidarity, listening and pulling the country out of the mess, does he believe the contributions now expected as a consequence of the pension levy scheme are fair and balanced?

The Taoiseach: The question of fairness can be an objective or subjective matter. I do not deny for a moment that this is an imposition on public service workers. It is set against a context in which adjustments are being made across all sectors of the economy, including the private sector, to deal with an unprecedented situation. I must emphasise the seriousness of the situation in which we find ourselves and the need to continue working through it. The \2 billion in savings that were announced are a signal of the further measures which will have to be taken. We have indicated how we will go about doing that both in terms of the committee looking at public service numbers and expenditure in all areas in the public service and the report of the Commission on Taxation, which I am sure will make important recommendations. What is important for us to realise is that we are in a new situation and are unlikely to return to the high levels of growth we saw in the past. We can return to growth as soon as the upturn comes provided we take the right steps in the meantime. One of the matters we have to address is the position of the public finances. This is not only important in its own right — we had this debate last week — but also in terms of retaining the maximum number of jobs and maintaining and rebuilding confidence in the economy both internally and externally. The issue of external confidence is important in the context of the financial crisis with which we are all trying to contend. We have to take these steps and send these signals. Although they represent an imposition, they are progressive in the sense that the levy increases from 3% to 7.5% on average and almost 10% at the highest end. While there was no agreement at the end of the day, it was agreed in principle that \2 billion is the amount with which we need to deal at present, that the question of public service pay and pensions provided us with the means by which many of these savings would be identified and that we need to continue working on a range of other necessary issues as we try to identify further savings and taxation measures which can help us address the gap in the public finances. That was the motivation behind what we did and why we did it, and why this is an important part but not the full response. It is mirrored in other sectors of the economy where job security is at risk and jobs are being lost.

Deputy Enda Kenny: Part of the reason for introducing the measure is because there has been no clear strategy from the Government on how to sort this out. It brought forward its budget last year and made proposals which it was forced to reverse because of public embar- rassment and pressure. It launched another economic document before Christmas and now we are where we are. The question I asked the Taoiseach was whether he considers the proposals from the Govern- ment on the pension levy to be fair and balanced. I will provide three examples. In regard to single taxpayers, John earns \15,000. His net reduction in take home pay will be \450, or a cut of 3%. His cousin works up the road and earns \19,500. His net reduction in take home pay will be \105 because given the nature of the taxation system, he pays 0.5%. A single public servant who earns \36,400 will have his or her pay reduced by \1,769 per annum, whereas a single person earning \40,000 will have a reduction of \1,649. The take home pay of a married person earning \45,400 will be reduced by \2,537, whereas if one earns \55,000, one’s take 31 Leaders’ 10 February 2009. Questions

[Deputy Enda Kenny.] home will only be reduced by \2,403. These are clear anomalies in a system that is not fair or balanced. Yesterday, I listened to 250 public service workers whose anger was focused on the unfairness and imbalance of this measure. There is no desire for social unrest or industrial disputes. The Taoiseach rightly said last week that he is prepared to listen and, if possible, to tweak the scheme to allow for progress. In view of the anomalies which impact on thousands of cases of low paid workers or at the lower end of the public sector and for those above and below the marginal rate, in respect of whom a difference now applies, is the Taoiseach prepared to tweak the proposal put forward by the Government in the interest of fairness and balance and to avoid social unrest, industrial disputes and frustration and consternation? What is the Government’s accurate assessment of the savings to be made from the scheme? There were reports of \2 billion, a figure which was subsequently reduced to just over \1 billion. What is the actual figure as assessed by the Government?

The Taoiseach: When the legislation is produced and provided to the House for discussion, the Deputy can examine it in considerable detail. He will find that some of the suggested anomalies will not in fact exist when all considerations and the various credits and allowances are taken into account. In regard to the amounts, the estimated savings take into account the revenue lost on the other side. In the stabilisation update we submitted to the European Commission, we have allowed for the loss of revenue represented by the imposition of the levy where that saving of \2 billion is involved. The figures take account of the loss of revenue this represents in terms of reduced wages and, therefore, less tax being paid as a result of the pension levy being introduced.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: One of the proposals which the Labour Party has been putting forward in order to address the serious economic difficulties which the country and working families are facing is a guarantee for families that they will not lose their homes during the period of this recession. To be fair, it appears that the Government has taken up this proposal in some way and has discussed it with the financial institutions. It is reported today that the Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank are prepared to delay issuing repossession orders on homes for 12 months. That is not good enough because all it does is put off the evil day for 12 months. It is not sufficient time because, as was noted this morning by Michael Culloty from MABS and echoed at lunchtime by John Monaghan from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a period of two to three years is required so that people can have some reassurance that their family homes will not be repossessed. In any event, the idea of delaying the inevitable repossession for 12 months misses the point that people who are losing their jobs or are worried about doing so have the additional worry of losing their homes and they need reassurance. That reassurance needs to be provided by the Government securing an arrangement with the financial institutions. I ask the Taoiseach two questions. First, what arrangements is the Government discussing with the financial institutions which have already been provided with a blanket State guarantee, and which are to be recapitalised in some instances, in respect of their policies on the repossession of homes? Second, can he give security and a sense of safety to families by reassuring them that their homes will not be repossessed, having regard to the arrangements he is discussing with the financial institutions, the considerable resources the State is now making available to recapitalise banks and underpin the financial institutions of the State and the existing arrangements for rent allowance and mortgage interest subsidy? 32 Leaders’ 10 February 2009. Questions

The basic point is that families need reassurance. That is distinct from simply being told the letter in the post is going to be delayed for six or 12 months. People need reassurance that they will not lose their homes during the period between their losing their jobs, getting another job and getting back on their feet and the return of the period of economic growth about which the Taoiseach has spoken.

The Taoiseach: Part of the purpose of the discussions on this matter is to provide reassurance to people who work honestly and reasonably, taking account of changed circumstances, with the bank or lender to reschedule mortgage arrangements that there will be no precipitative effort by financial institutions, including those outside the voluntary code who must now, in my opinion, sign-up to the statutory code, to repossess their homes. We are requiring that all lending institutions act in a humane and sensible manner on the basis that we wish to provide that reassurance to mortgage holders. In practice, assurance is given in the normal course of events that every effort will be made to avoid repossessions. This is evidenced by the low level of repossessions to date, the latest figure for which is 0.3% of the more than 1 million mortgages in the country. It is important that the code be put on a statutory footing. This will provide protection and reassurance. Also, the code must be comprehensive. Obviously, the financial institutions must find the most humane way possible of dealing with the situation while distinguishing between those who can pay and those who will not pay. Those who cannot pay because of changed circumstances will be dealt with in a way that is reasonable and correct in the circumstances. That is the basis upon which the discussions are ongoing.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: I am afraid just putting the code on a statutory footing does not deliver on this. This is about those who cannot pay. There are plenty of ways in which those who will not pay can be dealt with. In any event, the mortgage must be repaid at some stage. Let us be clear, this is about people who cannot pay and people who fear that they will not be able to pay.

Deputy Ruairı´ Quinn: Yes.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: People are scared and worried. People have either lost their jobs, are afraid they will lose their jobs or their income is down and they are worrying about how they are going to make repayments on their homes and about the day somebody will come knocking on their door, mandatory code or not, to repossess their home. The Taoiseach stated that there have not been many repossessions to date but some homes have been repossessed. There have many more repossessions of homes than of sites and half finished speculative developments, some of which are the subject of what are now known as bad debts and bad loans.

Deputy Liz McManus: Hear, hear.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: It appears two laws are being applied. We have one set of laws in respect of big borrowings for large developments which are deemed part of the bad debt problem which the State had to guarantee and in respect of which it must now recapitalise the banks. We appear to have a regime which is about to recapitalise big loans and repossess in respect of small loans. Saying there have not been many repossessions is not sufficient because there has been a very substantial number of voluntary surrenders. The hammer is put on people who cannot pay and they are effectively forced into surrendering the dwelling to the financial institution. This does not make sense. 33 Leaders’ 10 February 2009. Questions

[Deputy Eamon Gilmore.]

Ultimately, when a family loses its home, the State must step in and provide rent allowance and so on. What is the financial institution to do with such dwelling? It cannot sell it in the current market. It makes sense for a whole pile of reasons that there is a regime in place that ensures homes are not repossessed. A formula must be agreed that allows the Taoiseach or any other Member of the House when speaking to worried families about the prospect of their home being repossessed to reassure them that for the next two or three years or during difficult times their homes will not be repossessed. People will still have to repay the mortgage but we should put in place a formula which helps them to get through such times. This, apart from reassuring people about not losing their homes, would provide the type of security and reassurance that might encourage people to spend again, which would have a knock-on effect on the economy. This is about more than just saying repossession orders will be delayed. This is about providing confidence and security to families who are worried about how they will pay mortgages, many of which are greater than the value of the dwellings on the market.

The Taoiseach: It is important to point out in response to Deputy Gilmore’s question about identifying the bad debt provision that all bad debts are provided for in the accounts. Deputy Gilmore is asking me to predict what will be the performance of individual loans, be they residential or commercial mortgages. That cannot be predicted in the here and now. The suggestion is being made that provision is made for bad debts before they become such. We must be careful and point out, in the interests of maintaining confidence and providing an accurate picture of the current situation, that where debts become bad, provision is made for them.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: No.

The Taoiseach: That is the case.

Deputy Jim O’Keeffe: When do they become bad?

The Taoiseach: The point was made that there are different laws in respect of different people. That is not the case.

Deputy Joan Burton: It is totally different.

The Taoiseach: No. What we are trying to do is, first, to ensure that assets that can perform do perform and, second, to provide reassurance to people who get into difficulties in respect of their principal private residence. What I am saying in respect of the latter is that reassurance will be provided. People who make contact, as they have been doing up to now — one must take into consideration the rate of possessions taking place despite current difficulties — will be able to put in place rescheduling or interest only arrangements and may agree to have arrears recapitalised onto the main mortgage amount. As stated, it is in the interests of the mortgage holder and the lender to find an arrangement which meets the current circumstances of the parties concerned. As Deputy Gilmore stated, institutions are aware the housing market is not good. Their ability to take on assets for the purpose of disposal is not a good mark. It is better for them to work with the people and to assist them through the next number of months or years when they are in difficulty. That is in practice what the lending institutions, in their own interests quite apart from the wider public interest, have to and will do. It is a question of providing reassurance in terms of the statutory code and what practice arrangements will be in place. To make the argument that in some way that is not something we should be concerned with or 34 Order of 10 February 2009. Business that we are not trying to address is not correct. We are seeking to address that issue in a way that provides confidence that the performing loans are performing and those which are not, in particular in respect of private residences, will be dealt with in a humane and sensible fashion.

Request to move Adjournment of the Daíl under Standing Order 32. An Ceann Comhairle: Anois, iarratas chun tairisceana a dheánamh an Daíl a chur ar athlo´ faoi Bhuan Ordu´ 32, a request to move the adjournment of the Daíl under Standing Order 32.

Deputy Arthur Morgan: I seek the adjournment of the Da´il under Standing Order 32 to discuss the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, that the Government realise that it is taxpayers’ money which is being handed over to bail out banking executives; that the banks cannot survive without this bail-out from the taxpayer and that, therefore, the Government should appreciate the strong position it is in and the need for it to dictate to the banks that senior executive salaries be capped, perhaps in line with the Taoiseach’s salary — at best they should hand back their bonuses for each of the past three years; that people in genuine mortgage difficulties are given a moratorium; and that small to medium-sized enterprises have access to the reasonable level of funding necessary to maintain their viable businesses. We have had enough messing from the banks. It is time they were sorted out once and for all.

An Ceann Comhairle: Tar eís breithnithe a dheánamh ar an nıárdaithe, nı´lse´ in ord faoi Bhuan Ordu´ 32. Having considered the matter fully it is not in order under Standing Order 32.

Order of Business. The Taoiseach: It is proposed to take No. 8, motion re referral to Select Committee of proposed approval by Da´il E´ ireann of the Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2009; No. 9, motion re referral to Select Committee of proposed approval by Da´il E´ ireann of the terms of the Stabilisation and Association Agreements between the European Communities and the Republic of Montenegro and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina; No. 17, Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed); and No. 18, Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed). It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 8 and 9 shall be decided without debate. Private Members’ business shall be No. 53, motion re Hospital Services.

An Ceann Comhairle: There is one proposal to put to the House. Is the proposal for dealing with Nos. 8 and 9 agreed?

Deputy Richard Bruton: With regard to the proposal on No. 8, this is the arrangement where each year a certain proportion of money that is not spent under capital budgets is allowed to roll over into the next year. The level of information we get on the capital budgets and their performance against criteria of performance is hopeless. The Da´il is in the dark as to whether projects are on time, ahead of time, behind time or on budget. If we are taking this vote on a nod, we should have proper reports on how each project is progressing, whether it is meeting its financial targets and its real performance targets. Otherwise, we are going through a char- ade here.

The Taoiseach: As the Deputy said, this is a legal requirement regarding the capital carry- over. It represents approximately 1.4% of the total revenue position for voted capital in 2008 being brought into 2009. As the Deputy is aware, there are arrangements for the Joint Commit- tee on Finance and the Public Service at any time to invite before it the various authorities 35 Order of 10 February 2009. Business

[The Taoiseach.] which are responsible for major capital projects, including the NRA with regard to roads, which thankfully are in all cases now coming in before time and within budget, and also other areas of activity, whether with regard to schools and the Department of Education and Science. All of these capital projects are for consideration by the committees at any time during the year.

An Ceann Comhairle: I take it the arrangements are agreed to.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: No. I had raised a question with regard to the Order Paper. Particular to the Order Paper is the rescheduling once again of the resumed Second Stage of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008. Before agreeing to the Order of Business, I wish to know whether, if Second Stage concludes today, it is intended to proceed immediately to Committee Stage. If that is the case, by what means will the Government advise the Oppo- sition parties of its intentions in regard to funding and the actual implementation — the working — of the proposals contained in the Bill? At this point in time, we do not have that specific detail. In terms of preparation for Committee Stage, which is critical in terms of amendments, we need to be informed of how the Government intends to implement and fund this, and if its intention is to achieve both of those in 2009. Will the Taoiseach clarify the position?

An Ceann Comhairle: Can the Taoiseach be of assistance to the Deputy?

The Taoiseach: Funding was provided in the Estimates this year to begin this scheme. The question of taking Committee Stage after Second Stage is a matter for the Whips. There is usually a two-week interval for Members to prepare amendments if they wish. I am not aware there is any particular problem with the——

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: There is a serious deficit of information in terms of preparing for the further engagement on this legislation.

An Ceann Comhairle: I take it the arrangements for dealing with Nos. 8 and 9 are agreed to. Agreed. I called Deputy Kenny on the Order of Business.

Deputy Enda Kenny: When is intended to publish the National Pensions Reserve Fund (Amendment) Bill to give effect to the recapitalisation programme for the banks? It is to be published during this session and in view of its urgency the Taoiseach might be able to indicate when it is expected to bring it before the House. With regard to the comments by the Taoiseach on the repossession of houses and the requirements for a compulsory scheme to protect house owners, and to give legal effect to that, will he indicate when it is expected that a Bill will be drafted and submitted to the House? Has the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources finalised his position with regard to the replacement Bill for the foreshore Bill which deals with offshore renewable energy development, and which was drafted under the chairmanship of Deputy Barrett on the Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security? The Minister was to make some adjustment if he was not prepared to accept the full Bill. This is something on which we must move as a matter of urgency. The Taoiseach might be prepared to indicate what is the position of Minister.

The Taoiseach: The heads of the first Bill referred to by the Deputy were cleared last week and that work is proceeding as a matter of priority.

36 Order of 10 February 2009. Business

On the question of the code of practice regarding mortgage issues being put on a statutory basis, that is being prepared and will be brought forward. The Financial Regulator is finalising arrangements in regard to how it will work and it should be available shortly. On the question of the foreshore Bill, I indicated to the House last week that the Minister had already been in correspondence with the committee concerned and had indicated his pre- paredness to work with it and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to see in what way some of their ideas might be incorporated in terms of the work he is undertaking.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: I want to ask about two Bills. The first is the Bill to give effect to the so-called pensions levy. Will the Taoiseach tell the House when that Bill will be introduced in the House and what is his timetable for its enactment? Can the Taoiseach tell us if the heads of the Bill have yet been approved by the Government and, if so, will the Government publish them? There is much uncertainty as to what exactly the Government is proposing in regard to this levy, to what incomes it will apply and from what date it will apply. Will Taoiseach give the House the information in this regard? Second, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has announced there will be spending limits for the local elections this year and that they will apply for a period of 60 days before the local elections, which means they will apply from 5 April or thereabouts. I welcome this because it is something the Labour Party has been advocating for some time. The limits announced are not quite as low as the Labour Party would have liked but, in any event, I welcome the fact they have been announced. There is a need for legislation to give effect to this and presumably this will have to be passed in good time before 5 April, when the limits will apply. Will Taoiseach tell us when the legislation will be published and introduced to give effect to the spending limits?

The Taoiseach: As the Deputy said, the decision on the limits was taken today by Govern- ment so the legislative work will now begin and will be conducted in such a way as to make it effective for the forthcoming local elections this year. The intention would be to introduce it in a timely manner. With regard to the statutory arrangements being put in place for the pensions levy, the heads of the Bill were considered by Government today. It is intended that it will come before Cabinet again very quickly, be published, brought to the House and enacted as a matter of urgency, because it is important it is enacted quickly. We intend that it would be effective from next month.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: Do I take from that reply that the heads of the Bill have not yet been agreed by the Government? Given what the Taoiseach said on the agreement of the heads of the Bill, when is it likely the detail of its contents will be agreed by the Government and when is it likely to be published? I suggest to the Taoiseach that when the Government has approved the heads of the Bill, the heads themselves should be published so the maximum of information is available at the earliest possible time as to what is intended. Finally, will the Taoiseach clarify the issue about the date? From when will the pension levy apply? Will it apply from a future date following the enactment of legislation or from the date it is announced in the House? From when will it apply?

The Taoiseach: When the legislation is published that date will become clear. My indications are that it will be from next month onwards. 37 Order of 10 February 2009. Business

[The Taoiseach.]

Regarding the Bill, the Minister for Finance attended an ECOFIN meeting today. The heads of the Bill were approved by the Cabinet and the Minister for Finance will revert next week with more detail.

Deputy CaoimhghıńO´ Caolaín: The Taoiseach indicated last week that legislation would be introduced to facilitate proposals regarding the early childhood supplement. Can the Taoiseach indicate exactly when that legislation will be published and when it will be introduced to the Daíl? This legislation was signalled, legislation for the pension levy has been indicated, and other legislation is expected that was not part of the legislative programme put before Members a little over two weeks ago. This is our third week back in the Daíl. Many changes to the programme are now anticipated in the coming period. Would it not be appropriate to publish a supplementary legislative programme as a result of all these newly signalled measures the Government intends to introduce?

The Taoiseach: No, I do not agree. I do not believe we require a supplementary list. The legislative changes that must be brought about as a result of last week’s announcement will be incorporated in one Bill. The early childhood supplement legislative changes will be incorporated in the Bill to which I referred in answer to Deputy Gilmore.

Deputy Liz McManus: Will the Taoiseach explain the mystery of the fisheries (amendment) Bill? A Bill is proposed to get rid of the regional fisheries boards. For the fourth time, elections to the regional fisheries boards have been deferred. There is a tight timeframe and my understanding was that before Christmas the plan was to fast-track the legislation. Now, everything has gone quiet. The heads of the Bill have not yet been agreed at Cabinet. What is going on? What is the problem?

The Taoiseach: I am not aware there is any problem. It will probably be enacted later this year.

Deputy Liz McManus: Probably?

Deputy Pat Rabbitte: I refer to the Bill to implement the pension levy. Has the Taoiseach given regard to the torrent of correspondence sent directly to his office, only a fraction of which, I suspect, has been copied to us? Has the Taoiseach given any regard to alleviating the burden on people on modest and low incomes, given the detailed personal histories outlined in many of those e-mails, before the Bill is published?

An Ceann Comhairle: We cannot go into such detail, but perhaps the Taoiseach could provide an indication.

The Taoiseach: The legislation will introduced to the House and that will be an opportunity for everyone to discuss their views. The levy is structured in such a way that those on lowest incomes pay at lower rates to those on higher incomes.

Deputy Olwyn Enright: I am sure the Taoiseach is aware of the substantial queues in social welfare offices throughout the country and the knock-on effect this has had on the community welfare service. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs is distancing herself from responsibility for the community welfare service, which is currently vested in the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, and the HSE. However, the Government and the Taoiseach might recall we enacted the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007, which transferred responsibility for this service from the HSE to the Department of Social and Family Affairs. 38 Order of 10 February 2009. Business

Is this still Government policy? When will the commencement order be signed, or has the Government changed its mind on this matter?

The Taoiseach: It is hoped to have that resolved sometime during the course of the year, hopefully by the middle of this year. However, there are industrial relations issues to be addressed.

Deputy Joan Burton: I, too, refer to the pensions levy. We are all receiving large volumes of correspondence on the matter. Will the Taoiseach clarify in advance of the publication of the Bill if all salary payments, including payments not reckonable for pension purposes, are to be levied?

An Ceann Comhairle: We cannot go into that now.

Deputy Joan Burton: This is a key point for industrial and outdoor civil servants. They pay for a statutory old age pension. It appears from what the Minister for Finance is saying that it will be levied on gross pay, even though a good deal of pay is not reckonable for pension purposes. These are low paid people.

An Ceann Comhairle: That is something the Deputy can raise when the legislation is introduced.

Deputy Joan Burton: If the Taoiseach clarify the matter he would save a good deal of industrial relations strife.

An Ceann Comhairle: As the Deputy is aware, we cannot deal with that this afternoon.

Deputy Joan Burton: Will the Taoiseach clarify the matter? This is going to cause strikes.

An Ceann Comhairle: The Deputy is referring to the content of the legislation and she is well aware she must wait for the legislation to be published to address it.

Deputy Michael Creed: The House awaits with bated breath the Government’s proposals in respect of recapitalising the banks. Will that legislation contain any proposals to recapitalise the farmers, who are due in excess of \400 million from the Department of Agriculture, Fisher- ies and Food? They will indirectly capitalise the banks because they will be conduits for passing the cheques onto the banks anyway.

An Ceann Comhairle: If the Deputy wishes to put a question on legislative proposals, he may do so. We cannot deal with that now.

Deputy Michael Creed: These farmers are due money that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food failed to provide in the Estimates. It is a very serious issue. Thousands of farmers are owed more than \400 million under the farm waste management scheme alone. They are owed money by the State which is in breach of its contractual commitments to those farmers.

An Ceann Comhairle: There is another way of raising the matter and if the Deputy raises the matter in an appropriate way, I will try to assist him in every way possible, but I cannot deal with the matter now. That is the way the House works.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: The Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, published a wonderful document last week entitled Smarter Travel. I understand the plan will cost the 39 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Thomas P. Broughan.] Exchequer some \4.5 billion up to 2020. Is legislation due to deal with that? Is there any funding whatsoever for it this year, or is this typical rhetoric from the Minister?

An Ceann Comhairle: Is legislation promised in this area?

The Taoiseach: I understand there will be legislation in due course.

Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2009: Referral to Select Committee. Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Pat Carey): I move:

That the proposal that Da´il E´ ireann approves the following Order in draft:

Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2009,

copies of which have been laid in draft form before Da´il E´ ireann on 29th January, 2009, be referred to the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service in accordance with paragraph (1) of the Orders of Reference of that Committee, which, not later than 3rd March, 2009, shall send a message to the Da´il in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 87, and Standing Order 86(2) shall accordingly apply.”

Question put and agreed to.

Stabilisation and Association Agreements: Referral to Select Committee. Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Pat Carey): I move:

That the proposal that Da´il E´ ireann approves the terms of the Stabilisation and Associ- ation Agreements:

(i) between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Montenegro, of the other part, signed at Luxembourg on 15th October, 2007, which was laid before Da´il E´ ireann on 24th January, 2008,

(ii) between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the other part, signed at Luxembourg on 16th June, 2008, which was laid before Da´il E´ ireann on 20th January, 2009; and

be referred to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs in accordance with paragraph (1) of the Orders of Reference of that Committee, which, not later than 3rd March, 2009, shall send a message to the Da´il in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 87, and Standing Order 86(2) shall accordingly apply.”

Question put and agreed to.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed).

Question again proposed: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.” Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick: I wish to share time with Deputy O´ Fearghaı´l.

An Ceann Comhairle: Is that agreed? Agreed. 40 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick: I am pleased to speak on this Bill which provides the legislative basis for the new fair deal nursing homes support scheme. Entering a nursing home or a long- term care facility can be a source of significant anxiety and upset for older people and their families, neighbours and friends. At present, there are some 7,700 people in public long-term residential care and a further 15,200 people in private nursing homes. The legislation will make arrangements for financial support for almost 23,000 people who need long-term, comprehensive care. Under the present system of nursing home subvention, some older people and their families undergo real financial hardship to pay for the cost of care. This can include having to sell or remortgage homes. It can put families under major financial and emotional strain as they seek the funds to pay for an elderly person’s care; it is a particular strain on sons and daughters with young families. Under the new fair deal people will be asked to contribute to the cost of their care according to their means. This system is fair and it treats older people equally regardless of whether they are in public or private nursing homes. Under the new arrangements people requiring residential care will be assessed to calculate their ability to contribute to care. Under the scheme, people requiring long-term residential care will contribute 80% of their assessable income, including pensions, whether for public or private nursing home care. Depending on the amount of a person’s assessable income, there may also be a contribution of up to 5% of a person’s assets. The system allows for flexibility as payment can be deferred until the settlement of the person’s estate. This is a welcome measure in the Bill. This system is fair as no one will pay more than the cost of their care. Furthermore, people have the freedom to choose from an approved private or public nursing home. While I welcome the provision for older people in residential care, I firmly believe that if older people so wish, they should be supported to live in their own homes for as long as is possible and feasible. I welcome the major investment in the largest expansion ever of services for older people. A few years ago, almost no older person received nursing or 5 o’clock therapy care at home. This service was available only in a hospital or a nursing home. Last year, over 10,000 people benefited from home care. In addition to home care packages, we have expanded home help hours by more than 500,000 hours. In 2007, approximately 53,000 people were receiving home help services. Over 11.75 million home help hours were provided during 2007. Since 2004, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, and the Government have increased the budget for services for older people by \540 million. I welcome the increase in nursing homes in Kildare which the Health Service Executive, HSE, regularly registers and inspects. It is good that clients can now choose their nursing home and that their families can be updated by downloading the home’s inspection reports. In Kildare, there are more than ten nursing homes, over half of which are in rural areas. Location is important to patients and families. I welcome the location of nursing homes in rural areas where patients can enjoy a rural setting for their twilight years. Patients also want to be near family and friends. In my local authority area, the council has pursued a policy of refusing permission for nursing homes on the edges of towns and villages, preferring to locate them in their centres notwithstanding the success of those located in rural areas. At the end of last year, the Minister opened a new nursing home on the edge of Maynooth which provides a quality service to that community and its patients and provides badly needed local jobs, equivalent to those provided by a medium-sized factory. Making more beds available will free up our acute hospital beds and allow our senior citizens to live near their families and friends in comfortable surroundings. 41 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick.]

Residential care facilities are very important but we must realise that only approximately 5% of older people ever need them. They are usually required after a spell in hospital, when the patient is ready to leave the hospital but is not quite well enough to manage at home alone. They can also be the best option for an older person who is rendered incapable of living alone by illness or disability. I welcome the work of the hospitals, nursing staff and HSE in securing nursing home places for elderly patients. The HSE provides a wide range of designated support for people in their own homes but at times when these people need nursing home care, it can be hard to know what is available and to what one is entitled. The forum for older people, set up in 2006 and comprising almost all of the major national organisations with a special interest and expertise in services to older people, including the Department of Health and Children, the HSE, the National Council for Aging and Older People and many other organisations, provides a valuable service. The forum has developed proposals for service developments which dramatically improve the quality of life of people in residential units. The provision of nursing home places and home care packages is only part of a comprehensive range of services to older people. It is important that we do not consider the service in isolation and that there are also home help and day care services, and domiciliary care centres. Furthermore, there is also a range of primary care services such as GP services, public nursing services, etc. We must prioritise improved support for expansion of community-based supports and improvements in the quality and availability of hospital and residential care. Older people are a core priority for Fianna Fa´il in Government. Last year, for the first time, we appointed a Minister of State with cross-departmental responsibility for older people. The health service is undergoing its biggest reform since the foundation of the State but improvements are being made. There are real problems yet to be overcome, however, for those awaiting service and their families. Contrary to some commentary, most of those working in nursing homes, hospitals and community-based facilities provide an excellent service which at times is not recognised. We need them and it is important to recognise their service. Sometimes we hear about hospital-acquired infection. The Health Information Quality Authority, HIQA, national hygiene services review is welcome particularly for its findings on service delivery which validate the focus of the HSE on hygiene in the past two years. The HSE has recently put in place a significant number of strategic, structural and governance initiatives. Much good work has been undertaken and positive assessments made of hospital hygiene and, in particular, of service delivery areas such as hand hygiene, equipment, medical and cleaning devices. The Bill is fundamental to meeting the commitment given in Towards 2016 that support should be equal for public and private care recipients. It offered assurances to the most vulnerable groups in our society, those in need of long-term nursing home care, that such care would be, and remain, affordable as long as it was needed.

Deputy Sea´nO´ Fearghaı´l: I thank Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick for sharing time with me. I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak on this important and long-awaited Bill. The Minister and the Government have been correct in taking their time to ensure that any legal or other impediments have been dealt with. This debate may highlight other issues that might require changes to the legislation. I trust that the Minister and her colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Ma´ire Hoctor, will closely follow the debate and take on board positive proposals from all sides of the House. There is great interest in this measure among Members of all parties who all have, as public representa- 42 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed) tives, dealt with the various issues raised in the legislation, and in many cases have had to confront them within their family circumstances. The care of our aging population is one of the most important issues that we will face in this century and is a political and societal challenge. The issues involved vary from pension provision to medical care and residential care. The residential care element is probably the most important because it has such a significant impact on the person as well as on his or her partner and on their extended family. The system of nursing home subvention clearly needs reforming. A scheme that covers only 40% of the cost of private nursing home care is not sustainable and is thankfully being replaced by this much more workable and supportive alternative. We can all list examples in our own constituencies of families who have had to borrow heavily or sell the family home to offset the cost of care for an elderly relative. This Bill will negate the need to do this and I warmly welcome this initiative by the Government. In assessing the need for this legislative change, we must reflect on the numbers of elderly people being cared for within the system. There are approximately 7,700 people in public long- term residential care and just over 15,000 people in private nursing homes. To cater for them, the HSE has over 10,000 public beds in residential care centres for older people across the country. In addition, the HSE partially finances 9,000 beds, “subvented beds”, 3,000 of which are fully financed contract beds. These were secured between 2005 and 2008. Last year, the HSE indicated a strong commitment to providing over 800 public fast-track beds before the end of this year — more than half of which were to be in place at or before the end of 2008. This six-fold increase in Government spending clearly signifies its strong commitment to providing for the care of elderly people in society. The provision of funding is not in itself an adequate response to the needs of the aged, and it has been clear for some considerable time that the State needs to reorganise the way in which it supports long-term residential elder care. It is deeply unfair that people were faced with hugely varying costs for nursing home care, depending on where they lived, or whether the nursing home was in public or private ownership. Under this new measure, families will have a certainty and consistency, something that is definitely not available to them under the current arrangement. This security is something which older people and their families require. The enactment of this Bill will bring with it a new peace of mind to many elderly people up and down the country, a peace of mind which will ultimately be beneficial for their personal health and well being. At the moment, nobody is charged more than 80% of the non-contributory pension for care in a public nursing home, regardless of income. However, the costs were quite substantial in the private nursing home sector, even allowing for subvention. This anomaly had to be put right and the Government will thankfully bring equity to the situation with this Bill. The pressures placed on family members to provide care for a dependent relative were extremely difficult and at times overwhelming, leading to financial hardship in many cases. I commend the Minister on bringing forward this Bill, the benefits of which will be felt for decades to come. There was a clear need to address the situation and we are now in a position to deal with the matter effectively and decisively. The requirement to reform the manner in which nursing home provision is subvented has been apparent for a considerable time, but the manner in which nursing homes are managed and regulated was highlighted by the RTE expose´ on the Leas Cross nursing home in north county Dublin. I pay tribute to Deputy Fergus O’Dowd for the work he has done in highlighting the inadequacy of the service in many nursing homes around the country. This Bill requires all nursing homes to be registered. The Health Information and Quality Authority will be responsible for the monitoring and inspection of nursing homes, based on the provisions of the Health Act 2007, and taking into account the recent draft report on quality 43 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Sea´nO´ Fearghaı´l.] standards presented to the Minister. The combined objective of all those involved in this process must be to ensure that we provide residential conditions that are nurturing and supportive, and where the care available to elderly and dependent people is verifiably of the highest possible standards. These standards will apply to both public and private nursing homes and will address the safety and financial concerns of many families in caring for their loved ones in long-term dependency situations. In the period since the Leas Cross revelations, significant progress has been made by the HSE in the development of its elder abuse programme. The initiatives rolled out include the appointment of 29 senior case workers nationwide; the establishment of a national steering committee to oversee the provision of HSE elder abuse services in detection, reporting and response; improved training for staff; and the development of a public awareness campaign aimed at informing people on the risks and realties of elder abuse. These initiatives will ensure the prevention of elder abuse in public and private care facilities, but the care and attention of families and the wider community must also be a factor in tackling such horrendous abuse. One of the key decisions we have to make in the provision of long-term care facilities is on their location, to which Deputy Fitzpatrick referred. A number of homes have been built or are proposed to be built in rural locations around County Kildare. This has led to some contro- versy as to the merits of such proposals. In its recently published annual report, An Bord Pleana´la stated:

A number of large scale nursing homes have been proposed in isolated greenfield sites remote from towns or villages, shops or services of any description. Invariably, these have been refused by the board, as it is considered that such facilities are best located within existing settlements where public services are available and where the occupants have some degree of access to shops and other amenities, or can walk up the street and encounter members of the local community.

Like Deputy Fitzpatrick, I do not entirely share the board’s views on this matter. We should not be too prescriptive in this area. I feel that, as in many areas of life, variety is key. Many people who have lived in the countryside all their lives would much prefer to look out onto a green field than on an urban scene. Alternatively, many people would still like to be able to access the local shops, post office, pub or betting shop if they are fortunate enough to enjoy relatively good health in later life. Therefore, quality and variety of location are very important. Placing someone who has lived in Dublin, or in any of the other large urban centres, in a nursing home in a rural location can cause huge difficulties for the person and his or her family, who may find it difficult to access such a location. Planners, developers, advocates for older people and the HSE need to work more closely to ensure that a full range of facilities are available to our aging population. Much more needs to be done by those working in the planning system to provide trading down opportunities for older people and in particular, to encourage the provision of retirement complexes in which independent or supported living conditions are available. Kildare County Council has undertaken a study, through its strategic policy committee on economic planning and development, on the provision and location of elderly care facilities within the county. The Minister should conduct a national review on the same issues. This Bill will have wide ranging effects on so many people in the coming years that it is one of the most important Bills to come before this Da´il. Therefore, it is vitally important that we frame it by taking as many points of view on board as possible. The title “fair deal” indicates this will be fair to the elderly, fair to their families and fair to the taxpayer. 44 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

I thank the Minister, the Minister of State and their officials for the work they have done in bringing the Bill before us, and I commend it to the House.

Deputy Fergus O’Dowd: This is a very important debate, which deals with the future of those people currently in nursing homes, as well as with our own future. It is about where we and our families will end up, not just those fine people — some 30,000 of them — who currently reside in nursing homes. Sickness comes to us all, and none of us will live forever. The Department estimates that 4.6% of the current population over 65 are in nursing home care. The total proportion of those who ultimately end up in nursing homes is comparatively quite small. By trying to keep our people out of nursing home care and by having effective, efficient, committed and dedicated community teams to look after our senior citizens, we will keep that number as low as possible. Nobody willingly wants to go into nursing home care, while two thirds of those in such care are deemed to be highly dependent. The fatal flaw in this Bill is that it does not deal with the fundamental issue of sharing the cost burden of the nursing home. The penalty for being sick when elderly falls on the individual who happens to get ill. It does not respect such a person’s income, qualifications or family background. Everybody who ends up in a nursing home must pay the costs, or else their family pays them. This Bill makes sure that if somebody is not lucky enough to have the money to pay for nursing home care, then 15% of the sale of that person’s house plus a proportion of the person’s assets per annum will go towards paying for his or her care. That is fundamentally wrong and unjust. How we treat people in our society, especially the very young and the very old, indicates the value we place on the most vulnerable. Nobody is arguing that the cost of a long-term stay of a child in hospital should come out of the family income. Nobody is arguing that a women having a child in a hospital should pay for the child birth if she does not have health insurance. The State picks up the bill in that instance. Why should we victimise elderly people and insist that they must pay for their care, and if they cannot pay for it, insist that payment come from the sale of their homes? Not only must people sell their homes, but they must sell those assets at 15% of their value when they went into the home. People spend three and a half years, on average, in nursing homes. When a house is sold in line with this measure, 15% of its end value will be much more than 15% of its value when they went in. When this Bill was introduced, house prices were much higher than they are now. As this measure is fundamentally wrong and unjust, we must decide how to deal with it. I suggest that we should revisit the 2002 Mercer report on the care of the elderly, which included a number of recommendations. We should consider the introduction of an insurance scheme, for example, whereby a specific contribution is made as people age. That money should be ring-fenced and ultimately used to meet the cost of future care. As people go through their working lives, every single individual, rich or poor, should know that if and when he or she gets sick and needs to go into a home, all of us will share his or her pain. In such circumstances, everyone should make a contribution to the cost. Nobody should have to sell his or her home. That is a fundamental and important aspect of this issue. People value their homes more than anything else. As we know, the Government is introducing legislation to try to ensure the banks will allow people to stay in their homes when they cannot afford to pay their mortgages. Everybody recognises the need for social justice in this regard. A deeper form of justice is at play when it comes to making sure that those who happen to end up in nursing homes do not have to sell their homes and bear the cost of it. I urge the Government to think again about this aspect of the legislation, which is fundamentally flawed. The proposed system is totally unacceptable to me. 45 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Fergus O’Dowd.]

Approximately two thirds of people in nursing homes are in high dependency categories. They may not be able to get out of bed, for example. Many of those who have Alzheimer’s disease cannot speak or walk. In many cases, people in nursing homes have no means of expressing what is happening to them. They are extremely vulnerable. The HSE website provides evidence that time and time again, private nursing homes are unable to care for such people. They do not have enough staff on duty, particularly at night, to look after them. I would like to refer to a HSE evaluation of 25 of the 26 complaints that were made about nursing homes in the Cork-Kerry region in 2007. The complaints related to non-accidental injuries, including trips, falls, fractures and bruising; dehydration; problems relating to pressure sores and wound care; lack of attention to residents’ personal hygiene; poor standards of hygiene; inadequate care; an assault by a resident on another resident; absconding or leaving a nursing home; staffing levels; rough handling of residents; issues relating to contracts of care, including finances; poor communication between those in charge of nursing homes and families; and failure to summon medical care or to seek medical opinion. One of the evaluation’s recurring themes is the care of residents with dementia or mental health problems. I would like to mention some incidents in a specific nursing home in Cork. They are by no means unusual in Cork or anywhere else in the country, sadly. A patient with dementia suffered a fracture while in bed. Another patient, who had high levels of dependency, was allowed to rest on a broken bed. No explanation was given for the discharge of a patient, following respite care, who had an infected leg wound. In other cases, individual patients at the home were found to have an infestation of head lice, an untreated leg wound, to be suffering from dehydration, to have new and discoloured pressure ulcers and bruising on the body, to have a swollen and bruised right foot, to have scratches on the genitalia and a tear on the perineal area. A patient aged 94 with poor hygiene was admitted to Cork University Hospital. Cases were reported of rooms not being cleaned for new patients, soiled sheets being discovered and confused patients being allowed to enter rooms and rummage through other patients’ clothes. Bells were not answered at night. In cases of falls, family members were sometimes expected to take patients to the local accident and emergency department. It was found that some clinical procedures at the nursing home were carried out in a rough manner or without the permission of the relevant families. That is a sample of what is going on. I invite the Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, to take the time to visit the website to get evidence of what is happening in many nursing homes. I wish to make it clear, in the interests of fairness and objectiveness, that a significant number of nursing homes provide an excellent and first-class service. However, an equally significant number of nursing homes are bad and some of them are absolutely appalling. If one was depending for one’s evidence on the facts in the Leas Cross documentation that I obtained under the Freedom of Information Acts, one would not think there was anything wrong with the place at all. There was just one hint of a problem at the home. Many other nursing homes are just as bad as Leas Cross, if not worse. Despite what those on the other side of the House might say, nothing has changed. In my view, things have got worse. The only good thing that has happened is that the HSE is providing for out-of-hours inspections in some cases. Inspectors discovered some appalling things in a nursing home in County Cavan at 4.30 a.m. The law has not changed. One of the key points I would like to make is that the law should impose a statutory duty and obligation on people, particularly those who work in nursing homes, who have evidence of elder abuse. They should be obliged to report such evidence to the relevant authorities. There is no such obligation at present. It should be a criminal offence 46 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed) for them not to report what they know to the HSE or the competent authorities. The problem at the moment is that we do not know about these things because they are not being reported. The HSE’s lack of accountability also needs to be considered. The HSE has a statutory duty of care to ensure that every nursing home in the State is inspected at least twice per annum. In previous years, I used to get those details when I tabled a parliamentary question on the matter to the Minister. Last year, however, the HSE responded by saying that it did not keep the information I was seeking, or that it did not have time to give it. In other words, it could not care less. It is appalling that there is such a lack of accountability or concern at administrative level within the HSE. I have made a complaint to the Irish Human Rights Commission about the abuse of people’s human rights that is taking place in nursing home care institutions. I received an answer from the commission today. I was sent a letter to the effect that a member of staff from the commission had spoken to the senior inspector of nursing homes within the Health Information and Quality Authority, whose name I do not immediately have to hand. As I understand it, the senior inspector informed the commission that the Minister for Health and Children has not yet signed the order to allow the authority to inspect private and public nursing homes. That is a disgrace. It was supposed to be signed in January, but it has not happened yet. I urge the Minister to sign it immediately. I have faith in the totally independent inspectorate that the Health Information and Quality Authority will put in place. The inspectorate does not have any statutory powers at the moment. It is not acceptable that we are continuing to rely on the structures that have been in place over recent years. I would like to speak about the merits of public and private nursing homes in the context of a contribution made earlier by a Deputy, whose comments I respect. The Deputy in question suggested that the State now takes a neutral stance on the question of whether people should opt for public or private care. In other words, if somebody has to go into a nursing home, the State does not mind whether he or she goes to a State institution or to a private institution. That is unacceptable. It is an abrogation of the State’s responsibility and accountability when it comes to the care of senior citizens. It is part of the ongoing policy of the Minister, Deputy Harney, to privatise the health services. There is absolutely convincing international evidence to suggest that private nursing home care is not as good as State nursing home care. The best care of all is not-for-profit care. There is a way around all of this. The State has encouraged builders, etc., to invest in nursing homes. When such people build the infrastructure for a nursing home, they do not have the capacity to run it. That is what happened in the case of Leas Cross. The State needs to continue to encourage people to invest in the physical buildings, but it should run them. In the absence of the State, voluntary not-for-profit organisations should be encouraged to get involved. They should provide services in buildings that have been developed by others. While each nursing home would have to be run as a business, obviously, the money that would be made should be reinvested in the home’s patients and clients. If there is a problem with the person who made the investment, he or she should be entitled to get an income from the home. The present system, which has failed miserably and appallingly, is unacceptable. I ask the Minister of State, in her speech at the conclusion of this debate, whenever that is, to give the House a commitment that the final report from the Leas Cross inquiry will be debated in this Chamber. As the report has now been delayed by six months, I am sure it will include many recommendations, all of which should be brought into effect. That is critically important. Other issues pertaining to nursing home care have been brought to my attention. One such issue is that the economic and social status of siblings living together, as many do throughout the country, is not recognised under the Bill. They are not classed as couples and are, therefore, 47 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Fergus O’Dowd.] charged individually, which may leave the sibling in the home particularly worse off. He or she cannot apply for financial hardship due to the conditions requiring him or her to be made part of a couple. That issue must be addressed. Those involved in the care of the aged in our community have brought a number of other issues to my attention. A key point is whether people will be better off under this Bill than they were heretofore. The case has been made that the quality of care is not improving and I accept that is the factual position. The majority of clients who will be cared for in nursing homes under the provisions of this Bill will have high levels of dependency. A key point is that nursing homes do not have sufficient staff with the necessary qualifications to care for these people. Nursing home staff will not have the capacity to look after these very ill patients and the necessary facilities will not be in place. A key issue in the case of Leas Cross Nursing Home was that, while it was evident from television coverage or if one walked around it that it was a state-of- the-art building, patients with high levels of dependency who resided there were not properly looked after. There is evidence that some people in the State system are being abused, namely, some people in some State-run or in HSE nursing homes. Cases of such abuse in Donegal have been brought to the attention of the Minister of State. A case is under investigation in an institution in Roscrea. I have not been able to obtain any further facts on it. Perhaps the Minister of State can advise what happened in that case, as the HSE was not in a position to advise me, other than to indicate that a serious investigation was carried out there. I would like to know its outcome. The response I received from the HSE in one area was shameful and disgraceful. I inquired as to the reason a facility in Dundalk was not taking in any more respite patients during the summer. Under a freedom of information inquiry, I discovered the reason for this. It transpired that approximately a year ago when some agency nurses in a unit did not turn up for work and no nursing staff were available to look after the patients, domestic staff took on nursing duties. That happened over a period of time and it is well documented. The HSE decided it could not allow that situation to continue. It decided that it would not take in any more respite patients in order to reduce the exposure of patients to a lack of care arising as a result of agency nurses not turning up for work. I was shocked to read about that. While I appreciate that the staff there tried to help out, they were not qualified or able to do the work. I submitted a question to HSE areas throughout the country seeking information on whether there is evidence of such practice occurring elsewhere and I have yet to receive a response from some. The HSE in Cork kindly replied to the effect that the processing of my freedom of information request would cost \50,000. That represents an obstruction in my trying to ascertain the facts. The Minister of State has responsibility for this area. I ask that she take up this issue with the HSE and inquire what other evidence, if any, there is of agency nurses not turning up for work resulting in patients, in some cases, in State institutions not being looked after properly. If domestic cleaning and caring staff are doing the work of nursing staff, that is not acceptable. The situation is serious. The Government has not acted adequately or properly in this respect. If this Bill is enacted, I would be particularly concerned about provision for those people who may not have any income, other than their State pension, of whom there are thousands. I refer to people, in the main, currently in our State institutions. They are there mainly because their only income is their State pension, they do not have private insurance and cannot afford to go into a nursing home. 48 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

The sale of such a person’s home, the only asset he or she has, will impact heavily on that person’s family. Mary Murphy or Johnny Maguire, on going into a nursing home, will be told she or he will have to sell her or his home. That may be the only asset that person has to hand on to his or her family or relatives. It is a measure of the lack of respect we have for these people, if we do not say that should not happen. We would not ask such a person to sell his or her home if his or her child was sick in hospital. Neither would we ask such a person to do so to pay for his or her care if he or she was under the age of 65 and had been in hospital for a long time. However, once a person goes into State care or nursing home care, that person is told he or she must sell his or her home. There is a basic inhumanity in that process. I ask the Minister of State to reflect on those issues. Under this legislation, the Minister of State is delivering these people into the hands of a negotiating team, the National Treatment Purchase Fund, who will negotiate with the nursing home owners the price of care. My evidence is that nursing home costs are increasing. People cannot afford to pay such costs. The HSE is not increasing subventions. Will the basic cost of care include cost of physiotherapy, speech therapy, patients’ laundry, all those services the provision of which involves extra costs under the current system? Whatever amount the Mini- ster will fix and whatever cost is negotiated, it will not be sufficient because the nursing homes will seek more and more money. My basic point is that they cannot provide adequate and proper care. Poor helpless people will find themselves in a worse situation than they are in at present.

Deputy Mary Alexandra White: I welcome the Bill before the House. It has been a long time coming. We know that rushed legislation often is poor legislation. The patience in bringing forward this detailed Bill hopefully will result in a good Bill that is in the best interests of people who need to access nursing home care. We all know that an issue such as the provision of care for the elderly is an emotive and important one. I have met many families in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny who were desperately trying to support a loved one in a nursing home, perhaps struggling to cover the cost of case with a subvention or the lack of it, paupering themselves in many instances to ensure that a much loved relative could have comfort and care at the end of his or her days. This Bill addresses that worry. I have no doubt there was a temptation to bring forward this Bill at an earlier stage so that the Government could provide the country with a new framework for nursing home care, but I believe this legislation will make sound investment for the future and remove much of the worry experienced by the families to whom I have spoken. Having a relative in a nursing home is a tremendous wrench for a family, the move often deeply upsetting, the feelings of guilt uppermost in people’s minds, even though we know with our minds, if not our hearts, that care is needed. That, added to the financial worry, results in a family being deeply stressed at such a time. We knew that we had to have a new framework for care for the elderly in Ireland. It was much needed. With an aging population the demand for nursing home spaces has increased immensely, as has the provision of care. Currently, as the Ceann Comhairle probably knows, there are more than 18,000 private beds and approximately 9,000 public beds in the country, but huge regional disparities underlie these figures. Big shortages are to be found on the east coast and in other parts of the country such as in the north east and even with State subvention, beds are often 50% more expensive than the nursing home spaces, many of which are in the south west. The current framework of nursing home subvention had to be replaced. The State is currently subsidising much of private nursing home care — 50% of private nursing home funding comes 49 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Mary Alexandra White.] from the nursing home subvention scheme — caused in part by insufficient public nursing home beds. The regulatory impact analysis for this Bill stated that under the current system an individual who gets a public long-term care bed may be charged a maximum of up to 80% of the non-contributory pension; while every resident in public care has to pay the charges, which are capped regardless of means. The person availing of long-term private care, however, is subject to a rigorous means test. Some may be deemed ineligible for subvention, hence the anomalies in care to date. Problems also arise in our hospitals because of this framework. Many patients are kept in hospitals longer than necessary because there is a shortage of beds in nursing homes. This gave rise to that awful term, “bed-blockers”, an obscene and degrading term which should not have been coined in the first place. The new scheme, as outlined in this Bill, will provide for an accessible and far more equitable system. At the outset, professionals from the HSE will be required to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of people’s care needs. This is vital if we are to ensure that care is targeted, appropriate and given to those who really need long-term residential care. The principles underlying the financial assessment of people, and the State funding of care, as contained in this Bill, are that co-payment is calculated in accordance with ability to pay; that no one will pay more than the cost of care; that an initial amount of income will be disregarded; and that there will be capping of charge on people’s principal private residence. These are all sound and will give us better care for our elderly. The principle that the State will guarantee the costs of nursing home care over and above 80% of a person’s assessable income is something we can support. The present inequitable and unsustainable system is addressed by the Nursing Home Support Scheme Bill. Long-term residents in nursing homes, who are on similar incomes, are unlikely to end up paying vastly different care costs as a result of this Bill. I commend the Bill to the House.

Deputy Seymour Crawford: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important legislation which has been awaited for some time. It was known originally as the “Fair Deal Bill” and is now known as the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008. Why was there a change of name? One must ask many questions about the nature of this Bill. Deputy White spoke about the difficulty in getting patients moved from hospitals to nursing homes and that, as a result, individuals are being called “bed-blockers”. This is an awful name and is completely unfair. Very often, such people are not able to move because of the difficulty with the present subvention system. It is possible that I know more about that than anybody else in the country because of the situation in Cavan-Monaghan. I say that without fear of contradiction because during the last election I talked to both my party leader and to the then leader of the Labour Party, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, about the situation in other constituencies to which they travelled. There did not appear to be the same pressure in other areas as there was in my immediate area. I have further proof of that because when people moved out of my immediate area, while remaining the responsibility of the Cavan-Monaghan grouping, nursing homes in Sligo could not believe the greater difficulty they had in dealing with the assessment office in Cavan. This was no fault of the people there who were just doing what they could with the money available to them. However, it was a different situation. I was glad the Minister of State referred to this in her speech. She admitted there was inconsistency between different areas. This is completely wrong and must be rectified. I hope the situation will be different. However, after a cursory glance at this Bill, one must question how it might be. The initial budget for the fair deal Bill was \110 million but only approximately \50 million is to be allowed for this year. I imagine it was expected the Bill would take a long time to go through 50 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed) the system and that the money might not be needed. A ceiling will be put upon it and, if that is to be the case, we will return to a situation where somebody decides who will get a nursing home bed and who will not. That is a major worry to me. Assessment is another issue that worries me. Assessment will be made by individuals in the health services and I have a serious anxiety about that. Assessments are made concerning home help that raise major questions. Who decides who will get two or four hours, or one hour, per week? I will mention another issue in passing before giving more detail. I refer to the different groups that are allowed to benefit from the Bill. Section 4 defines a couple, for the purpose of the scheme, as a married couple, a heterosexual or a same sex couple, who have been co- habiting as husband and wife for at least three years. As somebody who lives in a rural area where there are a few other people like me who never married, I know several situations where there are brothers, or brothers and sisters, or sisters living together, perhaps for 30, 70 or 80 years, rather than for a mere three years. However, they are not entitled to be treated in the same way as those heterosexual couples and others mentioned in the Minister of State’s speech. Same sex couples will get preference over family members who live together. There are all sorts of implications in this. There could be a situation where somebody retires early to look after a loved one. However, because that person is not the dependant of the loved one, he or she will not be treated in the same manner as same sex couples. That is a major issue. There has been much talk over a long period in this House concerning legislation for the inspection of nursing homes and the need for independent inspection. That must be equal across all nursing homes, whether private or public. The majority of nursing homes I deal with are good and of high quality, for example, St. Mary’s Nursing Home in Castleblayney. That home is absolutely brilliant. There are other private nursing homes that are of an equal standard, and almost as good as St. Mary’s. However, when we come across other situations, and the subsequent investigations into those situations, we must raise major questions. I have an e- mail from a daughter about a loved one. This person did not die in the nursing home in question because friends of the family got her moved to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda where she subsequently died. An inquiry was held but, although names, addresses and telephone numbers were supplied of people who had attended that nursing home and seen what had happened, they were never contacted. What sort of inquiry was that? It was totally unrealistic and irrelevant and gave only the account of the staff in the nursing home. It is a home which I normally have much time for because it usually does good work. A situation such as the one to which I refer is unacceptable and raises many questions about how investigations are carried out. The Bill, and the length of time it has taken to get through the House are causes of much worry. People have been expecting it for a long time. A family approached me about 18 months ago. They had literature from a farming organisation of which I am a member, the IFA, stating that this great Bill would sort out everything. They had two loved ones going into a high dependency ward in a nursing home at significant cost to them. They thought this Bill would sort out everything. Although, thankfully, matters sorted themselves out reasonably well, in that context the situation was untenable and unfair to many people. I am greatly concerned about some details in this Bill. Making fair what has been unfair and making consistent what has been haphazard is not good enough if it does not solve the problem completely. The capping of the money is very serious. This is a needs-led situation and nobody can tell how many people will need this type of support on any given day. The capping of the money is not on and must be examined. We can find \7 billion for banks that run riot, whereas only \50 million is allowed for the remainder of this year. How much will be allowed for next 51 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Seymour Crawford.] year? We have to live and see. Will the Bill operate on the basis that a finite sum is available? Will high dependency define up to the point of the ability of the State to pay? There will be differences in the ideas of HSE staff who will decide who will get a bed and when. That is unacceptable. Nursing homes have different costs. While an ordinary dependency person can get a nursing home at \800, somebody who needs a high-dependency unit, for example an Alzheimer’s disease patient, could pay up to \1,000 or \1,100, even in my home area. Will that be allowed for under this Bill? It is equally important. Many people in very poor circumstances are being asked to pay the difference between what a nursing home cost in 2007 and what it costs today, and they cannot afford it. It is putting tremendous pressure on them. I know an elderly person on an old age pension who lives just outside Monaghan town who is being asked to pay the difference out of his social welfare yet is expected to keep a car on the road to travel to and from that nursing home daily. This is unjust and I hope this Bill will rectify such situations, but I am not sure because the devil is in the detail. The other issue about which I am worried is property, specifically farm holdings. A farmer may live a normal length of life and decide to hand over the farm holding to the son or daughter. If the holding is out of that person’s name for five years it is no longer taken into account. On my way up the road this morning I was told of a situation where a young man’s father dropped dead suddenly a couple of years ago. The man’s mother had been in a bad accident 15 years ago, and while the father could cope, the family could not and she is in a nursing home at a very early age. I will not quote her age because I do not want to embarrass any family. As the property was transferred less than five years before the father’s death, there are all sorts of complications. This Bill does not clarify how that family will cope. I hope through the detailed study of the Bill afterwards situations such as that can be clarified. Not everything is clear cut and goes the way the clerks expect it to, and that is just another example of serious difficulty. I was glad that in the budget the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, referred to the tax benefit for anybody staying at home and that is some relief. Some might argue that one house might be worth \1 million while another house is worth only \100,000; that is not fair. However I am much more concerned about the property issue. If a person is 6 o’clock unfortunate enough to go into a nursing home at an early age as a result of disease or a stroke, the 5% comes off for every year that person is in a nursing home. This is very unfair and could create major problems. Taking a farming situation, if that went on for seven years it would take 35% of a farm holding. No son or daughter could raise that sort of money. If the bank gets to know that the loved one who holds a title is in a nursing home, will it lend money to the young person running that property, shop or whatever other business? Some of these matters may be constitutional and raise questions. I appreciate that the Bill went through a long gestation period because of many of these issues, but there is still much concern. A few months ago one of my colleagues mentioned in a speech that he was worried about shares. Shares are not a major problem now, especially if they are in banks. I want to return to the medical assessment, a serious issue about which I am very concerned. A person living alone in an isolated area may want to go into a nursing home earlier than somebody in a family situation with plenty of support and help. Will those circumstances be taken into account as part of the assessment? If not, we have a major problem. These issues must be clarified. Another issue was brought to my attention in recent days, that of somebody who has recently returned home from the US, the UK or anywhere else. Deputy Connaughton 52 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed) has dealt more than anybody else with the people who went away years ago, had to come home or wanted to come home and may not have any family. What is their situation? Will they be treated in the same way as a non-national who has been in this country only a few years? Will the fact that they were born and reared in this country and their wish to come home be taken into account? The person about whom I am talking, whom I met in the past few days, had two brothers in the US, both of whom are deceased. None of the three married and they have no families, yet all his family circle are in the region to which he has returned. He does not want a nursing home now, but if he wants one in the future what will be his situation? He would still carry the pension from the US, the UK or wherever he worked, but alone it would be insufficient and he is unlikely to have any property. That is an interesting question. There is another issue. If any person, including the Minister of State, has a second home here—Iam not sure whether the Minister of State does or not — it is taken into account, but if a person has a home outside this country it is not taken into account. This is a strange situation and one over which there are major question marks. I hope I am wrong. Am I?

Deputy Ma´ire Hoctor: It is taken into account.

Deputy Seymour Crawford: That is important, because it did not seem clear in the Bill. I hope it is definite, because it would be totally wrong if that were not the case. At the start of this debate the Minister stated:

We are making fair what has been unfair. We are making consistent what has been haphazard. We are making sure what has been in doubt. What has been unsettling will be reassuring. What has been unclear will be clear. What has been unpredictable will be predictable.

I wish I could get that same certainty from this Bill. I say this with all due respect, and I will come back to the points with which I started. There is a problem if there is a ceiling on the money concerned. That is not possible. There are many other schemes in this country which have no ceiling. How can the Minister put a ceiling on what is available to the elderly? Those people gave their lives for the State when things were more difficult even than they are today. My other concern relates to the issue of inspection of homes. More important, however, is the issue of who will decide who gets into a home. If there is a limited budget, who decides who will get the money that is available? That is the most serious issue of all. Political structures and pressures will be in place which will not be to the overall benefit of the elderly, whom we all want to see cared for. My late mother died in a nursing home. I appreciate what the Sacred Heart home in Clones did for her. It was a sudden call because she deteriorated so quickly. That is the situation that many families are up against. I genuinely did not believe she would last more than weeks, but she lasted 15 months in the home because of the excellent care she got. Nobody should decide what the ceiling is and nobody should decide who can get the subvention and who cannot. It should be available for all who need it.

Deputy Ciara´n Lynch: I wish to share my time with Deputy Sherlock.

Acting Chairman (Deputy Johnny Brady): The Deputies have ten minutes each.

Deputy Ciara´n Lynch: This Bill marks a significant change in how health care is delivered in Ireland, as it removes the right to free health care enshrined in the Health Act 1970 and singles out a particular sector of society — the elderly — as a group requiring institutional care and paying institutional costs. No other section of our society will be hit by this Bill. Children are born in maternity hospitals provided by the State. When they cut their knees in the schoolyard 53 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Ciara´n Lynch.] they go to the emergency unit of a public hospital. Those of us who do not have private health insurance will live our lives in the public health care sector until we get old. The Minister has not discriminated between private and public sector by specifying in which sector this care will take place. Is there a preference as to where the Minister sees this care being delivered? Or will we see with the roll-out of this scheme something similar to collocated hospitals, with collocated long term nursing beds? If we are to take the fair deal scheme as a good idea, we must admit there is a world of difference between a good idea and good implementation. This scheme was launched in 2006 with an expectation that it would be in place on 1 January 2008. After two years in the making, it was not launched. Deputy White stated earlier that the Government needed to take its time thinking it over. There were two years to think it over. In the absence of thinking it over, when 1 January 2008 came there was no contingency plan. Nothing was in place for subvention that year, and chaos was created. People were left in limbo. In 2008, Age Action Ireland pointed out that \110 million was set aside for the roll-out of this programme, and \85 million returned as savings to the HSE during that time. There are approximately 30,000 people in long-term care at this time, whether in the public or the private sector, and the cost of the delay for the extended families of those people ran into thousands upon thousands of euro. The Minister, Deputy Harney, when speaking about the fair deal scheme in one interview, mentioned a cost of \40,000, which is \6,000 more than the average industrial wage, to keep a person in care because of the failure to implement the scheme, which was on the shelf for two years. One could make a study of the Government’s version of chaos theory. The underpinning principle behind this theory is that one creates so much chaos that people will accept anything. There has been so much chaos out there, and people have been paying so much, that they will accept any deal except what they have at the moment. They cannot get subvention as it is not available or it is capped at whatever it was before 2008. In the absence of this legislation, they are being bled on a week-to-week basis of massive sums of money. I will give just one example of a case I dealt with in my own constituency of Cork South-Central. The family of an elderly woman was paying her nursing home fees, which were recently increased by \50 per week to more than \2,600 per month. At the same time the subvention from the HSE towards the woman’s nursing home costs was dramatically cut, leaving her family to shoulder costs of more than \400 per week. This happened in June of last year. At first she was receiving a weekly subvention of \472.70, but when her house was taken into consideration these payments were reduced to \182 per week, leaving the family to shoulder the remaining charges of \400 per week. There is a great deal of nonsense in this. How, in the name of God, could the HSE give a notional value for an income based on the value of a house when the fair deal scheme was not even in place? I cannot get my head around it. How was this elderly women concluded to be earning an income from this property when the fair deal scheme was not in place, she had family still living in the house and it was generating no income? The calculations do not add up. The numbers in nursing homes and nursing costs will increase. Deputy O’Dowd referred to the current number of 30,000 people in nursing homes. That number will rise significantly in forthcoming decades. The reason this will happen is that the demography of the Irish population has changed significantly. When I was a child, and I am not that old, there were six to eight children in the average household on Connolly Road, Ballyphehane. That was an extended family that could provide care for their parents when they got elderly. Thankfully, in my case my parents live at home. However, we have now moved to a position where the normal size of a family in this country is two children. The extended family support, and one should bear in mind the age profile of the people currently in nursing home care, will not be available 54 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed) in the future. That support cannot be sustained in the way it has been to date with smaller family sizes. One issue that has arisen, between the cock-up on the subvention scheme and the two year delay, is the overall sum of money that is to be calculated. I do not believe this issue has been raised in any of the earlier debates. Property values have dropped significantly in the past 12 months. A 15% calculation has been made to pay for these costs. Given that the value of property is to drop further in the next three or four years according to all expert opinion, there will be a falling income under the fair deal scheme for the system as it is currently presented. In fact, it would make sense for somebody to opt into the fair deal scheme in the next year and a half when property values are at their lowest. Will the Minister clarify when the property value is set? Is it at the time the contract is signed, the time of the person’s death or at some point between the two? After all, the value of property in Cork South-Central two years ago is quite different from its current value. This matter must be clarified. I wish to mention a situation, one of many, I have encountered in my constituency. Every Member of this House has heard their constituents discussing this situation. Where an elderly person bequeaths a house to a child, who subsequently marries, but the elderly person retains a proportion of the house — perhaps one third and the husband and wife would have two thirds, how will that be calculated in the future? How will the nursing home beds be provided? Does the Government envisage the State being the main provider of the beds or will it be the private sector, where costs and standards may vary from one location to another? Another critical point is that if the calculation will be based on a falling property market, I cannot see how daily costs will be met. I would be grateful if the Minister would respond on these issues.

Deputy Sea´n Sherlock: Will the Minister tell us whether it is envisaged that the Health Act 1970, which guaranteed the right to a bed, will be revoked and whether that right will be enshrined in the new legislation? If that right is not to be revoked and in the event of somebody deciding not to sign up to and be a willing stakeholder in this scheme but it is decided medically that the person requires a bed, will he or she have an automatic right to a bed in a public or private facility? On the resourcing of the scheme, if somebody goes into a private facility, will the charges accruing for the provision of that bed be capped by the State? Will the State legislate for or regulate the charges of nursing homes for the provision of that bed? I can envisage a situation where the private sphere, because of the economies of scale in that sector and the dramatic reduction in the provision of public beds for elderly people, will see an opportunity, when the budget is outlined each year in the annual Estimates passed by this House, to get together, pool their resources and calculate what the charging regime could be for a bed. That will present untold problems for many families. Can the Minister comment specifically on this issue? If a person has a property and a son or daughter has been bequeathed that property or if a son or daughter who is not married has been given that property legally and if there is a legal arrangement whereby the person has an automatic right to residence in the home, what is the legal provision in the event of that person going into a nursing home? The regime at present is such that even though the son or daughter is residing within the family home and there is a legal arrangement to that effect, there is still a calculation of 15% rental income in arriving at the nursing home subvention. That is unfair. I consider it so unfair that I have referred the specific case to the Ombudsman, as an independent source, to ascertain her determination on such a provision. What will the legal provision be in the new arrangement, after the legislation is passed? 55 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Sea´n Sherlock.]

We are shoring up many problems but in seeking to deal with one set of problems the House and the Government will create a new set. I still cannot get my head around the proposals in the legislation regarding ancillary State support. I refer Members to the Citizens Information Board which produced a paper in December 2008 that referred specifically to ancillary State support in the context of this Bill. The paper says the Bill distinguishes between State support and ancillary State support. We are aware of the provisions relating to State support but, according to the paper one must apply separately for ancillary State support; one can apply even if one does not qualify for State support; ancillary State support can be based on relevant assets only, not cash assets; and there must be a property over which a charge can be taken. If somebody applies for ancillary State support, a charge is levelled against the property. What is the repayment schedule on that? If I need to go to a nursing home tomorrow, for example, and I apply for ancillary State support, what agency will pay the money to the nursing home in terms of the support that is given? Will it be the HSE or another such agency as determined by the Minister for Health and Children? If this will be a resource-based scheme and if we are now living in times of economic turmoil, I can see a situation where there will be hundreds of people queuing up for nursing home beds who will not be able to get one as they will not be able to benefit from the ancillary State support because there will not be such funding. How that will work its way out through the system needs to be teased out. We are reaching a stage in this country where the community beds that once provided wonderful nursing home care are being whittled away by a process of stealth. We are moving so far into the private sector that by the time it comes for me to be cared for in a nursing home, the costs accruing will be so astronomical it will place such a burden on the State as to be untenable. At this stage of the process I would put forward a theory that there needs to be a greater degree of analysis about how we can provide beds within the public sector. For example, there is a 42-bed facility in north Cork which is about to be closed. It is neither a geriatric nor a psychiatric unit; it has no designation. It is a wonderful facility in a wonderful setting. If, instead of being closed, it received the right amount of investment, it could provide a wonderful facility for the provision of care for the elderly within its catchment area as a community facility. Those same people would happily pay their pension or a proportion of the cost of getting their bed within that facility and they would gladly welcome whatever subvention or State support that would arise. However, there is no foresight and no planning. I see nothing in this legislation that would give me any grounds for hope — I must be honest about it — that the Minister will ensure we will move seamlessly from the current regime into a new regime and that this will be a panacea for the elderly. I can see a situation where the number of people, family members of persons who are in nursing homes, who come to my clinics will increase as a result of this ill thought- out legislation. I heard the Taoiseach describe himself here as an egalitarian republican. If we are speaking of egalitarianism, older people should be able to come to their autumn or winter years with a certain peace of mind knowing that they or their families will not be left with an undue financial burden when it comes to caring for them. I cannot see anything in this legislation that will give solace to those people. I reiterate the point that if we are to have a proper system in this country, it must be with the proviso that the cost of care in nursing homes must be capped. Deputy O’Dowd made the point earlier. There is the bare cost of provision for the bed for the week but there are also the extra costs that now seem to be accruing, which are not accounted for. I refer to chiropody, hairdressing and other such services which seem to be added on week in, week out. 56 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

I am not against the private sector because I visit nursing homes on a regular basis and I see the good work that is being done there, but there must be a good mix. This comes back to the point I made about the 1970 Act. I am asking that the 1970 Act not be rescinded and that everybody would have a right to a bed, whether in the public or private sector.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: I am delighted to get this long awaited opportunity to speak on this Bill in which I have a great interest. I suppose all one could say at the outset is that this legislation is like the curate’s egg in that it is good in spots, but I have serious reservations about part of it. The Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, and her senior Minister are selling this as being accessible, affordable and anxiety free. It is all three for a certain category of person. It is surely that for someone who does not own a house, who has less then \36,000 in personal belongings and who owns no land. By and large, the person to whom I refer has no means other than his or her old age pension. I must admit it is a good scheme for such a person. If one scrutinises the next category, then the scheme becomes extraordinarily involved and difficult. I do not want to see legislation going through the House that will have the effect of splitting up families. The Minister of State, Deputy Hoctor, comes from a rural constituency, as I do. I do not want to see the slightest possibility of a family having a row about an asset they thought was theirs until the State gets its hands on it and proves that it was not. I will try to explain what I mean. No doubt the system had to be changed. There was terrible trouble about the inconsistencies in and the unfairness of the subventions as applied right across the country. Those, like me, who came from the old Western Health Board area felt that others were getting a much higher subvention than we could get. This scheme treats public and private patients equally and from that point of view, it is to be welcomed. The old scheme had to be changed. One aspect I noted — on this issue I have considerable experience, as much as anybody else in this House — is that in so far as keeping elderly people in a nursing home was concerned we had reached a point where there were only two or three fundamental points to be addressed. Deputy Hoctor will know this better than most. We are speaking about people who had the maximum old age contributory or non-contributory pension. That is what they had in their hand every Friday, approximately \200. In our case the subvention was \300 making a total of \500 under most conditions. That was all right when the bed in the nursing home was \550 or \600. If they had relatives or family members, they might be able to come up with the balance. Over the past couple of years, however, as the House will be aware, we found that the figure of \600 rose to \700 and \800, and by and large there was no such increase in the pension or the subvention. The wedge that then came in between was so great that many families just could not afford it. That was a real issue, as the Minister of State well knows from all the representations I am sure have been made to her and to all Members. Obviously, there was a need to change that. The new scheme will work well for certain categories of people but the Government is creating havoc with regard to people who own property. I want to bring the Minister of State back for a moment to these deferred contributions. I hope I have scrutinised the Bill fairly well. We hope that every person in the country is entitled to his or her own home. That is a concept in which I always believed. That is enormously important in everybody’s life, especially as people grow older. What is happening is that there is a 5% surcharge for the first three years, but it is all dependent on how the sums are calculated. The Minister of State is saying, in effect, that the maximum will be three years on the house, even if the person is in a nursing home for ten. However, that does not seem to apply to other assets, such as land. The rural 57 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

[Deputy Paul Connaughton.] constituency I represent is very similar to the Minister of State’s. There have been multiple cases of people who own a house and, perhaps, 40 acres of land. The family might be gone, in the professions and so on and perhaps it might not have suited them to come back, so the land was never transferred, for whatever reason. In the back of their minds, however, the elderly folk would have somebody in mind to continue the family name, which is enormously important in rural Ireland. However, 40 acres at the moment, even at the depressed values of \10,000 an acre are worth \400,000. The holding would have been worth a good deal more a few years ago, but that is today’s value, with the average price per acre at around \8,000 to \10,000. A person might be charged \800 a week in a nursing home, which is not exorbitant. Even bottom league prices, so to speak, are coming close to this and as many colleagues have said, some have gone way over that. In the event, that works out at \40,000 per annum, and if the person spends ten years in the nursing home, it is \400,000, equivalent to the value of the land at today’s prices. In other words if the patient remains in the establishment for ten years, there is no land left. The Government has said the patient will only be charged for the cost of the care, or \800 a week. However, it ultimately means that there is no land left to be transferred to anyone else. I do not know whether that was what the Government had intended, but it will happen. There have been several cases of that, already. I want to talk about the house for a minute, the family home. People talk glibly about the 5% deferred payments on the house. A house might be worth, say, \75,000. Until recently one could get nothing for \75,000, although one might, perhaps, be able to buy a small Land Commission-type house for that figure now. Over the three years, \11,250 will be taken off that. In other words somebody must come up with that amount. I shall deal, in a minute, with how it is taken off. Deputy Sherlock mentioned this a few moments ago, and I understand that this will come about by means of the ancillary State support. I understand the Revenue Commissioners are involved in this. If one takes the mythical 40-acre farm I was talking about, I assume that at the end of the ten years the State will expect to get its money back. At that stage the Revenue Commissioners will apply to the Land Registry to say, in effect: “As far as we are concerned the burden of debt is so great on that particular folio that we now own it.” At that point, when the State or the HSE seeks to realise the assets, will the Minister of State say whether the property will be sold on the open market? The family at that stage will be in no position to come up with the money and according to the legislation, it appears to me that the Revenue Commissioners have an asset on behalf of the State and in order to realise it, I assume the land will be sold. I shall be obliged if the Minister of State will specifically deal with this when replying to the debate. In the event, I assume that the Revenue Commissioners will sell to the highest bidder. If land values appreciate to where they were two years ago, will this mean that the estate of the elderly person would benefit by the difference between the sale price and the asset value? There is a reference to interest being applied, in the legislation. Will the Minister of State say where that interest is? Does it mean, in effect, that not alone are we talking about the \10,000 per acre but interest on it every year as well? What will the interest rate be? Suddenly one finds that the Revenue Commissioners will be seeking a great deal more money than anyone had anticipated at the beginning. That brings me back to what Deputy Sherlock mentioned. Will we reach a stage where it will become extremely difficult for the Exchequer to keep on paying? Remember, there may not be much of an appetite in rural Ireland for some of those sales by public auction. Some 58 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed) family members, for instance, might object on the grounds that this was where they had been born, not wanting to see the Revenue Commissioners selling the whole place over their heads. I hope somebody has thought this through because it is a real issue in rural Ireland. I wanted to have the opportunity to put that before the Da´il this evening. I hope this has been well thought out but I do not believe it has. I wanted to mention another matter. As regards the assets, as such, when a person is going into the nursing home, will this involve a legal commitment, and will he or she have access to his or her own solicitor, in the event? Will each person or family be allowed to have their own legal representative present, beside that of the HSE, and who will pay for the cost of such legal proceedings? It would be very unfair if only the HSE legal representative was present in processing the deal. As the Minister of State knows, it is very important to have a balanced legal approach in matters such as this. Most parties have solicitors to work on their behalf. In so far as nursing homes are concerned, by and large they are doing an excellent job, and fulfil an enormously important role. It is not the only role, as we know. We talk of primary care and helping the elderly to stay in their own homes. If I live to be 100, I hope I shall die in my own home, not that I have anything against the nursing homes. We understand that they exist for a particular purpose, but from my viewpoint, I hope to finish up at home, and I believe a great many people think as I do. I was misrepresented here some time ago when talking about the checks on nursing homes, which I entirely agree with. I pointed out that none of the nursing homes in Galway with which I am familiar was anything other than perfectly run but for some strange reason the news was reported in a slightly different manner. I have no evidence that any nursing home in Galway with which I am familiar is anything but properly run. I base that statement on the advice of the relatives of patients in these nursing homes. In so far as this scheme is concerned, the inspectorate will be important. I hope inspections will take place without advance warning and at any time. That is important in regard to every person who depends on medical care, whether in nursing homes or hospitals. I like what I hear in regard to the inspectorate, provided the funding is in place to ensure it is strong enough to act. It is easy to determine how a nursing home is being run at 3 p.m. but it is another story at 3 a.m. The people who run great homes will have no problem with inspections but if another Leas Cross exists, it has to be discovered. A nursing home is no place for an elderly or vulnerable person unless he or she is receiving the best of care and attention. This legislation has had a very long gestation period. I have seen few other Bills hang around as long as this one. When it is finally passed and the Minister of State has responded to the issues raised by Deputies on all sides, I hope there will be no more false dawns. I do not want to hear in six months time that the money has disappeared. Legislation is no use if a cap is put on its provisions. Deputies will be aware of the trouble farmers are experiencing in regard to the farm waste management scheme. If something is promised, the resources should be made available for it even in these difficult times. Whatever else we do, let us avoid playing around with the elderly because that would not be fair. I do not have time to address the issue of medical eligibility other than to speak about rural bachelors in their late 50s and 60s who have nobody to care for them and may be living a bit rough. There may be nothing physically wrong with them but they can be lonely and are often unable to access activities. It would be a disaster if these people are made ineligible for places in nursing homes because where else will they spend the remainder of their lives? A case could be made for their eligibility on mental health grounds alone.

59 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

Deputy David Stanton: I am pleased to contribute to the debate on this important Bill. However, I get a sense from the Bill and its accompanying documents that old people are viewed as a growing problem. The number of people aged over 65 has increased by 7.3% since 2002 and is expected to increase to more than 800,000 by 2025 and triple by 2050. Life expect- ancy is increasing. I would like to see this Bill put in the context of an overall philosophy of care for older people. The Bill defines “long-term residential care services” as “a facility predominantly for the care of older people, which designation shall specify the health or personal care services to be provided at that facility” but nowhere is the definition of “older people” set out. Are they over the age of 60, 70 or 80? The provisions are vague in that regard. I remind the House that nursing home patients also includes chronically ill young people, many of whom are inappropriately placed. In general, older people want to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Home care packages are available but I would like to see an increased provision of sheltered housing and day care facilities. Nursing homes should be the place of last resort. People should be provided care in their own homes and day care for as long as possible, followed by sheltered housing. However, there is a dearth of sheltered housing around the country. Many people in public and private nursing homes would happily live in sheltered housing if they had the choice. We need to develop a continuum of care for older people. Clearly, when somebody’s health deteriorates to the point at which he or she can no longer continue to live alone, nursing home care has to be provided. However, an issue arises in regard to a patient’s level of incapacity. Section 7(6) states:

A care needs assessment of a person shall comprise an evaluation of—

(a) the person’s ability to carry out the activities of daily living, including—

(i) the cognitive ability,

(ii) the extent of orientation,

(iii) the degree of mobility,

(iv) the ability to dress unaided,

(v) the ability to feed unaided,

(vi) the ability to communicate,

(vii) the ability to bathe unaided, and

(viii) the degree of continence,

of the person,

These factors require several decisions to be made by multidisciplinary teams. Section 7(11) states:

Where a care needs assessment is carried out, this shall not be construed as meaning that the Executive will provide or will arrange for the provision of any service identified in the assessment as being appropriate to meet the needs of the person or that the Executive has an obligation to provide or arrange for the provision of any such service. 60 Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: 10 February 2009. Second Stage (Resumed)

I am not sure what that provision means. Is it an opt-out clause? It suggests that care does not have to be provided even if an assessment points to the need for it. I am aware this is resource capped and I am interested to hear at what point these caps kick in. Section 10 deals with appeals. It is important such appeals are carried out by independent people. As pointed out by other speakers, the Bill provides that the Executive does not have to take into account a valuation provided by a property owner. I suggest that independent mediation should be provided for in this instance as in others where a dispute arises in respect of a valuation. Section 10(7) refers to requests for information and states that 28 days be provided in that regard, which is a relatively short timeframe. The section states that the Executive may refuse to further consider an application if such information is not provided. I believe more flexibility is required and that the section should, perhaps, be reworded as often it can be difficult for a person to obtain the information being sought. More clarification is required in respect of interest on land outside the State. Many people own property outside the State nowadays. I do not believe the Bill is clear in terms of how this issue will be dealt with. This section needs to be tidied up. The appointment of a care representative is important. The Bill states such person may be a member of a couple, a parent, child, brother, sister, nephew, niece, aunt or uncle of a relevant person. Often, elderly people who live on their own are cared for by a cousin or neighbour. The Minister of State might take another look at this provision. I know of elderly people, living on their own, who have no such relatives. I accept a care representative may also be a registered medical practitioner. However, an elderly person may have a cousin who is close to and good to them. Perhaps the Minister of State will consider taking into account such a person. I believe there is a typographical error on page 28 wherein it is stated that the court shall not appoint a person to be a care representative unless it has before it a report. There appears to be something wrong there. I cannot make sense of it. The Bill makes reference to the Revenue Commissioners and states that they cannot act after 12 years. As far as I am aware the Statute of Limitations is six years. Perhaps the Minister of State will explain the reason for the provision of 12 years in this regard. The Ombudsman is not mentioned in the Bill. Could the Ombudsman have a role here in the event of a dispute? I am aware the Health Service Executive comes within the remit of the Ombudsman so it might be useful to include somewhere in the Bill a reference to this. I did not come across such a reference although I may have missed it. Perhaps such reference is not necessary as the matter is covered by other legislation. The Minister of State, when replying, might state on the record whether the Ombudsman can be called upon to adjudicate or give an opinion on some aspects of the Bill if a dispute were to arise. It is not clear from the Bill whether that is possible although I believe it may be. On ancillary supports and property, elderly people, having sought legal advice, may opt to transfer their property to a son or a daughter when they reach their early sixties, thus taking the gamble that five years will elapse following which the asset, having been transferred, cannot be touched by the State. Not everybody will have the wherewithal or legal advice to do that. People who do this may also include in the transfer a clause which provides that they may reside in the house for as long as they live. It could well happen that many houses belonging to older people will be transferred at an early stage to sons or daughters with a condition attached that they may reside in the house for as long as they want. However, ownership of the house will then lie with the son or daughter. Could this type of transfer get around this legislation? From my reading of it, I think it could. I am not sure how this issue can be addressed but it is important it is addressed. 61 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

[Deputy David Stanton.]

I was told a number of years ago that construction of nursing homes in Denmark ceased in 1997. They may have built a great deal of them prior to then. Going back to my original point, their philosophy is to care for people in their own homes, sheltered housing, day-care and so on for as long as possible. Also, they have a national rehabilitation service which we do not have. Often, people here, many of them stroke victims, end up in nursing homes owing to a lack of rehabilitation. The philosophy on the Continent is that a person first be stabilised in an acute hospital and then moved to a rehabilitation unit. I have visited some of these units, which are amazing and provide all the services required. While we have an excellent rehabilitation centre in Du´ n Laoghaire there is a lengthy waiting list for admission to that facility. We all know stroke victims go downhill very quickly without early rehabilitation. I was amazed by the intensity of the service provided at the rehabilitation centre in Denmark and in other parts of Europe. The philosophy is to assist a patient to be as good as he or she can be and to return him or her, where possible, to the home or sheltered housing. A person here who suffers a stroke is taken to an acute hospital and usually ends up in a nursing home. In many cases, there is no need for this. The National Treatment Purchase Fund will be involved in negotiating prices. I am aware that in some places commissions have been established to set maximum prices to ensure there are sufficient resources to run an operation, that standards are not impacted upon and that investors obtain a reasonable profit. The setting of prices may be an issue worth examining. It is important assessments are carried out quickly. There are two types of assessment involved, namely, the financial assessment and the medical assessment. It may be possible for a person to arrange for a financial assessment to be undertaken at an early stage. For example, a family who is aware a person will require nursing home care might require that such an assessment be undertaken, say, six or 12 months earlier. This would help to speed up the process. Often, people get ill quickly, a family cannot cope and a delay occurs in getting them into a nursing home. This is when the real stress builds up. I say that bearing in mind all of the services we need to put in place, including rehabilitation services etc. We must be careful. There is a great deal happening in the property market. There have been massive changes in a short period and the value of property has fallen dramatically. The current situation is an awful mess. The system needs to be tightened up and clarified. I look forward to the rest of the debate.

Debate adjourned.

Private Members’ Business.

————

Hospital Services: Motion. Deputy James Reilly: I move:

That Da´il E´ ireann:

noting the conclusions of the Teamwork-Howarth Review of Acute Hospital Services in HSE Mid-West which recommended:

— that the current staff complement of three A&E consultants in Limerick must be upgraded to eight in order to allow for a consultant delivered service (which have not been advertised or implemented); 62 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

— 135 additional new acute inpatient beds (which are not in place);

— an increase in the number of ambulances (which have not been delivered);

— a high dependency unit in Limerick Regional Hospital (for which planning permission has not yet been sought); and

— the necessary upgrade of the A&E unit in Limerick Regional Hospital (which has not taken place);

and considering that:

— currently between 15 and 30 people are regularly on trolleys for durations in excess of 24 hours in Limerick Regional Hospital;

— the putative cost in the original draft of the report was \380 million and apparently only \6 million is available to implement the changes;

— local GPs in the area have expressed serious concerns about A&E cover and patient safety if this plan goes ahead; and

— the implementation of the HSE Teamwork-Howarth report is unlikely to take place in the current economic climate;

calls on the Government to:

— maintain current A&E services at Ennis and Nenagh hospitals; and

— proceed with the planned upgrade of Ennis and Nenagh hospitals.

I propose to share time with Deputies Noonan, O’Donnell, Crawford and Connaughton.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Deputy James Reilly: This motion is self explanatory and much of the rationale behind it is laid out clearly. While all that remains for me to do is to expand on the motion, I will first address the Government rebuttal, which “welcomes the conviction of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland that the reforms should continue in the Mid-West and else- 7 o’clock where”. This reference is very selective, however. In reply, the RCSI president stated, “While supporting this programme, this college remains extremely concerned about the provision of services in the major hospitals where accident and emergency departments continue to be overwhelmed on an ongoing basis and where patients who require elective surgical operations cannot be adequately managed within the health service in a timely and predictable manner”. Clearly, the accident and emergency unit in Limerick falls into this category. Furthermore, the Government rebuttal refers to CT scanners which have been present but not operational in Ennis and Nenagh hospitals for well over a year. The rest of the rebuttal welcomes and supports various intentions but does not provide timelines, which is at the core of our problem. Yet again, the HSE and the Minister for Health and Children, backed up by a Fianna Fa´il and Green Party Government, are ignoring their own report, the Howarth-Teamwork report, Review of Acute Hospital Services in HSE Mid-West. The report identified a number of issues that had to be addressed in order to achieve their end goal, which is the reconfiguration of the 63 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

[Deputy James Reilly.] hospitals, with the centralisation of surgery and acute medical services in Limerick Regional Hospital. The first area they examined was the accident and emergency department of Limerick Regional Hospital. A number of issues arose out of this. First, they acknowledged the unit needs serious upgrading as it is regularly overcrowded, with as many as 15 to 30 people lying on trolleys for longer than 24 hours and a mean waiting time of somewhere between seven and eight hours for all patients. Into this cocktail, the Minister will add the patients of north Tipperary and Clare, which will result in further chaos and reduction of services, and is grossly unfair on the people of Clare, north Tipperary and Limerick. Another facet of the accident and emergency unit is the staffing levels, particularly in regard to consultants. Currently, there are three very hard-working consultants in the accident and emergency department but this number does not allow for a consultant-delivered service so it remains a consultant-led service. To achieve the former and to achieve best practice, the report recommends that eight consultants in total be employed in accident and emergency. Not one of these additional five consultants has been appointed. In fact, only two of the five posts have been approved. Although none of the jobs has been advertised, the word “approved” gives the impression that the posts will be filled imminently but this could not be further from being the case. There first must be approval of a post, then advertisement, the drawing up a panel, the interviewing of applicants and then, ultimately, the making of an appointment. It is then necessary to wait for the successful applicant to become available. The process can take anything up to 18 months. One of the main reasons for the congestion in accident and emergency in Limerick is lack of capacity within the regional hospital. The Teamwork report recognises this and recommends 135 additional beds prior to the reconfiguration of the service. Not one of these beds is in place. Instead, we are given a sop, with talk of reducing the average bed stay from 6.5 to 3.5 days, which will result in additional capacity. Yet, where is the evidence to support the suggestion this can happen? In order for this to be achieved, practices have to change within the hospital and the community, and there needs to be much greater support for the patient in the community. None of this has happened. I emphasise that none of the recommended 135 beds is in place. Another area of concern in the Teamwork report is the necessity for further ambulances to service north Tipperary and the Clare region, including Ennis. None of these ambulances is in place. Furthermore, these ambulances are to be supplemented by emergency medical tech- nicians or paramedics who will be able to give certain drugs at the roadside but will not be able to administer life-saving blood transfusions. The paramedic will travel in the ambulance with the patient if there is a serious life-threatening condition but with the current proposed spread of paramedics, there would not be somebody to take up the slack or to drive the paramedic’s car from the scene of the accident. The bottom line for patients in areas like Carrigaholt and Lorrha in Clare and north Tipperary is that they will be well outside the “golden hour” in terms of accessing the necessary life-saving treatment which has been proven in the past to have a major influence on outcome. There is a real need to supplement this until the road system is properly finished. The report referred to a helicopter but I have not heard mention of it since. Another integral part of this plan is for a high-dependency unit of 40 beds to be built at Limerick Regional Hospital. Again, there is no sign of this. Planning permission has not even been applied for and from talking to the hospital doctors at Limerick Regional Hospital and St. John’s, they feel there is a need for at least another 40 beds to which to transfer those patients. 64 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

Another area of deep concern relates to the local general practitioners, who were unanimously opposed to this move at a major meeting with the HSE. Not one GP out of 81 at that meeting was prepared to vote in favour of this plan as currently implemented. These are the doctors on the ground, in the community, who know the people and the real, practical difficulties they suffer. They are at one with their community in opposing this, not least because they have been in touch with their colleagues in the north east — in counties Monaghan, Cavan and Louth — where reconfiguration also took place and where a fiasco resulted. I am told this situation resulted in 17 people passing by Monaghan Hospital in an ambulance only to arrive too late at Cavan. To quote one of the participants in the recent “Prime Time” programme, a Clare man, “There is no point in having utopia if it is a corpse that arrives”. We have been accused of scaremongering but the facts are the facts. We have seen the extraordinary situation of Drogheda hospital having to close for seven hours because it just could not cope. We have seen the additional load on accident and emergency units in the region, including Beaumont Hospital, which had up to 50 people on trolleys a few weeks ago. We have heard one of the accident and emergency consultants talk of a 25% improvement when a patient is brought to a centre of excellence for multiple trauma. However, these studies relate in the main to helicopter medevac on the roadside to bring the patient to the centre. First, we do not have the helicopter and, second, will we seriously describe an overcrowded accident and emergency unit at Limerick Regional Hospital as a centre of excellence when it will have to deal with 54,000 more patients per year arriving from Nenagh, Ennis and St. John’s hospitals? This is just another instance of putting the cart before the horse. What really upsets people is that, underlying this, they see a trend — anything that will save money is implemented post haste but anything that will save lives or cost money will be put on the long finger into the distant future. That has been the history of this Government and this Minister. In the original draft of this report, the cost of implementation was put at \380 million yet we are told there is only approximately \6 million to make it happen. Further, we have been advised by the Minister that the doctors in the hospital have been all bought into this and are enthusiastically supporting it. I have met all of those doctors. The two lead surgeons believe they will get the funding and trust the HSE to deliver but I am afraid nobody else does. Many of their colleagues are becoming increasingly concerned. At the outset, they were concerned by the lack of consultation on the Teamwork report but they are becoming more concerned with each passing day given the way it has been implemented and the ongoing lack of consultation. Having taken all of the above into consideration, this comes down to an issue of trust of the people of Ireland, in particular the people of the mid-west, in our current Minister, the Govern- ment and their much-discredited agency, the HSE. We cannot trust a Minister and a Govern- ment which told us in January 2007 there would be no cutbacks, when they knew full well there would be. We cannot trust a Government and Minister which told us cutbacks would not hurt patients, when they clearly did. We cannot trust the Minister or the Government who promised the wonder of a vaccine against cancer for our children in August 2008 and which, three months later, turned their backs on those same children. The Minister for Health and Children has displayed a pattern of behaviour which is very worrying. My words may seem harsh, but what else can one say when the Minister received letters from concerned doctors in Portlaoise dating back to 2002, and which were re-addressed to her in 2005, yet she did not take any appropriate actions. We saw what occurred as a consequence. There were 11 misdiagnoses of breast cancer. The files of 97 women were thrown into the corner of an office until a cohort was reached. That horrible ethos led to the same 65 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

[Deputy James Reilly.] situation arising in the north east. In September 2007 the HSE knew a problem existed there and yet took no action until May 2008. It knew it was possible there were people walking around with lung tumours growing. In that instance, letters were written to the Minister com- plaining about the service, the lack of staff and the over-use of locums. However, nothing was done about it. An article was published in The Sunday Times last weekend by Mr. Paul Gallagher who, through a freedom of information request, discovered that the consultants in Ennis General Hospital also wrote to the Minister highlighting deficiencies in the radiology service and stating it was not safe. Yet again, nothing was done. We are all familiar with the consequences in that case, which is now the subject of a HIQA inquiry following much public outcry, including comments from the family concerned. The Minister eventually agreed to the inquiry. What is emerging is a recurring pattern that borders on criminal negligence. There appears to be a refusal to listen to professionals in the field who have put their concerns in writing, a refusal to act in any appropriate fashion, and a refusal to address these issues. Here we are again. Another report is before us, the thrust and principle of which have much merit, including the principle of centralising facilitates and trying to get the best for patients. However, the manner in which it is being implemented has no such merit. Everything this report seeks to do, including to improve safety and to reach goals, is being ignored and put on the long finger. This is not the way to proceed. The report does not have the support of the people or the professionals. I appeal the Minister, Deputy Harney, her Government colleagues, the Deputies who support her, especially the Ministers for State, Deputies Ma´ire Hoctor and Tony Killeen, and Deputies Timmy Dooley and Michael Lowry to step up to the plate, to protect the people of the mid-west and to insist that the full recommendations of the report are implemented. Only then should the House consider the future of Nenagh General Hospital and Ennis General Hospital. I commend the motion to the House.

Deputy Michael Noonan: I support the motion and I wish to be associated with the arguments put forward by Deputy Reilly. The people of the mid-west are very fortunate to have such excellent medical practitioners, including consultants, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. The service they provide is tremendous. I visited Limerick Regional Hospital this morning at 8.30 a.m. Everyone there went about their business, happily working and setting about the tasks of the day. They were able to separate their personal traumas, pension levies and family concerns from their day’s work. They were up at work early in the morning and quite cheerful about it. I held a brief conversation with a consultant. He remarked on the uncertainty of the times and that the only remaining certainties concerning this Government were death and taxes, which is as good an epithet as one is likely to hear. I compliment the staff who provide a great service in the hospital in Limerick. Even if they are reconfigured, they will continue to do so. It is very easy to agree with the objectives of this report. Who would disagree with a report which is supposed to deliver on improved patient safety? Who would disagree with maximising clinical outputs, a programme to deliver better value for money, or an objective which purports to provide a high-quality service close to all patients’ homes? It is not the objectives of this report with which one would disagree but its implementation, measured against the past experience of the Minister and the Department of Health and Children. The modus operandi does not meet the needs of the region. It is planned to centralise emergency services at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick and to transfer to there all trauma cases from Ennis General Hospital, Nenagh General Hospital and St. John’s Hospital. 66 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

It is planned to turn these hospitals into minor ailment facilities operating from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The theory and practice very quickly go their separate ways. They do so because the facilities are not in place in Limerick regional hospital to take the existing workload and certainly the facilities are not in place to take the workload which would arise from the transfer of cases from Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s hospitals. The Minister promised that the necessary facilities would be put in place. However, nobody believes the Minister and with good reason. The Minister has previously made promises on innumerable occasions concerning different aspects of the health service and its delivery throughout the country. However, the promises have not been fulfilled. Deputy Seymour Crawford will again illustrate the difficulties in the north east and Cavan-Monaghan. We will hear of the litany of pathetic cases, whereby some people we obliged to drive past Monaghan General Hospital to access the services required, but did not arrive on time. That is the experience of people in the regions when it comes to the integration of services. It is not a very attractive blueprint for the people of the mid-west who can see what occurred in the north east. In these times of devastating cutbacks, when the pay and conditions of people in the public service are being trashed and when the fiscal situation continues to deteriorate, does anyone believe the Minister will produce \300 million to put the necessary programme in place to facilitate the new workload at Limerick regional hospital? It is not long ago since, for the sake \8 million, that the Minister reneged on a promise to vaccinate 12 year old girls, so that their lives would be saved at the age of 75 to 80. The Minister could not deliver on a promise of \8 million. Does anyone believe it is credible that she will now deliver on a promise to the people of the mid-west, to the people of Ennis and Nenagh, and to the many people in downtown Limerick who use the facilities at St. John’s? Does anyone believe the Minister will deliver? The only relevant figure in the Estimates for 2009 for this programme is a figure of approximately \6 million, but \300 million is required. I do not understand how this is supposed to add up, which is the problem we face. The report lists the necessary services, including an emergency operating theatre in Dooradoyle, of which there is no sign, the extension of the ambulance service and the deployment of advanced paramedics in the region. According to the report this service is under way. If the ambulances have been ordered, they certainly have not yet been delivered. The human resources situation involving ambulance drivers is not yet resolved. They have not even applied for planning permission for a new critical care block in Dooradoyle with ICU, HTU and CCU, although this is an essential component of the reconfiguration. New facilities in Ennis and Nenagh, a new theatre block in Nenagh, expansion of radiology services in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s, upgrade facilities in Nenagh — these are dreams over the silvermines. This is not reality. Nobody believes the Minister will deliver them. That is the problem she faces with this programme. In debating this issue over the past few weeks, Deputy Reilly has put forward a simple but profound proposition, that the Minister put the new facilities in place before closing the old ones. If she does that, people will vote with their feet and buy into them straightaway because the facilities outlined here would enhance patient safety and give better clinical outputs. Various case assessments have been made, and an assessment of outputs of patients who went through accident and emergency services in Nenagh and Ennis. In some cases the outcomes could have been better but there is no guarantee that the outcomes will improve by taking the patients into Limerick in an ambulance, to lie in the accident and emergency unit for five or six hours before receiving attention. There is a sting in the tail of this report because we have highlighted accident and emergency services but, on the first page of the statement I received, the HSE states accident and emergency surgery and critical care services need to be reconfigured as soon as possible, followed 67 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

[Deputy Michael Noonan.] by medicine in the longer term. If one has the patience to read to the end of the report, one can see many plans for the reconfiguration of medical facilities which turn Ennis and Nenagh into medical outposts.

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell: I support the motion proposed by our health spokesman, Deputy Reilly. The cart is being put before the horse. The Minister is introducing changes to accident and emergency services on 1 April and to surgical services on 1 July although the approved services are not available in Limerick Regional Hospital. St. John’s Hospital is in my constituency, in the heart of the city. It is the only accident and emergency service based in the city. Barrington’s was the main provider of accident and emergency services in Limerick until a Fianna Fa´il Government closed it in 1988. St. John’s took on that role and has done a terrific job. The report mentions that the service in St. John’s, along with those in Nenagh and Ennis, will be nurse-led. I welcome the commitment by Mr. Paul Burke, who is co-ordinating the reorganisation of the acute service in the mid-west, that it will continue to be doctor-led. That is critical for St. John’s. I hope the Minister will give that commitment in writing to Mr. Burke. There are three doctors in the accident and emergency unit in St. John’s, four nurses and two administrators. I am worried that if the service is doctor- led, the medical skills will be lacking to assess a patient with an acute difficulty. The Teamwork-Howarth report mentions increasing the throughput of patients in the accident and emergency unit of St. John’s hospital from 19,000 to 30,000 annually. St. John’s is open five days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Does the Minister propose to make that a seven- day a week service? She proposes sending patients directly to the accident and emergency services in Limerick Regional, where the service is already overstretched. The average waiting time for a patient in the accident and emergency unit in Limerick Regional is seven to eight hours. I cannot understand how bringing in extra patients will improve the quality of care. That is why it is critical that the accident and emergency services are maintained in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s and that the hospitals are upgraded. According to the original Teamwork-Howarth report, \47 million would be spent in St. John’s. That reference has disappeared from the published version of the report. Will that \47 million investment be honoured? The hospital needs new buildings and upgrading. Will the Minister provide the staffing resources to activate the much-needed CT scanner that has sat idle in the hospital for the past two years? The ground floor of St. John’s has been closed for a long time. It was traditionally closed for the summer months for budgetary reasons but it has remained closed for a longer period. Does the Minister propose to provide funding to open it? There are excellent medical and consultant staff in St. John’s and Limerick Regional and in the hospitals in Nenagh and Ennis. St. John’s and Limerick Regional interact in respect of consultants and appointments. I would not like to see the elective surgical work that can be carried out in St. John’s moved automatically to Limerick Regional. That would worry medical staff and needs to be clarified. Staff in St. John’s say they were not properly consulted in the preparation of the Teamwork- Howarth report. The consultants visited them for a few hours. These people are at the coalface and should have been consulted. Furthermore, they were not consulted before the report was published. We met many of these people during Deputy Reilly’s recent visit to St. John’s and Limerick Regional. It is critical that the HSE engage in meaningful discussions with the staff and management of St. John’s. We want to retain a functioning service and accident and emergency unit.

68 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

Will the Minister say whether she will give a commitment in writing to providing a doctor- led accident and emergency service in St. John’s? Will she say whether in increasing the throughput of patients from 19,000 to 30,000 patients, the service will increase from five to seven days? Will she say whether she is providing the resources to operate the CT scanner in St. John’s? Will she put resources in place to enable the ground floor in St. John’s to be opened? Will she put in place the \47 million proposed in the original report for St. John’s? Will she set a timescale for the provision of the extra facilities, staff and resources in Limerick Regional, for example, that the number of accident and emergency consultants increase to eight, the addition of 135 new acute beds, the increase in the number of ambulances, the high dependency unit and the upgrade of the accident and emergency unit in Limerick regional? I also call on her to ensure that the accident and emergency departments in St. John’s Hospital, Nenagh General Hospital and Ennis General Hospital are left as they are, and that nothing happens until the services in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick are upgraded.

Deputy Seymour Crawford: I thank Deputy Reilly for tabling this motion. I feel very different tonight because I have a number of colleagues around me. So often in the past few years, I was a lone voice when I spoke about this issue in regard to Monaghan General Hospital. As Deputy Noonan and Deputy Reilly pointed out, we in the Cavan-Monaghan region have come through much of this. Seventeen people may not have died if Monaghan General Hospital had not been off call at the time of those deaths. Unfortunately, we are soon heading back to that kind of situation. When 41 doctors advise that they are worried about this, yet we are told at the same time that everything is fine, then one wonders where are the structures that allow for discussions to take place. One of my colleagues on the Government side asked the Minister of the day why there was such an undue haste about the issue. Another of my colleagues on the Government side, Deputy O’Hanlon, clearly stated that what is left in Monaghan General Hospital is safe. Unfor- tunately, that does not seem to be the case now. What is often promised is not delivered, and even though we have been told over the past few months that things would be ready in a matter of weeks, they are still not ready or tested. I remember when the maternity unit was taken out of Monaghan. I did not object to it at the time, because I could understand the rationale behind it. We would be catered for in Cavan and in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, which is supposed to be the specialist maternity hospital for the region. Yet the Neary issue has caused tremendous trouble to many people. As some people were on the wrong side of a particular date, they still have not been compensated. In more recent times, the wife of a good friend of mine lost her life, as did her child. The reason given for their deaths was pressure on the system. The people involved could not deal with what was happening. I ask the Minister to take all these things into account. The issue is about saving money. One cannot think that this is about saving money or lives when we look at the history of Monaghan. I do not know where the money being saved is going. Close to \6 million was spent on two wards in Monaghan, and these will now be completely restructured. A CT scanner and beds are lying in storage outside Monaghan town, for which rent is being paid. There is no effort to save money or otherwise. I was in Monaghan General Hospital late last night visiting a friend, and I noticed that staff are in a quandary as they do not know what the future holds. I was in Cavan a week ago, and I could see how difficult the situation has become. Our experience is that Cavan and Monaghan can no longer cope. I warn my colleagues that the same situation will occur in Nenagh and Ennis. Let nobody be in any doubt that this is a Fianna Fa´il Government supported policy. The Minister of State, Deputy Moloney, on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, made 69 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

[Deputy Seymour Crawford.] it clear in his speech that it is Government policy to repeat what it is doing in Monaghan in both Ennis and Nenagh.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: I support Deputy Reilly on this issue. I am not from the region concerned, but I am close to it. Why does the Minister think that the people in Ennis and Nenagh are scared at the moment? Why does she think that ordinary law-abiding people will come out in their thousands in opposition to this? These people also believe in centres of excellence, as any right-thinking person would do. However, they genuinely believe from experience that something will happen in the regional hospital in Limerick, and nothing will happen in Nenagh and Ennis. There is a similar proposal for University College Hospital Galway and the west. How would the Minister expect the people of Tuam to react to guarantees given by her Government over ten years that the community hospital in Tuam would be built? As far as I can see, things are getting worse, yet this hospital was supposed to complement UCHG. Certain things would be done there that could be carried out within 20 miles of the hospital, so that people would not have to be brought in by ambulance. The Teamwork report could not have been more clear when it stated that no acute service will be withdrawn from the current general hospitals until the regional centre of excellence is resourced. The Minister has been a good few years in her current job, for which she is well paid. While the goal of creating centres of excellence is shared by everybody, I cannot understand her methods of bringing people towards that goal. Is she gone to the stage where she feels she must act like a dictator? Does she feel that whether the people come with her or not, she is right all the time and that this will have to happen? People have to be made understand that this is being done in their best interests, but if the people of Nenagh, Ennis or west Clare are asked whether this is the case, they will say that it could not be further from the truth. They believe that there will be a downgrading in their areas, and there will be no way back when it happens. Even though the Minister has broken many promises, she should at least ensure that she does things locally. I guarantee her that if this happens in Nenagh, Ennis and elsewhere, she will have little trouble with the centres of excellence. We were talking with the president of the IMO last week on the health committee, and about the importance of primary medicine at a local level. He threw his hands up in the air and told us that we are making very little progress. How can the Minister expect people to believe that the likes of the Mid-Western Hospital in Limerick will not become a dumping ground for all these cases, and that they will not be able to control it?

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I would like to share time with Deputies Dooley and Collins.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Is that agreed? Agreed.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: I am sure Deputy Dooley will be here.

Deputy Mary Harney: I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after “Da´il E´ ireann” and substitute the following:

“— strongly endorses the Government’s commitment to patient safety, quality and fairness as the priorities in the delivery of health services throughout the country; 70 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

— supports the Government’s view that fairness to patients throughout the country requires that all patients should have access to the appropriate care in the appropriate place at the appropriate time, provided by the appropriate person;

— recognises that the plan to reorganise hospital services in the Mid-West is evidence-led and in accordance with the principles of patient safety, quality assurance and fairness;

— notes and welcomes the conviction of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland that the reforms should continue in the Mid-West and elsewhere;

— welcomes the clinical leadership in the Mid-West region in the project to deliver better services to patients;

— urges everyone in the health service and public representatives in the region to work together to put patient care first above all other interests;

— welcomes the HSE’s commitment that Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s Hospitals will deliver additional day surgery and diagnostic services, including CT scanning and that many patients from Clare and North Tipperary who currently have to travel to Limerick will now be able to access these services in their local hospitals;

— welcomes the additional specialist services such as dermatology, neurology and rheumatology which will be available in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals;

— supports the HSE’s plans to appoint eight additional hospital consultants to enable the delivery of these new services and specialties at Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals;

— welcomes the HSE’s intention to enhance the ambulance service in the Mid-West through the deployment of twelve advanced paramedics and increased out-of-hours ambulance cover;

— supports the HSE’s intention to develop a regional critical care service involving the provision of a dedicated new critical care block which will have a total of 40 specialist intensive care, high dependency and coronary care beds and a new emergency theatre;

— recognises the necessity to make capital investment in all four hospitals in the region to support the reconfiguration plans; and

— welcomes the significantly reduced reliance on locum positions to provide services and their replacement with full-time consultant staff for the region which will result from the reconfiguration programme.”

I would like to begin by asking the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to clarify something. In his contribution, Deputy Reilly referred to the issue of me being accused of criminal negligence. I ask Deputy Reilly to reflect on that. I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his co-operation in that regard. I can take political accusations, but I am not going to accept that.

Deputy John Moloney: Hear, hear.

Deputy Mary Harney: Will Deputy Reilly reflect on it?

Deputy James Reilly: The Official Report will show that I said it “borders on criminal negligence”.

Deputy Barry Andrews: Weasel words. 71 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

Deputy James Reilly: The Minister of State is some man to talk about weasel words.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: He knows all about weasel words.

Deputy Mary Harney: If Deputy Reilly is not man enough to withdraw what he said, that reflects more on him than it does on me.

Deputy John Moloney: Hear, hear.

Deputy Mary Harney: In his contribution, Deputy Crawford accused me of acting with “undue haste”. It is worth quoting something that was said in this House more than 30 years ago, after the publication of the FitzGerald report, which recommended the kind of approach that is now being adopted. The then Minister for Health, Brendan Corish, said that there could be “no more delays or equivocation” as it was not “medically feasible” to continue to do what the State was doing. Almost 40 years on, we are still having the same debate.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: The Minister has a good researcher.

Deputy Mary Harney: The reorganisation of our hospital services around patient safety has always been put on the political conveyer belt. In his contribution, Deputy Reilly invited the Ministers for State, Deputies Hoctor and Killeen, as well as Deputies Dooley and Lowry — I do not think Deputy Collins was mentioned — to put their people before their party, or words to that effect.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: There was a time when the Minister was good at doing the same thing.

Deputy Mary Harney: I will deal with the issues raised by Deputy Connaughton.

Deputy Joe Carey: The Deputies in question were elected by the people of the mid-west.

Deputy Mary Harney: The only issue at stake during the reorganisation of services in the mid-west is patient safety, rather than money.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: The same thing applies in Monaghan.

Deputy Mary Harney: That is the dynamic that is driving reform. That is why the surgeons in the mid-west region support this reform. We are being asked to keep open the accident and emergency departments in Nenagh and Ennis even though there is no emergency consultant in either hospital.

Deputy Joe Carey: That is the Minister’s fault.

Deputy Mary Harney: The accident and emergency unit in Nenagh deals with an average of six or seven patients each night and the equivalent unit in Ennis deals with an average of nine patients each night. Can Deputy Reilly, as a doctor, stand over that? The units are not staffed by doctors who are trained in emergency medicine. The staff of the units do not even report to emergency consultants, surgeon consultants or physician consultants.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: Is the Minister casting aspersions on doctors in Nenagh?

Deputy Mary Harney: I am simply saying they do not have specialist training. 72 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: The Deputies on the Opposition benches were allowed to make a substantial case without interruption. I ask them to allow the Minister to make her contribution in similar fashion.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: She should apologise to the doctors in Nenagh.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle should ask her to be relevant.

Deputy Mary Harney: I did not devise this reform in my Department with my officials, or in conjunction with the HSE. This reform is being driven by medical evidence of what is in the best interests of delivering good outcomes for patients.

Deputy Barry Andrews: Hear, hear.

Deputy Mary Harney: I remind Deputy Reilly, who may wish to challenge that assertion, that I can quote from many reports, including a World Health Organisation report, in support of it. When Deputy Reilly and I participated in a discussion on RTE the other night, we watched a film clip in which Dr. O’Donnell spoke about an increase of 25% in mortality rates. The World Health Organisation has estimated that the increase might be as high as 50%. Is there any Member of this House who would not bring his or her sick daughter, son, mother, father, brother or sister to the hospital that offered that person the best chance of recovery?

Deputy Paul Connaughton: I agree, but the problem is getting to that hospital.

Deputy Mary Harney: I do not believe there is a single Deputy in this House who would not take his or her loved one to such a hospital.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: We used to have such a hospital in north Tipperary.

Deputy Mary Harney: As Minister for Health and Children, I am part of a Government that has a responsibility——

Deputy Joe Carey: Would the Minister like to have to bring such a person 80 miles?

Deputy Mary Harney: I listened to the Deputy.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I ask Deputies to allow the Minister to make her contribution.

Deputy Mary Harney: We have a responsibility to make sure we do not continue with a status quo that does not give patients a chance to enjoy the best possible outcomes, particularly in respect of surgical procedures. By international standards, we have enough people with specialist knowledge in anaesthetics and surgery to deliver emergency surgery in the mid-west region. There are more than 400 hospital doctors and more than 1,400 nurses in the region. We cannot deliver the best service there if it is fragmented across four hospitals. Just 28 surgical procedures took place at Ennis General Hospital during the night over a six-month period. The relevant figure in Nenagh General Hospital was 12 and in St. John’s Hospital was 21. Between the three hospitals, there were 60 surgical procedures during the night over the six months in question. We all know that doctors’ skills cannot be maintained, and good patient outcomes cannot be delivered, if there is low-volume activity in high-volume specialties. I do not say that merely on the basis of evidence from Ireland. What we are seeking to do in Ireland is being put into practice in virtually every country in the world that I have examined. I have spoken to my ministerial colleagues across Europe, who took these steps many years ago. It has also been done in Northern Ireland. 73 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: They put in the services first.

Deputy Mary Harney: We are simply trying to give patients in the mid-west the best chance to enjoy good outcomes when they need to avail of surgery or emergency medicine.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: The Minister should first put in place the services.

Deputy Mary Harney: Notwithstanding Deputy O’Donnell’s contribution, I note that the Fine Gael motion does not mention keeping emergency services in St. John’s Hospital, or extending them to seven days. I understand that the HSE is in discussions with the hospital authorities on that matter.

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell: That is good to hear.

Deputy Mary Harney: That was not referred to in the motion. Deputy Reilly mentioned the reference to 135 beds in the Teamwork-Howarth report. The report said that 135 beds would be needed if the specialist orthopaedic hospital in Croom and the stand-alone maternity hospital were to be closed, and we were not to have elective procedures in Ennis and Nenagh. As we are not doing those things, we do not need 135 beds. We will have elective procedures in Nenagh and Ennis, to where the doctors and surgeons will travel.

Deputy James Reilly: It will be day surgery only.

Deputy Mary Harney: That was not envisaged in the Teamwork-Howarth report. We are not closing the stand-alone maternity hospital or the orthopaedic hospital in Croom. That is why the issue of the 135 beds does not arise. In the context of a debate on a matter as important as this — it was chosen as the subject of Fine Gael’s Private Members’ time — we should deal with the facts that are before us. The issue of consultant manpower in the region was also raised. We are currently recruiting two radiologists and one pathologist, with a specialty in cancer, for the cancer programme in Limerick Regional Hospital. We will recruit two more emergency consultants, thereby increasing to five the number of such consultants. They will all work together. We will have three new radiologists, three pathologists, a dermatologist, a neurologist and rheumatologist. I want to talk about them because they are new to the region. They will provide services in Ennis for the patients of County Clare and in Nenagh for the patients of north Tipperary. At the moment, 700 patients per year come from County Tipperary to Limerick for diagnostic procedures, including CT scanning. A further 1,000 patients come from Ennis for such procedures. From the summer of this year, those procedures will be performed in the local hospitals in Ennis and Nenagh.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: We were told that last year as well.

Deputy Mary Harney: I assure the Deputy that the staffing implications are being dealt with. I think everybody will acknowledge that this reform is being headed by a clinician, Mr. Burke, who is well respected in the region. He is enthusiastic about the reform and is seeking to engage with his consultant colleagues and others in the region.

Deputy James Reilly: Have they got the money to do it?

Deputy Mary Harney: Yes, he will have money to do it. I will deal with that in a moment. Even if no money were available in the morning, it would not be possible to maintain what we have in the region. 74 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

Deputy Paul Connaughton: That is what they are afraid of.

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell: The Minister has admitted that cuts will be made.

Deputy Mary Harney: On Thursday of this week, we will outline the Government’s response to the report of the patient safety commission. The commission, which was chaired by Dr. Madden, included patient safety advocates and experts from Ireland and overseas. The commission’s report has been published, and Deputies are aware that it recommends the establishment of a system of accreditation or licensing in our acute hospitals. It will take us some time to draft that legislation. Even if the legislation could be implemented in the morning, many of the acute hospital services we provide could not be licensed or implemented as they do not live up to the requisite patient safety standards. That is a fact in Ireland and globally. We have to prepare for the challenge of putting a licensing and accreditation system at the heart of our acute hospital service, so that it is fundamentally organised on the basis of patient safety and good outcomes. When we took similar steps in our cancer service, that was opposed too. I am delighted to say that the reorganisation of breast services is ahead of schedule and will be completed by April of this year. There is almost unanimous buy-in, although not total buy-in. People who were initially sceptical and concerned, as we often are when change takes place, have become enthusiastic fans of what we are doing in the cancer area. They know it will improve outcomes for patients.

Deputy James Reilly: The numbers seeking the service in Galway is such that the system is bursting at the seams, while the service has not even arrived in Sligo.

Deputy Mary Harney: I will deal now with capacity issues. Reference was made to the capacity of the accident and emergency department in Limerick Regional Hospital. On approximately two or three occasions last year patients had to wait more than six hours in that department. That is a fact. As Deputy Reilly knows, patients are treated on trolleys all the time; sometimes the only treatment provided to a patient is while he or she is on a trolley. That is the case not only in hospitals in Ireland but in hospitals throughout the world. The fact that at any one time a given number of people are on a trolley does not prove any point the Deputy Reilly is trying to make.

Deputy James Reilly: The Minister should tell us about the pleasant experience they have on them.

Deputy Mary Harney: The performance of the accident and emergency department in Limerick Regional Hospital is better than most. The hospital is challenged to provide services and that is the reason a unit with 40 critical care beds for high dependency patients will be provided.

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell: No planning permission has been sought for it yet.

Deputy Mary Harney: I am aware of that.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: When will that unit be provided?

Deputy Mary Harney: Planning permission will be sought shortly.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: Shortly.

Deputy Mary Harney: Yes, shortly. 75 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

Deputy Paul Connaughton: The answer is always shortly.

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell: Will it be in place before 1 April?

Deputy Mary Harney: No, of course the unit will not be in place before 1 April. The Deputy knows that.

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell: I know that but I am——

Deputy Mary Harney: Equally, you must know——

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: The Minister should address her remarks through the Chair.

Deputy Mary Harney: Through the Chair, the Deputy must know what is happening here is urgent. On reading one of this morning’s newspapers — I believe it was the Irish Independent —I note Deputy Reilly was quoted as saying that the salaries being paid by way of overtime earnings to non-consultant hospital doctors in the mid-west is outrageous. The reason it is outrageous, to use his phraseology, is because of the way we organise services. We have people on call in four hospitals in that region at night to deal with a very low level of activity in three of those hospitals. Not only does it not make sense from a financial point of view, it does not deliver high patient safety outcomes for the patients who visit these hospitals. This has nothing to do with the doctors or the staff, it has to do with the manner in which——-

Deputy James Reilly: Would the Minister care to cite the rest of the quote?

Deputy Mary Harney: ——we have sought to organise services. Deputy Reilly talked about the letters I get from doctors. I get letters advising me that this and that is outrageous and asking if they could only have a little bit more here and there. That is what we have done for the past 12 to 14 years. We have multiplied nearly fivefold the amount of money going into our acute hospital services.

Deputy James Reilly: Senior consultants have expressed concern, not outrage.

Deputy Mary Harney: Given the failure to reorganise how and where we do things, we are not getting the outcomes or the value for money service we deserve.

Deputy James Reilly: We will not get it by putting the cart before the horse.

Deputy Mary Harney: The most important thing for patients is to be treated in the right place at the right time by the right people.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: I agree.

Deputy Mary Harney: That is a fact. If somebody is involved in a road accident, the place that person should be stabilised is on the roadside. That is the international evidence. We have trained up to 12 paramedics, six for each county. We have already procured two specialist vehicles, which Deputy Reilly does not acknowledge, one for each county.

Deputy James Reilly: I do.

Deputy Mary Harney: In Tipperary at night there is one call out. We have 12 paramedics in training, we have recruited 12 additional ambulance crew and I accept there are industrial relations issues. International evidence suggests that the best place to stabilise a traffic accident 76 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion patient is on the roadside. The golden hour or two hour rule in terms of receiving treatment is not about getting to a place called a hospital. An unfortunate accident occurred in Deputy Connaughton’s area last night and, tragically, one person died at the scene and the other person died in hospital. Half of all the people who die everyday in Ireland die in hospital. It is not a question of just going to a hospital, it is about getting the people in a specialist centre as quickly as possible.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: The people involved in the accident to which the Minister refers were brought to the hospital in Ballinasloe.

Deputy Mary Harney: In regard to trauma cases, protocols are already in place in Ennis and Nenagh general hospitals to take those patients to Limerick Regional Hospital. That is the current arrangement. Those patients are supposed to be taken to Limerick and are not supposed to be taken to either Nenagh or Ennis. Hospital services and the re-organisation of them have always been a challenge for us in this country. If we were starting to put in place a hospital infrastructure today, we would never build 35 acute hospitals around the country. We know that trying to get specialists, not only domestically but internationally, is a challenge. Those specialists work in a an extraordinary fragmented fashion. We have 4,800 junior hospital doctors and 2,100 consultants, therefore, we have many doctors working in hospitals. Many of them deal with very low numbers of patients. To allocate more staff to a system that is not properly organised around patient safety in order to deliver good outcomes would not make any sense, no matter who writes the letters. I met a group of people from Ennis. The HIQA report will be published soon and we will see what it has to say about how we organise services. We live in an environment where we have a new organisation independent of the provider of services, funded by the taxpayer to set and monitor standards and to carry out inquires where it is considered there is a risk to the patient’s care or welfare. That is what that organisation has been doing. For the first time in the past few years, we have had inquiries into wrongdoings, which have been very revealing. We can either bury those reports or pretend more of the same will get us over the findings of a report or we can change things. That is what we are seeking to do. The president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland was clear when he said we want critically ill surgical patients to be brought to centres that are appropriately equipped and staffed where there is a sufficient volume of this kind of activity to sustain the necessary levels of skills. He went on to say, it is precisely at these times that changes can be made with sensible costings rather than the over-exuberant plans and unrealistic budgeting that is sometimes mentioned. He clearly indicated, contrary to Deputy Reilly’s speech, that, as president of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the training body for surgeons in Ireland, the reforms in the mid-west are appropriate as far as he is concerned. Patient safety is not only about organising services differently in our hospitals, it also involves how we regulate professions working in the health care area. We recently modernised how we regulate medical practitioners. We have a lay majority in that respect. We have a different procedure as far as fitness to practice is concerned where hearings can be held in public other than on an exceptional basis, where doctors are mandated by law to maintain their competence. Many of those provisions, particularly the lay majority one, was opposed by the Opposition. The same position applies to the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland where there is also a lay majority. For the first time in more than 100 years we have an appropriate regime in regard to the regulation of the pharmacy profession. Shortly we will have a new nurses Bill, subsequently a dentists Bill and so on. 77 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

[Deputy Mary Harney.]

Patient safety is about the organisation of services, but it also about the regulation of the professions. In particular, it is about ensuring that those who work in medicine maintain their skill base. We know in our heart — Deputy Reilly, as a doctor, in particular, knows this — that one cannot maintain one’s skill in an accident and emergency department, particularly if one is not a consultant with specialty training, and certainly if one is only dealing with six, eight or nine patients a night. Nobody can maintain or even acquire a skill in that kind of environment. We must learn from the evidence and be courageous enough to act on it. The Govern- ment knows this and that is why it is so enthusiastic for the reform. It also knows reform will be difficult and many people will be worried. The reason they will be worried is that politicians are telling them that they are going to die.

Deputy John Moloney: That also happened in the case of the hospital in Portlaoise many years ago.

Deputy James Reilly: They would know of the Minister’s broken promises. They have seen what has happened in the north east.

Deputy Mary Harney: Relations of politicians have also told them they are going to die.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: What about GPs?

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Allow the Minister to conclude.

Deputy Mary Harney: I accept that GPs will be challenged because if there is no accident and emergency out of hours service, there will be some extra work.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: Does the Minister believe they only act in their own self interest as well?

Deputy Mary Harney: No, in the case of Ennis——

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: It is a case of everybody being wrong, except the Minister.

Deputy Mary Harney: ——there will be——

(Interruptions).

Deputy Mary Harney: ——and the HSE is in discussion with the GPs.

Deputy Joe Carey: What about services in Nenagh General hospital?

(Interruptions).

Deputy Mary Harney: I can understand a GP being concerned if the accident and emergency department in a hospital is to close. Of course, they would be concerned. We all have our own concerns. Discussions are taking place with the general practitioners. In regard to senior medics, particularly the surgeons working in the mid-west, I do not know to whom Deputy Noonan spoke this morning. He seemed to have a Fine Gael perspective on the world. No Government has reduced tax more, as that consultant should know, than the parties that have been in Government for the past 12 years. Therefore, I do not understand why he thought we did not reduce tax. However, Deputy Noonan presumably has his own friends who talk about death and taxes, but I have spoken to many consultants not only in the 78 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion mid-west but throughout the country and I know that many people working in medicine in Ireland are enthusiastic about the reform——

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell: What about the resources?

Deputy James Reilly: That is the problem.

Deputy Mary Harney: ——-and want to us see us , the elected us representatives, having the courage to see it through.

Deputy John Moloney: Hear, hear. Well done, Minister.

Deputy Timmy Dooley: I welcome this opportunity to discuss the issue of reconfiguration of medical services in the mid-west region. Health is an emotive issue and the advent of change generates fear and uncertainty in the minds of the public at large. While that fear may be well- founded in some cases, the efforts by some vested interests to mislead and misguide is unfortunate and unnecessary. The current position on the delivery of health services in the mid-west, and Clare in particular, is unacceptable. Patients are confronted with unnecessary risk on a daily basis. A number of cases have been highlighted in the media which have created a bad impression of Ennis. That has been difficult for those people and their families and the out- 8 o’clock come was not acceptable. Notwithstanding that, it is my understanding that similar cases happen throughout the smaller hospital network and there is a requirement to address that. According to Dr. Cathal O’Donnell, an accident and emergency consultant in the region, the chance of a better outcome for the patient can be increased by up to 25%, based on existing case data. He has staked his reputation on this claim. He has also stated on record that mortality rates in the region will reduce as this reconfiguration is implemented. The Minister already quoted Professor Frank Keane, president of the Royal College of Sur- geons in Ireland. In a letter to The Irish Times in January this year, he stated:

I would like to reaffirm that the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is convinced that the reform should continue in the mid-west and elsewhere where these changes are necessary and, in many cases, long overdue. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s motive is first and foremost to achieve better and safer patient care. We want critically ill surgical patients to be brought to the centres that are appropriately equipped and staffed and where there is sufficient volume of this kind of activity to sustain the necessary levels of skills to manage these patients. Timing is often an issue and therefore patient transfer from hospital to hospital should be kept to a minimum.

That complies with international best practice which seems to suggest, as the Minister stated, that stabilisation should take place at the earliest possible time in the case of a road traffic accident on the roadside and, in the case of another trauma, at the particular site of that event. These are just two of the many clinicians who have called for, and who support, the proposals contained in the programme of service delivery reconfiguration in the region. As a public representative with no medical training, other than being the son of a well- qualified but retired nurse, it is incumbent on me to listen and heed the advice of such eminent medics. Regardless of my hunches or any desire to be politically expedient, I cannot, in good conscience, ignore the advice of these professionals who have taken an oath which places upon 79 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

[Deputy Timmy Dooley.] them a burden to protect their patients. Patient safety, reduced mortality and better outcomes are the cornerstones of this reconfiguration.

Deputy Tom Sheahan: Tell that to the people in County Clare.

Deputy Timmy Dooley: I tell them and I have no problem with that. I am prepared to put the facts before the people and to accept the advice of the senior clinicians in the region. There are other people running around this country who are not prepared to back up what they say with any level of evidence other than “du´ irt bean liom go ndu´ irt bean le´i”. That does not work for me and it does not work for the patients in County Clare. I will be surprised if it works for the patients in the Dingle Peninsula whom the Deputy represents.

Deputy Tom Sheahan: Carry that out to County Clare.

Deputy Joe Carey: What about Deputy Dooley’s pre-election commitment?

Deputy Timmy Dooley: It is incumbent on all of us to ensure these changes are made without delay.

(Interruptions).

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Allow the Deputy speak.

Deputy Timmy Dooley: If these changes are to be successful, they should, and must, be supported by investment in the supporting infrastructure and in bed capacity, upgraded facilities and improved and enhanced ambulance cover. I appeal to the Minister and her Department——

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: Do not do it, Tadhg.

Deputy Timmy Dooley: —— to lead this change through investment. The geographical spread of County Clare, as I am sure Deputy Carey will agree when he speaks later, will require extra ambulances and extra ambulance personal. It will require advanced paramedics. There are particular geographical matters between east and west Clare. East Clare currently has a period from 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. without ambulance cover and we must address that. We must address the issue of west Clare. I know the Minister has frequented Loop Head and she will know it is 80 miles from Limerick. The fact that ambulances will be out of the county for longer periods of time requires that investment.

Deputy Tom Sheahan: That is the golden hour. One cannot get from Loop Head to Limerick in an hour.

Deputy Timmy Dooley: The proposed changes in emergency department cover from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. at Ennis Hospital need further clarification and consideration. Engagement with Shannon Doc services is necessary to provide the people of County Clare with access to appropriate services on the hospital site. I believe there is need for an extra eight consultants and 12 advanced paramedics and also for that critical care block required at Limerick Regional Hospital. Capital investment in Ennis is long overdue. Unfortunately, it has not been advanced as quickly as all of us would have liked. We cannot put the cart before the horse. I know the Minister is committed to ensuring that support is put in place to allow the reconfiguration to proceed without delay in order that 80 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion patients in the mid west are given the best possible chance for a positive outcome. Collectively, we can all reduce unnecessary deaths.

Deputy Niall Collins: We must remember the context of any debate in this House in respect of the health service. All parties, with the exception of Sinn Fe´in, from the 1960s to the 1990s——

Deputy Tom Sheahan: That is a cheap shot when no member of the party is present.

Deputy Niall Collins: ——contributed to the demise of the health services. If we are honest we must ask what was the result. We had deficits in funding, infrastructure, human resources and strategy. Everything has had to play catch-up in the past 12 to 15 years. We must acknowledge the levels of funding now available. We have invested in our infrastructures. Hospitals are being built and improved. Our human resources are being improved. We are engaging more consultants, doctors and nurses, all frontline staff of the kind that everybody wants to see. We have a redundancy programme coming down the line for the administration staff that everybody has a problem with, whom people seem to want to lose. Let us keep this in context. I welcome the recent coverage and debate we have had in respect of reconfiguration in the mid west. It was refreshing to see an input from independent people who work on the frontline. That was the first time in a long while that we have not had the entire debate crowded by politicians, including all of us in this House, thereby letting it descend into a political slagging match. These are the frontline people who are charged with the delivery of the service and they have staked their reputations on that. Let us listen to them because they are qualified, independent and they know their work. I am certainly happy to buy into what they say. I mention, in particular, Paul Burke and Cathal O’Donnell. I can understand the concern expressed by people in counties Clare and Tipperary. However, there is a change. For the people in those counties to whom I speak — in my party we do not confine ourselves merely to our own constituencies — in Tipperary, Nenagh and Ennis——

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: We will allow the Deputy pass through.

Deputy Niall Collins: —— there will be additional specialist services such as dermatology, neurology and rheumatology. There are plans to appoint eight——

Deputy Tom Sheahan: The Deputy can get his corns and bunions done there.

Deputy Niall Collins: ——additional hospital consultants. It is equally important to point out that Cathal O’Donnell and Paul Burke have a shared responsibility for the region, not only for the accident and emergency department in my local hospital, namely, the regional hospital. For Limerick Regional Hospital and its accident and emergency department, I welcome the fact that this initiative will deliver a new emergency operating theatre, an expanded ambulance service and a critical care block that will bring in up to 40 beds when it is built. I am sure this will be delivered.

Deputies: When?

Deputy Niall Collins: It will be built but the Deputies do not wish to move forward at all. They just want to look backwards.

Deputy Tom Sheahan: There is not even car space there, for God’s sake. 81 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

Deputy Niall Collins: We will move it forward.

(Interruptions).

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Allow Deputy Collins to make his contribution.

Deputy Niall Collins: There will be an intensive care unit with an enhanced service and there will be a high dependency unit. With regard to the roll out of this plan it is also important to remember——

Deputy Timmy Dooley: It is a hospital.

Deputy Niall Collins: —— that the primary care centre——

(Interruptions).

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Allow Deputy Collins make his contribution.

Deputy Niall Collins: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Deputy Tom Sheahan: Let him at it.

Deputy Niall Collins: The roll out of primary care centre infrastructure is at an advanced stage in my constituency. I am glad to know this, as most people would be, with regard to their constituencies. To name a few, places such as Croom, Ballylanders, Caherconlish, and Cappaghmore that Deputy O’Donnell knows very well, are at a very advanced stage. The roll out of BreastCheck is also well received within the constituency.

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell: That is what I worked hard for.

Deputy Niall Collins: Deputy O’Sullivan mentioned general practitioners. This is not a criticism but I would like to see more investment in GP training and more places for GP trainees in the mid west. We have had a number of female GPs who, due to life responsibilities and family circumstances, cannot work on a full-time basis and we need more training places. Any debate about the HSE showers that agency with negativity, which reflects on its staff. For my part, I wish to thank the staff of the HSE in the mid west for their service and dedication, for their professionalism and for the approach they take to their jobs on an everyday basis in difficult circumstances. I do not think it is fair there should be negative reflection on them. The Fine Gael motion, as tabled, states that “regularly” 15 to 30 people are on trolleys. That is a very liberal use of the word “regularly”. I was in the accident and emergency department a couple of days ago and did not see anybody on trolleys. I was in the hospital a week ago and did not see anybody on trolleys. I had occasion, as I told Deputy Reilly outside the House——

Deputy Tom Sheahan: The Deputy is in VHI. He went in a different door.

Deputy Niall Collins: I had occasion to visit the accident and emergency department during the Christmas period.

Deputy Tom Sheahan: That is why. He went in a different door.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Please. 82 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

Deputy Niall Collins: I shall tell Deputy Sheahan which door I used. I went in the door that led to the accident and emergency department and presented myself. There were 15 people ahead of me and I was No. 16. They were all seen within 25 minutes, I was seen within half an hour and nobody was on a trolley. I do not know how regular, or how liberal, is the use of that word “regular” but I believe it is abused.

Deputy James Reilly: That is a unique story.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: With the permission of the House, I wish to share time with Deputies CaoimhghıńO´ Caolaín and Seań Sherlock. The problem with this matter is one of trust. The Minister put forward a fine, spirited argument in this House about why what she was doing was what she felt to be right, but the whole system is predicated on services being in place in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital and in the community that are not in place. When I asked the Minister when the critical care unit would be available in that hospital she was not able to tell me. She is well able to tell us when surgical activities and night time accident and emergency services will be closed in Ennis and Nenagh, but not when the facilities that are meant to be in place, and which the Teamwork report says are a predicate to the changes, will be in place. It is a problem of trust. Unfortunately, there is no trust in the mid-west that the reconfiguration plan will be anything other than a money saving exercise which will hurt patients. I listened to Deputy Crawford earlier in the debate. I respect him very much. He does not exaggerate but is a very responsible Deputy. He said 17 people in Monaghan may not have died if what happened in the north east had not happened.

Deputy Mary Harney: He is not a doctor.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: It is the doctors’ opinion, and the Minister knows that.

Deputy James Reilly: It was reported by the local GPs.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: How does the Minister know? She is not a doctor.

Deputy Mary Harney: I take the advice of doctors.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: So does Deputy Crawford.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: While the Minister talks a very good talk, the reality of what happened in the north east is there for us to see. We must see that exactly the same is coming down the tracks for us in the mid-west if we take this on trust, particularly in the context of the financial situation. Last week a HSE west meeting was told that a further \10 million will be taken from the acute hospital budget in the mid-west on top of the \400 million that was taken off at the end of last year after the service plan had been published. That is the reality of the cuts coming down the tracks. How are we supposed to believe the Minister? That is the problem. Dr. Paul Burke and his colleagues are very genuine people who believe what they are doing is right, but there are many GPs in the mid-west, who are also highly trained doctors and who know their patients very well, and they are unanimously against this proposal. I have spoken to many who work in the hospitals in the mid-west who are extremely worried about this proposal and, above all, the patients and the public are extremely worried about it. I attended the meeting in Nenagh recently and intend to attend the protest on 21 February in Nenagh. I assume there will also be protests in Ennis. I listened to those people. There were so many people there that hundreds of them were out in the rain because they could not fit into the venue. It was a huge meeting of ordinary people who live in north Tipperary — doctors, 83 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

[Deputy Jan O’Sullivan.] nurses, patients of the hospital and their relatives. They are genuinely fearful about what is being proposed. My colleague, Senator Kelly, said people in the mid-west should be very afraid and, unfortunately, he is right because the theory is great but, unfortunately, we cannot trust the practice. The people who would otherwise go to Nenagh and Ennis will all descend on a regional hospital that is already overstretched and overcrowded. We hope St. John’s is safe, but we are not quite sure and want undertakings in that regard. Neither the Minister nor the HSE has been able to give us any commitment that the money will be spent on what is identified in the plan as needed. If we were to accept this on trust we would need our heads examined. The plan is supposed to be predicated on more comprehensive primary and community care, long-stay beds, diagnostics, day-care beds, a medical assessment unit, a critical care unit in Limerick, more ambulances and more ambulance personnel. These are all good things but the problem is that there is no money in the kitty to provide them.

Deputy Mary Harney: They already have the ambulances and the personnel.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: The Minister has already told us there are IR problems and we have no guarantee they will be in place at the time.

Deputy Mary Harney: We have them. They are in place.

Deputy James Reilly: The Minister should be honest.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: The Minister can bamboozle sectors of the commentariat and the 1% of the population who, unfortunately, vote for her party. She has done much talking about, for example, fixing the national crisis of accident and emergency overcrowding, but there are more people on trolleys now and in the last year than there were during the so-called crisis three years ago.

Deputy Mary Harney: That is not true.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: She talked about providing extra hospital beds through co-location, but not a single extra bed has been provided in that way. She talked about rolling out the HPV vaccine for 12 year old girls next year but she has gone back on that. She talks a very good talk but, unfortunately, she does not deliver. The Minister and the HSE promised that specific actions to improve overcrowding in the accident and emergency unit in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital would be provided if it went along with her plans three years ago, and it did. The hospital was at the top of the list and was supposed to get extra consultants as a reward, but they were never delivered.

Deputy Mary Harney: It is getting them.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: It did not get them when they were promised. Again, we are offered more consultants but it is always in the future. However, they are not in place, so how are we supposed to believe the Minister? The crowd that turned out in Nenagh knew the issues very well. They know we need a major specialist centre. I have no problem with the Minister’s plan and agree that people with severe trauma due to, for example, road traffic accidents, no matter where in the region they come from, should be stabilised at the side of the road and taken to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick. That is true and I have no problem with it. However, that is only a tiny 84 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion minority of patients who use the hospital services in the mid-west. People feel very strongly, and I agree with them, that hospitals the size of Nenagh, Ennis or St. John’s have much to contribute to people with more common conditions, who need surgical procedures closer to home or who need a more straightforward access to their hospital than they can get through the chunnel of the accident and emergency unit in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital. Those people are also stakeholders and are entitled to be involved in the debate. That is why my colleague, Senator Kelly, and I published the Teamwork report when we received it. We had planned to publish it, as the Minister knows, on a Monday when we released our press release. The HSE and the Minister rushed to publish it so they could have——

Deputy Mary Harney: Rushed? We were criticised for the fact that we would not publish it.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: Exactly. The Minister published it only because we were about to do so.

Deputy Mary Harney: The Deputy criticised us because we were engaging with the stakeholders.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: The Minister did not. That is the point.

Deputy Mary Harney: We did.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: She engaged with approximately 1% of the stakeholders, the consultant doctors who work in the hospitals.

Deputy Mary Harney: And others.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: What about all the other stakeholders? What about the patients and the public? We live in a democracy. What about the GPs? The Minister is very selective in who she considers to be stakeholders.

Deputy Mary Harney: We have discussed it with the GPs.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: Is there any reason patients from Kilbaha or the upper end of north Tipperary should have to come to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick? Is it not possible, for example, for the consultants in Limerick to supervise the accident and emergency departments in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s and be responsible for what goes on in them without having to centralise everything in Limerick? That should be examined.

Deputy Mary Harney: That will happen between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. as the Deputy knows. At night it is impossible.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: I see no reason it should not also happen at night. There is a major lack of trust about what the Minister plans to do. I would like to quote from the report:

The overriding principle will be that no services will be withdrawn from the current general hospitals prior to the build-up of new, alternative services, i.e. that the Regional Hospital will be resourced, developed and working to recognised to international, best-practice standards.

Will the Minister stand over that? From what she has said already tonight she will not because she has already told us those services will not be in place when she removes the services in Ennis and Nenagh.

Deputy Mary Harney: I will. 85 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: We are again being given a cart-before-the-horse situation where services will be withdrawn from hospitals that provide them with the promise that services will be in place in the Mid-West Regional Hospital. I will again quote from the HSE west report given to representatives last week:

2009 will be a very challenging year in providing the existing level of services with significantly reduced resources requiring ongoing monitoring of the budget situation. Where adverse budget variances are identified [that is lovely HSE speak] measures which may have implications for the level of service provided will need to be taken swiftly to ensure a break- even position by year-end.

It will all be driven by money. We have no confidence that the Minister will implement the required services. There is a need for a debate on the role of secondary hospitals in this country. We have not had that debate. They have an important role, as do tertiary and larger hospitals and the community. We have not had that debate because the Minister will not engage with any stakeholders except the very few who agree with her.

Deputy CaoimhghıńO´ Caolaín: I thank Deputy O’Sullivan for sharing time. My colleague, Sinn Feín councillor Seamus Morris of Nenagh Town Council, has told me that a sign was recently put up outside Nenagh General Hospital, directing children and pregnant women away from the hospital. It is the first time any such sign has appeared in that location and it is ominous for the people of north Tipperary. As the Minister knows, this is a feeling all too familiar to the people of my home county of Monaghan, where exactly the same signage has been in place since March 2001. While that sign was going up in Nenagh to turn away women and children, where was the Minister? She was walking a red carpet rolled out by her friend Ulick McEvaddy at his private, for-profit Vista health unit in Naas. This so-called health campus was built as a business venture by Mr. McEvaddy who, as we recall well, in 1999 hosted both the Minister herself and the former Minister for Finance and fellow Kildare man Charlie McCreevy in his luxury villa in the south of France. It is no wonder Mr. McEvaddy and his likes are the beneficiaries of massive tax breaks courtesy of this Government’s health privatisation agenda.

Deputy Mary Harney: By the way, there was no tax break for it.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: Indeed there was. Is the Minister saying that is absolutely the position?

Deputy Mary Harney: Yes. I am certain.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: Is she saying that if we place the pertinent questions we will find that Mr. McEvaddy is not a beneficiary of public moneys under any guise whatsoever?

Deputy Mary Harney: This facility is not a hospital and does not benefit from tax breaks.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: I remind the Minister this is not Question Time.

Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in: We will test the Minister. I assure her we will do so.

Deputy Mary Harney: The Deputy can.

Deputy CaoimhghıńO´ Caolaín: The Kildare Nationalist, reporting on the Minister’s visit to Naas, mentioned that she spoke of the importance of investment in health care. It went on to 86 Hospital Services: 10 February 2009. Motion state: “However, she was not able to comment on the current beds crisis at Naas General Hospital.” I bet she was not. Hand in hand with privatisation goes the disastrous centralisation of our public hospitals. Monaghan has been the blueprint for the centralisation of hospital services in this State. We now face the threat of the axing in 2009 of all inpatient acute care in Monaghan General Hospital. Monaghan’s average of 3,000 acute medical admissions per year will have to be catered for predominantly by Cavan General Hospital, which is already severely overstretched. The outlook for Ennis, Nenagh and other smaller hospitals is similar if the plans of the Govern- ment and the HSE go ahead. It will mean loss of services, long distances to travel for patients and further pressure on other hospitals without the provision of additional beds and staff to meet the need. Nenagh hospital has set a high standard of service for smaller hospitals, and its close relationship with local GPs in terms of access and admission is an example that should be followed. A report on Nenagh hospital in 2006 found that 97% of cases sent to the hospital were safely treated and only 3% required transfer to Limerick. GPs in Clare, north Tipperary, Cavan and Monaghan have all come out strongly against the HSE plans in recent weeks. However, the Government and the HSE, as I had occasion to hear clearly only last Thursday when I met the Minister and Professor Drumm, in pursuing their centralisation and privatisation agenda, are working against the interests of patients and against the advice of front line health care providers. The HSE report on accident and emergency services in the mid-west was jointly authored by Teamwork, the British-based management consultants whose recommendations form the basis for the current policy of slashing services at local hospitals and over-centralising services in already overstretched regional hospitals. The report on the mid-west is no different and would see accident and emergency services taken from Ennis and Nenagh, leading to the downgrading of those hospitals and their eventual conversion to glorified day care centres. Make no mistake about it, that is exactly what will happen. We are almost at that stage at Monaghan General Hospital, as the Minister knows too well, where the HSE and Government propose to end all acute inpatient services in the early part of this year. In speaking on this motion and against the Government amendment I wish to make it very clear that I am opposed to the plans arising from the Teamwork-Howarth report, Review of Acute Hospital Services in HSE Mid-west, which provide for centralisation in Limerick. Lest there be any misunderstanding, Sinn Feín does not support a position which says that if all these contingencies are put in place then centralisation will be acceptable. It will not be acceptable, full stop and end of story. Among the recommendations of the Teamwork-Howarth report are, lest we forget, no provision of critical care at the local centre; the removal of acute services in small and medium-sized hospitals; all inpatient beds in Ennis, Nenagh, St. John’s, St. Munch- in’s and St. Nessan’s hospitals to close; and asset-stripping, namely the potential sell-off of St. Munchin’s maternity hospital and St. Nessan’s orthopaedic hospital, Croom. These plans are not acceptable. They are clearly running in parallel with similar plans in my own region and are equally against the interests of patients and of our public health service in general. The Ennis General Hospital Development Committee has stated that the removal of acute surgical facilities from Ennis, as opposed to the proper resourcing of the casualty unit and associated services, will increase the risk to lives in Clare. They point out that the danger is further heightened for the 44,000 people who will have to undertake a journey to Limerick of between one hour and one hour 45 minutes from the scene of an accident, after a possible 45 minute ambulance response time. The Clare Champion reported on 6 February that it had obtained a HSE document showing there are an average of 50 medical patients occupying surgical beds in Limerick Regional Hospital every day, resulting in cancellations of planned surgery, overcrowding in the accident and emergency unit and longer hospital stays for certain 87 FA´ S Training 10 February 2009. Programmes

[Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in.] patients. This is the hospital into which the Government and the HSE wish to centralise all emergency patients from Clare and north Tipperary. It just will not fit, exactly as the situation in Monaghan and Cavan will not fit. No matter how often we try to impress that on the Minister, she remains dogged in her determination to move ahead with her foolhardy plans. It is grimly appropriate, while we make mention of foolhardiness, that April fools’ day is the target date for the closure of the accident and emergency units in Ennis and Nenagh. Surgery is to follow some three months later. GPs in both Clare and north Tipperary are opposing plans for them to provide out-of-hours casualty services in both hospitals. Consultant geriatrician Dr. Christine O’Malley has expressed her serious concern about the prospect of losing the services of general surgeons from Nenagh. She said:

I have never worked without having surgeons on stand-by in the hospital. I am concerned that GPs are being asked to work above their level of competence. Every health professional has to be confident they are working within their level of competence when it comes to the treatment of patients. Limerick Regional Hospital can’t meet its own requirements at the moment. The HSE is devising a plan without looking at the situation on the ground. Consultants refer patients who need a bed in Limerick on a daily basis and are regularly told there is no bed for them due to overcrowding and the fact that there can be up to 30 people on trolleys.

We are determined in Monaghan, and, I hope, in Cavan, to resist the plan to effectively close Monaghan General Hospital — certainly to remove acute medical services from that hospital to Cavan — over the next number of weeks. I commend the people of Clare and north Tipperary on their support for their local hospitals and their determination to sustain the vital services they provide. That, at the end of the day, is the most important element in terms of health care provision and the provision of acute hospital services, not only when we need it but — make no mistake about it — even when we do not, for the peace of mind, assurance and confidence to face what each day brings.

Debate adjourned.

Adjournment Debate.

————

FA´ S Training Programmes. Deputy Ulick Burke: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue. The number of apprentices who are losing their places daily in the on-the-job part of their apprenticeships is alarming. Up to the end of November last year, the number of apprentices being displaced from their courses was a trickle. However, throughout December, January and February there has been a serious loss in the apprentices’ work schemes. The data on which the Minister announced the employer-based redundant apprentice rotation scheme in January were incomplete and out of date, even at that time. They are particularly out of date now. I hope the Minister of State can provide more up to date figures that reflect the reality of what is happening to many apprentices today. The trades the Minister mentioned, that is, carpentry and joinery, electrical, plastering, plumbing and bricklaying, relate to the construction industry. However, many other apprentices in other areas have lost their apprenticeships. It is a great credit to the management of the ESB that it has come to the rescue of this scheme by offering 400 places. The construction industry and its leaders, particularly the former Minister of State, Mr. Tom Parlon, should stand up for the many apprentices who have lost 88 FA´ S Training 10 February 2009. Programmes their apprenticeships in the construction industry and in areas related to it. It is important, even at this late stage, that they come forward and make some contribution towards the re- employment of apprentices who have lost their jobs. FA´ S and the Department of Social and Family Affairs are combining to seek employment for apprentices. That indicates the lack of knowledge they have of the situation and the availability of jobs in this country. Jobs are simply not available in the construction industry unless Mr. Parlon comes forward to support apprentices or provide for them in one way or another. The provision of \4 million for the FA´ S scheme is totally inadequate given the numbers that are now unemployed. Why FA´ S has been the sole agency responsible for the off-work training element of apprenticeships is baffling. The VECs have many excellent programmes available and it is regrettable that this facility has been refused. Likewise, the institutes of technology have many places available in worthwhile schemes that are appropriate for many of the apprentices who have been displaced. The amount of money available is totally inadequate. I urge the Minister immediately to broaden the number of people and companies that can take on apprentices. Let the example given by the ESB be replicated by many other State companies.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Jimmy Devins): I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Since the beginning of last year, there has been a significant contraction in activity in the construction sector. As a result of this contraction, we have witnessed a substantial reduction in the number of people employed in the construction sector in the past 12 months. This has had a severe impact on the individuals who are currently undertaking an apprenticeship. The scale of the downturn in the construction sector is clear when one considers that at the end of last month the apprenticeship population was 22,561. For the same period last year, the apprenticeship population was 28,252, which represents a 20% reduction in a 12 month period. In addition to this decrease, by the end of last month FA´ S has been notified of 3,695 apprentices who have been made redundant. The high level of redundant apprentices is of particular concern given the structure of the Irish apprenticeship system. Our apprenticeship system is a demand-driven educational and training programme for employed people aimed at developing the skills of the apprentice to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. It consists of seven phases divided into four on-the-job and three off-the-job phases. An apprentice is required to be employed so that they can complete the necessary on-the-job training. The on-the-job training is designed to enable the apprentice to develop the skill, knowledge and competence to reach the required level of mastery in their trade. This implies that apprentices who have been made redundant are, therefore, not in a position to complete their apprenticeship. The Government is fully aware of the difficult situation in which these redundant apprentices find themselves. For that reason, the Government is committed to assisting redundant apprentices gain employment as soon as possible in Ireland or abroad in order that these individuals may complete their apprenticeships. The Ta´naiste, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Education and Science have been working closely with FA´ S, the institutes of technology, the Higher Education Authority and the social partners on introducing measures in an effort to address the problems now confronting redundant apprentices. The measures that have been introduced to date will help in alleviating the current situation and comprise the following. The Department of Social and Family Affairs immediately refers redundant apprentices to FA´ S for assistance. Following this immediate referral, the FA´ S employment services and FA´ S services to business divisions work in collaboration to assist the apprentice source a new approved employer to allow them to complete their apprenticeship as soon as possible. To date, FA´ S has succeeded in securing alternative employment for 1,081 apprentices who have been made redundant, but in excess of 3,600 apprentices remain redundant. In addition, in the absence of options for workplace experience, FA´ S has put in place an 89 Community 10 February 2009. Employment Schemes

[Deputy Jimmy Devins.] interim measure whereby apprentices who are made redundant can progress to the next off- the-job training phase in the education sector. This means they do not need to do their on-the- job phase and can go directly to the next off-the-job phase, in line with the current schedul- ing criteria. At the end of last year, under this interim measure a total of 439 redundant apprentices were attending an off-the-job phase two, four and six and a further 505 redundant apprentices were scheduled to attend one of these phases in the coming months. FA´ S is also looking at the advantages that EU-sponsored programmes that facilitate mobility for workers and apprentices can offer. In October last year, for example, FA´ S was successful in responding to a national call for mobility projects under the Leonardo da Vinci programme, which is the EU’s vocational educational training programme. As a result, approximately 25 redundant apprentices will complete a period of on-the-job training in suitable European companies, thereby facilitating the completion of their apprenticeships. In addition to these measures, at the end of last year the Ta´naiste announced the launch of a new FA´ S initiative aimed at providing the necessary on-the-job experience to redundant apprentices. This initiative is called the employer-based redundant apprentice rotation scheme. The purpose of the scheme is to give up to 500 redundant apprentices the opportunity to complete the on-the-job phase of their apprenticeship in order to gain the required knowledge, skill and competence to successfully progress to the next off-the-job phase or to complete their apprenticeship. Employers who have a past record of providing consistent systematic training are being asked to provide redundant apprentices with an opportunity to complete their on- the-job phase in the following five trades: carpentry and joinery, electrical, plastering, plumbing and bricklaying. The scheme works on the basis that FA´ S will place redundant apprentices with an eligible employer, to replace any existing apprentices that have been released to attend scheduled off- the-job phases of their apprenticeship. The employer will provide the necessary workplace training and assessment to the redundant apprentice. The scheme will support redundant apprentices’ on-the-job training related to phases three, five and seven. Employers participating in the scheme are required to pay the apprentice the agreed industry rates for the specific apprenticeship trade and FA´ S will make a contribution of \340 per week towards employment costs incurred based on a 39-hour working week.

Acting Chairman (Deputy John Cregan): I ask the Minister of State to conclude.

Deputy Jimmy Devins: I will give the Deputy the rest of the reply.

Deputy Ulick Burke: No additional funding.

Community Employment Schemes. Deputy Frank Feighan: Community employment schemes, in their present format, are totally unsuitable for the current unemployment crisis. One must be unemployed and in receipt of a social welfare payment for 12 months to get on a CE scheme and if one works for one or two weeks at any time, one must start back again and remain unemployed for 52 weeks to qualify. These conditions are very severe. There needs to be leverage on eligibility criteria for CE schemes. One way would be to reduce the unemployment criteria to six months and give applicants six months on a CE scheme rather than the present format where one must be 12 months unemployed and when one gets a place on a CE scheme one can stay on it for three to four years. This would give genuine people with qualifications in child care, health care, office management, etc. who find them- 90 Community 10 February 2009. Employment Schemes selves unemployed an opportunity to qualify for a place on a CE scheme. The benefit will be in getting work experience and preparing them for the labour market. The objectives in the present climate should be to give as many unemployed people as possible a place on a CE scheme to ensure they can upskill and return to the workforce as quickly and efficiently as possible. The increasing numbers on the live register are causing serious upset. People become very agitated when they see jobs advertised locally and apply for them only to find that they do not qualify because of the 12 month unemployment criterion. At times vacant posts are not filled despite the high unemployment figures due to the present strict criteria. Many people who find themselves unemployed desperately want to get back into the workforce. The CE schemes are vital to ensure that they get upskilled and reskilled, and also that they will be prepared when the upturn occurs. I ask the Minister of State to look seriously at this matter.

Deputy Jimmy Devins: I thank Deputy Feighan for raising this issue. The FA´ S community employment programme is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed-term basis. Community employment helps unemployed people to re-enter the open labour market by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and assisting them to enhance both their technical and personal skills. CE is not designed to cater for short-term unemployed persons as they are not as far removed from the open labour market as the main client group for the programme. All CE places are filled on an ongoing basis, as the demand always exceeds the number of places available. FA´ S also provides a range programmes aimed specifically at the short-term unemployed, details of which are available from any FA´ S employment services office, any local employment service office or from the FA´ S website. I am advised by FA´ S that CE positions in the Roscommon area are currently filled to budgeted capacity. In terms of partaking in short-term employment prior to commencing CE, breaks from the live register up to a maximum of 30 days in the 12 months prior to application are allowed in assessing eligibility for CE. Funding for CE in 2009 has been provided with a view to maintaining overall numbers on FA´ S schemes. At present there are more than 22,000 people participating on CE schemes nationally. In delivering these places, FA´ S operates flexibly in the management of this allocation in order to maximise progression to the labour market while at the same time facilitating the support of community services. This provision of places is managed through a standardised application process between regional FA´ S offices and local sponsor and community organisations and any issues regarding the allocation of places are dealt with in this context. However, it should be remembered that participants, in so far as they remain on CE, are precluding someone else from benefiting from the programme. FA´ S makes every effort to ensure that differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised. FA´ S also operates the programme flexibly as far as possible to ensure the continuation of community projects. The Government will continue to support the positive role of CE in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communities. We are keeping the operation of the scheme under constant review in the context of the current difficult unemployment situation. 91 FA´ S Training 10 February 2009. Centres

Deputy Frank Feighan: Could I clarify——

Acting Chairman: I am sorry, there is no opportunity to clarify. I cannot allow it.

Deputy Frank Feighan: I want clarity on what exactly “filled to budgeted capacity” means.

Acting Chairman: I am sorry, Deputy I cannot allow that. There is no opportunity to clarify.

FA´ S Training Centres. Deputy Joe Costello: The issues we are dealing with on the Adjournment today are related because of the recession. Clearly the issue of placement on CE and that of FA´ S training centres are matters of major concern to the unemployed and the constituents we represent. The most recent figures for January bring the number unemployed up to more than 327,000, which is a record number. According to the Taoiseach, the figure will top the 400,000 mark by the end of the year which, indeed, will be a new record by far. Obviously, there is a major problem presenting itself. From that point of view the key policy of the Government in this respect should be to ensure that those who lose their jobs, with all this entails, do not end up in long-term unemployment. This requires that a range of support services be made available. Obviously, what we have heard already in terms of apprentice placements should be examined carefully by FA´ S, the DIT and other institutions. The number on CE schemes should be increased considerably. There are 22,000 participants at present, as the Minister of State, Deputy Devins, stated earlier. That has been the number for a long time. It was 24,000 not so long ago. The Minister of State could easily double that number. These are recessionary times. He might be keeping an eye on what is happening but he would need to do something about it once he sees that it is not adequate to deal with the problem. My concern is that we ensure that all of these measures, such as the back to education programme, back to work allowance, retraining, reskilling and CE schemes are in place. FA´ S, of course, is the major provider of such services for the unemployed particularly in terms of training services. I refer to one of the major training services provided in the city of Dublin, the Jervis Street FA´ S. It is the only one on the north side of the city in Dublin 1. The training facilities of that centre are about to close. In fact, they will be gone within the next few weeks. It seems unthinkable that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment should be closing down training facilities anywhere in the country at this time. We are about to lose approximately 250 training placements in this centre and that will deprive the entire north side of FA´ S training facilities. Most of the staff have been moved from Jervis Street. The last connections class for the newly unemployed will finish by the end of this week. The last photography class finishes next month and all the computer, IT and retail classes have closed down. The premises are virtually idle and the staff have been moved elsewhere. There has been a \2.5 million refurbishment and re-equipment of the D’Olier Street FA´ S centre but that deals with employment rather than training services. The new employment service that will be moved from FA´ S to the Peats site in Parnell Street is also an employment service, not a training service. They are not in any sense replacements for the training services that have been lost.

92 FA´ S Training 10 February 2009. Centres

I would remind the Minister of State that in these exceptional times of recession, the expansion of training facilities should be a priority and it really is unconscionable that existing services should be closed down when they are most needed.

Deputy Jimmy Devins: I thank Deputy Costello for raising this issue. I will outline briefly the respective roles FA´ S and the Ta´naiste play in training and employment offices. The Ta´naiste’s role is to provide public funding and overall policy direction to FA´ S rather than to get involved in its day to day operational management. Decisions of this nature are day to day operational matters for FA´ S as part of its responsibilities under the Labour Services Act 1987. Before I address the Deputy’s specific concern about the FA´ S office in Jervis Street, I will make a general comment on the facilities it offer its clients on a countrywide level, as well as setting out the financial commitment this Government has made in recent years in ensuring that FA´ S continues to provide high quality services to its customers. Through a regional network of 66 offices and 20 training centres, FA´ S provides a comprehensive nationwide service of training programmes as well as providing a recruitment service to jobseekers, an advisory resource for industry and support mechanisms for community-based enterprises. In the past five years the Department invested more than \125 million in capital expenditure alone to ensure that FA´ S continues to provide the highest quality facilities for its customers throughout its network. This investment includes a new state of the art training centre in Tallaght and a complete refurbishment of an existing facility in Ballyfermot. Major refurbishment projects have also been carried out on FA´ S facilities in Finglas, Cork, Sligo and Limerick. To turn to the Deputy’s concern regarding the closure of its facilities in Jervis Street, Dublin 1, I understand from FA´ S that this facility consists of a training centre, employment services office and also houses the city centre community services staff. It is the second busiest employment service office in the country, and together with D’Olier House, Dublin 2, accounts for more than 30% of employment services activity in the country. FA´ S has been using these two city centre facilities since the early eighties. In 2006 the landlord of the premises at Jervis Street was granted planning permission to develop the site and had requested FA´ S to vacate the building. Notwithstanding this the lease for the premises in Jervis Street will expire in July this year. FA´ S has made arrangements for a suitable alternative ground floor location in the area for employment services and community services. These services will be located in Parnell Street, close to the existing premises.

Deputy Joe Costello: That is not true.

Deputy Jimmy Devins: The centre will be located in the same building as the new office of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, thereby facilitating those seeking to avail of the services of both offices. The expectation is that the premises will be ready and operational by July. FA´ S also plans to further develop the Employment Services office at D’Olier House by increasing the public usage area in order to provide its clients with an enhanced walk-in self- service operation. I understand that the board of FA´ S has approved the estimated fit out costs in respect of both premises. On the training services provided by FA´ S at the Jervis Street premises, approximately 80% of those who receive training there are from outside the area. The continuing demographic 93 Home Help 10 February 2009. Service

[Deputy Jimmy Devins.] changes in the city as well as the high costs of renting suitable extensive facilities for training purposes in the area mean that it is more cost-effective to redeploy the city centre training programmes to other Dublin training centres. Such redeployment has already commenced for longer-term programmes to ensure minimum disruption for the trainees involved. I cannot overemphasise the importance of the role FA´ S has to play in the Irish economy and society as this country faces into a very challenging period. The Government, therefore, remains wholly committed to giving FA´ S the resources it needs to continue to provide high quality training and employment services that are relevant to the needs of today’s labour market.

Home Help Service. Deputy Seymour Crawford: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise this matter. I seldom personalise any issue in the Da´il, but I raise this matter on that basis to show clearly the situation on the ground as far as home help is concerned in the constituency of Cavan- Monaghan. I do it in light of the fact that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney, is explaining that the closure of the two wards in Monaghan hospital will not cause any problem because there are good home help services and packages available. There is supposed to be an effort to encourage people to stay in their homes for as long as possible, yet here is a specific issue concerning a lady who received seven hours of home help in 2003, which was subsequently reduced to four hours. On 28 January 2009 she got a letter to say it was being reduced to two hours. With all due respects, what support can an 83 year old woman get from a home help over two hours per week? If she only takes her into town as the sole outing of the week, that will take up most of the two hours, regardless of the need to keep the house clean and tidy and whatever other supports she needs. The woman no longer goes to her place of worship, but tries to visit the town once a week. If she does not, the home help has to do it for her. This is an example of how home help is being delivered, in reality, in the present situation. We are being lectured by the Minister as regards how many home help hours are available throughout the country and so on, but when it comes down to the individual, that is when it really hurts. I have another note here from someone in Belturbet, at the other end of the constituency from the woman in Carrickmacross, where a 79 year old lady had her home help reduced from 1.5 hours per week to three-quarters of an hour. This is really coming down to the level of a joke. If we want to encourage people to remain in their homes, there should be realistic periods of time allocated for home help. To return to the example of the first lady, she does not have a family member, relation or anybody else available to her. She is completely dependent on the home help and the goodness of her neighbours. Imagine what it would cost the State if this citizen could no longer stay in her own home owing to the lack of home help. Imagine what subvention top-up and all the rest would have to be paid to a nursing home. I ask the Minister of State to reconsider this case and the whole home help situation. I was told the other day by the Minister’s representative, Professor Brendan Drumm, that a number of top level personnel would be appointed to the Monaghan region to organise and look after the home help situation there. However, if the people on the front line, the home help staff and home carers, are not available or not being employed, what is the use, because 94 Home Help 10 February 2009. Service that is where the patients get the service? I ask the Minister of State to please ensure that this lady has her four hours of home help restored. I know I am taking a risk in raising this in the Da´il. The services may see my intervention as an effort to bypass them. However, I raise this solely as an example of what has been happening all over the area. The Belturbet case has nothing to do with this, but that is an example where 1.5 hours has been reduced to three-quarters of an hour. What benefit can home help of three-quarters of an hour be to a 79 year old, living on her own in Belturbet? I urge the Minister of State to treat the situation seriously. We have never had as many people unemployed as there are today. Surely, it would be better to employ people as home help or home carers rather than giving them dole, with nothing to show for it.

Deputy Jimmy Devins: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. I thank Deputy Crawford for raising this issue, as it provides me with an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s continued commitment to providing services for older people generally and, in particular, the important area of the home help service. Government policy is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to quality long-term residential care, where appropriate. This policy approach is renewed and developed in the partnership agreement Towards 2016. The Government’s objective of continuing to develop community based services for older persons is reflected in the funding given to the system in recent times. The total additional funding allocated for such services was in excess of \210 million in the three year period 2006- 08, inclusive, of which \55 million was specifically earmarked for the expansion 9 o’clock of the home help service. The new funding was both to enhance existing services such as home help and meals-on-wheels and to widen the range of services available to older people through, for example, the introduction of home care packages. Home help is the backbone of community based services and includes a range of essential supports that make all the difference to the quality of life of each recipient. In 2006 almost 11 million home help hours were provided by the HSE. The executive estimates that it will make available nearly 12 million hours this year, benefiting over 54,000 people nationally. It is important in the context of the issue raised to point out that the home help service has also seen increased professionalisation in recent years with the implementation of the national home help agreement. This has resulted in greater flexibility in service delivery and improved consistency and service quality through measures such as training to the benefit of service users. The home help service is reviewed regularly at local level by the HSE which has operational responsibility for individual cases. Professional staff on the front line who are aware of local circumstances undertake individual client assessments. Services are targeted at clients with a high level of dependency and in accordance with their assessed need. In such instances the level of service in individual cases may increase, decrease or remain the same, based on the assessed need of the individual. In the context of the issues raised by the Deputy, I understand the person in question recently had a review of her circumstances which resulted in a reduction of her service provision after taking account of various factors such as the recent review and the need to assist others locally waiting for a home help service. It is open to any individual or person working on his or her behalf such as a GP to request that the situation be reviewed by the HSE should circumstances change. The Deputy will appreciate that the HSE collates statistics as a matter of routine in respect of the Cavan-Monaghan local health office. The executive has indicated that in this 95 The 10 February 2009. Adjournment

[Deputy Jimmy Devins.] local health office area some 2,800 clients benefited from the home help service in 2007 and that approximately 3,100 clients received a service in 2008. It is clear that the Government has made considerable improvements in recent years to enhance home help provision generally across the country, including the Cavan-Monaghan area. There is no doubt that at times demand can exceed service resources. However, it is a matter for the HSE to deliver services, both nationally and locally, in the context of Govern- ment priorities and its overall resources and taking account of the individual circumstances of each case.

The Da´il adjourned at 9.05 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 11 February 2009.

96 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Written Answers.

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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 17, inclusive, answered orally.

Questions Nos. 18 to 75, inclusive, resubmitted.

Questions Nos. 76 to 82, inclusive, answered orally.

Alternative Energy Projects. 83. Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made regarding net meters across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4621/09]

85. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the proposal from a group (details supplied) for locally dispersed wind energy schemes. [3490/09]

89. Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking to promote the decentralisation of power through encouraging microgeneration at a domestic and business level. [4613/09]

93. Deputy P. J. Sheehan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when a feed in tariff will be available; and the pricing level at which domestic microgeneration units can sell power back into the grid. [4624/09]

105. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the creation of a tariff that would allow microgeneration facilities in homes and businesses to sell power back onto the grid; when a conclusion to this matter will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4561/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 85, 89, 93 and 105 together.

97 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

Net-metering enables the use of small scale renewable energy projects for domestic households. It allows the export of electricity back to the grid, reversing the electricity meter in the process. The result is to offset the cost of electricity bought by the householder. The standard electricity meter installed by ESB Networks in the past does not operate in reverse and cannot therefore support a net-metering programme. My Department is working with Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), ESB and the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) to bring forward alternative ways of encouraging the use of micro-scale renewable energy technologies. An alternative approach is to provide a guaranteed price for electricity exported to the grid from micro-scale projects. The REFIT support scheme, which is administered by my Depart- ment, provides fixed prices for electricity from new renewable energy powered plants. However, generators must source and contract with an electricity supplier such as ESB or Viridian to purchase the power. The supplier in turn is compensated at pre-set fixed levels for the additional costs they incur in purchasing and trading the electricity. The commercial interest of Electricity suppliers is in purchasing power from larger scale projects producing electricity in commercial quantities only. Micro-scale plants are of a much smaller size requiring a different solution. My Department is currently working closely with the CER and other stakeholders to put in place in the short term an appropriately structured payment system for micro-generated electricity exported to the grid, which will operate separately from the REFIT mechanism. SEI is also implementing a Micro-generation Pilot Programme, involving research and field trials, including support for between 50 and 60 installations on a pilot basis of micro-scale projects. The field trials will address a range of issues including grid connection and technical standards to ensure the power security, safety and quality of installations. The CER and ESB Networks have amended the rules for the connection of micro-scale plants to the grid. Generators of less than 6kW on single phase cables and 11kW on three phase electricity supply cables may now connect to the grid without prior authorisation. The rollout of a national smart meter programme is progressing in line with the commitment in the Government’s Energy Policy Framework and in the Programme for Government. The Smart Meter programme is a central component of the strategy to significantly enhance management of energy demand and to achieve greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting- edge technology. Testing the capability of advanced meters to distinguish between the import and export of electricity will also form a key part of the technology trial. This will facilitate the development of micro-generation where consumers generate their own electricity and sell their surplus back to the grid. Following these changes, SEI is publishing a guide to connecting renewable and CHP electricity production plants to the electricity network. This includes advice for micro-generators, which will be of assistance to those connecting micro scale plant to the network. In addition, revised planning guidelines from my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, establishes an exemption from planning consent requirements for domestic-scale projects of suitable heights. Following completion of the work to which I have referred, I expect to announce the detailed arrangements, including the proposed payment system for micro-scale projects in the coming weeks.

98 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Electric Vehicles. 84. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his policy on the use of electric cars and vehicles; the efforts he is making to encourage the use of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46403/08]

92. Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the action he is taking to encourage an increase in the number of electric cars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4632/09]

113. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will report on the recent proposals for a national rollout of electric cars; when the rollout of charge points and other necessary infrastructure will commence; if he has had contacts with the ESB on this matter; the person who he will appoint to the board of the National Task Force on electric vehicles; when it will be established; when it will have to report to him; the charging point infrastructure that will be necessary for the national rollout of electric vehicles; if a tendering competition for a roll-out of charging infrastructure will be held; if contacts have been established with Denmark, Israel and other leading transport countries on this matter in view of the electric vehicles programmes that these States have already established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46353/08]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 92 and 113 together. Major deployment of electric vehicles will have a hugely positive impact in reducing our carbon emissions and our reliance on imported fossil fuels in the transport area. In association with the Minister for Transport, I announced targets last year for the deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland. We have set a target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by 2020, which will represent up to 250,000 cars on Irish roads over the next 12 years. A number of initiatives to advance our policy in this area have already been put in place. The Minister for Finance has provided a new tax incentive for businesses to purchase electric vehicles in the 2009 Finance Act. This enables businesses to write off 100% of the cost of purchase against tax under the Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme. SEI is also developing a \1 million project on alternative transport technologies including electric vehicles. I have established an inter-departmental agency taskforce to progress the framework for deployment of electric vehicles in Ireland chained by my Department. The first meeting of the taskforce was held in October 2008 and it has met on a number of occasions. All relevant Departments, including the Department of Transport, are members of the taskforce. Sus- tainable Energy Ireland (SEI), ESB, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland and other stakeholders and agencies are also represented on the taskforce. The ESB and SEI have been working intensively within the taskforce and visited Israel and Denmark last year to learn from their approaches to fast tracking the deployment of electric vehicles. The taskforce is assessing the infrastructure options for the national roll-out of electric vehicles. The Government is sending out the message that Ireland is open for business in this area and we will also take account of global developments as the technologies mature. The taskforce will report its initial findings and advise on next steps in the next few months. I am determined that the targets we have set in this area will be achieved.

Question No. 85 answered with Question No. 83. 99 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Telecommunications Services. 86. Deputy Sea´n Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the recent Forfa´s competitiveness report that placed Ireland 12th out of 14 countries in terms of broadband cost, and 9th in terms of speed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4553/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The Deputy is referring to Figure 3.39 titled “Fastest ADSL Business Download Speed Available by the Incumbent and Annual Cost, October 2008”, which was printed in the “Annual Competi- tiveness Report 2008”, published jointly by the National Competitiveness Council and Forfa´s. This is a very specific business broadband product available only from incumbents in the countries included in the survey for this particular figure in the report. It would be inaccurate to suggest that Ireland’s ranking for this particular product is representative of broadband costs and speeds. I understand the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, which publishes a detailed quarterly report on the electronic communications market, will be meeting with Forfa´s and the National Competitiveness Council to outline the importance of broader, more relevant analysis and reporting of broadband speeds and costs. The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Govern- ment. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps — 10mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Most of those SMEs, 72.6%, according to ComReg’s report for Q3 2008, have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps — 10mbps. As regards the cost of broadband, it is important to note that ComReg, in its last quarterly report (issued for Q3 2008), ranked Ireland in 8th place in the “DSL and Cable basket” used for international comparison purposes and compared favourably with the EU24 average.

Energy Costs. 87. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he has taken or proposes to take nationally or through the aegis of the EU to ensure that energy prices here including electricity, gas and motor fuel prices reflect the downward trend in the price of oil on world markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4569/09]

98. Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on calls to instruct the regulator to set a price ceiling for ESB and Bord Ga´is prices and replace the current practice of setting a fixed actual price in order to allow the ESB and Bord Ga´is to supply cheaper energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4566/09]

108. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the way in which he plans to lower utility and energy prices in order to increase business competitiveness in north Tipperary and nationwide; his plans to set price ceilings for ESB and gas companies and increase competition in the energy sector by encouraging new companies to enter the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4570/09] 100 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

112. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views in respect of the Competitiveness Council report which found that energy costs here are the second highest out of 15 countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4540/09]

123. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if energy costs will be reduced in view of the recent decrease in oil prices; if he will seek to curb rising ESB and gas prices in order to ease the burden on consumers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4539/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 98, 108, 112 and 123 together. The regulation of ESB customer supply electricity tariffs and BGE´ gas tariffs is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) under the Electricity Regu- lation Act 1999 and the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002. I welcome the fact that the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) announced on 1 December 2008 that there would be no further increase in the price of gas from January 2009 and that there would be a small average decrease from that month of just less than 1% in the price of electricity supplied by ESB Customer Supply. This decision is reflective of recent easing in international fossil fuel prices, which follows a period of exponential increases in global oil, gas and coal prices. I also welcome the substantial rebate of about \400m provided by ESB to all electricity customers, irrespective of which supplier which has helped to stabilise electricity prices for 2009. The CER made the decision to end tariff regulation for large electricity users in September 2006. It concluded that there is a sufficient level of generation capacity in the upper end of the market to allow customers to receive offers of a competitively priced supply of electricity. As a result, the vast majority of large industrial and commercial electricity customers are currently supplied by independent suppliers and companies and are free to negotiate alternative supply offers with the alternative suppliers in the marketplace. Many of these large industrial consumers are on fuel variation tariffs and have experienced the benefits of falling gas prices in recent months. The legislation is not prescriptive in terms of the methodology to be used by the CER in reaching its decisions on regulating residential and small business customers. The legislation does not preclude the regulator from reviewing prices more frequently nor does it preclude the regulator from adopting alternative approaches. The CER is required to examine the costs underlying the regulated tariffs to ensure they are cost reflective and to make decisions, which do not disturb the market through a review of tariffs. I have asked CER to undertake an immediate review of options to bring forward a reduction in electricity prices. As I stated in this House last week, if current trends in energy prices, particularly gas continue, I would expect a double-digit cut in electricity and gas this year. Encouraging a competitive energy supply is a key policy objective for the Government. Rising energy costs are a major concern for all sectors of the economy and for consumers. It is a major concern for the European Union and globally. In this context, I welcome the National Competitiveness Council’s investigation into electricity prices. This report, along with other recently published research, provides a valuable insight into the drivers of higher energy costs in our market. In particular, they underline the 101 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.] imperative to reduce Ireland’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and our exposure to volatile international market prices for these commodities. The Government’s Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government set out the actions being taken to deliver security, sustainability and competitiveness of energy supply. We will promote energy efficiency, deliver on our ambitious renewable targets and progress vital strategic energy infrastructure such as the East West Electricity Interconnector. Much needed long overdue investment in energy infrastructure contributes to the cost of energy. The provision of this infrastructure to schedule and at least cost will however, deliver secure, sustainable, competitive and cost efficient electricity and gas supplies for the benefit of Irish business and consumers. In relation to oil prices the Government does not control, or seek to control prices at the petrol pump. The National Consumer Agency recently undertook an investigation into diesel and petrol price movements in Ireland. This report concluded that there is little evidence to suggest unwarranted delays in the passing on of wholesale price changes to the consumer at the pump. My Department is reviewing the methodology for collecting oil price statistics in Ireland with a view to ensuring this information is fully reflective of current market conditions, taking into account significant changes in the structure of the oil market in recent years. The EU is also reviewing price collection data across EU Member States to ensure greater consistency and transparency of published oil price data.

Broadcasting Services. 88. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will confirm that the south east of the country will be prioritised in the digital terrestrial television switch over in view of the switch off in Wales later in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4556/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Plan- ning for the rollout of Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services in Ireland is the shared responsibility of RTE´ , Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), ComReg and my own Department. The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007, provides for the development of DTT in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under this Act, RTE´ is required to provide a national DTT system with capacity to carry RTE´ , TG4 and TV3. This new service will replace the existing analogue free to air television service. The legislation also requires the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to seek commercial applicants who are interested in providing commercial DTT services. The BCI ran a competition for three national DTT multiplex contracts in March 2008. Arising from this competition, the BCI is currently in the process of negotiating a contract with Boxer (DTT) Limited, in relation to the development of DTT services in Ireland. RTE´ is building out a national DTT network and has indicated that it is on target to launch services to 85% of the population — including the South East of Ireland, in autumn 2009. RTE´ is also in the process of negotiating a contract for carriage of Boxer’s DTT services on its DTT network. Wales is set to switch off its analogue television services in autumn 2009. This is likely to impact viewers along the South East of the country who currently receive overspill of the UK television signals. Viewers on cable and satellite will not be affected. 102 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Both RTE´ and the BCI are aware of the situation in Wales and of the importance of providing DTT along the South East of Ireland, as a matter of priority. Depending on the DTT package available, persons who subscribe to commercial DTT services should be able to receive UK television channels currently available via analogue overspill.

Question No. 89 answered with Question No. 83.

Television Licence Fee. 90. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has met RTE´ recently to discuss an increase in the television licence fee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4606/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I have not met with RTE´ recently to discuss an increase in the television licence fee. In the past, annual reviews of RTE´ ’s performance have been carried out by independent consultants, engaged by the Department. These reviews have traditionally examined RTE´ ’s performance against its published Statement of Commitments. The recommendations arising out of these reviews have aided Government’s decisions in relation to any adjustments to the licence fee. The last independent review was carried out in 2007 in respect of RTE´ ’s 2006 performance. My department is currently reviewing RTE’s 2007 performance and the outcome of this review will inform any decision in relation to the licence fee.

Telecommunications Services. 91. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that, in the context of the national broadband scheme, mobile broadband technology will be able to provide broadband speeds that will prevent an urban rural divide in broadband infrastructure. [4595/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The objective of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is to provide access to affordable scaleable broadband services to rural areas, many of which do not currently have any broadband service. Following the conclusion of a technology neutral procurement process, which was open to all broadband service providers from across all platforms, my Department has entered into a contract with “3”, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will extend their network to provide mobile broadband services into the NBS area. The mobile broadband service will be delivered using Internet High Speed Packet Access (I-HSPA) technology and will cover up to 95% of the NBS coverage area. The service will have a minimum upload speed of 200kpbs. The 200kpbs product is the minimum speed available and is comparable to what is typically used by residential broadband users in urban areas. Addition- ally, the service will have a minimum download speed of 1.2mbps, a maximum contention ratio of 36:1, a latency of 120 milliseconds and a 15 gigabit (12 down, 3 up) inclusive monthly allowance limit. Businesses currently without any broadband service will benefit by being able to send and receive emails and files, surf the web, and update their own websites. Under the NBS contract the broadband products will be upgraded to higher specifications (speeds, contention and data caps) in July 2010 and again in October 2012 without any increase in the monthly recurring charge. NBS subscribers will experience minimum download speeds of 1.6Mbps and 2.3Mbps 103 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.] and minimum upload speeds of 1.2Mbps and 1.4Mbps subsequent to these upgrades in 2010 and 2012 respectively. In recognition of the fact that some areas will be very difficult to reach using standard infrastructure, 3 will make available a satellite product which is expected to cover around 5% of the NBS areas. The satellite product will have a minimum download speed of 1mbps, a minimum upload speed of 128kbps, a maximum contention ratio of 48:1, latency of 800 milliseconds and an 11 gigabit (10 down, 1 up) inclusive monthly allowance limit. I am satisfied that the NBS will provide speeds comparable with products available in the market for urban areas and greatly assist in bridging the digital divide.

Question No. 92 answered with Question No. 84.

Question No. 93 answered with Question No. 83.

Offshore Exploration. 94. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the forum that he established in relation to the bringing ashore of gas from the Corrib gas field; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4610/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Sea´n Power): The North West Mayo Forum is an initiative involving the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and myself. It was established in November last following Government approval. The forum is chaired by Mr Joe Brosnan, a former Secretary General of the Depart- ment of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The Forum has, as its objectives, to further the socio-economic development of the North West Mayo Region and to provide an opportunity for dialogue between parties with an interest in the Corrib Gas project. The Forum will also help promote an understanding of how the project is regulated by providing an opportunity for a coordinated engagement with the Government Departments and other State bodies that have a regulatory role in relation to the Corrib Gas Project. Membership of the Forum is comprised of representatives of a wide range of local groups; elected public representatives; Government Departments, State bodies and Shell E&P Ireland Limited. A number of local groups opposed to the current configuration of the gas project have so far declined to participate in the Forum. The Forum has met on two occasions. These meetings on 5 December 2008 and 2 February 2009 allowed discussion and debate on a range of issues as follows: the detail of the statutory consents that are in place in relation to the Corrib Gas Project; and development opportunities in North West Mayo, including potential energy related projects. Thus far the Forum has, I believe proven to be a useful vehicle for engagement on issues of relevance to the project and the region.

Electricity Generation. 95. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the level of grant aid that will be received here from the European Commission Energy Security Fund. [4629/09] 104 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The European Commission has included interconnection between Ireland and Wales on its list of proposed energy projects under the European Economic Recovery Package, which is currently being negotiated in Brussels. EirGrid, as the National Transmission System Operator, will procure the construction of the interconnector, at the Government’s request. I welcome the Commission’s recognition of the strategic importance of the East West interconnector in its proposals. Negotiations in Brussels are ongoing on the Commission’s overall proposals, which have implications for the EU Budget. In that context I will be working with the Minister for Finance and other Ministerial colleagues to ensure the best outcome for Ireland on the overall package. Delivery to schedule of the East-West Electricity Interconnector is a key Government priority. The interconnector will underpin regional energy market development and the all- island Single Electricity Market. It will ensure that Ireland can benefit from the development of a strong internal energy market in Europe. East West interconnection will also give Ireland direct and secure access to the UK energy market and onwards also to the EU mainland markets. This will increase Ireland’s security of electricity supply and enhance the competitive energy market. Over time the interconnector should exert downward pressure on prices in the all-island electricity market. The Government has set the ambitious target of 40% of our electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020. The East West Interconnector will support the increased penetration of renewable generation, particularly wind generation in the Irish market. It will offer opportunities for export of Irish wind generated electricity.

Question No. 96 answered with Question No. 82.

Energy Resources. 97. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he took at EU level in respect of the gas supply dispute between Russia and Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4544/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Some 80% of Russian gas imports to the EU are transported through the Ukraine. This represents about 23% of total EU consumption. Ireland’s demand for gas is met almost entirely by imports from the UK with declining production and storage at Kinsale, now supplying around 4%, accounting for the remainder. Irish imports account for around 5% of the UK gas market. The vast bulk of UK gas demand is currently being met by indigenous North Sea production and imports from Norway. The UK is also interconnected with continental Europe and receives some gas from Russia. I understand this would account for less than 2 % of the gas in the UK system. As a result, Ireland experienced no adverse impact on our gas supplies as a result of the recent Russia/Ukraine dispute. Ireland participated fully in the discussions required for the EU evaluation and response to the recent Russia/Ukraine gas dispute. We consistently supported the EU position, as voiced by President Barosso, that the actions of the parties who are involved in contractually supplying gas to the EU have been unacceptable and that the interests of the EU in dealing with all third countries can only be served by all Member States speaking with one voice. To this end, Ireland has also voiced support on a number of occasions for the call by the European Commission for increased transparency in the sharing of data on gas metrics in the EU in order to provide a strong basis for solidarity arrangements to be developed. 105 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

The development of an EU energy emergency response mechanism, and robust arrangements for solidarity between Member States in the event of an energy emergency, will remain very high on the EU agenda for the foreseeable future. It is critical that, as part of its energy policy and to complement the proper functioning of the internal energy market, the EU develops the capability to respond effectively to energy disruptions and provide support for Member States affected by such events. Ireland — as one of the most peripheral energy markets in the EU — will participate fully in this work.

Question No. 98 answered with Question No. 87.

Broadcasting Services. 99. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he will take to ensure that the benefits of the digital dividend can be availed of here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4555/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): In the context of the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT), I am preparing a policy framework for identifying the spectrum required for television broadcasting in the UHF band as well as identifying the spectrum that could be released for use by other services. The policy framework will require ComReg to take appropriate actions, in conjunction with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and RTE´ , to identify what spectrum can be made available for the Digital Dividend and to advise me accordingly in a timely manner on what uses could be made of spectrum not required for Broadcasting in the band in order for me to make an informed assessment of the policy options for promoting various objectives. The capacity of our spectrum resources to facilitate the development of existing and innovative applications and technologies in the information and communications sector is enormous and I intend ensuring that the full potential of the digital dividend will be realised for the national good.

Smart Metering Project. 100. Deputy Ruairı´ Quinn asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the smart metering project; the cost of same; the timeframe involved; the specifications of the smart meter model proposed; if he has liaised with An Bord Ga´is in relation to smart meters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4548/09]

489. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress he has made in rolling out electricity smart meters; when the pilot project will be finished; the provisional findings from this project which have been established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4378/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 489 together. The rollout of a national smart meter programme is progressing in line with the commitment in the Government’s Energy Policy Framework and in the Programme for Government. The Smart Meter programme is a central component of the strategy to significantly enhance management of energy demand and to achieve greater energy efficiency through the use of cutting- edge technology. The pilot phase is a very important element in the determination of a decision to proceed with the launch of a national smart meter scheme. This is a highly complex technological project 106 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers and the trials are essential to ensure that we have the right technology and systems for the full launch and implementation of a national smart meter scheme. The pilot phase, for both electricity and gas, was launched on 15 September 2008. The results of the pilot will inform both the timing of a national roll out, and the technology to be adopted. It is important to have a trial that captures seasonal changes in usage for peak demand management purposes. The pilot phase is expected to be completed at end December 2010 and the outcome should be a fully informed decision on the most suitable model of smart meter(s)/IT system(s), tariffing structure, communications system and demand stimuli, all of which works effectively and has the capability to deliver the anticipated benefits of smart metering in the Irish market. The pilot phase encompasses two strands — a technology trial, which is testing a number of advanced metering systems and their associated IT and communications infrastructure — and a customer behaviour trial, which will determine the potential of smart meters to achieve measurable change in consumer behaviour. The technology trial will examine meter functionality and supporting information and communications systems. There are many challenges involved in developing a metering system for Ireland that will reflect the dispersed nature of our population and, as a result, by extension, the electricity network. This trial will involve the installation of up to 10,000 meters. Testing the capability of advanced meters to distinguish between the import and export of electricity will also form a key part of the technology trial. This will facilitate the development of microgeneration where consumers generate their own electricity and sell their surplus back to the grid. Participants for the customer behaviour trial are being selected to ensure that the sample is representative of Ireland’s electricity consumers both in terms of usage profiles and geographical spread. Invitations to participate in the trial are being issued on a phased basis with 8000 letters of invitation issued thus far. To date the response has been very positive with 37% of electricity customers contacted expressing an interest in participating. The number of participants needed for the electricity customer behaviour trial is 6,000. Installation of electricity meters for this strand of the pilot phase is under way and is expected to be completed by mid 2009. The participation of gas customers into the pilot phase is being progressed, with the procurement process for gas smart meters now underway. This should allow for the completion of the installation of meters for the gas element of the pilot phase before the end of 2009. For the purposes of the pilot phase 4 models of electricity smart meter are being trialled. The specifications of these metering systems will allow the testing of a range of functions, including, interval metering reading, time of use tariffing and the use of In Home Display devices, which, in turn, can facilitate demand management and increased energy efficiency. They will also provide data on actual energy use of an amount and quality necessary to drive improvements in service to consumers through better fault monitoring and outage recording, power quality monitoring, reduced theft and losses and improved network planning. In addition, as highlighted above, the capacity of these smart metering systems to distinguish between the import and export of electricity will facilitate the development of microgeneration. As part of the preparation for the ‘go live’ of the pilot, the Commission for Energy Regu- lation (CER) is near completion of its review of submissions from ESB Networks, ESB Cus- tomer Supply, Sustainable Energy Ireland, Bord Ga´is Networks and industry participants, on the budget for the entire pilot phase. I expect to receive confirmation of the finalised budget of the pilot phase from the CER in the coming weeks. The cost of a national rollout will be quantified when the pilot phase has been completed. 107 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Telecommunications Services. 101. Deputy Ciara´n Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the adequacy of the upload speed as part of the national broadband scheme; if he is satisfied that the coverage map used for the national broadband scheme is an accurate reflection of the areas not served by broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4552/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The objective of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is to provide access to affordable scaleable broadband services to rural areas, many of which do not currently have any broadband service. Following the conclusion of a technology neutral procurement process, which was open to all broadband service providers from across all platforms, my Department has entered into a contract with “3”, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will extend their network to provide mobile broadband services into the NBS area. The mobile broadband service will be delivered using Internet High Speed Packet Access (I-HSPA) technology and will cover up to 95% of the NBS coverage area. The service will have a minimum upload speed of 200kpbs. The 200kpbs product is the minimum speed available and is comparable to what is typically used by residential broadband users in urban areas. Addition- ally, the service will have a minimum download speed of 1.2mbps, a maximum contention ratio of 36:1, a latency of 120 milliseconds and a 15 gigabit (12 down, 3 up) inclusive monthly allowance limit. Businesses currently without any broadband service will benefit by being able to send and receive emails and files, surf the web, and update their own websites. Under the NBS contract the broadband products will be upgraded to higher specifications (speeds, contention and data caps) in July 2010 and again in October 2012 without any increase in the monthly recurring charge. In recognition of the fact that some areas will be very difficult to reach using standard infrastructure, 3 will make available a satellite product which is expected to cover around 5% of the NBS areas. The satellite product will have a minimum download speed of 1mbps, a minimum upload speed of 128kbps, a maximum contention ratio of 48:1, latency of 800 milliseconds and an 11 gigabit (10 down, 1 up) inclusive monthly allowance limit. I am satisfied that the NBS will provide speeds comparable with products available in the market for urban areas and greatly assist in bridging the digital divide. As regards the accuracy of the mapping undertaken for the scheme, a comprehensive mapping process has been undertaken. The process involves:

• contacting service providers for details of their broadband coverage;

• inserting service provider data on a broadband coverage map using specialist expertise and software;

• consulting with Regional Authorities to request that they confirm, as far as was possible, the broadband coverage information provided in the maps;

• requesting from the Regional Authorities information on any other service providers excluded from the mapping process; and

• contacting additional service providers identified by the Regional Authorities and including their coverage on the map.

108 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

The resulting broadband coverage led to the creation of the map which was updated during the procurement process as appropriate, in consultation with the service providers. I am satisfied that all reasonable steps have been taken to maximise the accuracy of the map.

102. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he will take to ensure that households that are not covered by the national broadband scheme and that do not benefit from any proposed upgrading of exchanges will be able to access broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4538/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps — 10mbps. It is also encouraging that, at the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg’s report for Q3 2008, have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps — 10mbps. Following the conclusion of a technology neutral procurement process, which was open to all broadband service providers from across all platforms, my Department has entered into a contract with “3”, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS). EU State Aid and competition rules govern how states can intervene in areas that are already substantially served by broadband. While recognising that some premises within substantially served areas may have difficulties for a variety of reasons (including long lines, pair gains, no line of sight etc.) in receiving a broadband service, the NBS cannot cater for such limited instances as to do so would give rise to an unacceptable level of market distortion. It is therefore a matter for service providers in an area to address, where possible, such instances of non access to broadband. Ireland’s energy policy framework identifies energy efficiency as the most cost effective means of reducing our dependence on imported energy, as well as mitigating harmful green house gas emissions. Government has set a target of 20% energy efficiency by 2020 and, recognising that the public sector must act as exemplars in the field of energy usage, has set a more stretching target of 33% energy efficiency, for the public sector, by 2020. I previously indicated to the House that I anticipated publishing the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan prior to Christmas but finalisation of the Plan has taken somewhat longer than I then anticipated. Inter-Departmental consultation is nearing completion on the issue and, after Government approval, I expect to publish the Plan within weeks. In the interim I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the important announcement on grant aid for home insulation measures, which I made on Sunday, 8th February.

Energy Efficiency. 103. Deputy Ro´ isı´n Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to introduce a national insulation scheme; if so, the form that this scheme will take; the cost and timeframe involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4564/09]

118. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the home energy saving scheme; when it will be extended 109 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Joe Costello.] nationwide; the level of funding which will be available for this scheme; the regions in which this scheme applies; the number of people who have applied to this scheme; the number of those who have benefited from the scheme; the amount available in grants and the types of grants involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4536/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 118 together. The improvement of energy efficiency in the housing stock is internationally recognised as one of the most cost effective ways of reducing emissions and energy bills. Energy efficiency measures to tackle deficiencies in households also support and strengthen employment in the construction and energy services sectors. I launched the national Home Energy Savings Scheme on Sunday last with a budget of \50 million in 2009. This is expected to support the upgrade of at least 27,500 homes and with other building insulation programmes in my own Department and the Department for the Environment will contribute to the creation of 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Experience from the pilot phase of the Home Energy Saving Scheme in 2008 has demonstrated that there is considerable demand for a support scheme for energy efficiency measures, not only among householders, but also among building energy rating assessors, product manufacturers, installers and other market players. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimates that demand among householders across the country could well exceed 100,000 homes over the lifetime of the scheme. Homeowners can expect to save up to \700 on their energy bills if they implement the full suite of measures being proposed under the national scheme. This Scheme offers grants of up to 40% of the typical cost of energy efficiency upgrade measures, varying depending on the measure concerned. Owners of homes built prior to 2006 can now contact SEI on 1850 927000 or [email protected] to register their interest in this scheme. A list of eligible measures and fixed grant rates is set out below:

Measure Fixed grant rate

Roof Insulation 250 Cavity Wall Insulation 400 Internal Wall Insulation 2,500 External Wall Insulation 4,000 High Efficiency Boiler with Heating Controls Upgrade 700 Heating Controls Upgrade Only 500 Building Energy Rating Assessment 200

Alternative Energy Projects. 104. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he is taking to promote the use of domestic renewable energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4494/09]

127. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the greener homes scheme; the number of applications that were made for grants in 2007 and 2008; the number of applicants awarded grants in 2007 and 2008; the cost of the grants given under this scheme per month from April 2006 to date in 2009; 110 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers if he will provide this information in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4535/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 127 together. The development of domestic renewable energy is a key priority and is being supported by a range of actions and programmes ranging from Research and Development, investment incentives and mandatory requirements. I have launched a microgeneration pilot scheme being undertaken by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI). The programme will assess technical, financial and regulatory issues surrounding the deployment of small and microgeneration technologies in Ireland and will provide grant aid for around 50 pilot installations. The initiation of the pilot trial of micro- and small-scale generation technologies that will lead to successful implementation of good quality projects yielding meaningful information in a short timeframe is a priority action in the microgeneration programme. The pilot field trial will investigate and test technical, market and regulatory issues associated with their installation, network connection and operation and generation. An associated primary objective is to assess measures required for supplier and product qualification to minimise the risk of adverse outcomes at small-scale and microgeneration installations, hence promoting the robust growth of a microgeneration supply base. In the absence of relevant European Standards for technologies or robust qualifications for installers, interim arrangements will be put in place for the pilot. A call for expression of interest is currently open for the Low Carbon Housing Programme administered by SEI. In addition to having a minimum requirement of a Building Energy Rating of A2 or higher the targets also include provision for onsite generation. The Revised Building Regulations brought into force in July 2008 now include a compulsory renewable energy component for all new houses. This will not only ensure that renewables are integrated into the housing stock but will also encourage individuals to consider a range of renewable options when purchasing a new home. This is further underpinned by the introduction of the Building Energy Rating which provides information to house purchasers on energy performance and to which renewables will contribute. The Government’s Greener Homes Scheme, administered by SEI, provides support to individuals wishing to install renewable energy heating technologies in their homes. This scheme, now in operation since early 2006, has already helped establish a very strong supply industry for renewable energy products, services and fuels while the application of strict product standards and installer training and quality schemes has ensured that consumers are informed in relation to their choices. The following is the detail sought by the Deputy in relation to the scheme.

Year Number of Applications received

2007 10,000 2008 11,000

111 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

Year Number of Payments made

2007 8,385 2008 9,643

Year Value of Payments made \

2007 26,755,446 2008 21,792,268

The following table shows the total amount of grant paid and the number of payments to householders per month since the launch in 2006 of the Greener Homes Scheme to end December 2008.

2006

Paid Number of applications \

June 10,900 5 July 150,346 50 Aug 328,304 107 Sep 577,578 188 Oct 709,606 219 Nov 1,390,748 426 Dec 1,139,511 346

2006 4,306,993 1,341

2007

Paid Number of applications \

Jan 1,285,534 379 Feb 1,720,197 510 Mar 1,971,200 572 Apr 1,858,614 551 May 2,058,025 598 June 2,510,842 730 July 1,597,794 476 Aug 2,378,771 753 Sep 2,278,989 782 Oct 2,635,747 838 Nov 3,801,759 1270 Dec 2,657,974 926

2007 26,755,446 8,385

112 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

2008

Paid Number of applications

Jan 1,927,443 675 Feb 1,946,585 715 Mar 1,696,239 625 Apr 1,534,356 566 May 2,032,357 807 June 1,596,210 638 July 1,394,855 601 Aug 1,684,125 773 Sep 1,777,421 829 Oct 1,967,552 936 Nov 1,144,974 635 Dec 3,090,151 1,843

2008 21,792,268 9,643

Question No. 105 answered with Question No. 83.

106. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the production of ethanol for use as an alternative fuel and energy source; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4590/09]

116. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on biofuels; his further views on the biofuels targets at an EU level following the concerns regarding food prices and land use; his further views on the feasibility of second generation biofuels produced here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4545/09]

500. Deputy Sea´n Connick asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of excise relief and other forms of subsidies granted in respect of imported biofuel in each of the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. [4804/09]

510. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of companies currently licensed and approved for the production of bio- diesel or other forms of plant oil or motor or heating fuel; the total production from all such sources in each of the past three years to date; the number, if any, of such companies that have, as yet, not supplied any products in the same period; the number of similar companies, though not approved, that have started production; the extent of any such production; when it is intended that those with a proven production record are likely to be recognised and supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4950/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 116, 500 and 510 together. Sustainable biofuels will play an important part in delivering the 10% renewable energy target for transport fuels by 2020. 113 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

The Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes have resulted in 18 projects being awarded excise relief between 2005 and 2010 with four of these projects in the bioethanol category. The schemes were designed as interim measures to accelerate the level of biofuels in the fuel mix, in advance of the introduction of a biofuels obligation. Biofuels are already being mainstreamed in blends of up to 5% at a number of existing petrol and diesel pumps, and higher blends are being sold to identified vehicle fleets. Given the fact that bioethanol is the generally approved replacement for petrol, it has a valuable role to play in national bioenergy policy. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to imported biofuels is not available. The Office of the Revenue Commissioners advises that the total cost of these excise relief schemes to date is estimated at \40m. I am committed to the development of an Irish biofuels industry and to the sustainable development and deployment of indigenous bioenergy resources. In relation to licensing of biofuel companies, I have no function on this matter. Consents for the construction of a Biofuel production facility would obviously be required from a number of sources, such as the local authority and possibly the Environmental Protection Agency (depending on the feedstock), while in due course, compliance with the EU Sustainability Criteria will become a condition of biofuels being counted towards EU targets. The planned introduction of a Biofuels Obligation will require all fuel suppliers to ensure that biofuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. The biofuels obligation is designed to provide a long-term market based framework for the development of a biofuels sector and delivery of biofuels targets to 2020. The public consultation process in relation to the Biofuels Obligation Scheme has recently been completed and there were 40 submissions received as part of the consultation process. My Department is now analysing the submissions with a view to preparing specific details for a final Biofuels Obligation Scheme which will be cognisant of the views expressed by stakeholders. I will bring a proposal to Government soon and introduce the necessary legislation required in order that the Biofuels Obligation Scheme can be introduced in January 2010. Through the full application of the EU sustainability criteria, the Biofuels Obligation Scheme mechanism will allow us to ensure that the biofuel we use is sustainably sourced, and evolving technologies will allow us to increase the penetration rate without any impacts on food prices. Given that biofuels will form an increasingly important component of European transport fuels in the coming years, it is vital that these criteria are not alone robust and effective in protecting those most at risk in the developing world, but that they also set the agenda for further investment in more efficient biofuel production, and for investment in second generation biofuels. Through appropriate RD&D schemes such as the Charles Parsons awards, we are incentivis- ing the development of second generation biofuels, which will not use food stocks as raw material input. Work is currently underway to determine what the marine environment might contribute to developing the national biofuels capacity. The analysis will include identifying the necessary research, development and demonstration projects to realise any such potential. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is commissioning analysis of the potential of marine algae as a source of biofuels for Ireland and my Department is also supporting the Interreg project “Biomara”, which will be examining all potential opportunities for biofuel production from marine sources. This work will provide a comprehensive basis on which to inform research and development work on the potential use of marine algae for renewable energy. It will also provide data in relation to the biofuels capacity that could potentially be derived from the marine environment.

114 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Telecommunications Services. 107. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the expected publication date of the draft policy paper on next generation broadband networks; if he will implement the value for money and policy review of phase one of the MANs programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4537/09]

125. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the publication of a report into the recommendations of the International Broadband Advisory Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4562/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 125 together. In July 2008 I launched a consultation paper on Next Generation Broadband. This paper, which took account of the recommendations of the International Broadband Advisory Forum, contained proposed policy actions in relation to optimal use of State assets, fibre connections to second level schools and new premises, strong regulation and innovative spectrum licensing, government investment, demand stimulation and evidence based research. The consultation period closed in October and my officials have examined the written submissions received and the contributions made at a one day consultation forum that I hosted on 30th September 2008. I intend to publish a finalised report shortly having regard to the contributions we have received. The findings and recommendations of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I of the Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme will be fully taken account of in the implementation of Phase II of the MANs Programme and in the event that it is decided to invest in further phases of the MANs Programme.

Question No. 108 answered with Question No. 87.

Energy Resources. 109. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has met with a group (details supplied); the outcome of that meeting; if he has not met this group, if he will meet with them and when; the position on underground and over ground lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4542/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): While I have no direct role in the planning and construction of transmission system infrastructure, the Government’s overriding policy objective is to ensure that energy is consistently available at competitive prices with minimal risk of supply disruption to meet the needs of businesses and domestic consumers. It is EirGrid’s role, as the transmission system operator, to develop and upgrade the transmission system in order to meet ongoing and future electricity needs. The two 400 kV transmission line projects from Meath to Cavan and Cavan to Tyrone are vitally important to the North East region for security of supply, regional and national economic development and the integration of renewable electricity on to the Grid. I am aware of concern in local communities about the impact of overhead lines, and I was happy to be able to facilitate a meeting with North East Pylon Pressure, which was attended by EirGrid. The meeting was held on 16 January and all parties engaged in an active and constructive discussion

115 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.] on practical issues relating to the projects and ongoing consultations. The meeting resulted in a series of agreed action points, including an intensification of the engagement between EirGrid and North East Pylon Pressure on the issues of concern. As regards the issue of underground cables and overhead lines, EirGrid has undertaken to publish a detailed report, which it has commissioned jointly with Northern Ireland Electricity, in relation to undergrounding for the Meath Cavan and Cavan Tyrone projects. While the independent Ecofys Study provided a generic analysis of underground/overhead transmission infrastructure issues, this report will provide a detailed, site specific analysis of undergrounding issues relating to the entire route for both projects. The report, which has been prepared over a long timescale, will form part of the documentation that will be submitted to An Bord Pleana´la as part of EirGrid’s planning application for the two projects. The report will be published in the coming weeks and a period of consultation by EirGrid on its findings will follow. I understand that EirGrid has also agreed to facilitate a meeting between North East Pylon Pressure’s consultants (Askon) and EirGrid’s own technical experts, and will fund the costs of Askon attending the meeting. I would hope that this level of engagement between EirGrid and North East Pylon Pressure will assist greatly in resolving issues of concern and moving the projects forward. EirGrid have stressed that consultations will continue with stakeholders over the coming months, until such time as planning consent application is submitted to An Bord Pleana´la, which is the Statutory Planning Authority in relation to strategic infrastructure projects.

Broadcasting Services. 110. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the implications for viewers of RTE´ in Northern Ireland in view of the fact that the digital terrestrial television technology to be used here is different from that in the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4557/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act 2007 provides for the development of national Digital Terres- trial Television (DTT) services in Ireland and for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under the new Broadcasting Bill 2008 due to be enacted shortly, RTE´ continues to have an all-island remit. Section 114 of the Bill provides that one of the principle objects of RTE´ is “to establish, maintain and operate a national television and sound broadcasting service, which shall have the character of a public service, be a free-to-air service and be made available, in so far as it is reasonably practicable, to the whole community on the island of Ireland”. The first phase of DTT services will launch in autumn this year with coverage of about 85% of the country. The analogue network will continue to operate alongside the new digital network for a transition period until an analogue switch off date is reached. Information on the development of this network is available from RTE´ ’s own website, www.rte.ie. My Department is working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and our UK counterparts to coordinate a smooth transition from analogue to digital services in both jurisdictions. Analogue switch off is currently planned for end 2012 in Northern Ireland, which is the target EU analogue switch-off date. I am confident that Ireland can meet that target and that RTE´ , by way of DTT technology, will continue to be available in Northern Ireland.

116 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Energy Efficiency. 111. Deputy Ciara´n Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the publication of the national energy efficiency action plan which was promised by the end of 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4551/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Ireland’s energy policy framework identifies energy efficiency as the most cost effective means of reducing our dependence on imported energy, as well as mitigating harmful green house gas emissions. Government has set a target of 20% energy efficiency by 2020 and, recognising that the public sector must act as exemplars in the field of energy usage, has set a more stretching target of 33% energy efficiency, for the public sector, by 2020. I previously indicated to the House that I anticipated publishing the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan prior to Christmas but finalisation of the Plan has taken somewhat longer than I then anticipated. Inter-Departmental consultation is nearing completion on the issue and, after Government approval, I expect to publish the Plan within weeks. In the interim I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the important announcement on grant aid for home insulation measures, which I made on Sunday, 8th February.

Question No. 112 answered with Question No. 87.

Question No. 113 answered with Question No. 84.

Energy Costs. 114. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding the publication of the Fuel Poverty Action Research Project report; the contact he has had with poverty groups to ensure that those at risk of fuel poverty in winter 2009 are included in schemes such as the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4550/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The Fuel Poverty Action Research Project was established by Combat Poverty and Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to inform public policy on the merits of domestic energy efficiency programmes. The project involves an integrated and systematic ex-post assessment of the energy, environmental, thermal comfort and health benefits of the SEI-administered Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS), which retrofits low income private homes with insulation and other energy saving measures. The report of the Fuel Poverty Research Project is due to be published for consultation at the end of March 2009 following a presentation to the interdepartmental working group on energy affordability. The Warmer Homes Scheme provides energy efficiency improvements to homes in, or at risk of, fuel poverty and is delivered by community based organisations (CBOs). The CBOs work in partnership with their local network of poverty and community support organisations including public health nurses, MABS and St Vincent De Paul to identify and address vulnerable homes. The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable consumers from the impact of high energy costs through a combination of institutional supports and investment in improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock. I am working closely with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to deliver a fully cohesive approach across Government.

117 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

I established last year, an Inter Departmental/Agency Group led by my Department and the Department for Social and Family Affairs, and which also includes the Departments of Finance, Taoiseach, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Health and Children, the Com- mission for Energy Regulation, SEI, ESB and BGE´ and the Institute of Public Health. This intensive cooperation and coordinated working by all the relevant Departments, agencies and the utilities is ensuring the effective delivery of a comprehensive approach to addressing energy affordability. The Group has been conducting a series of meetings with representative groups and agencies including Age Action Ireland and Energy Action in addition to relevant groups and agencies in Northern Ireland. The Group has finalised an advisory booklet to inform and assist those seeking advice about supports in relation to energy affordability. The booklet will be published this month alongside a new complementary website and will be widely disseminated. To date more than 20,000 homes have been substantially addressed by the Warmer Homes Scheme. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the WHS with a further 15,000 homes expected to be completed. SEI, in consultation with ESB, BGE´ and other stakeholders, is reviewing the operation of the Scheme with the aim of ensuring that maximum impact is delivered from the enhanced funding.

Telecommunications Services. 115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps he has taken or proposes to take to bring the standard and quality of communications here up to best international practice; his plans to encourage sufficient infrastructural investment in the industry to bring this about; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4568/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The role of the Government in the electronic communications market in Ireland is to formulate policy to facilitate the provision of high quality services by competing service providers. The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Govern- ment. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps — 10mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Most of those SMEs, 72.6%, according to ComReg’s report for Q3 2008, have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps — 10mbps. The latest OECD report, which includes data up to June 2008 is also testament to the considerable improvement of recent years. It shows that Ireland had the fourth strongest per capita broadband subscription growth of the 30 countries ranked. With similar fast uptake of broadband noted in previous reports, Ireland has closed the gap on the OECD average with our improvement over the past 2 years. Additionally, it should be noted that mobile broadband, which is very popular with Irish broadband subscribers, is not yet published for the purposes of international statistical comparisons. However, mobile broadband statistics are expected to be published by the OECD in the future reports. The publication of mobile broadband statistics is expected to improve Ireland’s ranking further. There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to

118 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with “3”, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area will be served by September 2010. Internationally, electronic communications markets are moving to provide next generation broadband in order to deliver greater quality, speed and service to consumers. This is happening where there is strong competition and incentives to innovate. The policy framework for future broadband development in Ireland is set out in the consultation paper on Next Gener- ation Broadband, which I published last July. The consultation period on the paper has now concluded and I will publish the final policy paper shortly. I am also actively engaged with the EU Commission’s review of the regulatory framework for electronic communications. Effective regulation, and more consistency in regulatory approaches across all the Member States, will enhance the conditions necessary for investment in communications technology and allow Ireland exploit the opportunities such technology brings for the benefit of our economy and society.

Question No. 116 answered with Question No. 106.

Alternative Energy Projects. 117. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the funding available within his Department to research and develop a biomass boiler that uses renewable energy feed stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4541/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Sus- tainable Energy Ireland (SEI) operates a number of grant schemes in this area. These include the Renewable Energy Research Development and Demonstration programme, which provides grant support for the development of new renewable energy technologies, including the development of advanced biomass energy systems. Individuals or companies can contact SEI and apply for support under this scheme. SEI also operates a number of other support schemes for the commercial deployment of biomass heating systems, for the domestic user. SEI operates the Greener Homes Scheme, which provides fixed grant support for biomass boilers. At the commercial level, SEI operates the Renewable Energy Heating scheme, which provides 30% grant support for boilers up to 1 Mega Watt in size. Boilers at a size larger than this also qualify for grant support with a slightly reduced rate. Both programmes are designed to stimulate the deployment of renewable energy heating in Ireland and will assist in achieving the target of delivering 12% of heat from renewable energy sources by 2020.

Question No. 118 answered with Question No. 103.

Departmental Expenditure. 119. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the annual cost of printing reports by his Department and the agencies under its control; the corresponding figure in respect of annual reports; the cost of posting these reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4533/09]

119 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Details of the cost of printing reports during 2008, by my Department, are contained in the following table. The table includes details of annual reports published and where identifiable, postage costs. It should be noted that the level of reports published will vary from year to year. Reports produced by bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, are a day to day operational matter for those bodies and one in which I have no function.

2008 — Reports published by DCENR

Reports published in 2008 Cost of Publication Postal Costs

Consultation Paper on Next Generation Broadband 2,481.73 n/a Third Strategic Environmental Assessment for Oil and Gas 5,687.00 Nil Activity in Ireland’s Offshore Atlantic Waters: Rockall Basin Ecofys Study on the Comparative Merits of Overhead Electricity No external costs — \475 (approx. 500 Transmission Lines versus Underground Cables report printed copies to members within Department of public @ 0.95 per copy) Handbook on Oil Supply Contingency Measures Nil — published on Nil Department’s website Minerals Development Acts, 1940-1995 — Report by the Minister 342.00 75.00 for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for the six months ended 31 December 2007 Minerals Development Acts, 1940-1995 — Report by the Minister 502.00 75.00 for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for the six months ended 30 June 2008 State Mining and Prospecting Facilities 1st May 2008 Competition 350.00 130.00 State Mining and Prospecting Facilities 1st November 2008 460.00 130.00 Competition State Mining and Prospecting Facilities 1st February 2008 60.00 130.00 Competition State Mining and Prospecting Facilities 1st August 2008 60.00 130.00 Competition An Energy Research Strategy for Ireland 13,618.56 Nil Statement of Strategy 2008-2010 9,631.00 104.60 approx. DCENR Annual Report 2007 12,465.00 97.10 approx. GSI Annual Report 2007 7,000 n/a Gaining Ground 2,142 n/a All-Island Grid Study 17,021 (incl. VAT)* n/a

Energy Resources. 120. Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether there is a need for stocks of gas supplies to be mandatory, similar to the reserves for oil through NORA; the position in relation to gas supplies here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4559/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): There is currently no requirement under EU legislation for Ireland to hold strategic reserves of natural gas i.e. reserves that could not be accessed under normal market conditions, as is the case with oil under IEA obligations. Recent European Commission analysis, undertaken as part of the Second EU Strategic Energy Review, shows that the cost of strategic gas storage is 120 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers very high, at 5 times that of oil storage. The potential for gas storage facilities is also dependent on geological conditions. Therefore depleted gas fields (such as is the case with the storage facility at Kinsale) are often good options for storage. This also means that some countries do not have the potential to store gas. For these reasons the European Commission has indicated it will not impose EU obligations regarding strategic gas stocks. The existing commercial gas storage facility at Kinsale has the capacity to hold 198 million cubic metres, licensed for use by Bord Ga´is E´ ireann, which could supply around 50% of residential and SME gas needs for up to 50 days in the event of a disruption to our gas imports. While the prognosis for the security of our gas supplies is relatively secure in light of the stability of the UK gas market, it is nevertheless prudent, in light of our dependence on gas imported from the UK, to seek to reduce our reliance on this source. In this regard, the question of gas storage, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), is being considered on an All Island basis. My Department is working with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland, and energy Regulators North and South, to examine the medium to long term position with regard to security of gas supply on the Island of Ireland. In addition, there is interest in providing further gas storage on a commercial basis. Shannon LNG — a wholly owned subsidiary of the US firm Hess LNG — proposes to construct an LNG re-gasification terminal at a site located on the Shannon Estuary between Tarbert and Ballylongford in County Kerry. The project, which could potentially provide up to 40% of Ireland’s gas requirements, is being planned on a “merchant” basis. This means that the project is private sector development which would be run on a commercial basis. LNG has the potential to improve connectivity to the global gas market, which would be a critical factor in the event of a major supply disruption. However, any discussion of this issue clearly underlines the strategic importance of diver- sifying our sources of gas supply — not least indigenous production — including the importance of bringing the Corrib Gas field into production. At full production this field is estimated to meet 60% of our annual demand for gas for circa five years.

Energy Costs. 121. Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made by the inter-departmental group on energy affordability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3265/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable consumers from the impact of high energy costs through a combination of institutional supports and investment in improving the energy efficiency of the housing stock. I am working closely with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to deliver a fully cohesive approach across Government. I established, last year, an Inter Departmental/Agency Group led by my Department and the Department for Social and Family Affairs, and which also includes the Departments of Finance, Taoiseach, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Health and Children, the Commission for Energy Regulation, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), ESB and BGE´ and the Institute of Public Health. The Group is also liaising with relevant groups and agencies in Northern Ireland. This intensive cooperation and coordinated working by all the relevant Departments, agencies and the utilities is ensuring the effective delivery of a comprehensive approach to addressing energy affordability. The Group has been conducting a series of meetings with representative groups and agencies including Age Action Ireland and Energy Action.

121 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

The Group has finalised an advisory booklet to inform and assist those seeking advice about supports in relation to energy affordability. The booklet will be published this month alongside a new complementary website and will be widely disseminated. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) and this is expected to support energy efficiency interventions in up to 15,000 low income homes this year alone. At the request of the Group, SEI in consultation with ESB and BGE´ and other stakeholders, is reviewing the operation of the WHS to ensure that maximum impact is delivered from the enhanced funding.

Telecommunications Services. 122. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on reports of a stimulus package from the EU proposal for rural broadband projects; if this fund will help the areas currently unable to get broadband but that are also not covered by the national broadband scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4543/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The EU Commission has proposed that the recently announced Economic Recovery Plan would contain measures aimed at enhancing rural broadband infrastructure. While Ireland is supportive of the proposal, other Member States are opposed and a proposal has not, as yet, been agreed between the Commission and all Member States. In the event that the proposal is agreed, any funding available to Member States would be distributed under the Rural Development Fund administered in Ireland by the Department of Agriculture and Food. Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food and my officials have proposed possible initiatives to the EU Commission that could be considered for inclusion in the proposal should it be agreed. These include an initiative to help residences and businesses not covered by the national broadband scheme and which are unable to access broadband.

Question No. 123 answered with Question No. 87.

Energy Efficiency. 124. Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to merge the Power of One and the Change.ie websites in view of the cost of maintaining both; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4560/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The Power of One campaign aims to bring about more energy efficient behaviour by domestic consumers and other energy using sectors to achieve energy and CO2 savings. The campaign has been operating since August 2006 and has brought about a significant increase in awareness of energy efficiency and best practice energy behaviour. Since the beginning of 2009, Sus- tainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has assumed responsibility for the campaign. This is likely to see the campaign evolve in different directions, though the website will continue to be an important information hub. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for the Change campaign. The objective of the campaign is to raise public awareness of climate change, its causes, impacts and implications for Ireland, as well as to drive significant behavioural change to reduce and avoid greenhouse gas emissions in how we live, work and travel. The remit of the campaign covers the broad spectrum of transport, waste, water, energy, biodiversity

122 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers and planning across the sectors agriculture, transport, construction, tourism, business, industry and the public sector. The campaign includes a significant advertising element as well as extensive stakeholder engagement to develop specific programmes and web-based tools tailored to achieve emission reductions at sectoral level. Since the inception of the Change campaign, there has been a high degree of coordination and cooperation between the two campaigns in relation to energy efficiency and carbon reduction. This has involved sharing of materials, co-funding of projects and many linkages between the websites of the two campaigns. This approach has led to significant savings for the Exchequer. I believe this cooperative approach should continue. My Department and SEI are both represented on the inter-Departmental steering committee for the Change campaign. In respect of Power of One, I have asked SEI to actively pursue the scope for continuing and enhancing cooperation between the campaigns as part of their management of Power of One.

Question No. 125 answered with Question No. 107.

126. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the warmer homes scheme will go nationwide; the number of homes that were eligible for this scheme in 2008; the number that applied for this scheme in 2008; the amount spent on this scheme for 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4558/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) is targeted at households on low incomes, such as those in receipt of fuel allowance, invalidity or disability benefit. Referrals from public health nurses, community services and St Vincent De Paul are also accepted. In 2007, there were approximately 270,000 households in receipt of the fuel allowance payment. Of these, approximately two thirds are in private housing and are eligible for the WHS. However, applicability is also dependent on the energy efficiency standard of the applicant’s home and not all fuel allowance recipients’ homes are in need of the WHS energy efficiency improvements. To date, more than 20,000 homes have been substantially addressed by the WHS. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the WHS with a further 15,000 homes expected to be completed. The number of applicants on the WHS waiting list is 4,618 homes, which are registered with the 20 community based organisations currently delivering the WHS. The 20 community based organisations represent coverage of just over two-thirds of the country. A number of additional community based organisations will be required to deliver nationwide coverage. It is planned to commence the introduction of new organisations from the end of March this year. A number of improvements to the WHS will be introduced over the coming weeks, including a new free phone service designed to assist householders identify their nearest provider. If outside of current coverage, their details will be recorded and notified as soon as the service becomes available in their area. In addition, a new website will be launched to allow homeowners, neighbours or relatives find out more information about the WHS and other grant schemes available in their area. The total spend on the WHS in 2008 was \5.6M, which represented a doubling of the previous years allocation.

Question No. 127 answered with Question No. 104.

123 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Proposed Legislation. 128. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in publishing the heads of the Fisheries (Amendment) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4546/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Sea´n Power): As part of the overall rationalisation of State agencies that the Minister for Finance announced in Budget 2009, a new national inland fisheries body will be established, which will replace the existing Central and regional fisheries boards. I have set an ambitious target for implementing the decision. A restructuring implementation group has been established and is developing the key features and structures of the new model. Primary legislation will be required for this implementation. Work on the draft Heads of the Bill to give effect to the new structures is at an advanced stage and I expect to be in a position to bring these to Government for approval in the coming weeks. It is my intention to publish details of the draft Bill once Government approval has been secured.

Telecommunications Services. 129. Deputy Ruairı´ Quinn asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will instruct ComReg to monitor mobile broadband speeds and coverage on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4547/09]

516. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his policy to improve mobile telephone quality and coverage here in line with the best standards throughout the European Union; if his attention has been drawn to the dramatic difference in this regard at present; if he has issued directives or instructions to the service providers or regulators to ensure the availability of a quality comparable product to consumers here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4962/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Question Nos. 129 and 516 together. The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulatory issues surrounding the quality of services in the mobile phone market, including mobile broadband, is the responsibility of the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) in accordance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the Regulations which transpose the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications. The relevant service providers operate in a fully liberalised market. Accordingly, I have not issued directives or instructions to ComReg or the mobile phone operators regarding the matters raised by the Deputies nor do I intend to do so. The most recent Single Telecoms Market Progress Report published in 2008 describes Ireland’s mobile market as diverse, competitive and advanced. In addition, recent surveys conducted by ComReg indicate that the majority of Irish people are content with existing broadband speeds and the value for money of their Internet service. ComReg sets out the obligations on mobile network operators with regard to population coverage. These obligations are set down in the licence conditions for each operator. According to ComReg all four mobile network operators have complied with these targets to date. In addition they have invested significantly in their networks.

124 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Alternative Energy Projects. 130. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made in relation to his announcement in 2008 of an additional category in the REFIT scheme to support offshore wind technology; the progress that he has made to optimise the amount of indigenous, renewable energy which can be used safely and at a price fair to consumers by increasing the opportunities for offshore wind and ocean and tidal energy generation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4534/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Government targets are to increase the contribution from renewable energy sources to the electricity market to 15% by 2010 and 40% by 2020. In January 2008 I announced a tariff for a new offshore wind category within the REFIT support programme for new renewable energy projects. The REFIT programme imposes qualifying conditions and timelines for the completion of projects. In December last the Commission for Energy Regulation published a decision on Gate 3 connection requests which includes a number of offshore wind-powered projects. I am now awaiting comments from key stakeholders on the appropriate timelines within the REFIT programme, to apply to the offshore wind energy category. These timelines must reflect the timelines for the delivery of connections to offshore projects notified to project developers in the first instance. I also announced in 2008, an Ocean Energy Strategy to harness emerging wave and tidal powered technologies, which are moving from the research phase to prototype deployment, within a three year cycle. The Ocean Energy Development Unit has been established within Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to manage the ocean energy package. I am pleased to confirm that all components of the package are now under way and are being progressed by SEI.

Broadcasting Services. 131. Deputy Sea´n Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding digital terrestrial television; his views on whether preparations will be completed here for the switch-over in 2012; the cost of the switch-over; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4554/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 provides for the development of digital terrestrial television (DTT) in Ireland. Under this Act, RTE´ is required to provide a DTT system with capacity to carry RTE´ , TG4 and TV3. The legislation also requires the Broadcasting Com- mission of Ireland (BCI) to seek commercial applicants who are interested in providing commercial DTT services. RTE´ has started to build a DTT network in Ireland and has indicated that services will be launched on a phased basis starting in autumn 2009. It is expected that the first phase of DTT services will provide coverage of about 85% of the country. Information on the development of this network is available from RTE´ ’s website, www.rte.ie The BCI is responsible for the development of commercial DTT services and is currently in contract negotiations with a company, Boxer (DTT) Limited, in this regard. I am confident that Ireland can meet the target EU analogue switch-off date of 2012. In the meantime, TV services will be simulcast on both analogue and digital networks so that viewers may choose to switch or to remain on analogue during that period.

125 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

TV viewers who wish to receive the DTT service will need to upgrade their television receiver equipment either by using a DTT set top box or by purchasing a digital television approved for use on the Irish DTT network. It is expected that the initial cost of a set top box will be in the region of \50-100.

Ministerial Travel. 132. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Taoiseach the amount spent on foreign travel in the period 1 January to 31 December 2008 in the office of the Attorney General, which figures were not included in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 172 of 27 January 2009. [4230/09]

The Taoiseach: The total spent on foreign travel during the period 1 January to 31 December 2008 in respect of the Office of the Attorney General was \162,555.56.

Storage Facilities. 133. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Taoiseach if external storage is utilised by his Depart- ment; if so, if he will state what is being stored; the length of time it has been stored; the cost of such storage; the details of the contract; his plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4231/09]

The Taoiseach: My Department has, since 1 January 2008, availed of off site storage facilities. The contract is for seven years, from 1 January 2008, at an annual cost of \2,239.59 [inc VAT]. There are 568 such boxes at present in storage. The files they contain relate to projects which are no longer active but which are ineligible for transfer to the National Archives under the 30 year rule. Their removal to off site storage facilities enabled my Department to reorganise it’s crowded file registry section to deliver an enhanced service and comply with current Health and Safety regulations.

Departmental Transport. 134. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Taoiseach if his Department has a contract with a taxi firm; if so, the amount of money spent by officials in 2007 and 2008; the changes he will bring about; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4232/09]

The Taoiseach: My Department uses the services of two taxi companies. A policy on the use of taxis is in place in my Department which has been circulated to all staff in the Department. The use of taxis in my Department is permissible only for use on official business, usually where other means of transport e.g. public transport, are not available or suitable for the purposes required. The following table details the amount spent by my Department in 2007 and 2008 on taxi services.

Year Amount spent by Department on Taxi Services \

2007 98,768 2008 74,929

Departmental Property. 135. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Taoiseach if laptops, art works, paintings, sculptures, 126 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers computers, mobile telephones, blackberries or other equipment has been lost or stolen from his Department or its agencies since 2007 to date in 2009; the circumstances surrounding the items’ disappearance; if action has been taken to recover the item or items; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4233/09]

The Taoiseach: 12 mobile phones have been either lost or stolen from my Department in the period January 2007 to date. Upon notification or such a loss the devices concerned are immobilised to prevent any further use. No laptops or Blackberry devices were lost or stolen from my Department in this period. The Office of Public Works is responsible for all art works and stock control measures in relation to such works. Central Statistics Office (CSO) Two laptops have been stolen from the Central Statistics office since the start of 2007. Both incidents were reported to the Gardaı´. One laptop was stolen from an employee’s home and was recovered by the Gardaı´. The other was stolen from an employee while on official business. This laptop did not contain any personal or identifiable information. No other items covered by the Deputy’s question have been lost or stolen from the CSO since 1 January 2007 to date.

Departmental Expenditure. 136. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Taoiseach if a separate account is kept in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor of the outlays by way of counsel and otherwise and costs involved in the fighting of major litigation on behalf of the State; if he will furnish the costs incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4441/09]

The Taoiseach: The Chief State Solicitor’s Office tracks fees paid by the Office to counsel representing the State and other State legal expenses paid by the Office for the legal cases in which it is involved. The following table shows the Office’s expenditure in 2007 and 2008 (provisional) on State Counsel Fees and State general law expenses, the vast majority of which involved litigation cases.

State Counsel Fees State General Law Expenses*

2007 15,119,000 4,759,000 2008 (Provisional Outturn) 17,798,000 4,972,000

*Includes expenditure on stenographers, expert witnesses, etc.

Labour Force. 137. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Taoiseach the number of non-nationals employed here in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3934/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach (Deputy Pat Carey): The following tables provide estimates of the labour force classified by nationality in Quarter 2 of each year (2004-2008) sourced from the CSO Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS). The figures are considered ‘broadly indicative’ as the large migration flows in recent years present a significant measurement challenge in a general purpose household survey such as the QNHS.

127 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Pat Carey.] Estimates of the Population aged 15 years and over classified by nationality and labour force status

Nationality: b Other nationality Total a Irish national1

’000 ’000 ’000 Quarter 2 2008

ILO status In employment 1,770.7 337.8 2,108.5 Unemployed 90.7 24.8 115.5 Total in Labour force 1,861.4 362.5 2,223.9 Not economically active 1,164.7 121.4 1,286.1 All Persons 3,026.1 484.0 3,510.1

Quarter 2 2007

ILO status In employment 1,785.3 316.3 2,101.6 Unemployed 79.8 20.5 100.3 Total in Labour force 1,865.1 336.8 2,201.9 Not economically active 1,151.1 102.3 1,253.3 All Persons 3,016.2 439.0 3,455.2

Quarter 2 2006

ILO status In employment 1,757.6 263.5 2,021.1 Unemployed 74.5 18.3 92.8 Total in Labour force 1,832.1 281.9 2,113.9 Not economically active 1,157.8 96.1 1,253.9 All Persons 2,989.9 378.0 3,367.9

Quarter 2 2005

ILO status In employment 1,737.2 194.4 1,931.6 Unemployed 73.6 12.9 86.5 Total in Labour force 1,810.8 207.4 2,018.2 Not economically active 1,174.9 87.2 1,262.2 All Persons 2,985.8 294.6 3,280.4

Quarter 2 2004

ILO status In employment 1,692.1 142.4 1,834.6 Unemployed 75.1 9.5 84.6 Total in Labour force 1,767.2 151.9 1,919.1 Not economically active 1,196.2 86.1 1,282.3 All Persons 2,963.4 238.0 3,201.4 1Includes ‘not stated’. Data may be subject to future revision. Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change.

128 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Departmental Expenditure. 138. Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Taoiseach the amount of money paid by the Office of the Attorney General in respect of official visits abroad and in respect of official business abroad by the holders of the positions of attorney general, director general, including its former title of senior legal assistant and chief parliamentary counsel, including its former title of parliamentary draftsman, for each year since 2000 to 2008 inclusive; and the amount of money paid by the Office of the Attorney General in respect of official business abroad by each lawyer at the equivalent grade of assistant secretary for each year since 2000 to date in 2009. [4658/09]

The Taoiseach: In the years 2000 to 2008 and to 9 February 2009 the Office of the Attorney General paid travel and subsistence costs for official business abroad in respect of the Attorney General, the Director General, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and staff at Assistant Sec- retary level. Although not specifically requested I also include, for completeness, details of travel and subsistence costs in relation to the positions of First Parliamentary Counsel and Deputy Director General as they are at the same level. The official business included attendance at EU meetings, ECJ hearings, other official legal business meetings, legal conferences and training. Please note that the holders of the position of Attorney General, Chief Parliamen- tary Counsel and some of the Assistant Secretaries will have changed during the period. Also, on trips where the Attorney General is representing the country at St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, the figures shown include costs in respect of an accompanying spouse. The amounts, converted to euro where necessary, are set out in the attached chart.

129 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Attorney GeneralDirector GeneralChief Parliamentary CounselFirst Parliamentary CounselDeputy Director General 1,637.28 14,460.76Assistant Secretary A 20,527.39Assistant 1,477.71 Secretary B — NilAssistant 17,918.90 Secretary C 4,203.15Assistant Secretary Nil D 2,881.88 7,703.99Assistant 1,985.63 Secretary E 11,870.09 16,696.08 1,229.94 —Assistant 3,190.70 Secretary FAssistant 4,259.48 8,622.81 Secretary 985.74 G 7,898.29 1,250.00 8,722.18Assistant Secretary H 17,609.91 6,755.43 1,999.64 9,189.76Assistant 1,358.09 — 6,617.82 Secretary I — — 5,552.98 1,093.31 6,065.33 7,886.23 6,989.05 6,842.16 4,231.59 143.55 21,446.24 — 1,062.43 4,063.46 5,298.21 4,070.28 9,686.64 2,139.11 — 1,787.80 3,572.14 412.88 Nil 4,192.18 635.61 5,313.16 — 7,450.18 2,995.74 6,890.66 7,868.04 5,703.80 13,172.33 2,170.28 6,646.44 3,869.39 7,094.66 178.88 6,274.59 367.05 Nil 3,151.32 6,569.92 7,523.98 Nil 2,886.74 6,547.08 Nil 9,514.53 678.71 187.63 4,807.28 3,709.66 4,431.68 558.39 Nil 10,783.21 Nil 789.20 4,095.95 2,561.82 705.60 1,179.08 1,230.25 8,709.17 Nil Nil Nil 126.48 5,833.47 1,086.66 4,143.51 1,292.22 1,374.40 4,456.46 Nil 7,998.38 1,520.82 2,769.35 1,403.27 1,495.59 Nil Nil Nil 5,876.74 2,606.07 1,527.22 2,766.91 3,882.20 Nil Nil 2,675.36 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil 592.34 1,518.71 3,002.95 447.54 3,535.23 Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil

130 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Consultancy Contracts. 139. Deputy Damien English asked the Taoiseach the private consultancy firms his Depart- ment used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4821/09]

The Taoiseach: There has been no spend by my Department on private consultancy firms to date in 2009. The following table details the consultancy firms used by my Department in 2008, the projects worked on and the cost for each project. One contract was awarded after 14th October 2008 which is highlighted in the table below.

131 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers 647 \ 9,952 3,376 6,292 Project 124,154 Details of payment made in 2008 (Jan-December) Lingus (the services wereindustrial commissioned relations by issues the at National Aer Implementation Lingus). Body to assist in resolving performance of Irish sectoral regulators against their international counterparts an independent review ofcurrent the RIA operation model of across RIA Departments. was commissioned to assess the effectiveness of the Government Departments Name of Consultant Details of Project Total cost of 14th October 2008 Finance Department Grant ThorntonGoodbodyRA ConsultingQTS LimitedIpsos MoriHudson Talent ManagementPA Consulting GroupRaymond Burke Consulting*awarded after Forensic accounting services in respect NESDO of Review National issues Forum pertaining on to Europe an industrialAustin relations Butler dispute Design at Survey, Aer deployment,Caroline analysis Erskine and Employee reporting Provision Opinion for of Survey theLansdowne assistance — Organisational Market with 2nd Review Research the Tranche Programme drafting of Annual a Risk RegulatoryIreland Assessment Impact Newfoundland 16 — Analysis Partnership days health on professional and a services safety legislative 75,120 Bernadette for proposal. Kiely Organisational Phase Review 2 Programme of 2007 QCS Survey Change Management Fund, Department of The Study Economist Research “Getting Intelligence ready Unit for the 7,200 Referendum” Isolde Goggins 45,552 Media RelationsIsolde Services Goggins and Gillian Lauder To conductIpsos an Mori independent Review Interviewing ofGoodbody for the the Economic INP Regulatory Business Environment Development to Review Position compare of the the Operation of Regulatory Impact analysis (RIA). In line with the terms of 46,775 Towards 2016, Facilitator for workshop on 382,852 review of the Economic 85,305 Regulatory Environment 9,030 Compilation and 1,694 presentation of Provision Civil of Service economic Customer assistance Satisfaction with survey the application of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) across 18,905 1,028 1,815 69,817

132 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Departmental Expenditure. 140. Deputy Damien English asked the Taoiseach the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4836/09]

The Taoiseach: No bonus payments have been made to staff in my Department in respect of the year 2008. Civil service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. However, during 2008, awards totalling \62,400 were made to 6 officers in my Department in respect of 2007. Details of the operation of the scheme are available in the report of the Committee for Performance Awards which can be accessed on the website of the Department of Finance (www.finance.gov.ie). Following the recent announcement by the Minister for Finance relating to the discontinuation of this scheme, there is no specific provision for payment under this scheme for 2009. In addition, a total of \13,648 was paid in 2008 in respect of this Department’s Employee Recognition Awards Scheme in respect of exceptional performance in 2007 (\6,816 in individual awards to 6 staff and the remainder in team awards/cross divisional awards)

Qualifications Recognition. 141. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if FA´ S will be seeking international recognition of Irish trade qualifications in order for persons to get work in the US and other locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4192/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) has responsibility for developing and maintaining the National Framework of Qualifications. It is governed by the Qualifications (Education & Training) Act 1999, which stipulates that the NQAI will “promote recognition outside the State of awards made by bodies in the State and recognition in the State of awards made by bodies outside the State”. In this context, the NQAI has established a qualifications recognition service, which is the Irish centre for the recognition of international qualifications. The NQAI represents Ireland in a European network of centres known as ENIC/NARIC (European National Information Centre/National Academic Recognition Information Centre) and is a National Reference Point, which promotes the recognition of international vocational qualifications throughout Europe and further a field, including the United States of America. The role of FA´ S, as the National Training & Employment Authority is to enable the State to engage in and support human resource development of the labour force. Many courses offered by FA´ S including apprenticeships, lead to qualifications that are placed on the National Framework of Qualifications. The NQAI is currently undertaking the alignment of the Irish National Framework of Quali- fications with European Framework of Qualifications. When the alignment is complete, it should result in greater transparency and recognition across the EU for all Irish awards, including trade qualifications.

133 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Coughlan.]

Prior to the transfer of its certification powers to FETAC, FA´ S negotiated mutual recognition agreements with the UK and Germany for several Irish trades. FA´ S are committed to working proactively with the NQAI with a view to identifying the steps needed to assist trades- people wishing to have their qualifications recognised abroad.

Product Safety. 142. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if, in view of recent research, she will ban the use of baby walkers in line with a decision taken by the Canadian Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4375/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): The General Product Safety Directive 2001/95/EC, transposed into Irish law by S.I. No. 199 of 2004, places the onus on all operators, manufacturers, distributors, importers etc. to ensure that only safe products are placed on the market. If operators become aware that products on the market present a potential hazard they must take appropriate measures up to and including recall of the items, to ensure that the risk is removed. Any action taken by an operator must be notified to the Market Surveillance Authority (National Consumer Agency in Ireland). The Market Surveillance Authority notifies the European Commission of the action through the Rapid Alert Notification System (RAPEX). The Commission transmits the information to all Member States, with a view to their taking appropriate action to protect the safety of consumers in their country. On 22 December 2008 the European Commission issued a Decision on compliance of Stan- dard EN 1273 of 2005, on baby walkers, with the General Product Safety Directive. This revised Standard, which has been in place since May 2005, provides for stability tests and design requirements geared to improving safety. The Commission indicated that the improved safety measures would increase the passive prevention of accidents arising from the use of baby walkers. If operators comply with the safety measures built into the revised Standard, they would be regarded as meeting the safety requirements of the General Product Safety Directive. In these circumstances there would be no grounds for introducing a ban. However, if products are found on the European Union market that do not comply with the new safety measures, appropriate action will be taken through the RAPEX system to have these items removed. There have been 12 RAPEX notifications in Europe since 2005 ordering the removal of certain types of babywalkers from the market. The NCA have passed on the notifications to operators in Ireland.

Media Mergers. 143. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the recommendations made in the recently published media mergers report; if she will ensure that the recommendations of this report be implemented in a timely fashion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4921/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): The Report of the Advisory Group on Media Mergers was published on 2nd January 2009. The Group was established in 2008 to review the current legislative framework regarding the public interest aspects of media mergers. The Report and the eleven recommendations contained therein are being considered in the context of the ongoing wider review of the operation

134 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers and implementation of the Competition Act 2002. It is my intention to bring forward legislation during the course of 2009 to reform aspects of competition law, including provisions concerning media mergers, and to implement the merger of the National Consumer Agency and the Com- petition Authority in accordance with the Government decision on the rationalisaiton of State Agencies as announced by my colleague the Minister for Finance during the course of the Budget speech.

Semi-State Bodies. 144. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will ask board members of FA´ S who travelled first class by aeroplane, in contravention of guidelines, to refund the additional cost of these airfares to the agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4183/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): The arrangement and authorisation of foreign travel arrangements for Board members of FA´ Sisa day to day matter for the agency. My understanding is that the travel arrangements referred to by the Deputy were arranged and authorised at an official level in FA´ S. At my request, my Department has now received assurances from the Chairman of the Board of FA´ S that the organisation is now fully compliant with Department of Finance Regulations in the area of foreign travel.

Community Employment Schemes. 145. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has plans to increase the number of community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4184/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Billy Kelleher): Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills. The aim of CE still remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. FA´ S makes every effort to ensure that differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised. FA´ S also operates the programme flexibly as far as possible to ensure the continuation of community projects. This Government will continue to support the positive role of CE in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communities. I am keeping the operation of the Scheme under constant review in the context of the current difficult unemployment situation.

Work Permits. 146. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will review the system of work permits and working visas in view of the deteriorating economic situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4185/09]

135 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Billy Kelleher): Since 2004, Irish labour market policy has been to ensure that general labour and skills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Union. For strategic skills/labour shortages in designated occupations in key economic sectors such as healthcare, information technology and financial services, Government policy is to issue employment permits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response to employer demand. The various schemes that give effect to such policies were introduced under the Employment Permits Act, 2006. Given that our current employment permit arrangements were designed to be vacancy- driven, the numbers of permit applications and consequent numbers of permits issued over the last six months have been showing a consistent downward trend. I am currently having our employment permit arrangements reviewed to ensure their ongoing relevance to the needs of the Irish labour market.

Semi-State Bodies. 147. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if a person (details supplied) has been re-instated as an employee of FA´ S; her views on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4186/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): I understand from FA´ S that the individual concerned has returned to work. The management of human resource issues is a day-to-day matter for FA´ S.

National Minimum Wage. 148. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on whether an increase in the minimum wage in 2009 is appropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4187/09]

150. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she has received a recommendation from the Labour Court on the minimum wage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4190/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Billy Kelleher): I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together. I understand that in November 2008, ICTU requested the Labour Court to review the national minimum wage and to make a recommendation to me concerning its adjustment. The Court subsequently invited submissions on the issue. Various submissions were received, including from IBEC, ICTU and the Department of Finance. The Labour Court also held discussions with these parties. I understand that the matter is still under consideration by the Court.

Job Protection. 149. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the introduction of a wage subsidy scheme to protect jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4188/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): There are a number of existing schemes, funded by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, which provide a subsidy to a person’s wage. These include employment supports avail-

136 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers able to persons in receipt of welfare payments that are designed to assist and facilitate people on social welfare payments to return to the active labour force. Included in these measures is the Back to Work Allowance (BTWA). The BTWA scheme is designed to assist the long-term unemployed, lone parents, people with disabilities and other social welfare recipients to return to work. There are two strands to the scheme, the Back to Work Enterprise allowance for the self-employed and the Back to Work Allowance for employees. These allowances provide a monetary incentive for people who are dependant long-term on social welfare payments to make the return to work financially attractive and viable. Financial support is also available to those who are engaged in short-time employment through the payment of Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance in respect of those days that the person is unemployed. In addition to that outlined above, my Department, through FA´ S, funds and operates a Wage Subsidy Scheme that provides financial incentives to employers, outside the public sector, to employ disabled people who work more than 20 hours per week.

Question No. 150 answered with Question No. 148.

Price Controls. 151. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the legal basis which exists for the introduction of price controls; if such controls would conflict with European law; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4191/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): The Consumer Protection Act 2007 permits the Government, where they are of the opinion that abnormal circumstances exist in relation to the supply of a product, to make an order declaring that a state of emergency exists affecting the supply of that product and to fix, by way of a further order, the maximum price at which the product may be supplied to consumers. Competition and consumer choice have been the preferred means of successive Governments in the area of tackling prices. Vigorous competition and strong consumer protection are essential parts in maintaining a vibrant economy. In so far as current difficulties in the area of north south price differentials are concerned, I have actively engaged with the retail sector over the past number of months to ensure that Irish consumers benefit by way of lower prices from the appreciation in the value of the Euro, particularly against sterling. I am determined to pursue all links in the retail chain including retailers, distributors, suppliers to ensure that there is the greatest transparency in relation to the reasons for the substantial differentials in prices between this jurisdiction and Northern Ireland and the UK. In this regard, I would wish to assure the Deputy that the Government are committed to exploring all options to ensure that Irish consumers get a fair deal.

Companies Registration Office. 152. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment if she will advise on the responsibilities of the Companies Registration Office regarding the filing of annual accounts; the sanctions that apply to a company which fails to file accounts within the specified timeframe; the conditions under which a company may be restored to normal status, if it has been considered to be in breach of obligatory practices; the reason a company is considered to be in breach of conditions that would warrant striking off; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4209/09]

137 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy John McGuinness): The Companies Acts 1963-2006 sets out the requirements in relation to the filing of annual accounts by companies.

Filing Requirements The Companies Acts require that an annual return be delivered by a company, whether trading or not, to the CRO once at least in every calendar year. Companies are required to attach a copy of their accounts to the annual return.

Sanctions for Late Filing or Failure to File A late filing penalty of \100 becomes due in respect of an annual return on the day after the expiry of the filing deadline, i.e. 28 days after the effective date of the return. A daily penalty amount of \3 accrues thereafter up to a maximum penalty of \1,200 per return. This penalty is in addition to the standard fee for filing the return. A company with a record of persistent late filing may also be subject to an on-the-spot fine and/or summary prosecution of the company and/or any officer in default. Fines of up to \1,904.61 can be imposed on conviction for breach of the annual return filing requirements. The Registrar may prosecute companies and/or directors in the District Court for failure to file annual returns and accounts on behalf of their companies. In addition he may also apply to the High Court for an order directing the filing of outstanding annual returns and accounts within the period specified in the order and he may seek to have all the costs of and incidental to that application, borne by the defaulting company or its officers. A company cannot avail of the exemption from the requirement for a statutory audit if its annual return for the current year or the previous year was not filed on time.

Strike-off A company may be struck off the register and dissolved for failure to file an annual return. If a company is struck off, the assets of the company become vested in the Minister for Finance, and if the business continues to trade, the owners will no longer enjoy the benefit of limited liability and so are personally responsible for any debts incurred so long as the company remains dissolved. Any person, who was a director of a company at the date of sending to that company of a strike off notice due to the non-filing of annual returns, may be disqualified from acting as a director by the High Court, where the company is struck off leaving outstanding liabilities. Such order may be made by the Court on the application of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. Restoration — Administrative Where a company has been struck off for a period not exceeding 12 months, an application for restoration may be made by it to the Registrar of Companies. The company must file all outstanding annual returns, fees and the relevant late filing penalties within 12 months of the date of dissolution.

Restoration — High Court A company that has been dissolved via strike-off, for a period in excess of 12 months and not more than 20 years, may apply to the High Court to be restored. The applicant to the Court must obtain letters from the Registrar, the Chief State Solicitors Office (on behalf of the Minister for Finance) and the Revenue Commissioners stating there is no objection to the restoration of the company to the register.

138 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

If the High Court grants the Order and all outstanding annual returns (including required accounts) have been delivered to the CRO along with an official copy of the Order the company will be restored to the register. If the Order has been granted and all outstanding annual returns (including required accounts) are delivered in final draft format only to the CRO the applicant must also provide a personal undertaking to file signed returns and accounts in identical form. In this case an Order for restoration will not have immediate effect unless the final signed returns (including accounts) are delivered to the CRO within one month from the date of the making of the Order. If the final returns are not submitted within the one month period the company will remain dissolved. A creditor may also apply to the Court for restoration of the company at any time from the date of dissolution of the company until the expiry of 20 years from the date of dissolution of the company.

Retail Sector Development. 153. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment if her attention has been drawn to reports that retailers are being charged up to 150% more for goods in the Republic of Ireland than in the UK and Northern Ireland; her proposals to address such profiteering; and the legislative proposals she has under consideration as referred to in media reports. [4236/09]

164. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment the steps she is taking to eliminate the prices wholesalers are charging retailers in view of the difference between prices quoted to business here and those for the same product sourced in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4674/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 164 together. The issue of north south price differentials has been a matter of concern for some time. As Minister with responsibilities in the areas of employment, trade and consumer protection, I am conscious that these price differentials are impacting on household budgets, businesses and indeed jobs. I am aware of the concerns expressed by some retailers regarding the effect that current supply/distribution arrangements are having in terms of the cost of sourcing certain products when compared with the relative costs of sourcing such products in Northern Ireland and the UK. I am strongly of the view that there must be greater transparency in all links in the retail chain as to the reasons for these price differentials. I am determined to pursue all elements of the retail sector including, distributors, suppliers and retailers themselves to ensure that all benefits of the sustained Euro’s appreciation in value, particularly against sterling are passed on to consumers. I am strongly of the view that restoring consumers’ confidence that they can get a fair deal will help, not only to address the current price differential concerns, but also in assisting businesses to retain trade and thereby help to maintain employment.

Personal Injuries Tribunal. 154. Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if it is permissible for persons who are not legally qualified to represent, for a fee, persons before the personal injuries tribunal and pursue a claim on their behalf; the regulations which control such a service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4270/09]

139 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): I assume that the Deputy is referring to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), which now trades as InjuriesBoard.ie. The Board was established in April 2004, under the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act 2003, as part of the Government’s insurance reform programme, with the aim of allowing certain classes of personal injury claim, where liability was uncontested, to be settled without the need for the costs associated with litigation. Accordingly, the PIAB Act 2003 sets out the statutory functions of the Board and the process involved in assessing certain classes of personal injury claims. InjuriesBoard.ie is not a tribunal, does not involve litigation and does not hold “hearings”. It operates as an independent facilitator in the delivery of compensation entitlements in a fair and prompt manner for the benefit of society. As such, personal injury claim assessments are made on the basis of medical evidence. All personal injury claims (with few exceptions such as medical negligence) must be submitted to InjuriesBoard.ie, unless settled directly between the parties. A claimant may submit an application directly to InjuriesBoard.ie or may chose to use an agent to submit a claim and to correspond with the Board on his/her behalf. Where a claimant uses an agent, the question of the fees charged is a matter between the parties involved. The PIAB Act 2003 does not contain any provision which regulates the relationship between a claimant and any agent appointed to act on his/her behalf.

Work Permits. 155. Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the position of an application for a working visa from a person (details supplied). [4312/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Billy Kelleher): The Employment Permits Section informs me that it has no record of an application being received in this case.

Ministerial Appointments. 156. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment the names of the independent chairpersons of the hotel, catering and bar joint labour committees for both the Dublin area and outside Dublin; the persons who appointed the chairpersons; when the terms of their appointments are due to expire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4496/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Billy Kelleher): There is no separate Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for Bars, but terms and conditions for the employment of bar staff are contained in the two Catering EROs and the Hotels (excl. Dublin and Dun Laoghaire) ERO. The JLC for the Hotels (Dublin and Du´ n Laoghaire) has not made proposals for an ERO to the Labour Court since its establishment. The names of the independent Chairmen of the JLCs are as follows:

JLC Chairman

Catering (Dublin and Dun Laoghaire) Tom Pomphrett Hotels (Dublin and Dun Laoghaire) Des Casey Catering (excl. Dublin and Dun Laoghaire) Colin Walker Hotels (excl. Dublin Cork and Dun Laoghaire) Colin Walker

140 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

The Chairpersons of Joint Labour Committees are appointed by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment under Section 44 of the Industrial Relations Act 1990. The warrants of appointment of the JLC Chairmen do not set down an expiry date for the appointments. However, agreement in principle has been reached between the Social Partners on the amalgamation of the two existing Catering JLCs, which will provide for a uniform set of terms and conditions covering the entire country. The Labour Court and the social partners have been engaged for some time on work to give effect to this agreement.

Industrial Development. 157. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created in new and existing Industrial Development Authority Ireland sponsored companies in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary in 2008; and the name and location of each company. [4518/09]

158. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost in new and existing Industrial Development Authority Ireland sponsored companies in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary in 2008; and the name and location of each company. [4519/09]

159. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of itineraries the Industrial Development Authority Ireland brought to the Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary regions in 2007 and 2008; and the locations the IDA brought the delegations to. [4520/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 159, inclusive, together. The Forfa´s Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies that are supported by the industrial development agencies. Data is compiled on an annualised basis and is aggregated at county level. It is therefore not possible to provide information for individual locations throughout the country. The information is provided by companies on a confidential basis for statistical purposes only. Information on individual companies is not disclosed for reasons of client confidentiality. The survey shows that in 2008 the total number of new jobs created in IDA Ireland supported companies in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary was 438 while the number of jobs lost was 754. A breakdown by county is set out in the attached tabular statement. The marketing of individual areas, for new or expansion FDI investments and jobs is a day- to-day operational matter for IDA Ireland and not one in which I have a function. I am informed by IDA Ireland that during 2007, the Agency hosted 34 itineraries by potential investors to Limerick and 5 to Clare. In 2008, there were 9 itineraries to Limerick and 2 to Clare. The Agency has informed me there have been no such site visits to North Tipperary during 2007 or 2008. While IDA Ireland can and does encourage clients to visit particular locations, the final decision on where to visit or locate is taken in all cases by the clients. Table showing the numbers of jobs created and lost in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary in IDA supported companies in 2008.

141 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Coughlan.]

County Limerick Clare North Tipperary Total

New Jobs 286 139 13 438 Job Losses 694 14 46 754

160. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of overseas itineraries brought to the Shannon free zone by Shannon Development in 2006, 2007 and 2008. [4521/09]

161. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs created in new and existing Shannon Development sponsored companies in the Shannon free zone in 2008; and the name of each company. [4522/09]

162. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of jobs lost in Shannon Development sponsored companies in the Shannon free zone in 2008; the name of each company; and the number of jobs lost in each. [4523/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 162, inclusive, together. Shannon Development took 11 overseas itineraries in 2006, 14 in 2007 and 12 in 2008. There were 576 jobs created in new and existing Shannon Development sponsored companies during 2008, and 468 jobs were lost in Shannon Development sponsored companies during 2008. For reasons of client confidentiality it is not possible at this stage to name the individual companies involved in either job creation or losses.

Job Losses. 163. Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if her attention has been drawn to the human tragedy that has visited the employees of a company (details supplied) in County Galway when the company announced its decision to cease trading in a few months time and that nearly 200 workers will lose their jobs, with many having no realistic hope of getting another job in the foreseeable future; if a high powered task force will be put in place to help attract new jobs into Loughrea in view of the fact that there is now a unique pool of well trained workers; if she, the Industrial Develop- ment Authority Ireland and Enterprise Ireland will prioritise Loughrea to ensure that foreign inward investment will be targeted towards this town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4649/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): My first concern is for the workers who have lost their jobs and in that regard the role of FA´ S, the State training agency, is particularly important in assisting those who are being made redundant. FA´ S will provide advice and training opportunities for those losing their jobs. The local FA´ S Employment Services Manager has been in contact with executives in CIGNA in this regard. IDA Ireland is working with the management in Cigna to prepare a prospectus of the facility and profile of the workforce, which can be used to market the facility internationally through 142 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers the offices of IDA Ireland. Enterprise Ireland has a dedicated team for downsizing and closures that will work with the employees in Cigna in the coming months in order to explore potential spin out export orientated enterprises. The Galway County and City Enterprise Board and Galway Rural Development will also provide supports to employees who wish to establish micro enterprises and move into self employment. In recent years County Galway has had significant success in attracting investment from multinational firms. IDA continues to work with new and existing overseas companies in Galway to encourage them to grow and expand. In 2008 significant announcements included:

• CSN Stores will establish its EMEA Headquarters in Galway, creating 200 positions over the next 36 months in Multilingual Customer Service, IT, Localisation, Finance, HR and Sales & Marketing functions.

• Boston Scientific is to invest \50 million, with the support of IDA Ireland, in strategic Research and Development at its Galway facility.

• Thermo King, with the support of IDA Ireland, is to undertake a innovative Research and Design project on the next generation ‘environmentally friendly’ products at its Galway site.

• Beckman Coulter Inc, with the support of IDA Ireland, is to launch an innovative four year collaborative research programme with NUI Galway in the field of Molecular Diagnostics.

A number of other companies in County Galway have announced investments in recent years including Nortel Networks, Smith and Nephew, Fidelity Investments, IBM and Cisco. All of these investments will provide a stream of job opportunities in the region. The State development agencies under the remit of my Department have adopted a coordinated approach in response to recent job losses in County Galway. The practice of establishing task forces has changed since the establishment of the County Development Boards (CDB). Rather than creating a further layer by establishing task forces, the relevant CDB is now seen as the body that is best placed to oversee any additional response that is required over and above the work of the Industrial Development Agencies under the auspices of my Department. I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the State development agencies together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development will continue to bear fruit in terms of investment and employment for County Galway.

Question No. 164 answered with Question No. 153.

County Enterprise Boards. 165. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment the funding provided to a county enterprise board (details supplied) in the years 2006, 2007 and 2008;the funding allocated in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4718/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy John McGuinness): The role of Meath County Enterprise Board (CEB) is to provide support for micro-enterprises in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous

143 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy John McGuinness.] micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level. The CEB deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and can provide both financial and non-financial assistance to a project promoter. The Board provides a single point of contact at local level for new and established small businesses. All areas of the country are served by and benefit from, the full range of Enterprise Board grant supports and entrepreneurial development programmes. Subject to certain eligibility criteria enterprises may access assistance and support from the CEB. The forms of financial assistance which are available, subject to certain restrictions, include Capital Grants, Employment Grants and Feasibility Study Grants. The provision of non-financial assistance can take the form of a wide range of business advice such as Programmes covering Business Management, Mentoring, E-commerce, Enterprise Education, and Women in Business networks. In 2009 the CEB will continue to be actively involved in the area of economic development and will ensure that available funds are targeted to maximise entrepreneurial development. This will be done not just by direct grant aid to businesses and project promoters but also through the provision of a range of other important business supports such as mentoring, business training and business advice all of which help to stimulate indigenous enterprise creation. The Capital Allocation for the 35 CEBs under the 2009 Estimates Process stands at \20.8m; allocation of the individual budgets to each of the 35 CEBs for 2009 is currently being progressed by the CEB Central Coordination Unit (CCU) within Enterprise Ireland. The precise statistical information sought by the Deputy for 2006, 2006 and 2008 is set out in the attached table.

Meath CEB Total Allocation

Funding Allocation 2006 828,967.87 Funding Allocation 2007 872,999.42 Funding Allocation 2008 1,037,750.00

Industrial Development. 166. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment the number of State-aided jobs created in a county (details supplied) since 1998 to date in 2009; the per annum breakdown by job description and location; the moneys invested in these developments; the detail of any of these State-aided jobs which have been lost since 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4719/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Between 1998 and 2008, a total of 6,317 jobs were created by IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland assisted companies in County Meath. There were 5,225 manufacturing jobs. Inter- national Services and Financial Services accounted for 847 and the remaining 245 were in various other areas. In the same period, a total of 6,468 were lost. Employment data in respect of companies supported by these agencies is collated by Forfa´s on a County by County basis. A year by year breakdown between Manufacturing, International Services, Financial Services and other is set out in the attached tabular statement. 144 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Grant payments are a day to day operational matter for the Industrial Development agencies. I do not have any role in the day to day operational matters of the agencies. In relation to County Enterprise Boards, statistical information on job creation by CEBs is held by my Department on an individual Board basis rather than by job description or specific locations within the Board’s locality. My Department does not collect information on the number of job losses in CEB assisted companies at County level. For the period 1998 to 2008, 830 net jobs were created in Meath CEB-assisted companies. I am confident that the efforts of the two agencies and the CEB will continue to attract industrial development and jobs to the County.

Full time Job Gains & Losses in Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland assisted firms in Co. Meath

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total 98 to 08

Full-time Job Gains All Sectors 509 461 747 497 296 537 458 718 1,030 781 283 6,317

Manufacturing 422 344 568 464 203 467 333 585 919 727 193 5,225 International Services 21 114 162 27 78 56 88 108 13 8 69 744 Financial Services 1 32221−3384413103 Other 65 3 14 4 13 12 36 28 60 2 8 245

Full-time Job Losses All sectors −321 −578 −400 −389 −668 −898 −373 −515 −640 −1,044 −642 −6,468

Manufacturing −267 −546 −370 −324 −548 −765 −353 −493 −587 −931 −588 −5772 International Services −2 −19 −13 −38 −107 −110 −19 −5 −43 −33 −51 −440 Financial Services 0000000−4000−4 Other −52 −13 −17 −27 −13 −23 −1 −13 −10 −80 −3 −252

Community Employment Schemes. 167. Deputy CaoimhghıńO´ Caolaín asked the Tańaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of FA´ S community employment scheme workers placed in community child care facilities in County Monaghan; if he will list these facilities; if it is intended that more CE places will be made available to community child care facilities in the coming months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4802/09]

[Deputy Billy Kelleher.]

A list of current childcare places in Co. Monaghan as requested by the Deputy is contained in a table.

County Monaghan

Community Employment Childcare Activity

Name Number

1 Mullaghmatt CCDL CE Scheme 05 2 Bawn Latton Development Group 14 3 Clones Chamber of Commerce CE 03 4 Muckno Community Services 11 5 Parish of Donagh CE Scheme 01 6 St Joseph’s Parish Monaghan CE 03 7 Monaghan Group of Parishes CE 03 8 Newbliss Development Group 01 9 Ballybay Development Association 03 10 Donaghmoyne Development Group 04 11 Rockcorry CE Scheme 02 12 Doohamlet GFC CE 01 13 Cormagh Development Group 02

Total 53

Consultancy Contracts. 168. Deputy Damien English asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the private consultancy firms her Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to her Department for each project; and if she will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4814/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): The following is the information requested by the Deputy insofar as Consultants retained by my Department in 2008 and during the month of January 2009 is concerned. The figures quoted refer to payments made to the Consultants concerned in 2008 and / or January 2009. 2008

Name of Consultants Purpose Cost

DHR Communications Dissemination of information on the ESF co-funded 9,547 “EQUAL” Community Initiative (CI) Social and Market Research Conduct an “EQUAL” Survey 23,850 Farrell Grant Sparks Ex-ante evaluation of the Human Capital Investment 7,025 Operational Programme 2007-2013 Work Research Co-operative WRC Job Retention and return to work 26,632 Keating Consulting Ltd NERA PR 63,189 Ellard Browne Ltd NERA Advertising 605 Cawley Nea Ltd NERA Advertising 27,410

146 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Name of Consultants Purpose Cost \ Tom Walsh To provide advice to the Department on the 63,422 development of occupational health and safety policy and legislation Arup Consulting Engineers To support the Department in its review of Review of 35,930 Dangerous Substances legislation Kilroy Solicitors Legal Advice 16,263 Version 1 To prepare a report on the Insolvency Payments 13,177 Section Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) RITS Security Advice 38,535 IQ Content Ltd Review of Department’s Website 20,604 Goodbody Economic Consultants Review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme 23,595 IPA Quality Assessment of Science Foundation Ireland 3,630 (SFI) Value for Money Review Carr Communications Communications Advice for the Companies 25,593 Registration Office (CRO) Open Interface Website accessibility advice for the CRO 3,993 Grant Thornton Procurement and business solution advice for the CRO 71,874 Mathias Kelly QC Legal advice 167,171 Experian Ireland Provision of statistical analysis of returns to the CRO 182 PricewaterhouseCoopers Media Research for the Advisory Group on Media 26,965 Mergers Emily Gibson BL Legal Services for the Advisory Group on Media 5,596 Mergers Form Creative Ltd Advertising campaign for Work Life Balance Day 2008 4,994 Form Creative Ltd Advertising campaign for Work Life Balance Day 2008 120,000 Arthur Cox Prioritising Information Obligations in Company Law 2,226 Legislation Scannell Solutions Prioritising Health and Safety Obligations — 605 Additional Review IQ Content Ltd Review of Department’s Website 20,630 Indecon Economic Consultants Value for Money Review of SFI 74,163 Tom Walsh To provide technical & research support to the 8,000 Department in relation to certain aspects of occupational health and safety and chemicals policy Arup Consulting Engineers To support the Department in its review of Review of 79,327 Dangerous Substances legislation Cawley Nea Advertising consultants 27,101 Keatings PR consultants 22,458 Achilles Procurement Services Ltd Consultancy on the National Employment Rights 602 Authority (NERA) case management system Gordon Green Consultancy on NERA enforcement database 1,268 KPMG Assessment of a restructuring plan 273,460 RITS Information Security Services 17,669 Trigraph Professional Services Review of ICT Unit Project Management 2,995 Procedures & Practices Mason, Hayes & Curran Procurement Legal Advice 8,534 Computer Associates Review of ICT Backup Systems 13,310 Dermot McCarthy SC Legal Advice 9,100 Brian Murray Fees to Counsel 1,331 Work Research Co-operative WRC Carry out work by providing Technical Support for the 100,672 Department on the co-funded ESF EQUAL Community Initiative.

147 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Coughlan.] Name of Consultants Purpose Cost \ Ernst & Young Audit of “DAWN” under the ESF co-funded EQUAL 25,090 Community Initiative WRC Carry out work by providing Technical Support for the 38,514 Department on the co-funded ESF EQUAL Community Initiative. Goodbody Economic Consultants Review of the Wage Subsidy Scheme 23,595 Indecon Economic Consultants To carry out work relating to the Leonardo Da Vinci 2,000 Programme PA Consulting Review and Assessment of the EFS co-funded 14,898 EQUAL Community Initiative 2000-2006 Version 1 To prepare a report on the Insolvency Payments 23,958 Section Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) Gartner Ireland Access to international ICT analysts and research 41,352 RITS Ongoing security advice and specific investigations and 179,009 reports, including Technical Reports on laptop encryption, the Department’s financials application, scans of on-line systems and forensics analysis of the ESF website. Trigraph Professional Services Review of ICT Unit Project Management 20,364 Procedures & Practices, and Project Management Consultancy Mason, Hayes & Curran Procurement Legal Advice 8,534 Computer Associates Review of ICT Backup Systems 13,310

Ex 15 October 2008

Name of Consultants Purpose Cost

Corporate Risk Strategies Ltd Provision of Health and Safety Consultancy on staff 4,840 occupational Health and Safety in the Department’s seven buildings EPS Consulting To carry out work on measurement of administrative 17,133 burdens contained in company law, employment law and health and safety law IPA To examine feedback from staff with a view to 18,000 formulating an action plan to improve their working environment and thus help them to contribute more effectively to achieving the Departments business objectives. Millward Brown/IMS Market Research for ODCE 15,898 Brian Murray Fees to Counsel 393 Douglas Clarke Fees to Counsel 41,029 Remy Farrell Fees to Counsel 7,719 CIRCA Review of Irish Membership of EMBL required 25,697 following 3 years of membership. CIRCA Consultants, SIA Group Evaluation of Discover Science and Engineering 105,082 and International Panel of Experts Programme Tom Walsh To provide technical & research support to the 28,115 Department in relation to certain aspects of occupational health and safety and chemicals policy Brendan Moran Development ofT&SDatabase & Accounting 5,832 Database

148 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Name of Consultants Purpose Cost \ Contractauditline (CAL) Productive Sector Operational Programme Managing 19,820 (excluding Authority Lookback Audit VAT) Productive Sector Operational Programme Managing 16,480 (excluding Authority Lookback Audit VAT) PA Consulting Review and Assessment of the EFS co-funded 30,713 EQUAL Community Initiative 2000-2006 Work Research Co-operative WRC Job Retention and return to work 26,632 Mazars Engagement of a Consultant to carry out Internal 4,193 Audits IQ Content Ltd Review of Department’s Website 20,631 Ernst & Young Verification of ESF Expenditure No payments to date Trigraph Professional Services Project Management Consultancy 23,958 Gartner Ireland Access to international ICT analysts and research 41,352 Form Creative Ltd Design of print material for Work Life Balance Day 10,336 2009

Departmental Expenditure. 169. Deputy Damien English asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the cost of bonus payments made to staff in her Department for 2008; the amount set aside in her Department for bonus payments in 2009; if she will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4829/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): The scheme of performance-related awards in the civil service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. No awards have been made to officers of my Department under the scheme in respect of 2008. The pool for performance awards is 10% of the pay bill for the group concerned. The Deputy will be aware that my colleague the Minister for Finance recently announced the abolition of the performance-related award scheme. I am currently awaiting clarification from the Minister on the matter.

Job Creation. 170. Deputy A´ ine Brady asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment if she will support the establishment of a FA´ S office in Celbridge, Maynooth, Naas or Leixlip to serve the needs of County Kildare in view of the increase in both population and unemployment in these areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4843/09]

Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): FA´ S through its Employment Services Offices in Newbridge and Maynooth, and its satellite Employment Services clinic in Athy, provides a comprehensive range of labour market services and information for all jobseekers and employers within Kildare. The Kildare Local Employment Services Network (LESN) supports FA´ S in the delivery of its services in Co. Kildare through its five regional public offices in Leixlip, Naas, Kildare, Newbridge and Athy. This is a service fully funded by FA´ S, which provides a local gateway, or access point, to the full range of services and facilities to help those who have become distanced from the labour market to enter or return to employment. 149 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Coughlan.]

In addition, FA´ S, in conjunction with local communities, provide additional access points to FA´ S Services through the FA´ S-funded centres for unemployed persons in Leixlip and New- bridge as well as the FA´ S Jobs Club centres in Kildare Town and Athy.

Work Permits. 171. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the decision on a work permit application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo and when the application was made. [4891/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Billy Kelleher): An application in respect of the above named was received in the Employment Permits Section on the 7/1/2009. This application was refused on the grounds it is current Government policy to issue new work permits for highly skilled, highly paid positions or for non-EEA nationals who are already legally resident in the State on valid employment permits or where there is an officially recognised scarcity of workers of a particular type or qualification. Furthermore, newspaper advertisements for 3 days in both local and national newspapers were not submitted in support of the application. Also, the information supplied with the application appeared to indicate that the prospective employee’s qualifications/experience did not correspond to the position on offer. The applicant was notified of this decision in writing by letter dated 29/1/2009 and of their right to appeal within 21 days. To-date no such appeal has been received in the Employment Permits Section.

172. Deputy Noel O’Flynn asked the Ta´naiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of work permits sought and granted or refused in 2008 by non-EU nationals, or prospective employers; the type of job vacancies for which they applied; the number of work permits that are in current use in the State for all categories of work and would she list the categories and the number of permits in each category; the current policy on issuing work permits to non nationals in view of the high unemployment rate among Irish and EU nationals living in this State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4895/09]

150 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Permits issued and refused by Job Classification in 2008

New Renewals Total Refused

Associate Professional & Technical Occupations 1,774 385 2,159 260 Clerical & Secretarial Occupations 142 102 244 33 Craft & Related Occupations 606 482 1,088 203 Managers & Administrators 526 224 750 171 Other Occupations 1,174 1,224 2,398 399 Personal & Protective Service Occupations 1,664 1,823 3,487 736 Plant & Machine Operatives 114 144 258 47 Professional Occupations 2,276 475 2,751 352 Sales Occupations 200 151 351 34 Not specified 0 75 75 1

Totals 8,476 5,085 13,561 2,236

Current Live Permits by Sector

Sector New Renewals Total

Service Industry 5,587 6,394 11,981 Catering 1,542 4,486 6,028 Medical & Nursing 3,490 1,995 5,485 Industry 1,256 1,159 2,415 Agriculture & Fisheries 454 1,413 1,867 Education 317 366 683 Domestic 159 496 655 Sport 139 58 197 Entertainment 27 50 77

Exchange Agreements 4 2 6

Totals 12,975 16,419 29,394

Appointments to State Boards. 173. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance his views on whether it is appropriate that persons serving on the board of Anglo Irish Bank prior to its nationalisation should continue to serve as board members of other State authorities to which they were appointed by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4234/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Appointments to the board of a State Body are generally made by the Minister with responsibility for the Body in question, usually subject to the consent of the Minister for Finance. Renewals of appointments are handled on a similar basis. The arrangements for such appointments are normally set out in the legislation establishing the State Body. The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies stipulates that all State Bodies should have written Codes of Business Conduct for their directors and employees and provides (at Appendix B of the Code) that the principle of integrity should underlie the actions of a State Body’s directors and employees. 151 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

National Parks. 174. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Finance his views on a proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4260/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): The Iveagh Gardens were laid out as exhibition gardens during the 19th Century, with many unusual and unique garden features such as the Maze, Rosarium, Cascade, the Grottos and the Sunken Archery Grounds. On account of its designation as a National Historic Garden, its size and the fact that it is designed primarily for passive recreation, it is not appropriate that the Gardens should be designated as a National Music Park. However, as in the past, the Gardens will continue to host suitable music events from time to time.

Tax Code. 175. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Minister for Finance his views on changing the criteria to allow bus owners for eight to 11 seat buses avail of the VRT category C rate if they can prove that they are providing a service in their communities, instead of the category A rate they are currently pay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4406/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Deputy will be aware that a revised VRT system for Category A vehicles was announced in Budget 2008 and came into effect on 1 July 2008. I have no plans to change the criteria in relation to the VRT categories at this time.

Planning Issues. 176. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the nature of the planning permission for the national conference centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4420/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): The National Conference Centre (NCC) was procured by means of a Public Private Partnership (PPP). The PPP Consortium, to whom the contract for the NCC was awarded, obtained Planning Per- missions for the development from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.

Drug Seizures. 177. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Finance the quantity and value of drugs including a breakdown of each drug type seized by customs officials at Shannon airport in 2007 and 2008. [4517/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the breakdown of drug seizures by Revenue Customs officers at Shannon Airport in 2007 and 2008 requested by the Deputy is: In 2007 there were 45 seizures.

Drug Amount Street Value \

Heroin 15 grams 3,050 Ecstasy Tablets 199 tablets 1,990 Amphetamine 3 grams 45 LSD 5 tablets 50 Cannabis 168 grams 745 Khat 50 kilos 100,000

152 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

In 2008 there were 26 seizures.

Drug Amount Street Value \

Amphetamine 3 grams 45 Cannabis resin 1,053 grams 7,371 Herbal cannabis 12,025 grams 144,300 Cocaine 3,131grams 219,170 MDMA 0.8 grams 80

Communications Masts. 178. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance the amount of rent which has been accrued from renting masts to mobile phone operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4642/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): The Commis- sioners of Public Works have granted licences to Mobile Phone Operators in respect of more than 200 State Properties of which approximately 180 are Garda masts. The gross revenue from these licences is currently in the region of \4.3 million per annum, of which \3.7 million is generated by the Garda masts.

Departmental Agencies. 179. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance the number of quasi-government quangos that are in existence; and the annual cost of these quasi-Government quangos. [4181/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): It is not clear which bodies the Deputy has precisely in mind. If it is non-commercial semi-state bodies there are 117 of these with spending of Euro 6 billion, almost Euro 4 billion of which is accounted for by the Higher Education Authority, the National Roads Authority, and FA´ S. There are also many other bodies that he may be referring to such as hospitals (there are 53 in the HSE’s Hospital Network), commercial state bodies (35), universities and other third level institutions (31), to health related bodies (12), just over 300 local and regional bodies and various ad-hoc and advisory bodies. The estimate of the number of such bodies depends on the definitions used and the criteria applied.

Freedom of Information. 180. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if it is his policy to refuse Freedom of Information requests; if Government Departments have been instructed accordingly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4193/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The broad purpose of the Freedom of Infor- mation Act (FOI) 1997 as amended in 2003, is to enable citizens to obtain access to official information to the greatest extent possible consistent with the public interest and the right to privacy. As Minister for Finance I am responsible under section 15(5) of the Freedom of Information Act for ensuring that appropriate measures are taken by public bodies to facilitate compliance 153 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brian Lenihan.] with the Act. I am also required under section 15(6) of the Act to prepare an annual report on the operation of the Act. I am satisfied that Freedom of Information is well embedded in our public administration and that it is operated in accordance with the strict provisions of the FOI Act.

181. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the number and percentage of Freedom of Information requests which have been turned down by his Department but subsequently overturned by the Information Commissioner’s Office. [4194/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): My Department received 180 requests in 2008. Of these, 123 were “part-granted” and 10 were refused. Five of those 133 requests (74% of total received) were appealed to the Information Commissioner. In one case a settlement was reached. My Department’s position on two other appeals was upheld and there are two cases pending.

182. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if disciplinary action has been taken by any Government Department against staff who have wrongfully refused a Freedom of Information request. [4195/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): A decision to refuse a Freedom of Information (FOI) request can only be made on the basis that the information is exempt or the refusal of the information is allowed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, as amended in 2003. In view of this, it is not accurate to suggest that a decision maker can wrongfully refuse a request as any such refusal must be based in law. If information is refused the requester can have the decision referred for internal review, and, if the information is still refused, the requester can appeal the decision to the Infor- mation Commissioner.

Banking Sector Regulation. 183. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if PricewaterhouseCoopers was aware of loans to bank directors when it undertook its review of the banks in 2008 on behalf of the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4198/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): As the Deputy is aware Pricewaterhouse- Coopers (PwC) were commissioned by the Financial Regulator to review the loan books and the capital position of six of the covered institutions as at 30th September 2008. The terms of reference did not specifically cover loans to directors. PwC’s work concentrated on a review of the top exposures which did not specifically include any loans to directors. As you are aware matters relating to loans to former directors are under investigation by the Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Affairs.

184. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if Anglo Irish Bank is giving more favourable terms to clients such as a person (details supplied) than it gives to ordinary customers. [4199/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arms length commercial basis. The terms applied to customers relate to the bank’s normal ongoing business, and is accordingly a matter for the Board of Anglo. As with all financial institutions,

154 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Anglo Irish Bank is subject to regulation and supervision of its commercial activity by the Financial Regulator. The Deputy will be aware that the Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement are currently conducting investigations into corporate governance issues at Anglo Irish Bank, including the terms of individual loans to individual Directors. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on or prejudge the outcome of these investigations.

Financial Institutions Support Scheme. 185. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that all banks seeking State assistance, including Anglo Irish Bank, are required by him to treat all of their customers equally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4200/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): All entities regulated by the Financial Regu- lator including those credit institutions (Banks, and Building Societies) who are being supported under the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008 (Scheme), are required to comply with the terms and provisions of the Consumer Protection Code (Code). Under the provisions of the Code a regulated entity must ensure that in all its dealings with customers and within the context of its authorisation it, without prejudice to the pursuit of its legitimate commercial aims, does not, through its policies, procedures, or working practices, prevent access to basic financial services, and complies with the letter and spirit of the Code. In addition a regulated entity must take into consideration the provisions of the relevant anti-money laundering guidance notes and the approval of the Money Laundering Steering committee, and in particular any guidance in such notes on how to establish identity, in order to ensure that a person is not denied access to financial services solely on the grounds that this person does not possess certain specified identification documentation. I am in regular contact with the Financial Regulator on all matters relating to banking including access to credit and I am assured that all of the covered institutions are monitored for compliance with the Code. You will also be aware that I am in the process of approving codes of conduct for business lending and for mortgage arrears which will issue shortly to all of the credit institutions under the remit of the Financial Regulator including the covered institutions. Both of these Codes contain provisions which should ensure improvements in the way banks treat customers.

Flood Relief. 186. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Finance if the flood relief scheme for Clonmel, County Tipperary, will be expedited to prevent the flooding problems that have been experienced there in January 2009 with frequent flooding, damage and disturbance caused; if this situation will be alleviated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4227/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): The Commis- sioners of Public Works decided last year, in the light of the increased budgetary provision for Flood Risk Management Measures to amalgamate phases 2 and 3 of the River Suir [Clonmel] Flood Relief Scheme in order to expedite the completion of the overall scheme. Phase 1 of the scheme is already well advanced. The Steering Committee, which is overseeing the implementation of the scheme agreed at its meeting in January to examine the feasibility of bringing forward the construction of the

155 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Martin Mansergh.] Quay wall element of the scheme. That and the feasibility of expediting the design of the entire scheme are being examined. I visited Clonmel on Saturday and saw for myself the devastation caused by the flooding in the town. I fully understand the anxiety of people who are at risk from what has become very frequent flooding and sympathise with those who have suffered loss or damage or been sub- jected to the trauma that flooding causes. I am committed to ensuring the Flood Relief Scheme is completed as quickly as possible.

Financial Institutions Support Scheme. 187. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if, following the bank guarantee scheme, the recapitalisation scheme and the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank, he has had discussions with each of the covered institutions in respect of salaries, bonuses other emoluments, pension contributions and entitlements of directors and staff in each of the covered institutions; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of these discussions and the changes he has agreed in respect of the pay bonuses pensions and compensation package for directors and staff of each institution. [4237/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): As I have mentioned in previous answers to parliamentary questions, under the terms of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008, I established the Covered Institutions Remuneration Oversight Committee (CIROC) to oversee the remuneration of senior executives of the covered institutions. The Scheme requires each covered institution to prepare and submit a plan to structure the remuneration packages of directors and executives so as to take account of the objectives of the Scheme. The relevant plans have been prepared and submitted by the covered institutions, and in line with the timeframes set out in the Scheme, CIROC will report to me on or before 5th March 2009, making a recommendation where appropriate, on the compliance by the institution with the terms of the Scheme. The Scheme provides that if required, I may direct the institution to amend the remuneration plan to comply with the Scheme. The Deputy will be aware that the Taoiseach announced to the House on the 4th of February that in the context of recapitalisation of the banks, that he would expect director’s fees to be cut by 25% and when they appoint their top executives there would be an upper limit on remuneration and that he would expect that to be at least 25% below current levels.

Departmental Agencies. 188. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the remuneration on a per annum basis of the acting Financial Regulator including annual salary bonus and other emoluments on compensation including pension entitlement on retirement; if the pension entitlement is based on career averaging or on end salary; the set annual salary of the Financial Regulator; and the pension entitlement as a percentage of salary and the retirement lump sum. [4238/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Acting Chief Executive’s annual salary amounts to \285,341. This is the same salary as applied to the previous Chief Executive and also covers the Acting Chief Executive’s continuing role as Consumer Director. The contract does not provide for performance related payments. The Regulatory Authority has informed me that pension benefits to the Acting Chief Execu- tive are payable in accordance with the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Superannuation Scheme. Benefits are based on final salary. However, if any officer has had a change in grade or has received a personal change in salary — other than a general or

156 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers grade increase or normal increments — within 3 years of the retirement date, his/her salary is averaged in calculating pensionable salary. Lump sum superannuation benefits are calculated by reference to pensionable remuneration and reckonable service. The maximum lump sum 1 payable is 12 times final pensionable salary. Pension entitlements are also calculated by reference to pensionable remuneration up to a maximum of 50% of salary.

189. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the compensation package on retirement of the Financial Regulator of the Irish Financial Services Regulatory Authority, who resigned on 31 January 2009 per media reports; the details of the package that is lump sum, termination payments, and the length of time pension and other compensation; the salary bonus and other compensation of the Regulator prior to retirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4239/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Chief Executive of the Regulatory Auth- ority is appointed by the other members of that Authority and the conditions of employment are agreed between the person and the other members of the Authority. I am informed that the Chief Executive’s contract did not provide for performance related payments. The Regulatory Authority has informed me that pension benefits to the former Chief Execu- tive are payable in accordance with the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland Superannuation Scheme. This Scheme has terms and conditions which allow, in certain circumstances, for the payment of full pension benefits in cases where less than 40 years service is accrued. I am informed that the former Chief Executive had two years remaining on his contract. I am also informed that, having regard to independent legal advice and his exclusive availability to the Authority for a period of three months, the Authority agreed to the payment of an additional \151,500, equivalent to six months remuneration, plus an additional two months salary, to the former Chief Executive.

Pension Provisions. 190. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance the estimated expenditure on public service pensions for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4252/09]

228. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance if the pension levy will be in addition to existing pension contributions from public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4487/09]

229. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance the means by which the pension levy will be collected; if it will apply to basic income, or total income earned in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4488/09]

230. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance the expected income to the Exchequer from the 3% pension levy rate, the 5% rate, the 6.4% rate, the 7.2% rate, the 7.7% rate, the 8.1% rate, the 8.5% rate, the 8.8% rate, the 9.2% rate, the 9.4% rate and the 9.6% rate. [4489/09]

231. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance the number of public servants who will be levied at the proposed 3% pension levy rate, the 5% rate, the 6.4% rate, the 7.2% rate, the 7.7% rate, the 8.1% rate, the 8.5% rate, the 8.8% rate, the 9.2% rate, the 9.4% rate, and the 9.6% rate. [4490/09]

157 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

232. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance if public servants with less than two years’ service within the public service will be subject to the pension levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4491/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 228 to 232, inclusive, together. The projected expenditure on public service pensions for 2009 is estimated at \2.7 billion. This figure covers superannuation payments in respect of all public service pension schemes and covers main scheme pensions, spouses pensions and retirement lump sums. As with all estimates of future pension payments there is a significant element of approximation about the figure. Various demographic and socioeconomic factors will affect the final outcome. Public servants will be subject to the pension related deduction announced on Tuesday 3 February 2009, including those with less than two years service. It is an additional deduction and existing pension contributions made by public servants will continue unchanged. The deduction will apply to all pay including allowances and overtime. Sums paid in respect of travel and subsistence allowances will not be subject to the deduction. The deduction will be made from the individual public servant’s remuneration as a periodic payroll deduction. The pension deduction element of the payroll saving will be \1.35 billion in a full-year and \1.12 billion in 2009. Public servants will be subject to the deduction at the following rates.

Remuneration Rate of deduction

The first \15,000 3% The next \5,000 6% The remainder 10%

The rates the Deputy refers to were part of the illustrative table showing the effect of the deduction as a percentage of overall income at different income levels. These rates are not to be confused with the actual rates of deduction which will apply as stated.

191. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that a sum in excess of \100 million, which it was promised, as part of the deal in the sale of Government shares in Aer Lingus, would be put into the Aer Lingus pensioners’ fund, has in fact been passed into the Aer Lingus pensioners’ scheme as undertaken at the time of the sale of these shares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4275/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I understand that in 2007 Aer Lingus made a payment of \104 million for pension fund purposes from the proceeds of the Initial Public Offering. Details of this transaction are reported in the company’s published annual accounts for 2007.

Banking Sector Regulation. 192. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he or the regulator was aware of the degree of concentration of Anglo Irish Bank’s loan book when he announced the decision to nationalise the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4294/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): As the Deputy is aware PriceWaterhouse- Coopers (PwC) were commissioned by the Financial Regulator to review the loan books and the capital position of six of the covered institutions as at 30th September 2008. The summary 158 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

PwC report which I received from the Governor of the Central Bank in November 2008 provided a detailed sectoral and geographic breakdown of the loanbooks in each of the institutions.

193. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he or the Financial Regulator had been informed of recent changes to the terms of the security of loans issued by Anglo Irish Bank prior to his announcement of the decision to nationalise the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4295/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement are currently conducting investigations into certain issues at Anglo Irish Bank. These investigations were ongoing prior to the decision to nationalise Anglo Irish Bank, and I was appraised of this. A due diligence inquiry was conducted on my behalf, in December and early January, as part of the then proposed recapitalisation of Anglo. This due diligence process, on which I was kept informed, also identified various issues which are now under investigation by the Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on or prejudge the outcome of these investigations.

194. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he or the Financial Regulator had investigated the circumstances surrounding loans issued by Anglo Irish Bank in the summer of 2008 for the purchase of shares in Anglo Irish Bank prior to his announcement of the decision to nationalise the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4296/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement are currently conducting investigations into corporate governance issues at Anglo Irish Bank. These investigations were ongoing prior to the decision to nationalise Anglo Irish Bank, and I was appraised of this. A due diligence inquiry was conducted on my behalf, in December and early January, as part of the then proposed recapitalisation of Anglo. This due diligence process also identified the issues mentioned by the Deputy which are now under investigation by the Financial Regu- lator and the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on or prejudge the outcome of these investigations.

Fiscal Policy. 195. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if, with regard to the recent Budgetary Projections 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009) published by his Department, the GDP, GNP and tax forecasts published in the addendum are projected on a budget neutral basis before the impact of fiscal consolidation measures. [4297/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): In preparing the GDP, GNP and tax forecasts recently published in the Addendum to the Stability Programme Update, account was taken of the macroeconomic and fiscal impact of a reduction in Government expenditure of up to \2 billion. While the specific details of what the Government announced last week were not known when the Department published the Addendum, the broad order of magnitude of the necessary

159 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brian Lenihan.] expenditure reductions were taken account of in arriving at the overall forecasts of GDP growth 1 1 of -42 per cent and a contraction of tax revenue of about -94 per cent for 2009.

196. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the way, with regard to table six in the recent Budgetary Projections 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Prog- ramme January 2009) published by his Department, he has allocated the fiscal consolidation objective between different components of revenue and expenditure. [4298/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Table 5 of the Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme Update sets out the likely evolution of the public finances and the necessary amount of adjustment required the current budget to balance by 2013. Table 6 sets out the budgetary prospects for the General Government for 2008-2013 by detailing first, the breakdown of the GGB by sub-sector of government, and then the breakdown of estimated levels of revenue and expenditures into its component parts. All data in the table is expressed as a percentage of the GDP of the particular year in question. While the projections in Table 6 of the SPU are a technical representation of what is required to achieve the overall fiscal adjustments over the period out to 2013, and are ultimately subject top future policy decisions by Government. The detailed breakdown between the revenue and expenditure decisions that will be required will be set out in future Budgets. Last week the Government took decisions on saving \2 billion and the focus was on expenditure. In the Addendum, the need for further adjustments in each of the years out to 2013 was set out. In this regard the work of the Special Group on Public Services Numbers and Expenditure Programmes and the work of the Commission on Taxation will be important factors in forming next year’s budgetary parameters which will inform future adjustments. While no decisions have been taken yet, all aspects of expenditure, both current and capital, as well as taxation will play a part in securing the necessary adjustments. In presenting the Addendum to the European Commission, it was necessary to distribute the adjustments in order to ensure the technical completion of the required tables. This distribution was broadly undertaken on a two-thirds to one-third basis of expenditure to revenue but in no way pre-empts future decisions of Government which could result in a different apportionment in the light of emerging budgetary conditions in the period 2010 to 2013.

197. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if, with regard to the latest Budgetary Provisions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009) published by his Department, the projections include expenditures for bank recapitalisation and receipts under the charge of the bank guarantee for the covered institutions. [4299/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): In relation to the issue of recapitalisation of banking institutions, the Government has made clear that any injection of capital into the banks will be made with the expectation of a return on the investment. In this case, in line with EUROSTAT guidelines, the transaction is treated as a financial transaction, and consequently, will have no impact on the General Government Balance. It was not necessary, therefore, to include the expenditures on recapitalisation in the latest fiscal projections. The recently published Addendum to the Stability Programme Update outlines the latest economic and fiscal forecasts for the period 2009-2013. The projections outlined in the Adden- dum do not take account of the receipts under the charge of the bank guarantee for the covered institutions. The charge is being credited to a dedicated account maintained at the Central

160 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Bank. It is anticipated that at the expiry of the Guarantee Scheme, any amount standing to the account will be transferred to the Exchequer as revenue. At that stage the amount transferred will then be reflected in the General Government Balance.

198. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of the projected capital resources and capital appropriations-in-aid with regard to the latest Budgetary Pro- visions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009) published by his Department. [4300/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The breakdown of estimated capital Appropri- ations-in-Aid for 2009 is shown by Department in the following table and was published in Budget 2009. We provide an aggregate estimate for 2010 and 2011 as determination of capital A in A’s by Department will be part of future annual Estimates processes. The aggregate figure for 2010 amounts to \481m and \479m for 2011. The aggregate 2012 and 2013 estimates published in the Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme in January 2009 were assumed to equate to the 2011 aggregate level.

Capital Receipts/A in A’s 2009 in \m

2009

V25 — Environment 500 V26 — Education 9,000 V27 — CRAGA 18,500 V30 — Communications, ENR 250 V31 — Agriculture 1 V32 — Transport 429,375 V34 — Enterprise 80 V36 — Defence 1,000 V40 — HSE 7,000 Contingency Vote — APPROPRIATIONS IN AID 0

Vote AIA Total 465,706

Capital resources are made up of EU receipts, FEOGA loan repayments, the sinking fund provision and certain other miscellaneous receipts. In 2008 \1,398 million was received in capital resources of which, \113.5 million was received in ERDF receipts, \740 million in FEOGA repayments and \488 million for the sinking fund provision. The forecast for capital resources is \1,579 million in 2009; \1,735 million in 2010; \1,868 million in 2011; \1,961 million in 2012 and \2,046 million in 2013.

199. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if, with regard to the latest Budgetary Provisions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009) published by his Department, he will provide an updated reconciliation between the general Government balance and the Exchequer balance for 2009 to 2013. [4301/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Exchequer Balance is the traditional domestic budgetary aggregate which measures Central Government’s net surplus or borrowing position. It is the difference between total receipts into and total expenditure out of the Exchequer Account of the Central Fund. The projected Exchequer Balance for the year 2009 to 2013 is as follows. 161 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brian Lenihan.]

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

\m \m \m \m \m −17,980 −16,860 −13,769 −11,583 −8,081

The General Government Balance (GGB) measures the fiscal performance of all arms of Government, i.e. Central Government, Local Authorities, Health Boards, Vocational Edu- cation Committees and non-commercial State sponsored bodies, as well as funds such as the Social Insurance Fund and the National Pensions Reserve Fund. It thus provides an accurate assessment of the fiscal performance of a more complete government sector. The main differences between the Exchequer Balance and the General Government Balance are the impact of various funds, including Extra Budgetary Funds, non-commercial State sponsored bodies, the Social Insurance Fund and the net borrowing of the Local Government Sector, as well as the impact of the National Pension Reserve Fund, and accrual adjustments. The estimated impact of these for the years 2009 to 2013 are as follows.

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

\m \m \m \m \m

Funds −1365 −1727 −932 −750 −559 Impact of the National Pension Reserve Fund 2,189 2,165 2,290 2,457 2,592 Accrual Adjustments −9 151 319 433 510

General Government Balance −17,165 −16,271 −12,092 −9,443 −5,537

200. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the assumptions he has made regarding public sector pay growth and the non-pay deflator for Government consumption in forecasting gross voted current spending with regard to the latest Budgetary Provisions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009) published by his Department. [4302/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The assumptions underlying the addendum to the Irish Stability Programme Update 2009 in relation to public sector pay allow for the cost associated with the Review and Transitional pay agreement, agreed in September 2008, over all years of the forecast horizon. Last week the Government decided to defer this pay agreement until 2011, when further discussions will take place. As this decision post dates the publication of the addendum to the Irish Stability Programme this deferment will lead to a saving in 2010. Allowance was also made for changes in the demographic structure which would impact on employee numbers, notably in the case of education, which will impact on the pay bill. Budget 2009 did not allow for any explicit non-pay deflator in the years 2009 to 2011. In January, however, the non-pay estimates were amended to allow for the costs associated with the higher Live Register and the Pig meat crisis and other pressures. A non-pay deflator (in line with the inflation forecast) was allowed for price increases in 2012 and 2013. Capital resources are made up of EU receipts, FEOGA loan repayments, the sinking fund provision and certain other miscellaneous receipts. In 2008 \1,398 million was received in capital resources of which, \113.5 million was received in ERDF receipts, \740 million in FEOGA repayments and \488 million for the sinking fund provision. 162 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

The forecast for capital resources is \1,579 million in 2009; \1,735 million in 2010; \1,868 million in 2011; \1,961 million in 2012 and \2,046 million in 2013.

201. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if, with regard to the latest Budgetary Provisions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009) published by his Department, the forecast for debt service costs in non-voted current spending take account of the fiscal consolidation objective. [4303/09]

255. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the estimated reduction in general Government borrowing in 2009 as a result of the expenditure control measures announced on 3 February 2009, taking into account the impact of these measures on tax receipts. [4778/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 255 together. The Addendum to the Stability Programme Update forecast an Exchequer Borrowing Requirement of \17,980 million for 2009. This took into account the requirement for a \2 billion adjustment. The forecast for debt service costs in 2009, estimated at \4,500 million, takes into account the fiscal consolidation objective. The expenditure adjustments announced on 3rd February last will yield \1.8 billion in 2009 and \2.1 billion in a full year. This is broadly in line with the indicative annual adjustment as set out in Table 4 of the Addendum to the Stability Programme Update. As such it is consistent with the overall macro-economic and fiscal forecasts published in early January. Accordingly, 1 a General Government deficit in the order of 92% of GDP is forecast in 2009.

202. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if, with regard to the latest Budgetary Provisions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009) published by his Department, he will clarify the competitiveness assumptions underpinning his updated economic forecasts. [4304/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The exchange rate and price developments are the main variables used to assess competitiveness. With regard to exchange rates, the norm is for my Department to use the Commission’s assumptions. These hold constant the averages from a 10 day reference period. However, for the economic projections produced in the Adden- dum, updated assumptions were not available from the Commission. As such, and in line with international practice, the exchange rate was held constant at average levels for December 2008. This implies a 14% appreciation of the euro against sterling for this year as a whole and a 9% depreciation against the dollar. The assumed price changes were broadly in line with those of our major trading partners.

Heritage Sites. 203. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the Revenue generated in 2008 by tourism receipts from visitor attractions and heritage sites operated by the Office of Public Works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4325/09]

204. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if the Office of Public Works receives a specific budget for the operation and maintenance of visitor attractions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4326/09]

205. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the Office of Public Works budget in 2008, expended on salaries, administration and maintenance of visitor attractions and heritage sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4327/09]

163 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): I propose to take Questions Nos. 203 to 205, inclusive, together. The Heritage Service of the Office of Public Works are responsible for the conservation, maintenance and preservation of about 750 National Monuments in State care and the management and maintenance of more than 20 Historic Properties. Over 60 of these sites are presented to the public with a dedicated guide service. The OPW has a series of price bands for the different sites, which reflect the relative popularity of individual sites. Some sites are presented to the public free of charge. In 2008 revenue generated amounted to \7.1 million and it is estimated the salaries attributed to these sites totalled \9.5 million. Works at these Heritage sites are carried out in the main as part of the overall maintenance and conservation works programme of a directly employed workforce. There is no specific budget allocation for the facilities at each site.

Tax Code. 206. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer if there was a 1% reduction on the standard rate of VAT. [4332/09]

207. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer if there was a 2% reduction on the standard rate of VAT. [4333/09]

208. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer if there was a 3% reduction on the standard rate of VAT. [4334/09]

209. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer if there was a 4% reduction on the standard rate of VAT. [4335/09]

210. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer if there was a 5% reduction on the standard rate of VAT. [4336/09]

211. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer if there was a 6% reduction on the standard rate of VAT. [4337/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 to 211, inclusive, together. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the estimated full year cost to the Exchequer of a reduction in the standard rate of Value Added Tax by 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% and 6% is as follows.

Estimated cost to the Exchequer of reductions in Standard rate of VAT

Existing Rate Reduction New Rate Cost

%%%\m

21.5 1.0 20.5 390 21.5 2.0 19.5 780 21.5 3.0 18.5 1,170 21.5 4.0 17.5 1,560 21.5 5.0 16.5 1,950 21.5 6.0 15.5 2,340

The estimates provided are based on current expectations of VAT yield in 2009. 164 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Tax Code. 212. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance, further to Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 30 September 2008, when in early 2009 the Revenue Commissioners will publish their study on the effectiveness of the restriction on the use of incentive tax reliefs and exemptions by high earners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4351/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the data from the 2007 tax returns filed by the high earners in question are currently being processed and analysed. They plan to have the results of a provisional study on the effect of this first year of the restriction ready, by the end of April 2009, for submission to my Depart- ment for consideration. I would hope to be in a position to publish these results shortly afterwards.

Political Funding. 213. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect to the payment of the party’s annual allowance from the State, including the leader’s allowance, this money will continue to be paid after the Progressive Democrats are officially wound up on 28 February 2009; the persons to whom this money will continue to be paid; if the individual Deputies, whether as Independents or as members of another political party, will receive payments in lieu of the payment paid to the Progressive Democrats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4352/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The annual allowance to a parliamentary leader of a qualifying party ceases with the dissolution of that party except where there is an amalgamation of the party or the acceptance of all of the members of that party into a specified other qualifying party. There is however, no provision for the transfer of an allowance payable on behalf of an elected member of Da´il E´ ireann or Seanad E´ ireann who was elected as a member of a qualifying party and who is subsequently deemed independent as a result of the dissolution of that party.

Site Acquisitions. 214. Deputy Sea´n Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding site acquisition for a project (details supplied) in County Laois; the position of this project on the list of priorities; if approval has been given for this project to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4431/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): Negotiations are ongoing with the HSE in regard to the procurement by the Office of Public Works of a site of approximately 2 acres for the construction of a new Garda Headquarters at Portlaoise. The priority accorded to individual projects within the Garda Building Programme is a matter for An Garda Sı´ocha´na and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The construction of pre-engineered accommodation has recently been completed at Port- laoise, and this will relieve the accommodation deficiencies in the medium term.

Financial Institutions Support Scheme. 215. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank, he has issued a direction in respect of salary scales to executives of the bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4451/09]

165 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Deputy will be aware that the remuneration of directors and senior executive staff of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation is being considered in the Covered Institution Remuneration Oversight Committee, established under the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008. The Scheme provides for controls on executive remuneration in institutions covered by the Guarantee. The Scheme requires each covered institution to prepare and submit a plan to structure the remuneration packages of directors and executives so as to take account of the objectives of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008. Remuneration is taken to include total salary, bonuses, pension payments and any other benefits received. In the context of these plans, bonuses will be measurably linked to reductions in the guarantee charges, reduction in excessive risk taking, and encouraging the long-term sustainability of the covered institution. The relevant plans have been prepared and submitted by the covered institutions, including Anglo Irish Bank, and in line with timeframes set out in the Scheme, the Committee will report to me on or before the 5th March 2009, making a recommendation where appropriate, on the compliance by the institution with the terms of the Scheme. The Scheme provides that if required, I may direct the institution to amend the remuneration plan to comply with the Scheme. As with the other covered institutions, the terms and conditions of employment for less senior staff are a matter for the Board of Anglo.

Banking Sector Regulation. 216. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if members of the current board of Anglo Irish Bank received loans from the bank for any purpose. [4452/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Financial Regulator has informed me that it is examining certain issues that have arisen at Anglo Irish Bank including where loans have been made to Directors. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement is also conducting an investigation into issues at the bank. The new Board of the bank and I as shareholder will ensure that any issues identified on foot of these investigations are properly addressed as appropriate. Loans to Directors on commercial terms are permitted under company law and must be disclosed in a company’s audited accounts. The question of loans to current Directors at Anglo Irish Bank will be addressed in the bank’s annual report and accounts to be published in the coming weeks.

217. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he has issued direction in respect of the placing of new business by Anglo Irish Bank. [4453/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arm’s length commercial basis and I have issued no such direction. The Board of Anglo is preparing a comprehensive business plan which will be required to demonstrate how the Board will oversee the continued commercial operation of the bank in the best interests of the bank, the financial sector generally and the State. This business plan will provide an overview of the key areas and sectors that the Board, after consultation with my Department, intends Anglo to concentrate on.

218. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he has issued direction in respect of corporate sponsorship, corporate entertainment or credit card expense entitlement

166 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers in respect of Anglo Irish Bank executives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4454/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arm’s length commercial basis. Accordingly, normal commercial decisions, which include decisions on corporate sponsorship, corporate entertainment or credit card expense entitlement in respect of Anglo- Irish Bank executives, are matters for the Board of Anglo. Notwithstanding this I am informed that there will be no corporate sponsorship this year. The Board of Anglo is preparing a comprehensive business plan which will be required to demonstrate how the Board will oversee the continued commercial operation of the bank in the best interests of the bank, its customers and the State.

219. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the number of Anglo Irish Bank personnel on annual salary scales in excess of \250,000 \150,000 and \100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4455/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arm’s length basis to allow the full potential of the bank’s business to be realised. Accordingly, the normal ongoing business of the bank, which includes the pay and conditions of staff, is a matter for the Board of Anglo. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to place such commercially sensitive information in the public domain. As the Deputy will be aware, the remuneration of directors and senior executive staff of Anglo Irish Bank is being considered in the Covered Institution Remuneration Oversight Com- mittee (CIROC) established under the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008. The Scheme requires each covered institution to prepare and submit a plan to structure the remuneration packages of directors and executives so as to take account of the objectives of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008. The relevant plans have been prepared and submitted by the covered institutions, including Anglo, and in line with timeframes set out in the Scheme, the Committee will report to me on or before the 5th March 2009, making a recommendation where appropriate, on the compliance by the institution with the terms of the Scheme. The Scheme provides that I may, if required, direct the institution to amend the remuneration plan to comply with the Scheme. As with the other covered institutions, the terms and conditions of employment for less senior staff are a matter for the Board of Anglo.

220. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he has issued an instruction to the board of Anglo Irish Bank in relation to the appointment of the new chief executive officer of the bank; his views on whether it is appropriate that such appointment shall be to a person from outside the current pool of Anglo Irish Bank executives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4456/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arm’s length commercial basis. I have delegated the function of appointing a chief executive officer under section 20 (b) of the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009, to the Chairman of Anglo Irish Bank. I will continue to support the efforts of the Board in appointing a chief executive officer with a view to ensuring the continued commercial operation of the bank in the best interests of the bank, the financial sector generally and the State. I would note that a chief executive officer can only be appointed after appropriate regulatory approvals.

167 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Tax Code. 221. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Finance his views on amending the provisions of section 31 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2008; if, in view of the practical nature of establishing a limited company and the significant merit of the new provision, the exemption should apply to any company whose first period of trading either commences or concludes within 12 months of 31 December 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4459/09]

225. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he has received representations that the starting date set out in section 31 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2008 is too restrictive in that many start-up companies would have formed a limited liability company prior to the date of 14 October 2008 even though they had not started trading; and if he will consider extending the relief to any company whose first period of trading commences or concludes during December 2009. [4469/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 225 together. The provisions of section 31 of the Finance (No 2) Act 2008 provide for relief from corporation tax for their first 3 years of operation for companies incorporated on and from 14 October 2008 that commence to carry on a new trade in 2009. The relief is granted by reducing the corporation tax on the profits of the new trade and on the gains from disposal of assets used for the purpose of the new trade to nil. Full relief is available where the corporation tax otherwise payable by the company in respect of any of its first 3 years is \40,000 or less. There is marginal relief where the corporation tax liability is between \40,000 and \60,000. The intention is that this relief will comply with the EU de minimis Aid Regulations. These Regulations set the level of de minimis aid available, generally, at \200,000 over any three year period. In the case of the road transport sector, the figure is \100,000. Any tax relief under the provisions of section 31 of Finance (No 2) Act 2008 will affect the amount of further State aid that a company can receive. The requirement that the company be newly registered ensures that we are starting at the beginning as regards State aids. In addition, with the new company requirement, the new trade will be easily distinguishable from other businesses run by a promoter and/or other related companies which is important so as to ensure against any abuse of the measure. For these reasons, I had to choose a date to define a “new company” under the legislation and incorporation from the date of Budget 2009 is a reasonable approach. I have received some representations in this issue. However, I do not propose to amend this requirement of the legislation.

Banking Sector Regulation. 222. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the nature of the investigation under the direction of the Financial Regulator into certain matters at Anglo Irish Bank, in particular the loans issued by the bank to its directors; the terms of reference of such investigation; the time scale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4462/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Financial Regulator is examining issues that have arisen in Anglo Irish Bank including where loans were made to former directors. These issues span a considerable period of time are complex and it will take time to investigate them fully. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement is also investigating this and related matters. In order to ensure that the investigations of these issues proceed in a seamless

168 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers manner and that all relevant information is shared, the Financial Regulator is working closely with the ODCE as appropriate. As you will appreciate, some of the issues may lead to further action and in these circumstances, it is not appropriate for me to comment in detail on specific issues without the risk of prejudicing the outcome of the investigations.

Departmental Equipment. 223. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance when the new customs cutter and new X-ray container scanner will be purchased and in service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4466/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that construction of the second Revenue cutter is proceeding well. Delivery is expected in September 2009 and, on that basis, plans are in place to have the cutter in service by the end of the year. Revenue will be going to tender shortly for the purchase of the new scanner. Pending the outcome of the tender process, it is not possible to be precise about timing. However the Commissioners have advised me that it is intended that the scanner will be purchased this year and put into service as soon as possible thereafter, allowing for commissioning, training etc.

Tax Code. 224. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if the new levy which has been introduced is deductible before the calculation of income tax; if he has received legal advice on whether double taxation of income taken in levies breaches the principle of natural justice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4468/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I understand the Deputy is referring to the income levy which took effect from 1 January 2009. The position is that the income levy applies to gross income and constitutes an additional tax. The income base on which the income levy is applied is different to that of income tax or, indeed Pay Related Social Insurance (PSRI) contributions and health levy contributions. Gross income in the context of the income levy is income before any deductions for contributions to superannuation or capital allowances. Also included in the income base for the income levy are a number of income sources excluded from the income tax base. The income levy applies generally to all taxpayers and is progressive. In these circumstances, the issue of whether the overall system breaches the principle of natural justice does not arise.

Question No. 225 answered with Question No. 221.

226. Deputy Sea´n Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the proposals to increase betting tax in betting shops from 1% to 2%; when this will be introduced; the expected revenue to be generated; the impact this will have on unemployment in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4474/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I announced in Budget 2009 that the betting duty would be increased from 1 to 2%. Subsequently, I met a wide range of representatives from the betting industry where the problems faced by the sector, including those arising from the Budgetary changes, were discussed.

169 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brian Lenihan.]

The Finance (No. 2) Act 2008 provides that the betting duty rate will be increased from 1% to 2% on 1 May 2009. The Act also provides that, as happens in the case of other business expenses, betting duty paid by a bookmaker on bets made on or after 1 January 2009 will be allowed as a deduction in computing the amount of profits or losses of the bookmaking business for Income Tax or Corporation Tax purposes. As I stated during the Finance Bill process, I intend to look at an overhaul of the betting tax regime for next year’s Budget and Finance Bill, possibly looking at the UK’s gross profits tax model. The estimated yield arising from the 1% increase in the betting duty on 1 May 2009 is around \14m in 2009 and \33m in a full year.

Site Acquisitions. 227. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Finance the progress made in the purchase of a site (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4481/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): The position is that terms have been agreed on the purchase of the site. The contracts for sale are being processed by the respective solicitors, subject to funding.

Questions Nos. 228 to 232, inclusive, answered with Question No. 190.

Architectural Heritage. 233. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Finance his plans for a site (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the timetable for seeking planning permission in respect of the revised visitor centre design; the timetable for re-pointing of the keep and completion of internal work outstanding within the keep; the completion of the legalities and consequent handover to the town council of the castle field; the timetable for the design of the drawbridge and other outstanding features of the castle gatehouse. [4583/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): The siting of the proposed Visitor Centre at Nenagh Castle has been re-examined, and Consultant Architects submitted a planning application in December 2008. Providing there are no objections and planning permission is granted, invitations to tender for the works could be issued in May 2009, with work commencing later this year, subject to funding. Work on the Keep has commenced with inspection works, initial condition assessment and mortar analysis. Scaffolding has been erected and the decking has been completed. Restoration work of its nature is time-consuming and investigatory, and therefore incapable of a precise schedule, but it is estimated that it will take approximately 12-18 months to complete. Works to the interior of the Keep are ongoing, and significant progress has been made. The perimeter of the Castle Field has been secured for the duration of the works. The Chief State Solicitor has forwarded a draft lease in relation to the transfer of the Castle Field to Nenagh Town Council, which is expected to be finalised, when works are completed. The design and installation of the drawbridge and presentation of other outstanding features of the Castle Gatehouse will follow the conservation works of the Keep.

Tax Code. 234. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance the tax benefits available to a person

170 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers seeking to lease a section or sections of his or her home to non-related tenants; the regulations covering such leasing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4653/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that money that is received by an individual in respect of the letting, for residential purposes, of part of that individual’s home is exempt from income tax, income levy, PRSI and the health levy where it is below \10,000. Any amount received for meals, cleaning, laundry or other similar goods and services that are incidentally provided in connection with the residential use is also taken into account. This relief is known as Rent-a-Room relief. In establishing whether the income arising in respect of residential accommodation and ancillary services exceeds the exempt limit, the gross amount of that income is taken into account. No deduction is allowed for any expenses that have been incurred in connection with obtaining that income. Where the gross income exceeds the \10,000 exemption limit in a particular year the full amount is taxable and not just the amount that exceeds the limit. The residence must be situated in the State and be occupied by an individual as his/her sole or main residence during the particular tax year. The individual does not have to own the residence and it could, for example, be occupied as rented accommodation. It is not possible to let an entire residence because the room(s) that is let must form part of the residence and the residence must be occupied by the individual receiving the rent as his/her sole or main residence. The relief does not apply where the part of the residence that is let is used for business purposes. The availability of certain other tax reliefs is not affected by the receipt of income that is exempted from tax under the rent-a-room relief scheme. These include an individual’s entitlement to mortgage interest relief on his/her principal private residence, the exemption from Capital Gains Tax on gains arising from the disposal of an individual’s principal private residence and owner-occupier relief where the residence is situated in a tax incentive area such as an urban renewal scheme area. Additionally, an individual who pays rent for private rented accommodation that he/she uses as his/her main residence is entitled to claim tax relief for the rent paid where that individual sub-lets part of the accommodation. A tenant of an individual who is claiming rent-a-room relief may claim tax relief for rent paid. First-time buyers and certain owner-occupiers can obtain relief from stamp duty on the purchase of a house/apartment. A clawback of the relief arises if rent is obtained from the letting of the house/apartment in the two-year period from the date of purchase. However, such a clawback does not apply where rent is received for the letting of furnished accommodation in part of the premises by an individual who owns and occupies the premises. The individual must continue to occupy the premises as his/her only or main residence for the required two-year period. Unlike rent-a-room relief for income tax, there is no upper limit on the amount of rent that can be received in relation to stamp duty where part of the premises has been let. I am also informed by the Revenue Commissioners that a guidance note on the Rent-a- Room relief scheme is available at www.revenue.ie in the “Leaflets” section of the website.

Mortgage Lending. 235. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Finance his view on correspondence (details supplied) and on whether the position adopted in this case will adversely affect first-time buyers; his plans to assist first-time buyers in such instances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4659/09]

171 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Government believes that it is important to ensure that in so far as possible mortgages are available to people who want to buy houses. In the context of discussions on recapitalisation before Christmas Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland committed to, amongst other things, providing an additional 30% capacity for lending to first time buyers in 2009. The banks also committed to actively promote mortgage lending at competitive rates with increased transparency on the criteria to be met. A new code of conduct for Mortgage Arrears, based in the Irish Banking Federation Code of Practice on Mortgage Arrears, is under discussion and will shortly be introduced by the Financial Regulator. The new Code is expected to apply to mortgage lending activities to consumers in respect of their principal private residence in the State and to be mandatory for all mortgage lenders registered with the Financial Regulator. The Government increased the rate of mortgage interest relief for first time buyers in Budget 2009 from 20% to 25% in year 1 & 2 of their mortgage and to 22.5% in year 3 and 5. It will remain at 20% in year 6 and 7. This measure follows on from the significant improvements made in Budget 2007 & 2008. The ceiling for mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers was doubled in Budget 2007 from \4,000 single/\8,000 married to \8,000 single/\16,000 married. The ceiling for first-time buyers was further increased in Budget 2008 to \10,000 single/\20,000 married. In addition, the Government announced the introduction of a new mortgage scheme in the context of Budget 2009. The Home Choice Loan has been introduced through the local authority system, backed by loan finance raised by the Housing Finance Agency. HCL is available to first time buyers of new houses (or self-builds), subject to a maximum loan of \285,000 or max LTV of 92% (whichever is the lesser) and income thresholds. The Regulations to underpin the scheme were signed in December and the scheme commenced on 1 January 2009.

Tax Collection. 236. Deputy Sea´n Fleming asked the Minister for Finance when a tax rebate will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Laois from whom tax was deducted under section 246 of the Tax Consolidation Act 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4660/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I have been advised by the Revenue Commis- sioners that there is no record of receiving a claim for repayment of tax from the taxpayer. Previous representations were made last year on the matter. Revenue wrote to the taxpayer on 22nd July 2008 requesting information to advance a claim but there is no record of a reply having been received.

Tax Code. 237. Deputy Ro´ isı´n Shortall asked the Minister for Finance, further to Parliamentary Ques- tions Nos. 291 and 294 of 27 January 2009, the arrangements which exist to cease the deduction of the 1% income levy on the pay and pensions of people over 65 years who have a medical card and others who have a medical card and when it is possible for the Revenue Commissioners to confirm that the person would have an entitlement to an exemption from the levy for the full year. [4661/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Where the individual has an entitlement to a full medical card at any time during the year the individual should forward a copy of their full medical card to their employer/pension provider and the employer/pension provider will then cease to deduct the income levy. Where the income levy has been applied for particular pay period(s) during the year and the individual has an entitlement to a full medical card, then

172 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers they will be due a refund of any income levy paid in the year. In this situation, the employer/pension provider should make an adjustment at year’s end and refund all income levy deducted during the year. Where the employee has not been in continuous employment with an employer or in receipt of a pension from a pension provider throughout the year in question, the Revenue Commis- sioners, rather than the employer/pension provider, will make any refund of income levy due on a claim being made.

238. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the input the proposed new pension levy on public sector incomes will have on the cost of buying back years of service for persons who will not have full service upon reaching the age of 65 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4663/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The scheme for the purchase of notional service allows officers who would have less than maximum pensionable service at age 60 or 65 and who fulfil certain other conditions to purchase additional reckonable service at full actu- arial cost. The pension deduction will have no effect on the purchase of notional service now or in the future.

National Treasury Management Agency. 239. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on the establishment of a national loan scheme whereby members of the public would have the opportunity to make funds available to the State for a defined period of time in return for a specified, guaranteed rate of return. [4664/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I would like to draw the Deputy’s attention to the fact that savings bonds, savings certificates and national instalment savings, three of the Government’s personal savings products for which the National Treasury Management Agency is responsible, allow individuals to invest in fixed-term, fixed-rate instruments which are part of the National Debt. They are available for purchase through any Post Office. The Agency’s personal savings products generally had a particularly successful year in 2008, bringing in almost double the highest annual level of receipts since the Agency was established in 1990. Between them, savings bonds, savings certificates and national instalment savings brought in some \600 million net in 2008, bringing the amount outstanding in respect of those products to \4.9 billion at the end of the year.

Financial Institutions Support Scheme. 240. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to limit the pay and severance terms of executives in banks and other organisations which are receiving State bail- outs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4671/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Section 47 of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008 (Scheme) requires each covered institution to prepare a plan to structure the remuneration packages of directors and executives, including total salary, bonuses, pension payments and any other benefit, so as to take account of the objectives of the Scheme. The Deputy will be aware of the existence of the Covered Institutions Remuneration Over- sight Committee (CIROC) established by me under the terms of the Scheme. The three member, independent committee will oversee remuneration plans of senior executives of the covered institutions. The relevant plans have been prepared and submitted by the covered

173 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brian Lenihan.] institutions, and in line with timeframes set out in the Scheme, CIROC will report to me on or before 5th March 2009, making a recommendation where appropriate, on the compliance by the institution with the terms of the Scheme. The Scheme provides that if I consider, following the advice of CIROC, that the institution has not demonstrated how its remuneration policies for the year ahead will comply with Section 47, I may direct the covered institution to amend its remuneration plan so that compliance is achieved. It is important to emphasise that one of the key features of this part of the Scheme is the requirement to orient a system of bonuses to create the appropriate incentives, incentives that point toward reduction in excessive risk-taking and that promote long-term sustainability. A covered institution may not enter into any contractual arrangement that provides for termination compensation or equivalent to be payable to any director or executive for the duration of the Scheme. The Taoiseach announced in the House last week that in the context of recapitalisation of the banks, that he would expect director’s fees to be cut by 25% and when they appoint their top executives there would be an upper limit on remuneration and that he would expect current levels would be cut by at least 25% as well.

Tax Code. 241. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Finance if the new public sector pension levy will apply to people already receiving a State pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4672/09]

242. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Finance if the new public sector pension levy will apply to public sector workers who are not receiving a public sector pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4673/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 242 together. The pension related deduction applies to public servants, that is those who are employed in a public service body. It will not apply to occupational or State pension income received by retired public servants. It is not being applied to the commercial semi state sector. The deduction will apply to all remuneration including allowances and overtime. It is intended that the pension deduction will apply to employees in bodies where a public service pension scheme exists or may be made. Where an employee has no pension benefits under a scheme the Mini- ster for Finance will have powers to exclude him or her.

Departmental Staff. 243. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance the number of civil servants; the number of whom are not employed on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4735/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Based on returns made to my Department for end September 2008 [the last date for which complete data are available] the number of serving non industrial civil servants was estimated to be 37,000 full time equivalents (fte). It is estimated that just over 1,000 staff (fte) — approximately 3% excluding staff serving in the Prisons Service — were not employed on a permanent basis. These staff are employed on a variety of tasks and assignments and their number fluctuates depending on factors such as seasonal variations

174 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

(e.g. recruitment of temporary staff to cover term time vacancies, peak workloads such as passports, examinations, etc).

Departmental Correspondence. 244. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify a matter (details supplied). [4738/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): My officials will be in touch with the Deputy setting out the procedure to be followed in relation to the matter raised.

Tax Code. 245. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a statement in respect of the VAT position and the stamp duty position on transactions (details supplied). [4767/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the position in relation to the transactions concerned is as follows. With regard to VAT, the renting of residential property is exempt from VAT. Before 1 July 2008, where a developer let a residential property, this would have resulted in a full claw-back of all the VAT incurred on the construction of that property, which had been reclaimed by the developer. Since 1 July 2008 there is a special rule for property developers who construct a residential property for sale but subsequently rent that property. In such circumstances, rather than suffering the negative cash flow effect of a full claw-back of VAT deducted in respect of the development costs, the developer is obliged to pay back to Revenue 1/20th of the VAT deducted at the end of each year that the property is rented. When the property is eventually sold VAT is chargeable on the sale price at the reduced rate of VAT, currently 13.5%. In most cases, if the sale price is reduced by the amount of rent paid, VAT will be chargeable on the reduced amount. This is provided that the rent paid during the rental period is a bona fide market rent. If a premium were paid above the market rent, that premium would be treated as an option payment relating to the sale of the property and would, therefore, be liable to VAT at 13.5%. In relation to stamp duty, the purchase of a new house or apartment with a floor area not exceeding 125 square metres is exempt from stamp duty where the house or apartment is occupied as the main residence of the purchaser for a period of two years from the date of the purchase. There is also a relief from stamp duty in the case of the purchase of a new house or apartment where the floor area exceeds 125 square metres and the house or apartment is occupied as the main residence of the purchaser for a period of two years from the date of the purchase. Under this relief the stamp duty is charged on the site value or one quarter of the total value of the property whichever is the greater. Where an intended purchaser occupies a newly built house under “a rent to purchase scheme” and the house is subsequently purchased by that person as part of the scheme, the property is regarded as new for the purposes of the stamp duty reliefs described above.

Job Losses. 246. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the additional cost to the State for each person that loses his or her job in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4769/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Job losses have an impact on the Exchequer finances in two ways — through additional social welfare costs and reduced tax revenue. The exact additional cost depends on individual circumstances, for example; whether the individual

175 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brian Lenihan.] is married or single, whether he/she is signing on with the Department of Social and Family Affairs for full benefits or signing on due to reduced working hours, and, crucially, in terms of tax forgone, on the amount of income that they would have previously been earning. With regard to social welfare payments, it is estimated by the Department of Social and Family Affairs that each 1,000 increase in the Live Register in 2008 added \11.55 million to expenditure on Jobseeker Allowance and Jobseekers Benefit payments and in 2009 will add \11.77 million. Receipt of secondary benefits is linked to the circumstances of individuals and as such it is very difficult to disaggregate jobseekers from other social welfare recipients in receipt of such benefits. With regard to the loss of tax and PRSI revenue, a specific cost is not possible to compute without knowing the specifics of each individual’s personal circumstance. However, based on a number of assumptions outlined below, an overall aggregate estimate of the likely tax forgone for every 1,000 people losing employment is approximately \8 million in a full year, based on 2008 figures. The assumptions underlining this figure are:

• The 1,000 workers are made up of workers earning the minimum wage, the average industrial wage and twice the average industrial wage;

• There is a 30:55:15 distribution between those earning the minimum wage, average industrial wage and those earning twice the average industrial wage, broadly reflecting the economy wide situation; and

• The breakdown by marital status also broadly follows the economy wide breakdown.

No account is taken of the following:

• Employees’ pension contributions or other salary sacrifice arrangements;

• Minor tax credits or income tax reliefs such as health expenses relief, rent relief, trade union subscriptions;

• The impact of any redundancy packages;

• Whether the employee takes up alternative employment in the tax year; and

• The timing of the job losses within the tax year.

The above factors are crucial in determining the actual cost in any one year and could reduce the cost significantly in that year.

Live Register. 247. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the average and end year live register projection for 2009 underpinning budgetary forecasts in the updated stability programme. [4770/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Addendum to the Stability Programme Update was published on 9th January 2009 and the labour market projections are based on information up to the end of last year. In preparing the budgetary forecasts published in the Addendum, the average live register projection for 2009 is 340,000 persons and the corresponding year-end figure is for approximately 400,000 people.

176 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Tax Code. 248. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if the new pension related payment to be required of public servants announced on 3 February 2009 will benefit from tax relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4771/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The proposed pension-related deduction for public servants will operate under what is known as the “net pay” arrangement, whereby pension contributions for PAYE taxpayers, including those in the public sector, are deducted from gross pay before the application of income tax, PRSI and the health levy. As a result, it is proposed that the pension-related deductions will be exempt for income tax, PRSI and health levy purposes.

249. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if the estimate of \1.4 billion in full year payroll savings as a result of the measures announced on 3 February 2009 is calculated before or after the impact on income tax receipts. [4772/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): As is the norm, the additional pension contribution to be made by public servants will attract tax relief. The actual amount of tax relief depends on an individual’s circumstances but as a broad rule of thumb it is estimated that about one third of the amount will accrue in tax relief to public servants. As a result, the \1.4 billion is a saving on the expenditure side of the account that has implications for the revenue side. However, in terms of the economic and fiscal impact, a \2 billion adjustment was factored in to the Addendum to the Stability Programme Update published on 9 January. Therefore, the Department’s forecasts, which anticipate growth contracting by 4.5% and show aggregate 1 taxes falling by a further 94% this year after the contraction of 13”% last year, already take account of the need to secure reductions of up to \2 billion in expenditure this year.

Public Sector Pay. 250. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of the \1.4 billion savings in the public sector pay bill announced on 3 February 2009. [4773/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The savings in question, which are on an annual basis, breakdown as follows: \1.35bn to be achieved through the public service pension- related deduction and \50 million to be achieved mainly through a reduction in travelling and subsistence rates, along with some other adjustments.

Departmental Expenditure. 251. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of the \140 million expenditure reduction through general administration efficiencies and savings. [4774/09]

252. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of the \80 million expenditure reduction in professional fees. [4775/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. Of the \140 million savings from general administrative efficiencies, \50 million is in respect of savings arising from the non-payment of the pay increase that had been scheduled for pay-

177 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brian Lenihan.] ment on 1 September 2009; \25 million is from further administrative efficiencies across all areas; \25 million from savings on procurement; and \25 million savings on advertising, public relations and consultancy expenditure. Savings of \15 million will also be found across a range of Defence expenditure, including equipment purchases. The \80 million savings on professional fees will arise from an 8% reduction on fees to legal, medical, veterinary and other professions engaged by the public service. The precise details of individual Vote allocations are currently being finalised in consultation with Departments and will be included in the upcoming Revised Estimates Volume 2009.

Departmental Programmes. 253. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the capital programmes and projects that will no longer proceed in 2009 as a result of the Government’s decision to re- prioritise \150 million of capital spending on employment intensive activities in the area of school building and energy efficiency improvements. [4776/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The capital allocation for every Department announced in Budget 2009 was reduced pro-rata by 1.8% to raise \150 million which has been allocated to school building work and to home insulation and energy efficiency measures. Every Department will now have to examine its planned expenditure for 2009 and identify where the reductions can be made. However, we are achieving far more output for less money than was the case in the past as tender prices are falling. We therefore expect to maintain a high level of output on capital projects despite the lower cash allocations.

Departmental Expenditure. 254. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an updated monthly profile of projected Exchequer receipts and expenditures consistent with the budgetary projections in the revised stability programme. [4777/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Monthly profiles of projected receipts and expenditure are normally published by the end of January every year. However, this year, reflecting the fact that the tax forecasts were revised at the start of January, the publication of tax revenue profiles has been delayed. I expect my Department to publish these tax profiles shortly. In relation to projected Exchequer expenditures, the intention is to produce a monthly profile consistent with the revised budgetary projections and with the allocations to be presented in the 2009 Revised Estimates Volume, by the end of this month.

Question No. 255 answered with Question No. 201.

Tax Yield. 256. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Minister for Finance the annual return to the Exchequer from stamp duty on cheques in each of the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; the rates applying in each of these years; the dates on which increases came into effect; if a pattern of reduced usage of cheques has shown over the years cited or against previous years; if so, when the peak years were; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4788/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the net receipt in the years 2005 to 2008 from stamp duty on cheques issued by financial institutions is as follows:

178 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Year 2005 2006 2007 2008

\m \m \m \m Net Receipt from Cheques 16.5 16.7 18.6 30.5

The rate of stamp duty on cheques which applied in each year is as follows:

Year Rate

2005 15c per cheque 2006 15c per cheque 2007 15c per cheque up to 6 December, and 30c thereafter 2008 30c per cheque up to 15 October, and 50c thereafter

As regards the pattern in the usage of cheques the Deputy may wish to note the following statistics (derived from information from the European Central Bank) showing the numbers of cheques processed by financial institutions for payment transactions in Ireland during the years 2003-2007. The figures are expressed in terms of millions of cheques.

Year Payment Transactions (millions of cheques)

2003 73.80 2004 72.62 2005 132.14 2006 124.64 2007 124.30

On this basis there are indications that, after peaking in 2005, the usage of cheques may be in decline.

Tax Code. 257. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the rate of capital gains tax under a compulsory purchase order for road building or road widening, in which the compensation was received in 2008 for farmland acquired in 2007; the position in respect of compensation is paid in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4806/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that the rate of capital gains tax (CGT) payable for the disposal of an asset is the rate on the date of disposal of that asset. For CGT purposes, the date of disposal of land acquired under a compulsory purchase order is the earlier of the date the authority enters on the land, and the date on which the compensation is agreed. This general rule does not apply, however, where the disposal is under a compulsory purchase order and is for the purposes of, or ancillary to, road construction, widening or extension, the person making the disposal is engaged in farming, and immediately before the disposal, the land was used for the purposes of farming. In these circumstances, the date of disposal for CGT purposes is not until the date the compensation is received. As the Deputy may be aware, I have made a number of changes to the CGT code in my recent Budget and Finance Act. These include changes to the payment dates and also an increase in the rate of CGT from 20% to 22% for disposals made on or after 14 October 2008. 179 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brian Lenihan.] Therefore, in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, the rate of CGT on a disposal of land acquired under a compulsory purchase order, where the compensation was received between 1 January and 13 October 2008, was 20%; and the rate of CGT for such a disposal, where the compensation was received after 14 October 2008, is 22%.

Consultancy Contracts. 258. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4816/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The following table sets out the private consultancy firms used by my Department and the offices under its aegis in the periods to which the Deputy refers. In the time available to answer the question, the Office of Public Works was unable to compile the information sought by the Deputy. However, the information will be compiled by that Office and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

180 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 Management Contract 2008 Name of office Name of Firm Purpose of the Contract Comment Total Cost Appointments AppointmentsAppointments AppointmentsAppointments AppointmentsAppointments Appointments AppointmentsAppointmentsAppointments Appointments Recruitment Auditing 2008 Administration Recruitment Auditing 2008 and completed Recruitment after Auditing that date. 2008 and completed after that date. Consultancy 2008 2008 and completed after that date. State LaboratoryState LaboratoryState LaboratoryState LaboratoryCommissionfor Public Service AtkinsCommissionfor Faithful Public & Service Gould PolarisCommissionfor Public Service To Review Facilities Tierney ConalCommissionfor and Devine Public Associates Service Mary ClareCommissionfor Southwell O’Meara Public Byrne Service Payment Accounting completed Services prior to 15 Matheson OctoberCommissionfor Ormsby Public Prentice Service HR Consultant Legal — Liz Advice Staff ToCommissionfor Early mediation facilitate Public staff Service mediation Payments commenced prior Interanl to Audit Noel 15 PaymentsCommissionfor Ryan October 8,800 commenced Public and prior Service Associates to 15 October Valerie PaymentCommissionfor Judge Internal completed Public Auditor prior Service to 15 October 3,900 Payment completed Payments Anthony priorCommissionfor commenced Kerr to Public prior BL 15 9,400 Service to October 15 October Payments HR commenced Consultant after Brendan —Commissionfor 15 O’Callaghan Public October Service 64,400 Payments commenced 114,200 prior Institute HR toCommissionfor of Consultant 15 Public Public — October Service Legal 1,600 Advice HR Consultancy Open Interface Payments commenced 8,000 prior to 15 October 10,800 Cassin Scott Associates Payments Internal commenced Audit prior Support to 15 Symbiant October Consulting Payments 20,800 commenced prior Payments Audit to commenced Methodology 15 prior Website Review October to Accessibility 15 Payment October completed prior Payments to commenced 15 prior October 6,300 to 15 Database October Support 2,400 Payments commenced prior to 15 600 October 7,700 7,000 Payments commenced prior to 15 October 6,700 7,300

181 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 2008 2008 and completed after that date. Customer SurveyRevaluation 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. Arbitrator Services 2008 Engineers(UK) Tribunal 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 Personnel andDevelopment 2008 Name of office Name of Firm Purpose of the Contract Comment Total Cost Appointments Commissionfor Public ServiceValuation OfficeValuation Office ColouringboxValuation OfficeValuation OfficePublic Appointments Service Website Support TennysonPublic Consulting Appointments Service AmarachPublic Consulting Appointments Service Expert witness ThePublic Data Media Appointments Entry Group Service Bureau Payments commenced prior to 15 Independent Valuation October validationPublic Dell Office of Appointments Computer Agency Service (Ireland) PaymentsPublic Graphics commenced Appointments IT prior Service Expert IT to IT witness Media Services 15 Services at Advice October Valuation for 7,600 Payments commenced priorPublic to Lan Appointments 15 Communications Payment Service October completed prior to 15 OctoberPublic SHL 12,600 Appointments (Ireland) Service Ltd IT Payments 4,500 Services commencedPublic Sureskills.Com prior Appointments to Service IT 15 Services October 12,300 Payment Payments completed commenced priorPublic Catalysto prior to Appointments Limited to 15 Service 15 October Testing October Services 12,300 Ms Dorothy ScallyPublic Appointments Service IT Services 26,000 Cubiks Ltd Payment completed 3,400 Publication prior Services to 15 Payments October commenced Payments Chartered prior commenced Institute to prior of 15 Interview/Decision to October 15 October Payment Crowleys completed DFK prior to HR 15 3,100 Services October 5,200 31,800 Payment completed Payment prior Specialist completed to Testing prior 15 Services to October 15 October Payment completed prior 15,100 to 15 October Auditing Services 3,000 Payment 5,700 completed prior to 15 October 9,100 Payments commenced prior to 15 October 200 20,400

182 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. ServicesServices 2008 Services 2008 Services 2008 2008 and completed after that date. PartnershipPersonnel Research IncAssociates 2008 2008 Consultants Ltd 2008 Consultancy 2008 2008 Name of office Name of Firm Purpose of the Contract Comment Total Cost Public Appointments ServicePublic Appointments ServicePublic Appointments ServicePublic Prof. Appointments J. Service HeywoodPublic The Appointments Performance ServicePublic Ergometrics Appointments & Service Applied Research ServicesPublic Edward Appointments Delany Service & Specialist Research Testing Services ServicesPublic Catalyst Appointments Consulting Service Payment completed prior Payment toPublic completed Micaela 15 Appointments prior McGinley October Service to 15 HR October Services PaymentPublic completed DalRiada Appointments HR prior Service Services to 15 OctoberPublic Armstrong 10,000 Appointments Craven Service Limited Interview Services 700 SpecialistPublic Sandip Recruitment Appointments Gaheer Service 4,300 Payment completed priorPublic SHL to Appointments Group 15 Service Limited October Payment completed Payment Payment prior Specialist completed completed to Recruitment prior prior 15 to to OctoberPublic 15 CPL 15 Appointments October Solutions October Service Limited Specialist TestingPublic WRC Testing Services Appointments Social Services Payment Service & completed Economic prior to 800 Specialist 15 Recruitment October PaymentPublic 9,700 O completed Appointments Herlihy 6,000 prior Service 8,200 Access to Research 15 Services October Yeaton & Payment Associates completed prior to 22,900 Payments 15 commenced October prior Caveon to Llc 15 October HR 3,800 Services Payment completed prior Specialist to Dilucid Recruitment 15 Limited October Consultancy Research 43,600 39,600 Services Payments commenced prior to 15 October 30,000 Specialist Testing Services Payment completed prior Payments to commenced 15 prior October to 15 Payments 42,400 October commenced prior to 15 October 7,300 900 8,600

183 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 2008 and completed after that date. ReliefDesignInspection of Cutter 2008 2008 2008 and completed after that date. the Value for MoneyPolicy & Review of IT External Resources Expenditure in 2006 2008 Name of office Name of Firm Purpose of the Contract Comment Total Cost Public Appointments ServicePublic Appointments ServicePublic Appointments ServicePublic Matheson Appointments Ormsby Service Prentice LegalPublic Calyx Services Appointments Software Service Ltd.Public Pre Appointments Visor Service UK LTDPublic Cassin-Scott Appointments IT Associates Service Services Payment completedOffice Agtel prior of the to the Media 15 Specialist Revenue Element October Testing Specialist Commissioners Services Testing ServicesOffice Savenet of Ltd. the Specialist Revenue Payments Testing Commissioners commenced Payments Services after commenced Achilles 15 after Procurement October 15Office Creighton October of Hooper the Ltd 17,200 Revenue Payments Commissioners commenced Payments after commenced Alchemy 15 after Films October 15Office October of the Revenue Commissioners Legal Service Specialist Consultancy Arekibo Testing Communications 62,700 ServicesOffice 86,900 of the IT Revenue Services Commissioners Payments commenced Arthur prior Website Payments Nowlan. 12,900 to Development commencedOffice 15 and after 59,600 of October 15 the October Revenue Commissioners Technical Advice Ballycotton Payment on Marine completed FilmOffice Services prior of to the 15 Revenue October Commissioners Maritime feasibility Bennis study/ 5,300 Payments Design commencedOffice after of 15 the October Revenue Valuations 4,800 Commissioners Payments Payments commenced Bull commenced prior Inform. after to Systems 15 15 Irl October October 45,000 C. Moore & AssociatesOffice 11,600 IT of related the Revenue Design Commissioners Production 2,500 13,500 Independent evaluation of Payments commenced Catalysto prior Ltd to 15 October Payment completed prior to Payment 15 completed October prior to 15 October Payment completed 5,100 prior to 15 October IT 4,300 Design 23,800 6,900 Payments commenced prior to 15 October 8,600

184 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 and completed after that date. classificationTax Credit 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 service 2008 Ltdconsultancies 2008 2008 Name of office Name of Firm Purpose of the Contract Comment Total Cost Office of the Revenue CommissionersOffice of the Revenue Commissioners Costello CommercialOffice of the Revenue Commissioners CruickshankOffice of the Revenue Commissioners Valuations Darlington ConsultingOffice of the Revenue Commissioners De VeeresOffice of the Revenue Ergonomic Commissioners Assessment Dermot Geraghty TechnicalOffice Advice of the Revenue Commissioners Dr Payment Joseph completedOffice Payments Kiniry prior of commenced to the prior 15 Revenue to October Commissioners 15 October Geraldine GarlandOffice of Technical the Advice Valuations Payment Revenue completed Commissioners prior to Gerard 15 O’Leary 117,500 OctoberOffice of the R&D Revenue Tax Commissioners Credit Gerry 400 McMahon DesignOffice work of the Revenue Commissioners Payments commenced Hanna after Moore 15 2,400 Office Curley October of the Revenue Valuation Commissioners Payments Humphrey commenced A Payments priorOffice Moynihan commenced to of prior 15 the Tech to October Revenue Consultancy 15 Commissioners on October Technical tariff Advice James AdamOffice of Payments 2,500 Technical the commenced Advice Revenue prior Payments on Commissioners to commenced R&D 15 prior October to Mark 15 Attabury 8,700 Office October of 9,100 the Payments Revenue commenced Commissioners after 15 Market October Research PaymentsOffice Bureau Payments commenced of commenced prior the 24,300 after to Revenue 15 15 Commissioners October October 1,400 McMahon & ValuationsOffice Williams Research of Project the Revenue Commissioners Technical Advice Miscellaneous Small 2,000 21,600 Legal Affidavits 5,700 Ms Marie Armah Kwantreng Typesetting Payment and completed HR editing prior Related to Reports Payments 15 commenced October after Payments 15 commenced October prior to 15 October Payments commenced Payments after commenced 15 prior October to 15 Payment October completed prior 24,800 to 15 October 4,200 3,000 5,000 800 1,400

185 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 ProcurmentCompetition.Advisor 2008 and completed after that date. 2008 and completed after that date. Tax Credit 2008 2008 and completed after that date. the Bank GuaranteeScheme 2008 and continued aftermoney that and date policy reviewon construction procurement reform initiative 2008 Mount Street, Dublin 2 posts in the Public Sector 2008 Name of office Name of Firm Purpose of the Contract Comment Total Cost Office of the Revenue CommissionersOffice of the Revenue Commissioners Niamh BrodieOffice of the Revenue Commissioners O’Herlihy AccessOffice Consult. of the Revenue Commissioners Outsource Design ServicesOffice Group of the Revenue Commissioners Valuations Performance Technical Partnership AdviceOffice on of the Revenue Commissioners Peter I StrategicOffice Mitchell Exercise of Phd for the Cphys Revenue Commissioners Philip Payments & Radiation commencedOffice Clare Protection prior of Perry to the 15 Revenue October Commissioners Polaris Payments Payment HR commenced completedOffice Ltd prior prior of Payments to to the commenced 15 15 Revenue prior October October Commissioners to 15 October Payment Prof completed R&D J.C.Office prior technical Dainty 4,200 of to evaluation the 15 Revenue October Commissioners Prof. Tim 28,700 PaymentsOffice McGloughlin commenced of 25,500 after the 15 Revenue October Commissioners HR Consultancy Professor 500 ThomasOffice Brazil of 12,000 the R&D Revenue Tax Commissioners Technical Credit Advice on Renaissance R&D ServsDepartment Ltd R&D of Tax Finance Credit Payments 2,300 commenced Whyte prior & to Sons 15 Auctioneers October Payment completedDepartment prior Business of to Continuity Finance 15 Valuations October Payment completed prior to 15Department October of Finance Payment completed 4,300 prior to 15 October Payments commenced prior to 2,800 15 Arthur October Cox 8,000 Payment completed 3,000 Hay prior Group to 21,000 Ireland, 15 Lr. October Petrus Consulting Job evaluation of Legal senior Advice in respect of 1,500 Payments Payment completed commenced Evaluation prior prior of to to value 15 15 for October October 1,628,000 Payments completed prior 114,000 to 15 October 6,000

186 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers engagement forconstruction related services and a price variation clause for construction contracts based on a provenbasis; cost and 2008 draft and legal changes continued resulting after from that date consultation process and training. conditions of contract forcivil engineering and building works projects and 2008 associated and outline continuedguidance; after and that draft date legal changes resulting from consultation process and training. budgetary implications of aCCCTB 2008 and continued after that date support delivery of NDP Communications Strategy particularly at local level agreed under the Government- approved Communications Strategy for the National Development Plan 2007- 2013. CommunicationsLtd Services for NDP/CSF to 2008 and continued after that date Administration 2013 Identity Guidelines as 2008 and continued after that the date Dept of Finance 2008 and continued after that date Name of office Name of Firm Purpose of the Contract Comment Total Cost Department of Finance McCann FitzgeraldDepartment of Finance To draft conditions of Payment commenced prior to 15 OctoberDepartment A&L of Goodbody Finance 252,000 Department of Finance To develop standard MRPA Kinman Payment commenced prior to 15 OctoberDepartment of Finance Baseline Creative 1,478,000 Services ProvisionDepartment of of Publicity Finance Development of NDP 2007- Payment commenced prior Payment to commenced 15 prior October to 15 October IPA — Institute of Public 13,000 Ernst 39,000 & Young Review of the Capacity of Payment commenced prior to 15 October Study on the economic and 51,000 Payment commenced prior to 15 October 194,000

187 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Departmental Expenditure. 259. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4831/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I assume the Deputy is referring to performance related awards schemes for civil servants for civil servants, which fall into three categories. Assistant Secretary Awards: Following recommendations made by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector, schemes of performance-related awards were introduced for the levels of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary in the civil service, as well as for the Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner ranks in the Garda Sıóchańa and the ranks of Brigadier General and Major General in the Defence Forces. The schemes of awards are based on performance by reference to demanding targets. The pool for performance awards is 10% of the pay bill for the group concerned. Within that overall limit individuals can receive payments of up to 20% of pay. Decisions on awards are made by the Committee for Performance Awards (CPA), which includes a majority of private sector members. The main roles of the committee are to monitor the application of the scheme of performance-related awards and to bring independent judge- ment to bear in approving objectives for the persons covered by the scheme and in approving recommendations for awards. Details of the procedures, the numbers covered by the schemes, the range of awards and the total amounts paid in Departments are outlined in the annual reports of the committee (available on the website www.finance.gov.ie. The committee does not identify the amount paid to individuals as this is regarded as personal information. Following my announcement in the Daíl on 5 February last relating to the discontinuation of the scheme for Assistant Secretaries, Deputy Secretary and related grades subject to consultation with the relevant Staff Associations, there is now no specific provision for payment under this scheme. This scheme is the only full bonus scheme in operation in the civil service. The following arrangements which apply to other grades provide for reward for exceptional merit or effort in particular cases.

Special Service Payments Principals and Assistant Principals have a separate scheme which arises as a result of the restructuring agreement for these grades under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work. It provides that 1% of payroll for these grades be made available in the form of Special Service Payments, for which staff are invited to apply, based on the following criteria: contribution by the individual to the work of the Department in his/her job, special demands of the job, experience brought to the job.

Merit Awards In 1993, the then Minister for Finance sanctioned expenditure in respect of Merit Awards to individual staff members or groups of staff below Assistant Secretary level by way of recognition for exceptional performance of duty which was based on 0.1% of the salary allocation (as published in the Revised Estimates) in any one calendar year. This percentage was revised to 0.2% in 1998.

188 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

An independent committee administers the Merit Awards scheme up to AO/HEO level; an Assistant Secretary group administers the Awards at Assistant Principal and Principal level. Nominees for the annual Merit Awards must, during the year, have demonstrated one or more of the following criteria: given an exceptional performance in some aspect of his/her work, demonstrated unusual commitment and dedication to some aspect of his/her work, made a notable contribution to the successful achievement of the section’s targets. Ex-gratia payments are made in a number of situations which are outside the remit of the schemes already mentioned. There have been no payments made to date to staff in my Depart- ment for 2008 in respect of any of the above schemes. In relation to the SSP and merit awards schemes, no specific provision has been made for 2009.

Tax Code. 260. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will support a matter (details supplied). [4867/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The position is that there are no specific tax reliefs available for individuals who care for a person with a disability. However, the carer may be entitled to tax relief under the heading of health expenses in respect of any qualifying health expenses paid by him or her in respect of the other person. In the absence of the personal details relating to the specific case giving rise to the Deputy’s question, it is difficult to state what reliefs the person could claim. If the Deputy would like to provide details of the specific case, the Revenue Commissioners will examine the matter and furnish a report directly to the Deputy.

Financial Institutions Support Scheme. 261. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if senior staff at Anglo Irish Bank received Christmas bonuses. [4868/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arms length commercial basis. Accordingly, the normal ongoing business of the bank, which includes the pay and conditions of staff, is a matter for the Board of Anglo. As the Deputy will be aware, the remuneration of directors and senior executive staff of Anglo Irish Bank is being considered in the Covered Institution Remuneration Oversight Com- mittee (CIROC) established under the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008. Notwithstanding this I am informed that while no Christmas bonuses were paid to staff at Anglo, performance related bonuses for the year ending September 2008, were paid to staff in December 2008. This was prior to the nationalisation of Anglo. Executive Directors received no bonuses.

Departmental Programmes. 262. Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Finance if construction on the Courthouse project for Waterford is to commence in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4897/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): It is a matter for the Courts Service to determine whether construction on this project will commence in 2009.

189 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Tax Yield. 263. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the yield for the Exchequer if the pension levy was increased from 2% to 3% for people earning above \200,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5053/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I understand the Deputy is referring to the income levy. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that an increase in the income levy from 2% to 3% on incomes above \200,000 would yield approximately \8 million in a full year. The figures are estimates from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2005 adjusted as necessary for income and employment growth for 2009. They are therefore provisional and likely to be revised. The figures for income and employment growth used are based on macro-economic indicators which have been recently revised in the light of the latest economic outlook for 2009.

Tax Code. 264. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the yield for the Exchequer if the pension levy was increased from 2% to 3% for people earning above \100,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5054/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I understand the Deputy is referring to the income levy. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that an increase in the income levy from 2% to 3% on incomes above \100,100 would yield approximately \45 million in a full year. The figures are estimates from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for the year 2005 adjusted as necessary for income and employment growth for 2009. They are therefore provisional and likely to be revised. The figures for income and employment growth used are based on macro-economic indicators which have been recently revised in the light of the latest economic outlook for 2009.

Public Sector Pay. 265. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the savings to the Exchequer if the pay pause was implemented for public sector workers who earn \80,000 or more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5055/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): It is estimated that the pension related deduction will yield in the region of \300 million in a full year from public service workers in the pay band mentioned by the Deputy. It is further estimated that the non-payment of the pay phases under the Review and Transitional Agreement will yield, for the group in question, some \55m in 2009, \220m in 2010 and \260m in 2011.

Tax Yield. 266. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the yield to the Exchequer if Irish citizens claiming to be non-resident for tax purposes were to lose their non-resident status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5056/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The taxation of individuals in the State is in line with that prevailing in other jurisdictions, that is to say — (a) individuals who are resident

190 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers in the State for tax purposes are taxable here on their worldwide income; and (b) individuals who are not resident here for tax purposes pay tax here only on income arising in the State. I have no plans to change this treatment and nor have I plans to make all Irish citizens living abroad resident here for tax purposes. Whether or not an individual chooses to live here or abroad — for whatever reason — is a matter for that individual and the State will not interfere with an individual’s choice of where he or she wishes to live. Indeed, many Irish citizens choose to live abroad for reasons other than the tax system. As regards the questions raised by the Deputy, as non-resident individuals (including non- resident Irish citizens) have an obligation to make a tax return only in respect of their Irish sourced income, it is impossible to quantify the potential tax yield if all Irish citizens living abroad were to pay tax here on their worldwide income. There is also the added difficulty that, under the terms of double taxation agreements between this State and another jurisdiction, that other jurisdiction may have the primary taxing rights on income arising there and there would be no yield to the State on the income in question.

Harbour Authorities. 267. Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Finance his plans for the provision of a customs entry post at Killybegs, County Donegal; when it is intended to provide such a facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5057/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that one officer is assigned full time to Killybegs Port and is accommodated in Killybegs Fisher- ies Harbour Centre. The Revenue Anti-Evasion Team also covers Killybegs Port as part of their ongoing patrols. Customs officers have assessed the risk at Killybegs and other ports or landing places over a number of years and this assessment is being continually updated. Attendance by Customs officers is selective and targeted and is based on analysis and evaluation of national and international seizure trends, traffic frequency, routes and other risk indicators. Attendance can also be as a result of specific intelligence. Patrols of the ports are kept under constant review to take account of available intelligence and emerging smuggling trends. There are no plans to extend the current level of customs entry facilities at Killybegs Port.

Pension Provisions. 268. Deputy Ro´ isı´n Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the savings expected in the projected final pensions bill to be funded by the national pensions reserve fund as a result of the decision to increase the levy that public servants must make to their pension; and if this saving allows for an adjustment to be made to the annual contribution to the fund by the State. [5059/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The pension deduction element of the payroll saving will be \1.35 billion in a full-year and \1.12 billion in 2009. These savings will be applied to the benefit of the Exchequer and are not earmarked for the National Pension Reserve Fund. It will not affect the gross cost of existing or future public service pension payments. The introduction of the pension deduction does not give rise to any change in the annual contribution by the State to the National Pensions Reserve Fund which was established for the purpose of meeting as much as possible of the costs to the Exchequer of social welfare and public service pensions to be paid from the year 2025 to the year 2055 or such subsequent years as may be specified by Ministerial order.

191 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Mortgage Payments. 269. Deputy Ro´ isı´n Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his plans to support persons who are having difficulties meeting their monthly mortgage payments. [5061/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): As I stated in this House on 27 January 2009 measures are already in place to support households that experience difficulties in meeting their mortgage payments. For example, the Mortgage Interest Supplement, administered by the Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, provides assistance where the mortgage relates to their sole place of residence. In addition the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), is a national, free, confidential and independent service for people in debt or in danger of getting into debt. It is a particular priority of the Government to ensure as much as possible that difficulties in relation to mortgage arrears do not result in legal proceedings for home repossession. Home repossession should be, and generally is, the last resort for the lender and the preferred method of dealing with arrears cases should be early intervention. A new code of conduct for Mortgage Arrears, based on the Irish Banking Federation Code of Practice on Mortgage Arrears is under discussion and will shortly be introduced by the Financial Regulator. The new code is expected to apply to mortgage lending activities to consumers in respect of their principal private residence in the State and to be mandatory for all mortgage lenders registered with the Financial Regulator.

Mental Health Services. 270. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health and Children if money raised from the sale of psychiatric hospitals will be used for investment in mental health programmes. [4204/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): ’A Vision for Change’ the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy recommended that a plan to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals should be drawn up and implemented, and that the resources released by these closures should be re-invested in the new mental health service infrastructure requirement. The Government has accepted the Report as the basis for the future development of our mental health services. Responsibility for the implementation of ‘A Vision for Change’ including the recommendations relating to the disposal of psychiatric hospital buildings and lands, is a matter for the HSE. However, the arrangements for property disposal require Department of Finance approval in each case, the lodging of the proceeds as Exchequer Extra Receipts and the re- Voting of the funds for approved projects. A submission detailing the priority projects to be funded from disposals to date and planned future disposals is expected to be made by the HSE, for consideration by my Department and the Department of Finance, within the coming months. It is envisaged that this submission will provide an opportunity to achieve overall agreement on the extent and timing of property disposals to facilitate the modernisation of the mental health infrastructure.

Health Services. 271. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will support a matter (details supplied). [4409/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

192 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Youth Services. 272. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that the necessary funding is provided for an extension to a scout hall (details supplied) in Dublin 12 to cater for more than 300 scouts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4436/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews): As you may be aware, in accordance with the Taoiseach’s announcement earlier this year, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) has transferred to the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in my Department. Applications for capital projects under this Fund were invited by the Department of Com- munity, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs through the Development Groups for all the areas involved and they were receivable up to 18 April 2008. The 94th. Unit Scouts, Bunting Road, Walkinstown application for funding of \112,000 towards the upgrading and extension of the Scout Hall was submitted through the Dublin 12 Development Group. All applications were provisionally assessed by the National Assessment Committee against set criteria. The process was put on hold due to the impending transfer, at the time, of the Fund to my Department. As the Deputy is aware since the original decision to transfer the Fund the economic landscape has changed dramatically. In light of the fiscal constraints now faced by Government all funding streams are being examined with a view to ensuring compliance with the Government’s desire to adjust spending commitments across all Departments. A decision in relation to these applications will be notified to all relevant Development Groups shortly.

Health Services. 273. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children when an application for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was received in her Department; the reason this application has not been dealt with; if she will ensure that any entitlement to domiciliary care allowance in this case will be paid without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4694/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): As the Deputy’s question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Youth Services. 274. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding has been approved for a youth project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if so, the amount of funding approved. [4790/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews): The Department of Education and Science received an application on behalf of the Fethard Area Youth Project to be considered for funding in 2008 under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. This was one of 85 new applications received under this Scheme in 2008. The Depart- ment was not in a position to approve funding for the project in 2008 owing to budgetary constraints and the high level of existing commitments in the sector. As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for Youth Affairs transferred to my Department with effect from 1 January 2009. In light of budgetary constraints in 2009 and in an effort to

193 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Barry Andrews.] consolidate and preserve existing provision, the Youth Affairs Section of my Department will not be in a position to consider any new applications for admission to this scheme in 2009.

Health Service Staff. 275. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the practical measures she and the Health Service Executive will take to address the general practitioner manpower crisis here and in particular to ensure that primary care continues to deliver a same day service into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4179/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): A joint Department of Health and Children/Health Service Executive (HSE) working group on workforce planning was established in June 2006. It also includes representatives of the Departments of Finance and Edu- cation and Science, and the Higher Education Authority. FA´ S undertook research on behalf of the joint working group which analysed the labour market for 12 healthcare grades and professions, including GPs. A report on the research is expected to be finalised in the coming months. The issue of funding of medical school places is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Science. The Health Service Executive is currently discussing GP training and manpower issues with the Irish College of General Practitioners and other organisations with a view to addressing GP manpower shortfalls into the future. The HSE is also responsible for implementing the Primary Care Strategy and the cooperation and availability of general practitioners is, of course, critical to this process. I will continue to liaise with the HSE, the training bodies and other relevant organisations to ensure that appropriate measures are implemented to deal with any threat to the numbers of general practitioners available in the community.

Health Service Properties. 276. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the five properties that developers have publically expressed an interest in purchasing according to reports (details supplied); the expected timing of the disposal of 22 properties listed in the national press as probably up for sale by her Department or the Health Service Executive; the locations at which the proceeds of such sales will end up in the first instance; if the funds will be ringfenced for further investment in health facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4180/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): ’A Vision for Change’ the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy recommended that a plan to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals should be drawn up and implemented, and that the resources released by these closures should be re-invested in the new mental health service infrastructure requirement. The Government has accepted the Report as the basis for the future development of our mental health services. The HSE has developed a strategy for the phased closure of the remaining hospitals and the relocation of patients to more appropriate community based accommodation, in line with the recommendations in ‘A Vision for Change’. The arrangements for property disposal require Department of Finance approval in each case, the lodging of the proceeds as Exchequer Extra Receipts and the re-Voting of the funds for approved projects. A submission detailing the priority projects to be funded from the proceeds of the disposal of psychiatric lands is expected to be made by the HSE, for consideration

194 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers by my Department and the Department of Finance, within the coming months. It is envisaged that this submission will provide an opportunity to achieve overall agreement on the extent and timing of property disposals to facilitate the modernisation of the mental health infrastructure. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to disclose at this time, any details of expressions of interest made to me in relation to individual properties.

Mental Health Services. 277. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health and Children if a programme has been agreed to ensure the accommodation of patients in psychiatric hospitals currently under review for closure. [4205/09]

EU Directives. 278. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the Food Supplements Directive and whether this may limit the access to vitamins which have proven effective in improving health and maintaining well being; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4211/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Mary Wallace): The Food Supplements Directive, 2002/46/EC, has been transposed into Irish law by Statutory Instrument No. 506 of 2007. That legislation is implemented by the Health Service Executive, under a Service Contract Agreement with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). This ensures that consumers in Ireland are protected by the harmonised EU rules on the sale of food supplements, in particular the labelling of food supplements and chemical form of vitamins and minerals they contain. One of the objectives of the Food Supplements Directive (2002/46/EC) was to make provision for the European Commission to determine maximum and minimum levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. This matter remains under consideration at European Commission level. The European Commission published a Discussion Paper on determining maximum and minimum levels of vitamins and minerals in June 2006. The Irish response to this Discussion Paper gave Ireland’s view that the Commission should proceed on a cautious basis, setting maximum limits for as many vitamins and minerals as possible. It was considered vital that the safety of the general population and the needs of particular subgroups such as pregnant women, children, older people, those on medications and various specialist diets be taken into account in formulating the position on this issue. A working document on the setting of maximum and minimum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements was drawn up as a result of the responses from industry, consumer groups and national governments to the Discussion Paper. The Commission has proposed in the working document that in the case of certain nutrients where studies have indicated there is evidence of no, or low, toxicity even at high level dosage,

195 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Wallace.] that it may be possible to waive the setting of maximum levels. The Commission consider this a proportionate approach which is in line with the principle of Better Regulation. While the Irish position remains one of precaution for the reasons set out above, we will take account of Irish consumers’ views and those of industry in adopting a position during those discussions. In this regard the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) Consultative Council hosted an open meeting on 27 January 2009 to discuss the issues relating to food supplements. This meeting was attended by a cross section of stakeholders and outlined details of new developments in European legislation, which regulates food supplements and food fortification. The meeting outlined the rationale behind proposed EU regulations to safeguard consumer health in relation to food supplements and an insight into why consumers take food supplements and their understanding of the perceived health benefits. Officials from both my Department and the FSAI are involved in ongoing discussions at European level on the development of a methodology under which maximum safe levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements will be set. Those discussions will permit the Euro- pean Commission and Member States to further develop its thinking on this issue and our final position will be based on these discussions and on the scientific evidence presented to Member States during the discussions.

Vaccination Programme. 279. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children, further to Parliamentary Question No. 78 of 4 December 2008, if she has received the final report of the Vaccine Damage Compensation Group; the recommendations of the group; the action that will be taken to implement its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4253/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I have recently received the report of the Vaccine Damage Steering Group and I am currently considering its recommendations.

Hospital Services. 280. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children when a child (details supplied) in County Cork will be given an appointment for an assessment at the devel- opmental coordination disorder unit, St. Finbarr’s Hospital, Cork. [4285/09]

281. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) was transferred from St. Doolagh’s Park Rehabilitation Centre in Malahide to Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin despite no assessment being carried out, as is the norm in transfer cases, by the receiving hospital. [4309/09]

Medical Research. 282. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health and Children if progress will be

196 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers made by her in respect of funding for Duchenne research in view of the success of the pilot programme using the exon skipping technology at the National University of Ireland Maynooth and further in view of the support the Joint Committee for Health and Children has given and the fact that she has been receiving representations on this matter since 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4317/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The Health Research Board (HRB) is the national agency which funds health research. In 2006, the Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG) and the HRB joined forces to develop a new funding scheme to improve patient health through research. Based on this, the HRB issued a call to charities for applications in 2006. Following international peer review, MRCG and the HRB issued co-funding for two projects with Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, one to the Imperial College in London — the exon skipping trial — and the other to the project referred to by the Deputy in NUI Maynooth. I have been advised by the HRB that another MRCG/HRB funding call has opened to all research charities, including Muscular Dystrophy Ireland and Duchenne Ireland. However, it is up to each charity to solicit and pre-review applications for submission to the HRB. The HRB is scheduled to receive the applications in June 2009. All applications received will be assessed on the basis of excellence and impact.

Medical Cards. 283. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the position in relation to a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [4322/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Mental Health Services. 284. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of plans for the development of the mental health day hospital in Roscommon town; the capital allocation for 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4339/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): As this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services. 285. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will resolve a matter (details supplied). [4342/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

286. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive an appointment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4350/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

197 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Pharmacy Regulations. 287. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of a request issued by a society (details supplied) for pharmacies to register as a retail pharmacy business; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that they are charging \2,500 per pharmacy for this registration, whereas the charge in the UK is only £150; when this charge was introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4354/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Pharmacy 2007 requires the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to maintain a register of retail pharmacy businesses. Each retail pharmacy business has to meet certain minimum criteria regarding the facilities, storage and sale of medicinal products on their premises. Registration is required on an annual basis and inspections can be carried out by the Society. The Society, has been, and continues to be, a self financing body. These new functions place additional costs on the Society. The Society engaged consultants to develop an evidence-based methodology for the determination of registration fees, on a viable and sustainable self-financing basis. The process included a comparative analysis of comparable international pharmacy regulators. I am informed by the Society that the arrangements for registration in Northern Ireland and the UK are substantially different to what is being introduced here. In particular, the range of duties of regulatory bodies in the UK, in terms of statutory obligations and their role in public safety, is not as extensive as those required of the Society under the Pharmacy Act 2007. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has undertaken to keep the fees for the registration of retail pharmacy businesses under review throughout 2009, and update me as to their appropriate level when submitting its 2010 fee submission.

Health Services. 288. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure that a capital project (details supplied) in County Cork is prioritised in the Health Service Executive’s capital budget for 2009. [4356/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): In drawing up its capital programme, the Health Service Executive is required to prioritise the capital infrastructure projects to be progressed within its overall capital funding allocation under the National Development Plan, taking account of the NDP targets for division of capital investment between the Acute and Primary, Community & Continuing Care programmes. The Executive is finalising its capital proposals and consultation is ongoing between the HSE and my Department. Details on individual projects will not be known until such time as the capital plan for 2009 is approved.

Food Safety. 289. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will report on the pork and poultry products sourced by the Health Service Executive; if these products are produced here; if, in view of the recent scare in the industry, her attention has been drawn to the importance of supporting and promoting Irish products; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4358/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Mary Wallace): The information requested is being provided by the Health Service Executive and will be forwarded to the Deputy directly.

198 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Health Services. 290. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a health centre (details supplied) in Dublin 15 did not proceed when planning permission was granted by Fingal County Council on 7 May 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4384/09]

315. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health and Children when the new Balbriggan Health Centre, County Dublin will be operational in order that applicants do not have to travel to Gardiner Street, Dublin; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4644/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 and 315 together. As the Deputies’ questions relate to service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Foster Care. 291. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of young people who have left State care and foster care each year in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4385/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Pharmacy Regulations. 292. Deputy Sea´n Ardagh asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will request the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland to implement its new registration regime for the pharmacy sector as quickly as possible to progress the processing of non-EU/EEA applications of trained pharmacists under the Pharmacy Act 2007 as in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4399/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): On the 28th November 2008 I signed the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Registration) Rules 2008 (S.I. No. 494 of 2008) which provide for new pharmaceutical registration systems, including a system for a non- EU/EEA route of qualification recognition and registration. These Rules came into force on 29th November 2008. The PSI concentrated its efforts, in the first instance, on putting in place the system for registration of retail pharmacy businesses. This process of ensuring that all retail pharmacy businesses were registered was successfully completed in January 2009. In relation to the non-EU/EEA route of qualification recognition and registration, the PSI is committed to ensuring that the application system for recognition of a third country qualification, and the associated registration system, is fully operational as soon as time, legal advice and resources permit. A considerable amount of preliminary work was carried out before the signing of the rules and the Society has, since then, been working with its legal advisers to develop an appropriate process in line with the legislation. The PSI anticipates that the relevant documentation will be available for download by applicants within a month. In the meantime, any potential applicant is advised to consult the Education & Registration Unit of the PSI to ensure that he/she will have the required documentation prepared for submission to the PSI as soon as the process is commenced. The PSI will shortly communicate the operational date for commencement of the process to all potential applicants.

199 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Mental Health Services. 293. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of funding she plans to invest in mental health services in north Tipperary over the next five years; her plans to improve the services in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4405/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): As this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services. 294. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will support a matter (details supplied). [4410/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The support group 22q11 Ireland held their first conference at the Marino Institute of Education in September 2008. I will arrange for the Department to issue an application for lottery funding to 22q11 Ireland. I cannot commit to the Department providing lottery funding to 22q11 Ireland in 2009. Lottery funding available to the Department in 2009 is limited and decisions in relation to the allocation of the funding will be made on the basis of priority.

295. Deputy Ciara´n Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children when a decision will be made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has applied for treatment under the treatment abroad scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4418/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including the treatment of patients under the Treatment Abroad scheme, is a matter for the Health Service Executive. Therefore, the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular case raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

296. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patients waiting for dental services in the Sligo region; the action she or the Health Service Executive will take to deal with the ongoing retirement of dentists from the gms scheme; when she will engage with the dentists to solve this service problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4438/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The position regarding the number of patients waiting for dental services in the Sligo region is a matter for the HSE. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. With regard to the other questions raised by the Deputy, I met the Irish Dental Association on the 15th November last to discuss a range of issues including the terms of the Agreement that governs the Dental Treatment Services Scheme and the Government’s plans to amend the Competition Act 2002. I am keeping these matters under review.

297. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children when funding will be provided to accommodate the placement of a person (details supplied) who is ready for dis-

200 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers charge to a nursing home in their local area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4439/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Nursing Home Closure. 298. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a nursing home (details supplied) is being closed down; the efforts or meetings she has had or proposed with the Health Service Executive to discuss the matter and the problems attached to the closure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4449/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Ma´ire Hoctor): As the Deputy is aware Bethany House is a Welfare Home which opened in the 1970’s. It is currently operating as a 30 bed unit, of which 28 beds are residential and 2 are respite. At present there are 25 long stay residents, with one long stay admission to the facility in the last six months. An independent review carried out highlighted the lack of facilities to provide appropriate care and the home’s inability to support high dependency patients. This inadequacy increases demands in terms of maintenance, standards and health and safety issues including infection control. Following this review the Executive decided that the 30 bed Bethany House Welfare Home is no longer able to provide appropriate services due to the increasing levels of depen- dencies of its patients. I would like to reassure the Deputy that all 25 residents, in consultation with themselves and their families, will be relocated to better and safer facilities that are purpose built to cater for their health and well-being. The immediate next steps for the Executive are to consult with each resident, their families or representatives, to explain what options are available with a view to agreeing their preferences for relocation.

Hospital Services. 299. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children when a person (details provided) in County Cork will be called for an out-patient appointment regarding an orthopaedic problem; when this person will subsequently be offered an appointment for surgery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4470/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The management of out-patient waiting lists is a matter for the HSE and the individual hospitals concerned. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy’s question to the Executive for direct reply.

300. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 is waiting for a back injury operation in the Mater Hospital for some considerable time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4478/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

301. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of persons in each acute hospital who have been discharged but remain in the hospital concerned; the duration of their stay in each case post discharge; the steps being taken to provide alternative accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4486/09]

201 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Nursing Home Subventions. 302. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Minister for Health and Children if nursing home subventions for individuals have been affected by cutbacks; the position when the Health Service Executive informs an applicant that they qualify for subvention but it cannot be paid due to funding shortfalls; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this position has arisen; if she has addressed or will address the matter with the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4497/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Ma´ire Hoctor): There was no reduction in the level of funding available to the Health Service Executive for nursing home subvention between 2008 and 2009. However, the provision of support by HSE towards the cost of maintenance in a private nursing home is subject to resources. In this regard, the availability of enhanced subvention is limited by the amount of the resource allocated for this scheme and applicants may need to join a waiting list for enhanced subvention contributions.

Nursing Home Closure. 303. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Minister for Health and Children if she has received a report from the Health Service Executive regarding the closure of a nursing home (details supplied) in County Wicklow due to health and safety concerns; if this home had previously been reported to her Department and the HSE in relation to health and safety issues; if the building has obtained an annual fire safety certificate in recent years; the alternative accommodation that will be provided; the type of inquiry that will be undertaken by her Department and the HSE; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4498/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Ma´ire Hoctor): The Deputy may be aware that the nursing home in question is a public Welfare Home, built in the 1960’s with a lifespan of approx 20 years. Following consideration of a recent Environmen- tal Health Report the HSE decided to close the Home, primarily for health and safety concerns and difficulty meeting fire safety requirements. The Department has received briefing on this decision. However, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Execu- tive for direct reply.

Health Services. 304. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount of compensation payments made by the Health Service Executive in Cork City and County for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008, in respect of all claims against the health service in that area; and the steps the HSE is taking to address the level of claims. [4500/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Nursing Home Subventions. 305. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the policy regarding the payment of the subvention to a nursing home while the client is hospitalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4505/09]

202 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Ma´ire Hoctor): The Nursing Home Subvention Scheme is governed by the Health (Nursing Homes ) (Amendment) Act 2007. The Act is not explicit on the particular issue raise by the Deputy. However, the HSE’s National Guidelines for the Standardised Implementation of the Nursing Home Subven- tion Scheme state that the private nursing home should advise the HSE of any temporary absences or discharges of patients in receipt of subvention from their nursing home. The HSE can continue to pay subvention to cover temporary absences. However if this period of absence continues for more than one month, the HSE should investigate the matter further to establish the likelihood of the person returning to the nursing home.

Mental Health Services. 306. Deputy James McDaid asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of the Letterkenny acute mental health unit, County Donegal; and when construction is expected to commence. [4509/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): As this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Hospital Services. 307. Deputy James McDaid asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress in relation to radiotherapy services in the north west. [4510/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Government decided in July 2005 that the best option for improving geographic access for patients in the North West to radiation oncology services in the short term was to facilitate access to Belfast City Hospital. It also decided to explore the scope in the medium term for developing a joint venture based on a satellite centre in the North West linked to Belfast City Hospital. Cancer patients in the North West requiring radiation oncology treatment are referred to either St. Luke’s Hospital Dublin or University College Hospital Galway. A Service Level Agreement is also in place for the referral of radiation oncology patients from Donegal to Belfast City Hospital. In April 2008, Minister Michael McGimpsey of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSS&PS), Northern Ireland announced the provision of a satellite centre (linked to Belfast City Hospital) to be located in Altnagelvin. It will provide the additional radiotherapy capacity needed to meet an anticipated increase in cancer in Northern Ireland. It also recognises the potential for cross border co-operation in the development of this resource. I welcomed the announcement by Minister McGimpsesy and officials from my Department and their counterparts in Northern Ireland continue to hold discussions in this regard. I understand that this facility is expected to be operational by 2015.

Nursing Homes Repayment Scheme. 308. Deputy James McDaid asked the Minister for Health and Children when payments to families under the health repayment scheme will be issued; and if there are tax implications for the receiver. [4511/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Health Service Executive (HSE) has responsibility for administering the health repayment scheme in conjunction with the appointed Scheme Administrator K.P.M.G. and McCann Fitzgerald.

203 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Harney.]

Since the scheme commenced over 19,500 offers have been issued and over 16,000 payments have been made. The vast majority of remaining offers will be issued by the end of April 2009. A prescribed repayment made to a living relevant person or made directly to a living spouse or living child of a relevant person by virtue of Section 9(8) of the Health (Repayment Scheme) Act 2006 will be disregarded for the purpose of income tax assessment under the Income Tax Acts. A prescribed repayment made to the estate of a relevant person will be subject to the normal arrangements for the purpose of tax assessment.

Health Services. 309. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of speech therapists appointed to cover the Tipperary north region; the reason for the delay in speech therapy intervention for children; her plans and timeframe to reduce the waiting time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4578/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): There has been a growing demand for, and investment in, speech and language therapy services over the last number of years. There were a number of issues contributing to difficulties accessing therapy services, one of which had been the supply of qualified personnel available to fill vacant posts. A particular priority for my Department and the Department of Education and Science in recent years has been the expansion of the supply of therapy graduates. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the health care needs of the population into the future. In this regard, since 1997, the number of training places for speech and language therapy has been increased from 25 to 105 which represents an increase of 320%. Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government’s ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other health care professionals employed in the public health services. The numbers employed in speech and language therapy has also grown significantly, from 282 whole time equivalents employed in December 1997 rising to 750 whole time equivalents employed in December 2008, which represents an increase of 166%. The Government is committed to ensuring continued adequate recruitment of professional staff across a range of community settings to ensure the continued development of community services. Additional funding of \20 million has been provided in 2009 for health and education services for children with special educational needs. This funding will provide a total of 125 additional therapy posts in the HSE targeted at children of school-going age. 90 of these will be in the disability services, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists. 35 additional posts will be provided for child and adolescent mental health services, including clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists for new and existing multi-disciplinary teams. In addition, it is intended that certain key health and social care professional posts, including speech and language therapists, are to be protected by setting employment floors for these grades within the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2009. These posts are essential to the development of a number of services areas such as disability (including speech and language therapy), child adolescent mental health services and child protection services. In order to protect these posts, it is envisaged that the HSE will establish minimum employment levels to be maintained within each of these occupations in the health sector in 2009. The recruitment

204 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers and retention of these key front line professional posts is vital to ensure continued progress in the development of community settings. With regard to the number of speech and language therapists appointed to the Tipperary North region, it is a matter for the HSE to manage and deploy its human resources to best meet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal social services to the public. As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

310. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people in Tipperary north awaiting speech and language therapy services, including those awaiting assessment and those awaiting therapy; the number of speech and language therapists in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4579/09]

311. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the waiting list for children seeking speech therapy in Tipperary north; if she will compare them with other areas nationally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4580/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together. As the Deputy’s questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

312. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children in north Tipperary awaiting orthodontic treatment including those awaiting assessment; the number of orthodontists in Tipperary north; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4581/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Hospital Services. 313. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people on outpatient waiting lists for surgical procedures in Health Service Executive south; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4639/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services. 314. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children the involvement of the Health Service Executive with regard to a centre (details supplied) in County Cork for placement of persons over 18 years who are diagnosed as autistic; the funding provided by the HSE to this centre; the admissions policy therein; if she is satisfied that the centre can cater for the level of demand existing for its services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4640/09]

Question No. 315 answered with Question No. 290.

205 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Health Service Staff. 316. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health and Children when a medical card appeals officer for Dublin north will be appointed; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4645/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

317. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the action she will take to meet the shortage of speech therapists currently in the health service here; her plans to increase the number of speech therapists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4655/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): There has been a growing demand for, and investment in, speech and language therapy services over the last number of years. There were a number of issues contributing to difficulties accessing therapy services, one of which had been the supply of qualified personnel available to fill vacant posts. A particular priority for my Department and the Department of Education and Science in recent years has been the expansion of the supply of therapy graduates. The Government has also invested heavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply of graduates to provide for the healthcare needs of the population into the future. In this regard, since 1997, the number of training places for speech and language therapy has been increased from 25 to 105 which represents an increase of 320%. Almost 130,000 people work full-time or part-time in our public health services. In recent years, the Government’s ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and maintained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals employed in the public health services. The numbers employed in speech and language therapy has also grown significantly, from 282 whole time equivalents employed in December 1997 rising to 750 whole time equivalents employed in December 2008, which represents an increase of 166%. The Government is committed to ensuring continued adequate recruitment of professional staff across a range of community settings to ensure the continued development of community services. Additional funding of \20 million has been provided in 2009 for health and education services for children with special educational needs. This funding will provide a total of 125 additional therapy posts in the HSE targeted at children of school-going age. 90 of these will be in the disability services, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists. 35 additional posts will be provided for child and adolescent mental health services, including clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and language therapists for new and existing multi-disciplinary teams. In addition, it is intended that certain key health and social care professional posts, including speech and language therapists, are to be protected by setting employment floors for these grades within the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2009. These posts are essential to the development of a number of services areas such as disability (including speech and language therapy), child adolescent mental health services and child protection services. In order to protect these posts, it is envisaged that the HSE will establish minimum employment levels to be maintained within each of these occupations in the health sector in 2009. The recruitment and retention of these key front line professional posts is vital to ensure continued progress in the development of community settings.

206 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Nursing Home Subventions. 318. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will consider granting enhanced subvention for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [4662/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Health Services. 319. Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has been told that their home-help service has been cancelled as there are no funds available. [4713/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Ma´ire Hoctor): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Youth Projects. 320. Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in view of the concerns expressed by a council (details supplied) at the termination of a youth project, he will make funding available to allow the project to continue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4758/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews): I understand that the youth project referred to by the Deputy is the Gweedore Youth Project, Co. Donegal. The Department of Education and Science received an application on behalf of the Project to be considered for funding in 2008 under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. This was one of 85 new applications received under this Scheme in 2008. The Department was not in a position to approve funding for the project in 2008 owing to budgetary constraints and the high level of existing commitments in the sector. As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for Youth Affairs transferred to my Department with effect from 1 January 2009. In light of budgetary constraints in 2009 and in an effort to consolidate and preserve existing provision, the Youth Affairs Section of my Department will not be in a position to consider any new applications for admission to this Scheme in 2009.

Health Services. 321. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on whether it is justified for the Health Service Executive to expend \33,000 on artwork for a disability centre (details supplied) in County Westmeath at a time when funding to disability service providers is being cut, rather than seek private funding or the project deferred for a few years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4779/09]

322. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health and Children the aggregate budget that has been made available to fund day care places for persons with an intellectual disability in 2009; the number of additional places that it is hoped to provide with this funding;

207 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Richard Bruton.] the number of day places which she hopes to provide in centres (details supplied); the expected intake of additional clients in these centres that it will facilitate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4781/09]

Consultancy Contracts. 323. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health and Children the private consultancy firms her Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to her Department for each project; and if she will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4818/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The information requested regarding consultancy expenditure for 2008 is currently being compiled and will shortly be forwarded directly to the Deputy. Only one new consultancy has commenced since 14 October 2008. All other consultancies entered into by my Department commenced prior to that date.

Departmental Expenditure. 324. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of bonus payments made to staff in her Department for 2008; the amount set aside in her Department for bonus payments in 2009; if she will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4833/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Performance Related Awards Scheme (PRA) was introduced following a decision by the Government on the implementation of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. The operation of the scheme is overseen by the Committee for Performance Awards (CPA) and its latest report (2007), detailing the background and operation of the scheme and providing information on payments made in 2008 in respect of 2007 is available at: http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/2008/cpareport07final.pdf. No payments have been made to eligible officers in my Department in respect of performance in 2008 and 2009. In addition an Exceptional Performance Award scheme is open to staff at Principal Officer level and below. No exceptional performance awards were made in 2008 and the scheme is currently under review.

Health Service Staff. 325. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Minister for Health and Children the provision being made for non-nursing staff at Heatherside Hospital, Buttevant, County Cork following the planned relocation of the care facility; the number who will be redeployed; the number who will be made redundant; the redundancy payment arrangements which will be made; if she has discussed with the Health Service Executive the reason for the relocation of the facility

208 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers in view of the fact that there was substantial expenditure in 2008 for refurbishment of the building; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4846/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services. 326. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children the situation with respect to the application for domiciliary care allowance for persons (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [4854/09]

327. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [4864/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Ma´ire Hoctor): As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Foreign Adoptions. 328. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will support a matter (details supplied). [4866/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews): The Adoption Bill, 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, was published on Friday 23 January, 2009. Under the new legislation, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adopt from countries which have also ratified the Hague Convention, and countries with which Ireland has a bilateral agreement which meets Hague standards. My Office is currently working on drafting a bilateral agreement with Vietnam and is also examining the possibility of negotiating bilateral agreements with the Russian Federation and Ethiopia. As regards the Russian Federation, there have been informal discussions through normal diplomatic channels regarding a bilateral agreement. My Office is also undertaking preparatory work to consider the contents of such an agreement, including anticipating the likely requirements of the Russian Federation. While every effort will be made to conclude a bilateral agreement in advance of any of the proposed changes in Irish law taking effect, it must be acknowledged that these matters will be determined to a considerable degree by the Government of the Russian Federation.

Hospital Accommodation. 329. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of long- stay beds currently being used in a hospital (details supplied) in County Limerick, the number of other beds including rehabilitation and respite; her plans to increase or decrease these numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4922/09]

209 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Ma´ire Hoctor): During 2008, six additional beds opened in the hospital referred to by the Deputy under the Fast- Track Initiative. However, as the overall operation and capacity of the hospital is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Travel Trade Regulation. 330. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Transport the way he is responding to the submission from an association (details supplied) outlining their four major concerns for the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4189/09]

333. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Transport his views on the recent submission from an association (details supplied) to the Commission for Civil Aviation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4362/09]

335. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport his views on the recent submission from an association (details supplied) to the Commission for Civil Aviation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4340/09]

342. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport when he plans to implement the required reform of travel trade regulations to overhaul travel trade regulation and to enhance protection of the travelling consumer by introducing a system of universal protection for the travelling public reform of the bonding requirements on agents, cutting red-tape and administrative burdens and taking a harder line on illegal trading; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4800/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): I propose to take Questions Nos. 330, 333, 335 and 342 together. Statutory responsibility for regulation of the travel trade rests with the Commission for Aviation Regulation. I have no function in this regard. However, as the existing legislative framework for the regulation of the travel trade has been in existence since 1982 in May last year I asked the Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the travel trade legislation. The purpose of the review was to assess the operation of the current regulatory arrangements and to recommend any reforms that may be warranted. Following an extensive consultation process, the Commission submitted a report to me on 30 December 2008 which I have published on my Department’s website www.transport.ie. I am currently examining the Commission’s findings and recommendations and I will also consult with my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, on the report’s findings in the context of consumer protection policy generally. I will also be meeting the Irish Travel Agents Association tomorrow where there will be a discussion on regulatory reform of the Travel Trade.

Regional Harbours. 331. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport the number of boards (details supplied) throughout the country which have been transferred to a local authority in tabular form; the boards in question; and the local authority in question to which it has been transferred if it has been transferred. [4280/09]

210 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The following regional harbours have been transferred to local authority control as detailed on the following table:

From: TO: Regional Harbour Board Local Authority Year

Buncrana Donegal County Council 1999 Ballyshannon Donegal County Council 1999 Balbriggan Fingal County Council 2004 Skerries Fingal County Council 2004 Sligo Sligo County Council 2006 Annagassan Louth County Council 2006 River Moy Mayo County Council 2008 Youghal Youghal Town Council 2009 Kilrush Kilrush Town Council 2009

In addition, Dingle was designated a Fisheries Harbour in 2007. The harbour boards cease to exist upon transfer.

332. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport if a board (details supplied) in County Mayo has been transferred to a local authority. [4282/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Noel Ahern): The process is at an advanced stage for the transfer of Westport Harbour to Mayo County Council.

Question No. 333 answered with Question No. 330.

Coast Guard Stations. 334. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport when construction work will commence on a new marine station for the Doolin unit of the Coastguard, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4525/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Noel Ahern): The Office of Public Works have advised my Department that they are in the process of purchasing a suitable site close to Doolin Pier for a Coast Guard Station House. Survey work in connection with this process is underway. Subject to the successful conclusion of this process by OPW and in consultation with the Coast Guard, OPW architectural staff will produce plans for the Station House taking account of operational and planning requirements prior to submission of a planning application to Clare County Council.

Question No. 335 answered with Question No. 330.

Road Network. 336. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport when the preferred selected route of the new Mullingar to Longford motorway will be decided on; if there will be further public consultation, following the selection of the emerging preferred route, to minimise the impact on land owners and local people; when the project will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4373/09] 211 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Industrial Relations. 337. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Transport the position of his Department in relation to the transfer of 2000 employees in 1990 from Aer Lingus to Team Aer Lingus resulting in a breach of an ICTU agreement and which was held by the Supreme Court in 2005 to be in breach of an irrevocable guarantee of employment for those employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4464/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The arrangements agreed between Aer Lingus and those workers who were transferred to TEAM Aer Lingus in 1990 are a matter for the company. I have no function in the matter.

Planning Issues. 338. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport if he has received correspondence from local residents in relation to concerns over the ownership, operation of, and exemptions from planning permission of a tower (details supplied) in County Mayo; and when he will direct that an official from the Irish Aviation Authority meet with local residents to hear and address their concerns. [4527/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): My Department has no record of receiving any such correspondence. I am advised by the Irish Aviation Authority that the Authority has a radar station on Dooncarton Mountain, Glengad, Co Mayo. This is one of a number of such radar stations around the country. It was built in the mid 1990s in accordance with planning permission granted by Mayo County Council. I am further advised by the Authority that it understands that a planning application has recently been lodged with Mayo County Council by another party on a site adjacent to the radar station. I am advised that this site and proposed lattice tower development is not associated in any way with the Authority.

Park and Ride Facilities. 339. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport if funding was provided to a local authority (details supplied) to construct park and ride facilities; the amount of funding provided to this local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4667/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): My Department has funding available for park and ride proposals for Local Authorities in the Greater Dublin Area. I have no current proposals for funding of any park and ride facilities from Dublin City Council.

Rural Transport Programme. 340. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport the funding allocated to Flexibus in an area (details supplied) under the rural transport programme in 2007 and 2008; the funding allocated in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4716/09]

212 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

341. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a commitment to prioritising funding for Flexibus and other rural transport initiatives in view of their positive contribution to the lives of many people living in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4717/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together. Pobal administers the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) on behalf of my Department and is working with 37 individual rural transport groups around the country, including Flexibus, to expand it on a phased basis in response to local public transport service needs and having regard to the availability of resources. Euro 10 million was allocated for the RTP in 2008, up from Euro 9 million in 2007. Euro 11 million has been allocated for the Programme in 2009. Pobal makes specific funding allocations to the individual RTP groups from funding provided by my Department. Neither I nor my Department have any role in relation to the day to day management of the Programme including allocating funds to particular groups or for services. I understand from Pobal that Flexibus received funding of Euro 299,164 in 2007 and Euro 327,765 in 2008. The allocation for 2009 will be in the region of Euro 350,000.

Question No. 342 answered with Question No. 330.

Consultancy Contracts. 343. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4822/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Departmental Expenditure. 344. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4837/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The scheme for performance-related awards in the Civil Service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. The total amount paid under this scheme to Officers in my Department for 2008 (in respect of 2007) was \63,500. No specific amount has been set aside for bonus payments in 2009. Details of the operation of the scheme for performance-related awards in the Civil Service, the numbers covered by the scheme and the total amounts paid in Departments, are available in the annual reports of the Committee for Performance Awards which can be accessed on the website of the Department of Finance www.finance.gov.ie. In approving awards the Committee consider the recommendations made by the Secretaries General (or equivalent posts).

Road Network. 345. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport the average cost in 2008

213 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Damien English.] to the State of road resurfacing works per kilometre of surface dressing and of restoration improvement. [4842/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): Information available in my Department on the cost per kilometer of works on regional and local roads is in respect of the State funded road restoration programme. Works funded under that programme fall into two categories, i.e. road pavement improvements and surface dressing. The average cost per kilometer for works under those two categories in 2008 is set out in the following table.

Year Average Cost per km of Surface Average Cost per km of Restoration Dressing Improvement

2008 \19,813 \84,767

Prison Building Programme. 346. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will provide updated costings on Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 24 June 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4254/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): As part of my review of submissions received in relation to the Environmental Impact Assessment, I acceded to requests to further screen the boundary wall for residents directly on the boundary. As part of this I have instructed that further landscaping be undertaken including the planting of mature trees. The process of determining the exact numbers to be planted and the cost involved has not yet been completed.

Citizenship Applications. 347. Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford can expect to have their application for naturalisation processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4265/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy’s Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in July 2007. Officials in that section inform me that the application is at an advanced stage of processing and the file will be forwarded to me for a decision in due course.

348. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the citizenship application of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [4323/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy’s Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in December, 2008. The average processing time from application to decision is now at 23 months. The Citizenship Division is currently commencing further processing of applications received in mid 2007. More complicated cases can at times take more than the current average while an element of straight forward cases are now being dealt with in less than that time scale. There is a limit to the reduction in the processing time that can be achieved as applications for naturalisation must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and 214 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers balances to ensure that it is not undervalued and is only given to persons who genuinely satisfy the necessary qualifying criteria.

349. Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made on the application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [4398/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy’s Question was received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in March 2006. Officials in that section inform me that the application is at an advanced stage of processing and the file will be forwarded to me for a decision in due course.

Garda Deployment. 350. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will support a matter (details supplied). [4412/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to is in the Coolock Sub-District. The area is subject to regular patrols by uniform and plain clothes units, including the Community Policing Unit. Patrols are supplemented by the Divisional Task Force and Divisional Traffic Units. The Community Policing Unit has lead responsibility for policing in this area and has evolved a partnership approach to problem solving with the community. Members of the Unit maintain contact with the residents of the area concerned and address their concerns. Current policing policy in the area is predicated on the prevention of crime, including crimes of violence against persons and property, the prevention of public order offences and the maintenance of an environment conducive to the improvement of the quality of life of the residents. This strategy is, and will continue to be, central to the delivery of the policing service in this area.

Garda Operations. 351. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will support the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [4413/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): A search of the records in my Department and in the Garda Sıóchańa has failed to locate any reference to a case under the Garda Sıóchańa (Compensation) Acts, 1941 to 1945, relating to the person concerned. The records show that solicitors acting on behalf of the person were provided with a similar response in 2002. If the Deputy can provide any additional details the matter can be checked further.

Prison Accommodation. 352. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the weekly average cost of keeping a person in prison. [4424/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): Currently the average annual cost of keeping a person in custody is calculated by the Irish Prison Service by dividing the annual running costs of the Irish Prison Service by the average daily number of offenders incarcerated during the year. These costs include certain items which are fixed regardless of the number of offenders in custody, e.g. staffing numbers, utilities and maintenance

215 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Dermot Ahern.] costs. In general, capital expenditure is excluded from the calculation in the interests of facilitating comparison between individual institutions. However, certain building projects under the heading ‘small works and environmental projects’ are included. On that basis the latest available figure of \97,700 relates to the average cost of keeping a prisoner in custody during the calendar year 2007. Using this figure, the weekly average cost of keeping a person in prison during 2007 is approximately \1,875.

Prison Committals. 353. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons committed to prison for non-payment of fines for each of the years 2004 to 2008. [4425/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The number of persons committed to prison custody as a consequence of the non-payment of a court ordered fine during the years 2004 to 2007 is set out in the following table. It has not been possible to retrieve the required statistical information for 2008 in the timeframe available. This will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.

Year Number of Persons

2004 1,599 2005 1,798 2006 1,089 2007 1,335

354. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons committed to prison for non-payment of debts for each of the years 2004 to 2008. [4426/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): Statistics on the number of committals to prison custody as a result of failure to comply with a court order in relation to the non-payment of a civil debt are set out in the following table. The table covers the years from 2004 to 2008.

Year Number of Persons

2004 200 2005 223 2006 194 2007 201 2008 276

I can advise the Deputy that the number of such persons held in custody at any one time is a tiny fraction of the overall prisoner population. To illustrate this point, figures relating to 9 February, 2009 indicate that less than 0.4 percent of the numbers in prison custody fell into 216 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers this category. Imprisonment for non-payment of debt was abolished by the Debtors (Ireland) Act 1872. However, refusal to pay a contractual debt may amount to civil contempt of court, for which imprisonment may be imposed.

Departmental Expenditure. 355. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the situation that has developed at an organisation (details supplied) in which staff remain unpaid for the past three weeks; if, in view of the recent resig- nation of the CEO, immediate arrangements will be put in place to regularise matters and pay moneys due to staff for work done and services rendered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4463/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I am glad to say that, following consultations with my Department, the organisation is putting in place new and necessary structures that enable it to meet its liabilities and to support disability groups through its networks. The liabilities include pay. Under the new arrangements an officer of my Depart- ment is, at the request of the Board of the organisation, the acting Chief Executive.

Garda Operations. 356. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the budgetary provisions for the tackling of drugs and crime by the gardaı´, the national drugs strategy, the local drugs task forces and the community projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4477/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The Garda National Drugs Unit is the primary unit within An Garda Sı´ocha´na charged with responsibility for drug supply law enforcement. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Garda National Drugs Unit on 31 December 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 60. Since the publication of the Government’s National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, Garda resources in the fight against illicit drugs have increased. This is particularly evident with the creation of additional Divisional Drug Units in areas of particular need. These Drugs Units operate in Divisions throughout the country with a primary focus on local drugs activities. The total strength of the Divisional Drug Units as at the same date above was 341. Both the Garda National Drugs Unit and the Divisional units are also supported in their work by officers from other national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investi- gation, the Criminal Assets Bureau and the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. Furthermore, all Gardaı´ have responsibility, inter alia, to deal with drug related issues as and when they arise. I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the total running cost of the Garda National Drugs Unit (GNDU) in 2008 was approximately \5.3m. In addition, the resources used by the Divisional Drugs Units, Divisional Task Force Units and Community Policing Units towards fighting drug crime around the country are estimated at approximately \25m per annum. The overall Garda budget for this year is \1.589 billion. Priority will continue to be given to frontline policing including targeting resources at serious and organised crime including drug trafficking. In relation to the budgetary provisions for the National Drugs Strategy, the local drugs task forces and the community projects which they support, as the Deputy will appreciate, that is a

217 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Dermot Ahern.] matter which comes under the remit of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Visa Applications. 357. Deputy Sea´nO´ Fearghaı´l asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position regarding a visa application in respect of a person (details supplied); if he will allow the family in question to be re-united here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4493/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The visa application referred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 5 January 2009. Following consideration by a Visa Officer it was refused on 2 February 2009 for a number of reasons: the evidence of finances submitted was deemed insufficient; the immigration history of the applicant; there were inconsistencies with regard to the application in that there were contradictions in the information supplied. The decision of the Visa Officer may be appealed within two months of the date of decision, in this case before 2 April 2009. Guidelines on making an appeal can be found on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (www.inis.gov.ie).

Garda Recruitment. 358. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the legitimacy of having an upper age limit of 35 years for entry into An Garda Sı´ocha´na in terms of equality and non-discrimination; and his proposals to review the issue. [4501/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The Garda Sıóch- ańa (Admissions and Appointments)(Amendment) Regulations 2004 (SI No 749 of 2004) set the maximum age for recruitment to An Garda Sıóchańa for all applicants, irrespective of service elsewhere, at 35 years. This maximum age was recommended by the Garda Com- missioner taking all relevant factors into account, including the training and operational requirements of the Force and applicable legislation. There are currently no proposals to increase the age limit.

Departmental Expenditure. 359. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost to the State of providing security against possible incursions by anti-war activists and the protection of US military equipment and personnel at Shannon airport in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. [4514/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The information sought in the Deputy’s Question is being collated at present. I will revert to the Deputy with the details when they are completed.

Garda Deployment. 360. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaı´ in the Clare division at the end of 2006, 2007 and 2008; and the number of gardaı´ employed at each station in the division at the end of 2006, 2007 and 2008. [4515/09]

218 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of each Garda Station in the Clare Garda Division on 31 December 2006 to 2008 was as set out in the table hereunder:

Station 31/12/06 31/12/07 31/12/08

Ennis 95 118 132 Crusheen 1 1 1 Lissycasey 1 1 1 Newmarket on Fergus 3 4 4 Quin 1 1 1 Shannon 94 64 66 Immigration Office 8 7 6 Sixmilebridge 4 3 4 Kilrush 27 28 29 Carrigaholt 1 1 1 Doonbeg 1 1 1 Kilmihil 1 1 1 Labasheeda 1 1 1 Kildysart 3 2 3 Kilkee 3 3 2 Killaloe 25 30 33 Broadford 1 1 1 Newport 5 6 6 Scariff 6 6 5 Mountshannon 1 1 1 Tulla 2 2 2 Rearcross 1 1 - Ennistymon 22 21 24 Ballyvaughan 1 1 1 Corofin 1 1 2 Inagh 1 1 1 Lahinch 3 2 3 Lisdoonvarna 2 2 2 Miltown Malbay 3 3 3

Total 318 314 337

The Deputy will appreciate that, as with any large organisation, on any given day, the personnel strengths of individual Divisions, Districts and Stations may fluctuate due, for example, to promotions, retirements and transfers. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking all relevant factors into account. In that regard, the needs of the Garda Division referred to by the Deputy will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.

Drug Seizures. 361. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of drug seizures in Clare in 2006, 2007 and 2008; the quantity of drugs seized in each 219 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Paul Gogarty.] year and the quantity of each type of drug; and the number employed in the Clare division’s drug unit in 2006, 2007 and 2008. [4516/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): In the time available it has not been possible to compile the detailed statistics requested. I will communicate further with the Deputy when the information sought is to hand.

Garda Deployment. 362. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaı´ currently deployed to Maynooth Garda Station, County Kildare; the extent to which numbers have fluctuated in the past twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4529/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Maynooth Garda Station on 31 January 2008 to 31 December 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table hereunder:

Month Strength

January 16 February 16 March 16 April 17 May 17 June 17 July 18 August 18 September 18 October 18 November 18 December 16

As with any organisation, on any given day, the strength of Maynooth Garda Station may fluctuate due, for example, to retirements, resignations etc. It is the responsibility of the Garda Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his or her Division taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of Maynooth Garda Station will be fully considered within the overall context of policing requirements throughout the country.

Residency Permits. 363. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare was awarded stamp four status; the time, date and basis for its subsequent renewal; the reason for the delay in the current renewal requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4530/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I refer to my reply to Parliamentary Question 148 of 5 February 2009. The person to whom the Deputy refers was granted permission to remain in the State in November of 2004. 220 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

I am informed that this permission was subsequently renewed on 7 December 2007 and expired on 7 December 2008. I am also informed that the person concerned subsequently presented at his local Garda Station for further renewal of this permission on 2 February 2009. It was noted that the person’s mother had been granted naturalisation, and the person in question was advised to write to my Department regarding this change in his circumstances. This remains the position.

Garda Deployment. 364. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his Department has proposals to have a full time garda presence in a town (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if his attention has been drawn to the population increase of the town. [4574/09]

365. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the current hours of garda presence in a town (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the station that covers the town in case of emergency in the event of no garda presence; the length of time it takes for a call out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4576/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 365 together. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Newport Garda Station on 31 December 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 6. At that date, Newport Garda Station formed part of Killaloe Garda District in Clare Garda Division. However, since 1 January 2009 Newport Garda Station forms part of Nenagh Garda District in Tipperary Garda Division. Newport Garda Station is open to the public from 10am to 12.30pm Monday to Friday depending on the rostered tour of duty of members attached to the station and patrols are normally carried out by personnel from that Garda Station. Outside of these times, or in the event of an emergency, members of An Garda Sı´ocha´na from the District Headquarters in Nenagh carry out patrols in the area referred to and provide an incident response. Additional resources are also available from other units in the Tipperary Division and adjacent Districts and Divisions. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the needs of Newport Garda Station will be fully considered within the overall context of policing requirements throughout the country.

Legislative Programme. 366. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 3 February 2009, if he will respond to queries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4651/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The principal focus of the Bill on multi-unit developments will be on ensuring good governance of property management companies and similar bodies which comprise the owners of individual units within multi-unit developments and which exercise management functions in relation to such developments. It is also intended to include provisions for the resolution of disputes arising in relation to such matters. Responsibilities for various aspects of reform in this area extend

221 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Dermot Ahern.] principally to my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Courts Service. 367. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if plans are in place to extend the Drug Treatment Courts to Dublin City and specifically the Dublin 8 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4668/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The Drug Treat- ment Court, which originally operated on a pilot basis in the North inner city of Dublin, has been placed on a permanent footing and extended to the Dublin 7 area. The Court uses a multi-disciplinary approach and involves a range of Government Departments and agencies charged with dealing with various aspects of the problem of drug misuse. The Court operates with the assistance of a team which includes a probation and welfare officer, an addiction nurse, a Garda liaison officer, an education/training representative and counsellors. My Department is currently examining the operation of the Court having regard to the Exchequer position and officials are looking at best practice elsewhere to see how the Court’s throughput levels might be increased. It is intended to conclude this examination as soon as possible.

Consultancy Contracts. 368. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Depart- ment for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4819/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The information sought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him shortly.

Departmental Expenditure. 369. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4834/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I assume that the Deputy is referring to performance-related awards schemes for civil servants, which fall into two categories. The first is a high level awards scheme in respect of senior civil servants at Assistant Sec- retary, Deputy Secretary and equivalent grades. The funding of awards under this scheme was based on 10% of the payroll of the posts covered by the scheme and, within this overall limit, payments of up to 20% could be made to individuals. However, no payments were made under this scheme in respect of 2008 and, on 5 February last, the Minister for Finance announced that the Government has decided to abolish these bonuses subject to discussions on the implementation of the decision with the relevant staff association. A separate awards scheme has been in place for grades below the level of Assistant Secretary. The total amount available under this scheme is limited to 0.2% of the Department’s payroll

222 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers from sanctioned subheads. However, this scheme was effectively suspended in my Department in 2008, in respect of which awards totalling \8,300 were made out of a potential total of \168,000. No amounts have been set aside in my Department for the payment of awards under either scheme in 2009.

Garda Deployment. 370. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of community police officers in Tallaght Garda Station, Dublin, in 2009 and in each year over the past three years. [4851/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Community Gardaı´ attached to Tallaght Garda Station on 31 December 2005 to 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was as set out in the table below:

Year Strength

2005 20 2006 22 2007 24 2008 27

All Gardaı´ have responsibility, inter alia, to be involved in Community Policing issues as and when they arise. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next become available the allocation of Community Gardaı´ will be fully considered within the overall context of policing requirements throughout the country.

Emigrant Support Services. 371. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the plans he has to hold talks with the new American administration regarding the undocumented Irish in America. [4235/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Michea´l Martin): The Government is strongly committed to trying to resolve the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States. President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and other senior members of the new Admini- stration have for some time been strong supporters of comprehensive immigration reform. Since the new year, there have also been helpful public indications that Senate Majority Leader, Senator Harry Reid, and Senator John McCain intend to support action in this area. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, the issue remains politically divisive in the US Congress and making progress will be challenging. The members of the new Administration and Congress are currently taking up office in Washington, and the Government is in the process of establishing substantive contact with them. In doing so, we are building on the extensive work on behalf of the undocumented that the Government has carried out over recent years with many of those now within the Administration. The Taoiseach, I and other members of Government will use the unique opportunity afforded by the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in the US to engage the new Admini- stration at the very highest level on the situation of the undocumented. 223 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Michea´l Martin.]

Our Ambassador in Washington will continue to attach the highest priority to this issue in his ongoing contacts with the Obama Administration. More broadly, the Government is actively seeking to reform our overall migration arrangements with the United States. In addition to our work on behalf of the undocumented, the Government recently concluded a new Working Holiday Agreement with the United States and is working to secure the passage of legislation which would enable Irish citizens to avail of the E3 working visa currently open to Australians.

Human Rights Issues. 372. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the situation in Tibet at present; his views on the fact that Tibetan citizens may continue to be oppressed by the state; the action, he and the European Union have taken on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4271/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Michea´l Martin): I remain deeply concerned by the situation in Tibet. Reports in recent weeks suggest that the Chinese authorities have been engaged in a new security operation in the capital, Lhasa. Some reports indicate that checks on almost 6,000 people have taken place and that around 80 to date have been detained. At the same time, issues relating to the preservation of the religious and cultural identity of Tibet- ans, the treatment of demonstrators arrested during protests in March 2008 and the wider human rights situation in Tibet remain of concern. The Government continues to convey its concerns about the situation in Tibet directly to the Chinese authorities in our regular contacts with them in Dublin and Beijing and in the context of regular bilateral discussions on human rights issues. Through these contacts, we continue to underline the importance Ireland attaches to the development of a meaningful dialogue between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama, so that all issues of concern can be fully addressed. We also strongly support, and engage actively in, EU action in relation to Tibet. I continue to believe that dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lama or his representatives remains the most effective way to achieve the protection of Tibetan culture, identity, religion and human rights, and a greater measure of autonomy for Tibet within China. I am pleased that Tibetans in exile meeting in Dharmasala last November endorsed the principles of autonomy over all-out independence and non-violence over physical confron- tation, in the pursuit of their agenda for Tibet. This is very much in line with the course that the Dalai Lama has proposed. However, the current pace and substance of the dialogue between the Dalai Lama and China has been unsatisfactory to date. I call on the Chinese government to re-engage in an accelerated and upgraded dialogue process with the Dalai Lama and his representatives and have consistently stressed this view in our dialogue with the Chinese Government. I would be firmly of the view that positive developments in this dialogue will benefit not only the Tibetan people, but also China itself. It will also serve to curb increasing militancy and demands for secession, particularly from among young Tibetans. These demands diverge from the moderate views of the Dalai Lama, and could be both dangerous and counter-productive, particularly in the course of this emotive year, which marks the fiftieth anniversary of the departure of the Dalai Lama from Tibet in 1949. At EU level, the situation in Tibet is regularly raised in the context of the EU-Human Rights dialogue, to which Ireland contributes. The most recent dialogue took place in Beijing on 28

224 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

November 2008 and the situation in Tibet was among the issues discussed. The Government will continue to monitor carefully the situation in Tibet and it will remain high on the agenda in our contacts with China.

373. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has signed the agreement which will allow Belarussian children to continue travelling here for humanitarian respite breaks. [4293/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Michea´l Martin): The issue raised by the Deputy is of great importance to me personally and to the large number of host families and organisations who have organised annual visits to Ireland by children from Belarus for over 18 years. My Department became aware of possible restrictions on the children’s travel in late August 2008. I met with Adi Roche of Chernobyl Children’s Project International on 8 September to review the situation, and also asked the Charge´ d’Affaires of the Belarusian Embassy in London to visit Dublin later that week to open discussions on an agreement to provide a framework for visits by Chernobyl children. Intensive discussions with Belarus, at both Minis- terial and official level followed. On 8 December 2008, our Ambassador to Belarus, who is based in Moscow, led a delegation comprising officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to Minsk where they successfully concluded negotiations on a bilateral Agreement on the conditions of rest and recuperation of children from the Republic of Belarus in Ireland. The text of the Agreement was initialled by both parties, and it was agreed that the official signing ceremony would take place as soon as a Presidential Decree issued which would exempt Ireland from the provisions of an earlier Decree relating to future international travel by Bela- rusian minors. A Protocol to the Agreement was also signed on 8 December, which confirmed that children would be allowed to travel over the Christmas period. I was especially pleased that these visits were able to go ahead, as this was an issue that I had pressed strongly in my contacts with Belarusian Foreign Minister Martynov. I have been gratified by the extremely positive response from the various charities that organised visits to Ireland at that time. Following contact from the Belarus authorities before Christmas, it was expected that the Agreement would be signed on 30 January 2009 in Minsk. However, my Department was informed last week that a Presidential Decree, which is required to be signed in advance of the signing of the Agreement, has yet to issue. For this reason, it did not prove possible to proceed with signature, and it has now been postponed. The Belarusian side also sought some textual changes to the Agreement, and these are being examined at present. My Department is maintaining regular contact with the Belarusian authorities, and we are prepared to sign the Agreement at the earliest opportunity. It is my intention to have the Agreement signed as soon as possible after the required Presidential Decree issues and well in advance of the next round of scheduled visits to Ireland by Chernobyl children next summer. I stand ready to intervene personally, if necessary, to finalise this matter.

Foreign Conflicts. 374. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will develop the peace process in Colombia and encourage inclusive negotiations following recent positive events. [4347/09]

225 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Michea´l Martin): The events of the past week, which saw the release of six hostages, including the last politicians to be held by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), are very welcome. The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end to all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an overall legal framework for the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups into Colombian society. The Justice and Peace Law, which was adopted through a lengthy democratic political process, strikes a difficult balance between peace and justice. The process of peace negotiations between the Colombian Government and the right-wing paramilitary group, Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) began in 2003, with between 30,000 and 40,000 combatants demobilised by the completion of the process in 2007. Nego- tiations between the major left-wing guerrilla group, the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), and the Government have not yet commenced. The EU has expressed its total solidarity with the Colombian people, its full support for the Colombian Government in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflict and underlined the importance the EU attaches to the ongoing implementation of the Justice and Peace Law. The EU has further expressed its hope that progress would be made in taking forward negotiations in order to reach a humanitarian agreement, to secure the release of all hostages, to end the armed conflict and to bring lasting peace to Colombia. In the same spirit, the EU has stated that all initiatives taken with the Colombian Government’s support with the objective of promoting a successful peace process are welcome. The Government will continue to monitor the situation in Colombia through our Embassy in Mexico City, which is accredited to Colombia, as well as in cooperation with our EU partners with resident diplomatic missions in that country. We are fully supportive of efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia, and will continue to support the Government of Colombia in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflict, including through direct engagement. We very much welcome the mediation of third parties in the pursuit of a solution to the conflict, where such efforts have the support of the Colombian Government. In conjunction with our EU partners, the Irish government will continue to examine how we may, as appropriate, contribute to the peace process in Colombia.

375. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will work for an end to the slaughter of civilians in Sri Lanka. [4348/09]

385. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action he is taking to put pressure within the international community to end the killing of Tamil people in Sri Lanka; the efforts being made to bring an end to the violence, to bring about a peaceful settlement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4898/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Michea´l Martin): I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 385 together. I am deeply concerned by the escalation in fighting which has taken place in recent months in the northern part of Sri Lanka and by the terrible effects this is having on the local population, including thousands of internally displaced persons. I am particularly shocked by reports of the repeated shelling last week of the PTK hospital, which has resulted in the deaths of 12 people. While I would wish to see an end to all fighting, I appeal in particular to both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) not to fire out

226 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers of, or into the no-fire zone established by the Government or in the vicinity of this or any other hospital. The parties must also allow food and medical assistance to reach those trapped by the fighting. There must be full cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross so as to facilitate the evacuation of urgent medical cases and to ensure the safety of aid and medical workers. Both the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka must respect international humanitarian law. Both must recognise that further loss of life — of civilians and combatants — serves no cause. Bilaterally, and with our EU partners, Ireland has consistently sought to impress on both sides the importance of engaging in meaningful peace talks and stopping all violence and human rights violations. We deeply regret the termination of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE last year. We continue to take the firm view that there can be no lasting military solution to Sri Lanka’s political difficulties. As one of the four co-chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Conference on the Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka, the EU has been anxious to maintain an active role in assisting the country to resolve its internal conflicts, work on national reconciliation and move forward on the development agenda. I fully support the terms of a statement made by the Tokyo Co- Chairs in Colombo on 3 February which calls on the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to declare a temporary cease-fire to allow for the evacuation of the sick and wounded and for the provision of aid to civilians. I support also the call by the Co-Chairs on the LTTE to discuss with the Government of Sri Lanka the modalities for ending hostilities, including the laying down of arms, the renunciation of violence, the acceptance of the Government of Sri Lanka’s offer of amnesty; and for its participation as a political party in a process to achieve a just and lasting political solution. I will continue to make clear the Government’s very deep concerns about the situation in Sri Lanka. We will seek compliance by all parties with international humanitarian law and urge the resumption without delay of an inclusive political process. Such a process should address the legitimate concerns and interests of both the main communities on the island. Should the relevant parties seek our advice in relation to a negotiated peace process, we would give consideration as to how we could best help. Ireland will continue to support the efforts of the Co-Chairs, working in concert with the UN and the EU, to address the political and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. We hope that an EU Troika visit to Sri Lanka at Ministerial level will take place shortly. Since 2005, the Government has provided, through Irish Aid, more than \5.3 million for humanitarian and development activities in Sri Lanka, including significant emergency assistance provided in the aftermath of the tsunami in 2004. In addition, over US$12 million was allocated from the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund to Sri Lanka during 2008. Ireland is currently the seventh largest donor to this Fund. Irish Aid recently provided \7 million in unearmarked funding to the International Commit- tee of the Red Cross (ICRC), one of the key organisations at the centre of the response to the current humanitarian crisis in the north of Sri Lanka.

Overseas Development Aid. 376. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are plans to cut funding to the overseas aid package for 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4353/09]

227 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Peter Power): Most of Ireland’s expenditure on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) is provided under Vote 29, International Co-operation. The programme is administered by the Development Co-operation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, also known as Irish Aid. Further contributions to ODA are made by other Government Departments and through Ireland’s allocation to the EU Development Cooperation Budget. Ireland is the sixth most generous aid donor internationally in per capita terms. The Govern- ment’s development programme is central to our foreign policy. In 2009, as in previous years, Ireland will have one of the strongest aid programmes in the world, with a particular focus on the poorest people in the least developed countries in Africa. We are taking a leadership role internationally on the global hunger crisis, and the aid programme will continue to reflect this priority in 2009 and beyond. Last October, under the Budget for 2009, the Government allocated a total of \891 million for ODA. Of this, \754 million was provided under Vote 29 with a further \137 million being contributed by other Government Departments and through the EU Development Cooper- ation Budget. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government last week took the difficult decision to reduce the total ODA budget for 2009 to \796 million. The decision was taken as part of the determined effort to curb public expenditure in order to establish a platform for the resumption of strong economic growth, and further expansion of the Government’s development programme in years to come.

Visa Applications. 377. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support the case of a person (details supplied). [4408/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Michea´l Martin): As noted in my response to the Deputy’s previous question about a visa for this individual (PQ 1008/09) I am not in a position to support individual visa applications. It is the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform rather than my own Department which has primary responsibility for visa and immigration policy and, in particular, for making decisions on individual visa applications where there is a previous history of an asylum application or deportation as would appear to be the case in this instance.

Overseas Development Aid. 378. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount of funds allocated through Irish Aid for the provision of family planning, reproductive health services and commodities in the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4697/09]

379. Deputy Caoimhghı´nO´ Caola´in asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he has taken to achieve the new 2005 Millennium Development Goal target 5b of universal access to reproductive health care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4698/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Peter Power): I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 379 together. Universal access to reproductive health is one of the goals of the Programme of Action agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. In

228 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers addition, the fifth Millennium Development Goal is to (a) reduce by three-quarters the maternal mortality ratio and (b) achieve universal access to reproductive health, by 2015. The Government is committed to action in support of this goal, which is also important in tackling HIV and AIDS. The Government’s 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid outlines our commitment to supporting the specific health needs of women within our overall approach to health in developing countries. It makes clear that addressing women’s health needs, particularly in the areas of basic healthcare and maternal and reproductive health, must lie at the heart of an effective overall response to improving health in developing countries. Unfortunately, only limited progress has been made on this issue since the Cairo Conference in 1994. Every year, some 500,000 women die and a further 10 million suffer from severe illnesses or disabilities as a result of complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Underlying this tragedy is the lack of access by women in developing countries to good quality maternal and reproductive health, including family planning. The Government, through Irish Aid, works with several partner agencies in the UN system to address maternal health issues. One of the main obstacles to the achievement of universal access to reproductive health is the lack of empowerment of women in developing countries. The issues involved form the core mandate of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with which Irish Aid has a close relationship. In recognition of its important mandate, the Government has contributed substantially to the core funding of UNFPA in recent years — \2.9 million in 2005, \3.1 million in 2006, \4.5 million in 2007 and \4.5 million in 2008. In 2006 the Government also contributed \0.5 million to the UNFPA Trust Fund for Global Reproductive Health Commodities Security, with further contributions of \1 million in 2007 and \1 million in 2008. In 2007, we also contributed \2 million to the UNFPA Trust Fund on Maternal Health, \0.5 million to the Fistula Thematic Trust Fund and \0.5 million to a joint UNFPA and UNICEF project on Female Genital Muti- lation. In total, over the three years 2005-2008, Ireland has contributed \20.5 million to UNFPA. In recognition of the importance of its work on gender, reproductive health, maternal mortality and HIV and AIDS, Ireland is one of five international donors to have signed a multi- annual framework agreement with UNFPA to recognise shared objectives and ensure predictable funding for the years 2008-2011.

Consultancy Contracts. 380. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4817/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Michea´l Martin): The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables for both Votes. I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on such expenditure. The Depart- ment commissions external advisory services only where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not available within the Department and, particularly in the case of Irish Aid (Ireland’s official development assistance programme), where ongoing independent evaluation of prog-

229 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Michea´l Martin.] rammes and projects is required. Given the overall scale of the Irish Aid Programme, I am satisfied that this level of monitoring, review and evaluation is both prudent and proportionate. I should add that, in accordance with the Government decision of July 2008, the budgetary provision for consultancies in my Department has been reduced by 50% in 2009 over the 2008 allocation.

230 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers \\ 14/10/2008 5/2/2009 Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) Maintenance of the Automated Passport System Referendum Communicating Europe Initiative Official Visits Consultants Contract Details Period 1/1/2008- Period 15/10/2008- Cornwell ConsultantsPA ConsultingRITSMillward Brown IMSThe Communications ClinicLong Road Productions Ltd. Technical Advice on Preparation ofFarrell Specifications Grant for Sparks Support andKPMG General Development ICT Research of Consultancy survey a on Communication the Action outcome Plan of under the the 12,251 EU Cultural Reform Events Treaty Coordination and Advisory Services for State ICT and Security Consultancy Review of Departmental Structures 5,808 138,061 0 0 Value For Money Study — Passport Service 16,456 0 41,000 1,815 24,200 79,427 35,978 0 85,762 0 0

231 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers \\ 1/1/2008-14/10/2008 15/10/2008-5/2/2009 March 2,000 0 n3&4 Vote 29 (International Cooperation) Meetings (PAEG). Suffering (ICROSS) Review (PAEG) Meetings April-Dec 2007 Recovery Section, Irish Aid and Central Asia Funding Committee (PPECA) and Central Asia Funding Committee (PPECA). Projects Fund, March 2007-2009. Europe and Central Asia Funding Committee (PPECA). (PAEG) Meetings: 2008 (PAEG) Meetings: Associates Ltd Participation in the Projects Appraisal and Evaluation Group 17,066 2,187 Consultants Contract Details Period Period + Achillles ProcurementAidan PenderAisling Swaine Consultancy LtdAlais MorindatAndre BarsonyAine Costigan Provision of Consultant Temporary on Procurement gender Expertise issues.Anne GallagherAnne Holmes Participation in the Projects Appraisal andAnn Evaluation Nolan GroupAnna Consultant Matveeva re International Community for Relief of StarvationAnn and Participation Pesic in the Projects Appraisal and Evaluation GroupAnnesley Resource Provision Partnership of Technical 41,503 SupportAodh in O’Connor relation Report to writer HIV/AIDS and projects, recorder for 0 economistBarry workshop Ryan o 0 Technical Consultant supportingBenedicto the Oburu work of 19,002 Emergency Review andBernard of McLoughlin the Fellowship Independent Training Consultant Programme 2,500 Technical for funded 83,350 Support the by in Partnership Irish relation Programme AidBernard to for Wood HIV/AIDS Europe 0 6,500 5,074 Independent Consultant for the Partnership Consultancy Programme services 20,458 for 21,667 in 5,172 Europe relation to 9,296 Civil Society Fund 19,132 and Micro 0 Independent Participation Facilitator Consultant in for for the Primary review Projects Schools of Appraisal Workshops the and — 3,850 Partnership Evaluation June Programme Group 2008 for 4,766 2,187 0 0 72,841 12,551 7,150 0 7,700 1,500 68,988 0 0 0

232 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers \\ 1/1/2008-14/10/2008 15/10/2008-5/2/2009 continued Vote 29 (International Cooperation) — and Central Asia Funding Committee (PPECA). (HAPS) Procedures (MAPS) Irish Aid in relation to funding schemes Consultants Contract Details Period Period Brian McCarthyBrendan TuohyCatherine A ButcherCatherine ButcherCathy GaynorCathy GaynorCathy Gaynor Independent Consultant forCathy the Gaynor Partnership Programme for Europe Development of Consultancy Guidelines in forCatherine the HIV/AIDS Sara area Partnership Jones of Scheme science and technology in Mozambique TechnicalCentre Support for for Global Multi Health Annual ProgrammeCopenhagen Scheme DC 9,555 (MAPS)) A/SDaire Consultancy Higgins services for Country StrategyDalberg Planning Guidelines 44,715 and Provision 3,872Dalberg of Global Technical Development Support for Technical “EducationDebbie Consultant 16,338 for Thomas for All” the Programme Multi-Annual ProgrammeDeclan Scheme O’Neill Africa Consultancy based to Technical adviseDeirdre Consultant 25,816 on Technical Farrell to Mainstreaming Support Irish Strategy for Aid and Health, CivilDiarmuid Practice HIV/AIDS Society 0 McClean within issues. Section 22,161 38,228Dr Primary David Education Weakliam Evaluation Mapping ofDr. Funding Diarmuid and O Project Donovan Approval 0 Economics Processes 2,057 11,857 for the Environment 0 Irish Aid Centre 39,452 Public Relations 0 and Outreach Consultant Child Consultancy beneficiary 5,283 to Case review Study certain Specialist training services Technical funded Advice by on Irish Consultant Foreign Aid 10,280 re Technical Currency Specialist Irish Support Transactions Support 6,254 Aid to Consultant for Strategic Health re Development Partnerships Programme European 5,973 Technical Education Malaria Support Grants Vaccine to Committee Health Sector 13,191 10,465 31,778 23,753 10,000 22,059 108,397 4,200 0 0 0 8,996 10,000 6,534 100,005 12,559 0 4,000 6,350 28,113 4,826 70,481 12,559 0

233 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers \\ 1/1/2008-14/10/2008 15/10/2008-5/2/2009 continued Vote 29 (International Cooperation) — social development as partSE of Asia. Ireland’s cooperation programme in Review Projects Fund, March 2007 — March 2009 Meetings Sets Subgroup Training Session on theMethodology Poverty Impact Assessment (PIA) Consultants Contract Details Period Period Eleanor O’GormanFarrell Grant SparksFarrell Grant SparksFitzpatrick AssociatesFitzpatrick AssociatesFitzpatrick AssociatesFrank Murray Specialist Support to ConflictGail Resolution Preparation Varian Unit of Value ForGeraghty Money Consultancy Consulting Study to of advise HIV/AIDS Report on Project onGerald the Irish Cawley Irish Aid Aid support Management Evaluation for Review of KimmageGeraldine Traidlinks Development McDonald Studies Consultancy re application of lessons ofHelen Ireland’s O economic Neill andHunter McGill 78,351Integra Economic 50,820 Development 157,300 Consultants Advisory services provided in Report relationINTRAC Consultant writing to to and the Inter recording Irish Departmental service. 14,974 Aid CommitteeITAD Management 7,260 on Ltd Development Specialist Skills support Consultancy for services Irish for Aid Irish Centre, Consultant Aid Dublin re Civil Irish Society Aid Fund 66,537 ITAD Budget and Ltd Support Micro Policy 50,820 14,972James Polhemus 0 Irish Aid 0 Mentoring PAEG: Programme Participation in the Projects Appraisal and 0 Evaluation 0 Group 7,260 15,125 22,438 Technical 0 Support 22,143 of Multi Annual Preparation Programme and Scheme(MAPS) Delivery 2,700 of an Awareness 2,723 Raising Seminar and Good Governance Consultant Evaluation of 0 Ireland’s Timor 18,966 Leste 0 Country Strategy 2004-2008 3,630 26,689 5,784 0 0 2,750 25,811 97,207 0 0 38,439 0 157,469 16,804

234 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers \\ 1/1/2008-14/10/2008 15/10/2008-5/2/2009 continued Vote 29 (International Cooperation) — Rehabilitation Project for Marsh Arabs of Southern Iraq and Malaria Meetings: Europe and Central Asia Funding Committee Audit Unit on partner NGO’s forother MAPS, C.S. Civil Funding Society Schemes Fund, Block Grants & Development International Uganda (CSP) Guidelines and Procedures Consultants Contract Details Period Period James SheehanJane SalvageJerry O’DwyerJim CannonJim KinsellaJim O’LearyJohn GrindleJohn Shiels Civil Society Funds and Micro ProjectJohn Financing O’Regan Feedback on evaluationJohn of O’Regan Irish Aids Provision support of to Technical the Support AMAR on Health GlobalJohn Fund O’Regan to fight AIDS, TB Assessment of Civil Society Funding PAEG:John Applications Participation O’Regan in the Projects Appraisal and Evaluation Assessment GroupKamil of Kar Value for 0 Interview Money 7,508 Board ReviewKarin — of Duffner Recruitment the Competition Passport Service 18,433 PPECA: Independent ConsultantKate 11,104 for Dyer Civil the Society Partnership Programme Programme Consultant for Provision ofKate Audit Dyer Management Support to theKevin Evaluation Moore and Financial Assessment Component 17,323 ofLiam 2068 6,000 an Wegimont 15,352 organisational 50,332 Assessment Audit of 5,672 MAPS 11 0 Partnership Grants Awarded to Self -Help 9,621 Support Review 6,292 ICT of Programme draft in 3,000 Irish Teacher Aid Education Water, in Sanitation 11,765 Rwenzoir and Area, Hygiene Policy 0 0 Support to the revision of Irish Aid’s Country Strategy Consultant Planning re Private Development Irish Sector 52,204 Education Aid Development Grants Country Committee Strategy 0 Paper Guidelines 0 0 0 0 0 40,148 12,758 31,788 0 10,881 2,391 125 2,551 29,787 87,912 0 30,760

235 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers \\ 1/1/2008-14/10/2008 15/10/2008-5/2/2009 continued Vote 29 (International Cooperation) — Meetings 2009. (MAPS) Meetings Education and Research Institutes Group on International Agricultural Research CGIAR Consultants Contract Details Period Period Liverpool Association in Tropical HealthLuis Enrique Bran ReyesMargaret Fitzgerald Programme Planning — SierraMargaret Leone FitzgeraldMargaret GaynorMaragret CurtinMargaret Gaynor Central AmericaMarie Consultant SmithMartin Dwan PAEG: Participation in theMartina Projects Collins Appraisal and Evaluation Group ProvisionMary of Jennings Technical Support on HealthMary and Jennings HIV/AIDS Civil SocietyMary Fund McCann and Sanchez Micro Projects Fund,Mary March 6,517 McKeown 2007 — Technical March support 9,985Mary for McKeown Civil Infrastructure Society and Fund Vulnerabilities and ConsultantMary Micro McKeown Project FinancingMaura Leen Technical support for Civil Society 2,057Maura Multi Leen 5,508 Annual Civil Programme 10,626 Society Scheme Assessment Fund of and 1,950 Civil Micro Society Projects 15,313 FundingMcEvoy Consultant Central Applications Peter America Consultants Consultant re MultiMcMullin Annual Pat Programme Mainstreaming; Scheme Building (MAPS)) 28,929 Strategy and 6,517 Practice within Irish Aid Technical support for Civil Society 15,055 Technical Fund support and to Micro Evaluation Project and Financing External Audit 0 429 Consultant Section for 65,188 the Fellowship Selection Committee PAEG: 12,997 Participation 17,183 in 35,779 10,524 the Projects Appraisal and 500 Evaluation 26,508 54,195 Group Programme of Strategic Co-operation between Irish Technical Aid Consultant and for Higher the Multi-Annual Programme Consultant Scheme 7,577 to support Irish Aids 7,485 3,753 relationship with Consultative 2,723 5,427 5,000 21,708 0 0 28,766 0 27,059 51,993 2,275 0 17,567 12,329 0 19,933 32,035

236 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers \\ 1/1/2008-14/10/2008 15/10/2008-5/2/2009 continued Vote 29 (International Cooperation) — Europe and Central Asia Funding Committee. Programme Meetings Countries, South Africa and Sierra Leone Meetings Consultants Contract Details Period Period Michael HegartyMoirna O’NeillMorina O’NeillNiall RocheNick ChisholmNUI GalwayOrla DukeOxford Policy Mgt.Patrick D Murphy PPECA: Independent Consultant for the PartnershipPatrick Programme D for Murphy IrishPaul Aid Isenman Centre Content Consultant TechnicalPetrus support Consulting for Ltd Civil Society FundPhilip and Regan Micro Project 5,042 Financing TechnicalProf Hunger support Helen Task for O’Neill Force Emergency Consultant and Recovery Unit TechnicalRenee Support Muriel Hunger Health, Visser Task HIV/AIDS Valfrey ForceReginald Terence 7,854 Allsop 4th Evaluation Global of PartnerRichard Global Forum Townsend eSchools Consultant and Communities Initiative “Education forRoberto All” E. Programme Martinez Consultant 950 Quality Review ofRosemary the McCreery Draft HIV& Technical AIDS support VFM of Report Accra Technical AgendaRothwell Support on Consulting on Aid Ltd HIV/AIDS Effectiveness 3,552 PAEG: Participation 6,000Rowan in Facilitation Oberman the of Projects Irish Technical Appraisal Aid 24,000 Support andProf. funded to Evaluation Ruairi Internship Zambia/Ireland Group Brugha Programmes 45,189 Teacher RCSI Education Initiative Report on Staffing needs of Missions in 9,615 Maintenance Irish of Aid Irish 16,322 Programme Aid Spanish PAEG: 21,888 website Participation 8,500 in in Central the 2,129 Consultants America Projects re Appraisal Internship and 0 Programmes Evaluation 15,946 20,183 Group 0 0 Provision of 0 28,185 Technical Support on Health Provision and of HIV/AIDS Specialist Services to Irish 7,216 Aid 39,613 4,096 Centre. 0 2,635 0 16,100 0 3,086 37,265 3,600 11,148 0 12,648 6,500 0 0 0 17,963 0 29,803 14,700 0 10,920 0

237 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers \\ 1/1/2008-14/10/2008 15/10/2008-5/2/2009 continued Vote 29 (International Cooperation) — Section Funding Schemes; Civil Society Fund Consultants Contract Details Period Period Sean DrysdaleSean F DrysdaleSherry McLeanSHL IrelandSiobhan MullallySorley McCaugheyTara ShineTara ShineThe IDL Group LtdUna Consultant Murray in Public Support HealthVincent to McCarthy Health Sector in Sierra Part-time Leone Africa based Technical Consultant to the Civil Society Evaluation and Recruitment UNDP Consultants Governance Support and Programme Local Development Support Consultancy re Environment Review Consultant of Irish Aid Zimbabwe Civil Programme Society Fund 0 Backstopping Support Provision of specialist support Technical to support Mozambique for Civil Society Fund and Micro Project Financing 23,189 12,697 3,937 10,115 7,592 2,700 30,212 0 156,665 4,049 1,452 781 0 0 0 0 45,908 12,495 9,237 375 57,465

238 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Departmental Expenditure. 381. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4832/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Michea´l Martin): During 2008, the Department of Foreign Affairs implemented the following schemes involving awards to staff: the Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards and the Exceptional Performance Awards Scheme.

Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards The Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards in the Civil Service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to Secretaries General. In 2008, a total of \656,000 was paid under this scheme. The payments made related to the performance of 48 officers during the preceding calendar year. These payments were subject to tax and PRSI. The awards were made by the Committee for Performance Awards, chaired by the Secretary General for Public Service Management and Development in the Department of Finance, following recommendations by the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Details of the operation of the Performance Related Pay Awards scheme are available in the annual reports of the Committee for Performance Awards. The Committee’s April 2008 report can be accessed on the website of the Department of Finance at the following link: http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/2008/cpareport07final.pdf No payments have been made in 2009 in respect of performance in 2008.

Exceptional Performance Awards Under the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Administrative Budget Agreement with the Department of Finance, a fund amounting to 0.2% of the Department’s salaries budget has been made available each year to the Secretary General in respect of ex-gratia payments or other awards to individual staff members or groups of staff, by way of recognition of exceptional performance of duty. In 2008, a total of \156,500 was paid to 309 staff under this scheme, which is administered by a sub-group of the Department’s Partnership Committee. The sub-group assesses nominations for merit awards and makes recommendations to the Secretary General of the Depart- ment. The objective of the scheme is to reward cases of genuinely exceptional performance by officers in grades up to and including Counsellor/Principal Officer level. The Exceptional Performance fund also provides for officers in the Department with at least 25 years’ experience to receive an award in recognition of their long service. This award comprises a gift of \250 along with a special commemorative coin. In 2008, a total of \18,840 was spent in providing such Long Service Awards to 66 officers. No decision has yet been taken on the payment of Exceptional Performance Awards or Long Service Awards in 2009.

Passport Applications. 382. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a citizen of the State,

239 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Damien English.] who has an Irish birth certificate on which their name was recorded in English, can apply for an Irish passport under their Irish name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4838/09]

383. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the correct procedure that a person aged 17 years must follow in order to attain their first passport under their Irish name when the birth certificate they possess has their name in English; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4839/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Michea´l Martin): I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together. Section 10 of the Passports Act 2008 provides that a passport issued under the Act “shall be in the name of the applicant as it appears in his or her certificate of birth (whether in the English language or the Irish language) or, as may be appropriate, a certificate of naturalisation or other document produced by him or her to the Minister as evidence of Irish citizenship.” There are a number of exceptions to this general rule. Under Section 10(2), a passport may be issued in a new name following marriage. Section 10(4) permits the issuing of a passport in a name other than the name on the certificate of birth, where the applicant provides satisfactory evidence of the use of the new name over a period of at least two years prior to the date of application. In cases where satisfactory evidence over a two year period is not provided, Section 10(5) permits the Minister to issue a passport in a new name. However, in such cases, the name on the certificate of birth or other evidence of citizenship is entered as an observation in the passport and must remain there for a period of not less than two years. The inclusion of an observation regarding a previous name helps to avoid difficulties that may arise, for example, when a person is applying for visas or work permits abroad, due to the name on his or her passport differing from the name entered on a certificate of birth or previous passport. Although its inclusion is optional in the case of applicants who have the required two years satisfactory evidence of usage of the new name, in accordance with Section 10(5), it is a requirement in the case of applications where such evidence is not provided. Accordingly, where a person has an Irish birth certificate with a name recorded in the English language, he or she may apply for a passport in his or her name in the Irish language by providing satisfactory evidence of usage of that form of the name. This provision also extends to cases where a person seeks a passport in the English form of the name but the certificate of birth shows the name in the Irish language. The nature of evidence of use of a new name will depend on an individual’s circumstances. Typically, where an applicant is under age 18, proofs of use would include bank or savings account details, school records and reports or a letter from the family doctor certifying that the applicant is registered with the practice in the name in which the application is made. In regard to the case outlined by the Deputy, the individual in question has the option, as indicated above, of applying for a new passport in the Irish version of his/her name. This can be granted provided that the applicant can show proof of usage for two years. If this is not available, it will be necessary to include the English version of the name as an observation on the passport for at least two years.

Overseas Development Aid. 384. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a breakdown of the countries which received overall funding of \914 million under a scheme (details

240 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers supplied) in 2008; the amount each country received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4853/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Peter Power): Most of Ireland’s expenditure on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) is provided under Vote 29, International Co-operation. The programme is administered by the Development Co-operation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, also known as Irish Aid. Further contributions to ODA are made by other Government Departments and through Ireland’s allocation to the EU Development Cooperation budget. During the 2008 estimates process the Government allocated a total of \914 million to ODA. In light of the changed economic situation, the Government reviewed current expenditure allocations in July 2008. In the course of this review, the overall ODA allocation was revised to \899 million. Of this, \769 million was allocated under Vote 29, with an additional estimated \130 million contributed by other Government Departments. The Vote 29 allocation was fully utilised and, while the out-turn figure for other ODA has not yet been finalised, it is expected that it will be close to the \130 million estimate. Through Irish Aid, the Government provides assistance to more than 90 countries in the developing world, with a strong focus on the least developed countries and Africa. Nine countries have been designated as Programme Countries, with a commitment to long term strategic assistance. They are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia and Timor Leste. In 2008, the total funding allocated to programme assistance in these nine countries amounted to \218.8 million. A breakdown of these allocations is set out as follows. A detailed analysis of all expenditure in 2008 under Vote 29 is now being prepared. It will be published later this year in the 2008 Irish Aid Annual Report.

Country 2008 Allocation

Programme Countries Ethiopia 36,000,000 Lesotho 9,300,000 Malawi 9,800,000 Zambia 24,000,000 Mozambique 34,200,000 Tanzania 38,000,000 Timor Leste 5,000,000 Uganda 41,800,000 Vietnam 20,700,000

Total Allocation to Programme Countries 218,800,000

Question No. 385 answered with Question No. 375.

Sports Funding. 386. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the funding available for local tennis clubs to improve existing facilities. [4318/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated towards the provision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. Over 7,400 projects providing a 241 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Martin Cullen.] range of essential sports facilities have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998 bringing the total allocation in that time to over \725 million. In 2008 over \50m was allocated towards 685 separate sports facility and equipment projects, including allocations of \1.778 million to 25 tennis projects. These grants continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring the provision of modern, high quality facilities around Ireland that attract more people to participate in sporting activities. In the 2009 Estimates, \56m has been provided in my Department’s vote to cover payments to be made from the C-1 sub-head, out of which grants are paid for the provision of sports and recreation facilities. As I announced in the House recently no decision has been taken about the timing of future rounds of the Programme.

National Concert Hall. 387. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the nature of the planning permission for the National Concert Hall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4419/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 2482/09 on Wednesday 28th January 2009. As I stated in that reply, the successful tenderer for the National Concert Hall PPP project, who should be selected by Autumn 2009, will seek planning permission for his project proposal from Dublin City Council.

National Theatre. 388. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of years over which it is proposed to pay the private partner for the construction of the Abbey Theatre, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4421/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): A Public Private Partnership contract for the proposed new National Theatre (Abbey) project has not been awarded yet. I would refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No 113 on Wednesday 28 January 2009 for the current position.

Performing Arts. 389. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on supporting the Irish Team attending the World Championships of Performing Arts 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4422/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): Government support for the Arts is generally channelled through the Arts Council, which is a statutorily independent body, under the Arts Act, 2003, and is independent in its day-to-day operations.

Sports Funding. 390. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will ensure that the necessary funding is provided for an extension to a scout hall (details supplied) in Dublin 12 to cater for more than 300 scouts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4435/09]

242 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers dition of the Programme specify that only projects with a clear sporting aspect are considered for funding. I understand that funding is made available to the Scouting Ireland by my colleague the Minister for Education and Science.

Consultancy Contracts. 391. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4809/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): The consultancy firms the Department used during the period 1 January to 14 October 2008 are set out below:

Consultancy Purpose Expenditure \

Q4PR Communications/Public Relations services for Culture 72,000 Ireland Charlie Pike The Pacello Group Culture Ireland website maintenance 9,982 (Europe) Ltd Indecon International Economic Economic Evaluation of the Benefits to Ireland of the 114,000 Consultants London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games Raymond Burke Evaluation of Irish Sports Council Value for Money 3,267 and Policy Review Raymond Burke Independent evaluation of the Local Authority 3,354 Swimming Pool Programme Expenditure Review as part of a Value for Money Report conducted by Department Mr. John Travers Chair of the Tourism Strategy Implementation Group, 15,660 which produced its Report in June 2008. Holohan Leisure To provide consultancy advice in relation to an 113,740 analysis of sports facility provision in the development of a strategy for sports facilities DKM Economic Consultants Update of the Cost Benefit Analysis for the National 3,146 Museum at Collins Barracks Farrell Grant Sparks Review of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. See below

The above list includes consultancy firms, Q4PR, Charlie Pike The Pacello Group Europe Ltd, Indecon International Economic Consultants, Raymond Burke on two contracts, John Travers and Holohan Leisure, which were engaged prior to 2008, where the contract continued into that year. The cost shown in such cases is in respect of the full period of the contract. The consultancy firms the Department used since 15 October 2008 are set out below:

Consultancy Purpose Expenditure

Farrell Grant Sparks Review of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. 19,465 Analysys Mason Review of Technical Recommendations for WAN Link 632 Calyx Ireland Ltd Decentralisation Site Audit 4,313

The above list includes one consultancy firm (Farrell Grant Sparks), which was engaged prior to 15 October 2008, where the contract continued beyond that date. Accordingly that contract is on both lists. 243 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Martin Cullen.]

This Department observes the Department of Finance Guidelines for Engagement of Con- sultants in the Civil Service. Consultants are only employed by the Department in circumstances where specialised knowledge or expertise, which is not available in the Department or elsewhere in the public service, is required for a temporary period or a specialist study/project must be completed within a very short time scale.

Departmental Expenditure. 392. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Depart- ment for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4824/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): The scheme of performance- related awards in the civil service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. On the basis that the awards are confidential to the officer concerned details of individual awards are not disclosed nor is the total amount awarded under the scheme made known in respect of Departments where there are less than 5 officers covered by the scheme which would allow them to be identified, which is the case in the Department. Details of the operation of the scheme are available in the report of the Committee for Performance Awards which can be accessed on the website of the Department of Finance at: www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/CPArep2006.pdf No bonus payments have been made in respect of 2008 and there is no specific provision for bonuses in the Department’s budget for 2009.

Community Development. 393. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of premises that were purchased either in part or in full using Exchequer finances during the course of the LEADER Programme 2001 to 2006; the expenditure paid out by the Exchequer in acquiring and maintaining premises during the course of that programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4172/09]

394. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if premises purchased using Exchequer funds under the LEADER Programme 2001 to 2006 will not be used for the LEADER Programme 2007 to 2013; if so, the number of premises involved and their location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4173/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 394 together. The rules of the LEADER programmes 2000-2006 did not allow for the use of Exchequer or EU funds for the purchase of premises. I should point out to the Deputy that the LEADER “bottom-up approach” to rural development involves the delivery by local groups of rural development measures. However, my Department did not establish these Groups. These Groups would have been selected as part of a general call for proposals to deliver the LEADER Programmes. I understand that these companies may also have had access to private and other sources of public funding. In the context of the changes now underway arising from the Cohesion process,

244 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers my Department is in contact with the companies concerned to ensure protection of the state’s interest in any assets which were acquired or developed with the assistance of state support.

395. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if groups formed under the LEADER Programme 2001 to 2006 continued to receive funding from his Department in respect of rent and administration in the interim period between the conclusion of the programme and the commencement of the LEADER Programme 2007 to 2013; if so, the amount expended in such a way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4174/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): In 2007 and 2008 LEADER Groups continued work on the implementation and closure of the LEADER+ and Area-Based Rural Development Initiatives. Accordingly, revised administration funding arrangements were put in place to ensure that Groups, who had exhausted their original Prog- ramme administration allocation, continued to be in a position to carry out this work. Project activity under the Programmes ended for the majority of Groups in March 2008, at which stage the significant work required to close the Programmes commenced. The funding provided did not meet the full administration costs of the Groups, but was a contribution to their core costs. The total amount provided under the revised arrangements amounted to approx. to \17.7m, covering the period from January 2007 until the commencement of the new Rural Development Programme in 2009.

396. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of businesses which were set up and received funding during the LEADER Prog- ramme 2001 to 2006; the number of these businesses which are still in operation and intend to continue operating outside of the LEADER programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4175/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): I have been informed that the number of enterprises assisted to end 2007 under the LEADER Programmes 2000-2006 is approx. 5,120. I am not in a position to inform the Deputy, however, how many of these enterprises are still in operation or how many are likely to continue in operation in the coming years. The LEADER Programmes do not provide ongoing financial support to these enterprises, rather support is generally granted towards the capital costs associated with the start-up or expansion of such enterprises. The Deputy will be aware, however, that under Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013 funding of \48m will be available under the Business Creation and Development measure of the Programme. 35 Local Action Groups and 3 collective bodies were selected, on the basis of a competitive process, to deliver the LEADER Programmes 2000-2006. For the delivery of Axis 3&4oftheRural Development Programme 2007–2013, using the LEADER approach, 36 Local Action Groups have been selected. Twelve of these are integrated LEADER/Partnership companies which operated under previous LEADER Prog- rammes, while the others are newly integrated companies.

397. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there is funding available from Pobal to fund managers of community centres in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4178/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): One of the three categories of projects funded under the Community Services Programme (CSP) operated

245 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v.] by my Department provides a funding contribution to the delivery of services from community centres. In general, a contribution to the cost of managers is not made unless a compelling case has been advanced. The last call for proposals under the Community Halls and Facilities Strand of the Programme was made in mid-2008 and I have already announced decisions in relation to this strand. Some of these are outstanding. Given the current economic circumstances, I have previously stated that it is unlikely that a call for new proposals will be possible for the foreseeable future. At the end of 2008 some 423 projects have been approved for funding at a cost of some \48.5m. Projects fall within three broad categories, namely, the operation of community halls and facilities; the delivery of services not otherwise provided locally, and support for community enterprise opportunities. The number of people that will be employed by these projects is estimated to reach 2,600 by the end of 2009. Further proposals under the 2008 Calls are being examined and I hope to receive recommendations over the next few weeks.

Road Network. 398. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a road (details supplied) in County Mayo can be resurfaced under schemes run by his Depart- ment. [4215/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): I understand that there is no application for grant assistance within my Department for the road referred to by the Deputy. In order for the road to be evaluated under my Department’s Sce´im na mBo´ ithre A´ ise, an application needs to be made and I have arranged that the appropriate form be sent to the Deputy’s office. The question of allocating funds for Gaeltacht roads in 2009 will fall to be considered in the context of funding available and outstanding commitments.

Departmental Expenditure. 399. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount spent in south Tipperary from the Dormant Accounts Fund in the past five years; the amount which will been spent in 2009 under this scheme; and the amount projected to be spent under this scheme. [4221/09]

400. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the anticipated expenditure from his Department on foot of various schemes operated and funded from the proceeds of the Dormant Accounts Fund in South Tipperary in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4222/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together. Funding is provided from the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF), through the votes of relevant Departments, to tackle disadvantage and to assist persons with a disability. My Department manages a number of measures that provide support for priority projects in RAPID areas, for a substance misuse programme and for recreation and personal development grants for disadvantaged young people. Details of the individual grants and organisations that have been approved for support from the Fund are available on the Department’s website www.pobail.ie and a county-by-county breakdown is provided.

246 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

From an examination of the measures that my Department manages, the position in relation to projects in Co. Tipperary is as follows: in relation to Round 1 of the DAF (2004/2005) — which were approved by the former Dormant Accounts Disbursements Board — approval was given for some \1.3 million in projects; in excess of \450,000 in funding was approved for projects under Round 2 (2006); and Round 3 (2007) approvals totalled some \360,000. The indicative allocations for funding under the RAPID additionality and substance misuse measures were agreed by Government in March 2008. The actual beneficiaries of these allocations will be approved in the coming months. During 2009, it is anticipated that funding of some \13 million will be provided through the Vote of my Department in relation to the DAF measures that it manages. However, as projects will continue to be approved as the year progresses, it is not possible to estimate, in advance, the level of funding which will be provided to projects in Co. Tipperary.

Community Development. 401. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the anticipated expenditure on foot of applications received for grant aid under the CLA´ R programme for South Tipperary in 2009; the extent to which these applications are expected to be met in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4223/09]

403. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and nature of applications from various groups in South Tipperary for grant aid under the RAPID or CLA´ R programmes currently in hand; the degree to which it is intended to meet these requirements in full in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4226/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): I propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 403 together. The CLA´ R Programme was set up as an innovative programme to deal with the infrastructure deficits in the most peripheral communities in Ireland, to qualify under the CLA´ R Prog- ramme, an area had to have lost since 1926 an average of 35% of population. The CLA´ R programme is constantly addressing the new challenges faced by small rural communities and is being continuously refocused to deal with the most urgent infrastructural deficits especially in the current economic climate. To date only one application for funding has been received from South Tipperary in 2009. This application is for funding under the CLA´ R Primary School Outdoor Play Facilities Enhancement Scheme. A decision will be made in the case as soon as possible and the Deputy will be informed of the outcome.

RAPID The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 46 designated RAPID areas. In addition, the RAPID leverage schemes support small-scale projects identified locally by the Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas. These schemes are co-funded by the relevant agencies and fund projects that focus on estate enhancement, graffiti removal, traffic calming, community closed-circuit television, health and sports facilities, and the provision of playgrounds and multi-use games areas. My Department is currently assessing three claims under the RAPID Leverage Schemes for RAPID areas in South Tipperary: one claim under the Local Authority Housing Estate Enhancement Scheme for Clonmel; one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Clonmel and

247 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v.] one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Carrick-on-Suir. It is expected that these will be paid in 2009 if the claims are found to be in order. Applications for funding under the Physical Environment Improvement Scheme closed on Friday last, January 30th. These applications are currently being assessed and an announcement will follow when this process has been completed.

402. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the projected expenditure on foot of applications received for grant aid under the RAPID programme for South Tipperary in 2009; the extent to which these applications are expected to be met in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4224/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy John Curran): The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 46 designated RAPID areas. In addition, the RAPID leverage schemes support small-scale projects identified locally by the Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas. These schemes are co-funded by the relevant agencies and fund projects that focus on estate enhancement, graffiti removal, traffic calming, community closed-circuit television, health and sports facilities, and the provision of playgrounds and multi-use games areas. As I have indicated to the House on a number of occasions, it is a matter for individual Departments to report on the provision of funding and progress on delivery with respect to projects under their responsibility in the RAPID areas. In support, Pobal collects data from each RAPID area in respect of funding allocations received by projects from Government Departments and local state agencies. The latest data in respect of the programme is available on Pobal’s website under the RAPID section (http://www.pobal.ie/live/RAPID). The Deputy may find it helpful to access this information. I wish to inform the Deputy that applications for funding under the Physical Environment Improvement Scheme closed on Friday last, January 30th. These applications are currently being assessed and an announcement will follow when this process has been completed. My Department is currently assessing three claims under the RAPID Leverage Schemes for RAPID areas in South Tipperary: one claim under the Local Authority Housing Estate Enhancement Scheme for Clonmel; one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Clonmel and one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Carrick-on-Suir. If paid in 2009 these claims will amount to \147,750. However, given that the RAPID Leverage Scheme is a demand-led, bottom-up funding programme, it is not possible to predict accurately the extent of claims that will be lodged by RAPID areas in South Tipperary during 2009. However, I am satisfied that this year’s allocation will be sufficient to enable further good progress to be made with small-scale co-funded projects in the South Tipperary RAPID areas.

Question No. 403 answered with Question No. 401.

404. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in securing a long-term replacement sponsor for the work carried out by a project (details supplied) in Dublin 8 prior to its closure in December 2008. [4250/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy John Curran): The Project to which the Deputy refers was funded under the Community

248 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Development Programme since 2004, receiving funding in excess of \371,000 under the Prog- ramme in that time. The Project was advised late last year by their auditors and legal advisors to close the Project, which occurred early December 2008. Department officials are investigating alternative mechanisms for delivering on the Project’s workplan for 2009 and beyond. In this regard meetings have recently taken place with local Projects and Groups and the Department is awaiting proposals.

405. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when a decision will be made by his Department in relation to the grant applications regarding a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4251/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): Under my Department’s 2008 call for proposals under the Community Services Programme (CSP), an application has been received in respect of this project under the Services Strand. The Deputy will be aware that I have already announced decisions in respect of Community Facilities Strand last November. I intend to announce decisions in respect of applications under the Services and Enterprise Strands of the CSP later this month. This will include a decision in respect of the project in question. At the end of 2008, some 423 projects have been approved for funding under the CSP at a cost of some \48.5m. Projects fall within three broad categories, namely, the operation of community halls and facilities; the delivery of services not otherwise provided locally, and support for community enterprise opportunities. The number of people that will be employed by these projects is estimated to reach 2,600 by the end of 2009.

406. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the CLA´ R top up for sports clubs in CLA´ R areas is available to qualifying clubs. [4320/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): Since the scheme commenced in 2002 the CLA´ R programme has provided top up funding (up to 20% subject to overall public funding not exceeding 80%) to projects selected under the Sports Capital Grants Scheme run by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and recommended for CLA´ R support by that Department. More than \6.7m has been paid to sports clubs in CLA´ R areas under the scheme to date and almost \2.8m approved to clubs still remains to claimed.

Drug Treatment Programme. 407. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding allocated to the North East Regional Drugs Task Force in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4714/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy John Curran): Between 2005 and 2008, the North Eastern Regional Drugs Task Force (NERDTF) was allocated the following funding to implement their strategic plan:

• 2005 — \410,000;

• 2006 — \636,410;

• 2007 — \891,644;

249 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy John Curran.]

• 2008 — \1,082,902.

This funding covers a number of projects across the region in the areas of prevention, education, treatment, rehabilitation and family support. In addition to this funding, the Task Force was also approved \75,000 in 2008 under the Cocaine Initiative to employ a number of sessional facilitators to provide programmes to those affected by cocaine use. A further \20,000 was also allocated under this Initiative to run a locally-based cocaine awareness campaign to dovetail with the HSE-led national campaign. With regard to capital funding, the NERDTF has been approved funding of nearly \1.65m for four projects under the Premises Initiative. This Fund aims to address the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects in Task Force areas. Details of the approvals are in the table below. In addition, in 2008, the NERDTF was approved funding for two projects valued at nearly \570,000 under the Regional Youth Initiative. This initiative provided capital funding for the development of dedicated youth facilities in Regional Drugs Task Force areas not covered under the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF). Key to approvals was the linking of projects into the overall drug prevention strategy for their particular area. Details of the approvals are in the table below. Overall, I am satisfied that the incremental funding allocated to the NERDTF has enabled the Task Force to develop key services in their area and I am confident that the progress made to date will be built on over the coming years.

Premises Initiatives Approvals

South Meath Response, Unit 1&2 Eamonn Towards renovation of space in new premises 67,177 Duggan Industrial Estate, Athboy Road, at the Maudlins, Trim, Co. Meath for this Trim, Co. Meath community drugs project Crossroads, 82 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Towards refurbishment and purchase of IT 68,939 Louth equipment for training purposes for a new residential premises at 1 Constitution Hill, Drogheda which will cater for six people in recovery at any one time Turas Aftercare Programme, Turas, 59 Towards fit-out of kitchen and offices 6,940 Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth St. James Camino Network Co. Meath Towards the purchase of the property where 1,500,000 the project is currently located in Clonburry Cross, Enfield, Co. Meath

Regional Youth Initiative Approvals

Bridge Street Resource Centre, Cavan Town, Towards the development of a dedicated 469,872 Co. Cavan Youth Cafe´ Cavan Community Project, Cavan Town, Co. Towards renovation of a premises for 97,000 Cavan community drop-in centre/drug education & information facility for youth activities/ programmes that will serve young people of Co. Cavan

250 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Social Inclusion Programme. 408. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position with regard to the renewal of the social inclusion programme with a partnership (details supplied); if he will confirm that the programme will be renewed and the funding allocated to the partnership to implement the programme in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4715/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy John Curran): The process of awarding the new LDSIP contract to the company mentioned by the Deputy, which will apply to the whole county of Meath, has not yet been completed. My Department, in conjunction with Pobal, is seeking to finalise some issues with the process of awarding the contract and I am hopeful that this can be brought to a conclusion shortly.

Forbairt Tionscaıóchta. 409. D’fhiafraigh Deputy Kathleen Lynch den Aire Gno´ thaı´ Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil dul chun cinn deánta maidir le hionaid tionscail a bhunu´ ar an bPaírc Gno´ in Ard an Ra´tha, Co. Dhu´ n na nGall; agus an ndeánfaidh se´ raíteas ina thaobh. [4754/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): Tuigim o´ U´ da´ra´s na Gaeltachta gur ceannaıódh suıómh 2.2 acra i Mıń na Coilleadh in aice le Mıńan Bhealaigh, Ard an Ra´tha, Co. Dhu´ n na nGall, le haghaidh tionscal a fhorbairt sa cheantar. Ta´ comhairleoir fostaithe ag Coiste Tionsclaıóch Ard an Ra´tha, le cu´ namh o´ nU´ dara´s, chun stai- deár a dheánamh ar na feídearthachtaı´ maidir le forbairt an tsuı´mh sin.

Consultancy Contracts. 410. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Depart- ment for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4811/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): My Depart- ment is currently in the process of collating the information requested by the Deputy and I will arrange to have the details forwarded to him directly.

Departmental Expenditure. 411. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4826/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v): I assume that the Deputy is referring to the scheme of performance-related awards for posts at the level of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary. Under this scheme, operated by the Department of Finance, the Central Committee for Performance Awards considers recommendations made by Secretaries General. Awards of \41,000 were made in 2008 in respect of performance in 2007, in accordance with the guidelines and rules governing the scheme. This total amount covered three Assistant Secretaries in my Department.

251 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy E´ amon O´ Cuı´v.]

I can confirm that my Department has made no provision for bonus payments in 2009 and it is not envisaged that any such payments will be made during the year in respect of 2008. For the sake of completeness, I should add that my Department also operated a Merit Award scheme in 2008. Under this scheme, and in accordance with my Department’s agreed Adminis- trative Budget, a total of 0.2% of the payroll allocation may be made available to staff in recognition of exceptional contribution or performance by individuals or teams. In 2008, a total of \12,950 (which was less than 43% of the available funds under the scheme) was awarded to teams across my Department in respect of performance during the year. No individual awards were made. No specific provision has been made for a Merit Award scheme in 2009 and I anticipate that the matter will be discussed at my Department’s Partnership Committee in the coming weeks.

Social Welfare Benefits. 412. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has been denied a carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4371/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The person concerned applied for Carer’s Allowance on 17 June 2008. On 3 October 2008 her claim was refused on the grounds that her means exceed the statutory limit for receipt of Carer’s Allowance. She is assessed with means of \251.71 per week derived from income from her spouse’s insurable employment. She was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. On 1 December 2008 she appealed this decision and an appeal is open in this case. Her file will be submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office this week. Under Social Welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These Officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Employment Rights. 413. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs hers plans to introduce compensation for people suffering health problems as a consequence of working in underground mines (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4577/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): Employment under a contract of service as a miner is insurable for occupational injuries benefit under the Social Welfare Acts. Miners who are unable to work due to an accident arising from their employment may be entitled to occupational injury benefit for the first 26 weeks of their claim. The occupational injuries scheme, operated by the Department, provides entitlement to benefit for persons suffering from certain prescribed diseases which are listed in the legislation and where that person has contracted that disease in the course of their employment. Where a person has contracted one of the diseases listed in the legislation, benefits are payable if they were employed in an occupation which is specifically prescribed in relation to that disease. In addition, benefits may be payable if the claimant can show that the disease was contracted through an employment not specifically prescribed in relation to that disease.

252 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

If the incapacity extends beyond the 26 week period, claimants may receive illness benefit or invalidity pension, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions for these payments. Miners may also be entitled to disablement benefit under the occupational injuries scheme. Disablement benefit is a compensation payment specifically for those who suffer a loss of physical or mental faculty as a result of an accident at work or a disease prescribed in legislation that they contracted at work. Medical assessments are undertaken in all such cases to determine the degree of disablement which is calculated by comparison of the state of health of the applicant with a person of the same age and gender.

Social Welfare Fraud. 414. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the existence of cross-border social welfare fraud; the mechanisms she has established to address cross-border social welfare fraud; the length of time she has been aware of this issue; the approximate number of persons her Department believes are engaging in this fraud; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4182/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The prevention of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system is an integral part of the day-to-day work of my Department. Over 600 staff at local, regional and national level are engaged on a full or part-time basis on work related to the control of fraud and abuse of the social welfare system. Customers in receipt of social welfare payments are reviewed on an ongoing basis to verify continued compliance with requirements such as, in the case of jobseekers payments, being available for and genuinely seeking employment. Means tested payments are reviewed at certain intervals or when there are indications that changes in circumstances have not been reported to the Department. In relation to cross-border control, procedures are in place to deal with ongoing referrals, fraud and non-fraud in Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK. People who move from Northern Ireland to Ireland may have an entitlement to a social welfare payment. However, if there is any suspicion of a fraud being perpetrated, this is investigated by local Social Welfare Inspectors. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland was signed in October 2000. Under the aegis of the MOU, the Cross- Border Operations Forum assists and directs activities relating to the investigation of social security benefit fraud with a cross border dimension. It undertakes individual fraud investigations and larger projects and shares best practice in counter fraud operations. Due to operational sensitivities the Department cannot release information regarding the specifics of control activities that target cross border fraud. Where overpayments occur the Department seeks to recover the overpayments and in cases of serious fraud, the Department will use all legal avenues open to it to recover the money defrauded and seek redress. In 2008 almost \476 million in social welfare payments was saved through fraud and error control measures which is an increase of \29 million on the previous year. At the end 2008, 357 cases of social welfare fraud were forwarded to the Chief State Solicitors Office for the initiation of prosecution proceedings. The Department is committed to ensuring that social welfare payments are available to those who are entitled to them but also determined to ensure that abuse of the system is prevented and is dealt with effectively when detected. In this regard the control programme of the Depart-

253 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Hanafin.] ment is carefully monitored and the various measures are continuously refined to ensure that they remain effective.

Social Welfare Code. 415. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the rules that currently apply to social welfare disallowance for persons on jobseeker’s benefit which require the sacrifice of a day’s benefit even for a tiny number of hours worked on an individual day and which disqualify applicants if they have some work on three or more days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4207/09]

419. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in an effort to assist persons claiming unemployment assistance or benefit, she will consider an option (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4445/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): I propose to take Questions Nos. 415 and 419 together. The Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme provides income support for people who have lost work and are unable to find alternative employment. A fundamental qualifying condition for the benefit is that a person must be available for full-time work. Under the Unemployment Benefit system a week is considered to be six days. Sunday is not considered part of the working week and any work done on Sunday is not reckoned when deciding entitlement. The benefit is only payable in respect of days of unemployment, therefore it is not payable in respect of any day during which the person is engaged in insurable employment irrespective of the extent of the employment (number of hours worked), or the remuneration, or profit. Where a person is employed for up to three days in a week, s/he may claim Jobseeker’s Benefit in respect of the remainder of the week, subject to being available for full-time work. In this context, the development of any scheme involving local authorities would be a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in the first instance. The application of the jobseekers payment scheme conditions to workers who are not employed on a full-time basis is being kept under review.

Social Welfare Benefits. 416. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the length of delay involved in processing applications to switch to invalidity pensions; if there are plans to review this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4305/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Department is committed to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applications are processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as expeditiously as possible. The staff and other resources available to the Department are regularly reviewed having regard to the workload arising and other competing demands. Applicants for invalidity pension do not automatically switch from another social welfare payment. The processing of these applications involves medical assessment, verification of domestic and EU social insurance contributions and other criteria, all of which add to the processing time required to ensure that the terms of the scheme are correctly administered. In

254 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers addition, time can elapse where applicants do not attend for medical assessments or do not supply all the necessary information in support of their claim. The Department received 7,757 invalidity pension applications in 2008 and 7,596 were decided in the year. The average time to decide an invalidity pension award was 11 weeks. A review of existing processes and procedures for invalidity pension is currently underway with the explicit objective of improving efficiency in claim processing.

Employment Support Services. 417. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the allowances available to private sector workers who have recently lost their jobs, not through redundancy, in terms of back to education courses; the allowances available for people who have recently lost their jobs, not through redundancy, and who wish to pursue courses through FA´ S; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4306/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Department of Social and Family Affairs offers a range of education and employment supports designed to assist and facilitate people on social welfare payments to return to the active labour force. The back to education allowance (BTEA) is the main education support scheme of the Department. It is designed to encourage people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to work. An applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period, to qualify for the back to education allowance. This requirement has always been a feature of the BTEA scheme and is considered necessary to ensure that limited resources are directed at those most in need. The allowance essentially replaces a person’s existing social welfare income and, in addition, an annual \500 cost of education allowance is payable. In general, an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 6 months if pursuing a second level course or 12 months if pursuing a third level course. In addition, the qualifying period for access to the third level option is further reduced to 9 months for persons who are participating in the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) process and people who are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study. FA´ S Employment Service helps job-seekers, in particular those who are most marginalised, to enter-re-enter the active labour market. Job-seekers who are considered to be distant from the labour market are provided with appropriate and intensive professional vocational guidance which results in an action plan setting out specific actions and measures to be implemented with a view to helping them integrate into the labour force. FA´ S provides various financial supports in the form of allowances to assist participants of training courses and grants or subventions to encourage employers to support training programmes. Participants on the majority of FA´ S training courses are eligible for various allowances. The main allowances given for the course participants are training, travel, accommodation, meals and child care. FA´ S operates a National Contact Centre which may be contacted, by job-seekers, using a free-phone number to obtain information on jobs available and on FA´ S training and employment programmes. For information on the full range of allowances and grants and advice on their personal options a person should contact their local FA´ S office.

255 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Departmental Staff. 418. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of personnel, their grades and the budget of the new division responsible for addressing issues of poverty and exclusion. [4423/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Government’s decision to integrate the Combat Poverty Agency and the Office for Social Inclusion within the Depart- ment of Social and Family Affairs was informed by a review of the Combat Poverty Agency undertaken on foot of a Government Decision on the 6th June 2007. The legislative provision to give effect to the Government’s decision is contained in the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2008. An implementation plan for the smooth integration of the two bodies is underway and it is envisaged that the new division will commence operations from 1st July. The new division will provide a unified institutional structure to support government, officials and the wider community in addressing issues of poverty and social exclusion. It will play a central role in co-ordinating the ongoing development and implementation of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion in collaboration with the Senior Officials Group on Social Inclusion, government departments, local authorities and agencies. Key functions will include policy advice, research, data availability, communications, poverty impact assessment and the strengthening of social inclusion strategies. In the meantime both organisations continue to operate separately, but are in the process of integrating their operations. There are currently 20 permanent staff employed in the Combat Poverty Agency (17.6 full time equivalent posts) in grades analogous to Civil Service grades as follows — 6 Assistant Principals, 8 Higher Executive Officers, 2 Executive Officers and 4 Clerical Officers. In addition, there are seven people on either fixed term or temporary contracts that are due to be completed in the coming months. The Department’s 2009 Grant-in- Aid provision for the Combat Poverty Agency is \4.088m of which some \2.4m is attributable to the Board and staff costs and the administration costs. The remainder relates mainly to programme funding under headings that include projects, communications and research. There are currently ten staff members working in the Office for Social Inclusion as follows; Director, Principal Officer, 2 Assistant Principals, 5 Higher Executive/Administrative Officers and 1 Clerical Officer. The costs associated with the Office mainly relate to staff costs and are accounted for as part of the overall administrative budget of the Department. As part of the integration process, both bodies are drawing up integrated business plans for the year and a strategic plan for the new division for the next 3 years. These plans will determine the deployment of staff and the budget for the new division in the second half of this year and in future years. It is expected that the new arrangements will yield savings, especially in areas such as accommodation and efficiencies that can be gained through combined payroll and ancillary support services.

Question No. 419 answered with Question No. 415.

Social Welfare Appeals. 420. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position of a disability allowance appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [4461/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The claim for disability allowance, by the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 3 October 2008 as she did not satisfy the medical conditions or the means test. An appeal was opened on 14 October 2008 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office, that in

256 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers accordance with the statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentation in the case and the Deciding Officers comments on the grounds of appeal. The relevant documentation have been received by an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing. The person concerned will be informed when arrangements have been made. The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an office of the Department that is independently responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

421. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the outcome of the reassessment carried out on a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [4646/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The person concerned is in receipt of a farm assist payment since 23 April 2007. He requested a review of his means assessment on 3 October 2008. A review of his entitlement has now been completed. His weekly means have been assessed at \157.00 by a Deciding Officer from 3 October 2008. His new weekly rate of payment is \182.90, which includes an increase in respect of his spouse. A payment of \1,525.60, including arrears, will issue to him shortly. If he is unhappy with this assessment it is open to him to appeal this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

422. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an appeal will be dealt with in relation to jobseeker’s allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [4647/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The person concerned applied for a jobseeker’s allowance payment on 15 October 2008. A Deciding Officer disallowed his claim from that date on the grounds that he failed to show that his means did not exceed the maximum rate payable to a person in his circumstances. Following an appeal his claim was forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for re-examination. The inspector will examine his case as soon as possible. Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service. 423. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of clients availing of the facilities of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service for January 2009; if she will provide this information for each local office; the relevant figure for each office for January 2008 and January 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4669/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is the main Government funded service which provides assistance to people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems. There are 53 independent companies with voluntary boards of management operating the local services throughout the country. In 2009 almost \18 million has been provided to fund the service. Additional full and part time staff have been allocated to 6 MABS offices bringing to 252 the number of money advice staff employed in the MABS. This will ensure that people in debt seeking advice on their personal finances can access that advice promptly.

257 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Hanafin.]

There are three ways that members of the public can receive the assistance, support and advice they need from MABS — through the MABS Telephone Helpline lo-call number 1890 283 438 available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, the 52 MABS companies nationwide operating in 65 locations delivering the locally based face to face service and the MABS website www.mabs.ieIn the period to the end of January 2009 1,552 new clients approached the MABS. In addition, 262 people sought information about budgeting and money management and the MABS National Helpline dealt with approx 2,030 calls. The detailed statistical breakdown of clients per centre for the months January 2009, January 2008, and January 2007 requested by the Deputy is not available. However nationally in January 2007 1,817 new clients approached the MABS. The corresponding figure for January 2008 was 1,210 new clients. In addition 906 callers were dealt with by the MABS National Helpline which was launched in October 2007. Overall in 2008 some 16,600 new clients were seen by MABS. An additional 2,400 sought information about budgeting and money management from the local services and the MABS National Helpline received almost 11,000 calls.

Social Welfare Code. 424. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person who applies for unemployment assistance following a period of working as a taxi driver can be obliged by her Department to dispose of the plate as a condition of their approval; and the way such applicants who can no longer make a living at the taxis can demonstrate their eligibility for unemployment assistance as they undertake their search for alternative employment, as in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [4782/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The person concerned claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance on 14 November 2008 at North Cumberland St. Local Office. Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) is a means-tested scheme, which means that the person must satisfy qualifying conditions and pass a means test to see if he/she qualifies for payment. The person concerned is self-employed as a taxi driver since 2004. He advised the Social Welfare Inspector in December 2008 that he was off sick for 3 months during 2008 and he claims that he last worked on 15 November 2008. He has not kept accounts for 2007 or 2008. He has insurance for his taxi up until April 2009. He agreed that he can continue to work as a self-employed taxi driver whenever he wishes. There has been no suggestion made that he has to dispose of his taxi plate. Accordingly, he is being assessed as a self-employed taxi driver. His JA claim has been disallowed. The Local Office wrote to him on 10 December 2008 to advise him that his weekly means have been assessed at \300. As his weekly means were greater than the weekly rate of payment due for JA at that time, that is, \197.80, he was advised that he is not entitled to a JA payment. He was advised that he could appeal this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. He has now submitted an appeal and this is being processed at present. It is open to the person concerned to claim Supplementary Welfare Allowance if he feels that his income is insufficient for his needs.

Social Welfare Benefits. 425. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford has been disallowed a carer’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4798/09]

258 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The person concerned applied for carer’s allowance on 22 February 2008. When the care recipient is under 16 years of age it is a condition that domiciliary care allowance be in payment in order to qualify for carer’s allowance. On 23 December 2008 the person’s claim was refused on the grounds that domiciliary care allowance was not in payment. She was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right to appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. Under Social Welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These Officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

426. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford has been disallowed a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4799/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): Disability Allowance 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 both medical assessment and a means test. The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 21 November 2008. Following a medical examination on 26 January 2009 by this Department’s Medical Assessor, he was deemed to be not medically suitable for disability allowance. His application for disability allowance was refused on 29 January 2009. A letter issued to the person concerned on 29 January 2009 notifying him of this decision and giving him the option of sending in further medical evidence to this Department within 21 days. It is also open to him to appeal directly to the Independent Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.

427. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford has been denied a jobseekers allowance or any social welfare assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4801/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Department has no record of receiving an application for Jobseekers Allowance from the person concerned. If she wishes to submit an application, she should contact her local Social Welfare Office.

Consultancy Contracts. 428. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the private consultancy firms her Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to her Department for each project; and if she will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4820/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Department has a major programme of business, organisational and technological change underway to enable it to modernise the services which it provides to its customers. Ensuring that we maximise the potential of Information Technology is a significant aspect of this and external consultancy firms are used to assist the Department with this work. Consultancy is defined in the Department of Finance guidelines as where a person or organisation provides intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) through delivering reports, studies, assessments, recommendations, proposals, etc. that contribute to decision making or policy making. For example, the Department has used external

259 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Hanafin.] consultancy expertise to support it in undertaking the review of the Social Insurance Fund and the Equality Review of the Social Welfare Code. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table and includes all private consultancy firms used by the Department during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009. It should be noted that in the case of the larger projects the actual expenditure may be incurred over a period of one or more years.

Consultancy Firms used in Period 01/01/08 to 14/10/08

Company Project Contract

Bearing Point Support and Maintenance of SDM production system 4,000,000 Bearing Point Widows and Widowers Contributory Pension 2,150,252 Fujitsu Services Payment & Agency Reconciliation 3,058,943 Hewlett Packard Office Systems Modernisation 2,736,312 Bayberry Payment & Agency Reconciliation (business and 1,084,864 organisational change) Hewlett Packard Implementation of Office Systems Infrastructure 723,446 PM Centrix Website Redesign 394,242 Accenture General Register Office System — Support and 1,724,240 Maintenance Core International Travel & Subsistence Claim Processing System 100,512 Inpute Technologies Digital Documents 116,160 Fujitsu Services Oracle Financials 185,449 ERSI Live Register Customer Profiling 51,000 Core International Time & Attendance System 60,790 Computer Associates Information Technology Infrastructure Review 19,965 Microsoft Ireland Infrastructure Optimisation 17,120 Core International Corepay development and Upgrade 30,000 Peoplesoft Human Resource Management System Support 8,057 Naked Objects Business Objects Modelling Advice and Expertise 356,950 (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) Naked Objects Technical Development Advice in relation to Business 425,920 Object Model (Service Delivery Modernisation Programme) Accenture Strategic Review of Client Eligibility Services 368,573 Grant Thornton Strategic Review of Customer Facing Services 183,781 Mel Cousins Equality Review of Social Welfare Code 246,236 ERSI Assessment of impact of tax and welfare policy 150,000 Ernst & Young Business Information Security Advice 120,000 Deloitte Internal Audit Support 363,180 WRC Social & Economic Review of Activation and Family Support Programme 96,751 Consultants Millward Brown Family Income Supplement — Uptake Research 65,606 ERSI National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) 104,000 Evaluation Rits Information Security Forensic Investigation Services 30,454 ERSI Measurement & analysis of levels of consistent poverty 80,000 Camille Loftus- OPEN Welfare to work review 14,000

260 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Company Project Contract \ Conal Devine Associates CORE Functions — Organisational Design/ 10,905 Development and Configuration & Transition Management Accenture Taxonomy 217,800 Technical Guidance Pensions Policy Report 5,392 Open Interface Office of Social Inclusion — Website Upgrade 484 Hewlett Packard Customer Object Development 2,394,452 Hewlett Packard Public Service Identity 63,720 Consult Hyperion Public Service Card 16,015

Consultancy Firms used from 15/10/08 to Date

Company Project Contract

LAN Communications Internal Network Security Implementation 39,930 Bearing Point Medical Review and Case Management 4,148,690 Hewlett Packard Implementation of Centralised Infrastructural Management 81,266 System

Departmental Expenditure. 429. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost of bonus payments made to staff in her Department for 2008; the amount set aside in her Depart- ment for bonus payments in 2009; and if she will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4835/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): Civil service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. Recommendations in relation to awards are made by the Secretary General of each department and the operation of the scheme is overseen by the Committee for Perform- ance Awards. The funding for awards is based on 10% of the payroll for the posts covered by the scheme. Within this overall limit, payments of up to 20% can be made to individuals. Details of the procedures, the numbers covered by the scheme, the range of awards and the total amounts paid in Departments are outlined in the annual reports of the Committee (available on the website www.finance.gov.ie). The Committee does not identify the amount paid to individuals as this is regarded as personal information. No specific provision has been made for this scheme in 2009. In addition, there is a scheme for Recognition of Exceptional Performance by Staff which operates across the Civil Service. This scheme has been in operation since 1996 and allows Secretaries-General to make awards for sustained exceptional performance to staff. Awards may be made in respect of performance above the level which would reasonably be expected in the normal course from the grade of staff involved. All staff in the Department, irrespective of grade, can nominate another staff member or a team for an award, at any time during the year. The total gross expenditure on the scheme, which in my Department is called the Fiu´ ntas scheme, was \176,780 in 2008. Total gross expenditure on the scheme in 2009 will depend on the decisions made during the year in relation to nominations for recognition of exceptional 261 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Hanafin.] performance but in any event, as in previous years, the total expenditure on the scheme in 2009 may not exceed 0.2% of payroll costs.

Departmental Staff. 430. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there are physical building constraints preventing the allocation of additional staff at the Trim, Kells and Navan social welfare offices to help alleviate the waiting times facing newly unemployed people’s applications for unemployment claims to be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4840/09]

431. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has plans to secure additional office space for the Trim, Kells and Navan social welfare offices locally; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4841/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 431 together. With the increase in the number of people applying for unemployment payments in particular, staff in social welfare offices have been working extremely hard to process claims as quickly as possible. I know that processing times in some areas are still too long and I assure the Deputy that we are doing our best to reduce them. I appreciate that becoming unemployed is a very difficult time in a persons life and that they need to get access to financial and other supports as quickly as possible. The Navan Social Welfare Local Office is staffed by employees of the Department. It is a relatively new office and there are no specific physical building constraints that have or that will prevent the allocation of additional staff resources there. Additionally, internal renovations within that office are due to be undertaken shortly which will provide additional working space. Having regard to the increased live register and service demands, an additional four staff have been allocated to Navan Local Office, with a further 2 to be allocated. This will bring the total number of staff in the office to 30. The offices in Trim and Kells are Branch Offices operated by private individuals on a contract basis. Within the terms of their contracts, branch managers are required to provide adequate staffing and suitable accommodation to allow the efficient performance of the work of the office. The Department reviews the provision of accommodation and staffing in branch offices from time to time of these offices under the terms and conditions of these contracts. The arrangements in the Trim and Kells offices are being kept under review.

432. Deputy Ro´ isı´n Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount of funding allocated to each Social Welfare Branch office in each of the past three years; how this amount is determined; how staffing levels are determined and funded; how often and on what basis contracts are renewed; how performance is appraised; and on what basis extra staff will be provided if there is a sharp rise in case-load. [5062/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): In addition to its own network of Social Welfare Local Offices my Department delivers a front-line service to the public through 62 Branch Offices. Each Branch Office is operated, under a contract for services, by a Branch Manager who acts as an agent for the Department in the district served by the Branch Office.

262 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

The method of remuneration for Branch Managers is agreed at the Branch Managers’ Con- ciliation Council, which includes officials from the Department and representatives of the Branch Managers’ Association, and is subject to approval by the Department of Finance. Under current arrangements, payments made to Branch Managers comprise a basic payment, a Variable Costs Allowance and a Tiered Services Allowance. The rate of Variable Costs and Tiered Services Allowances payable are dependent on claim load and as such can differ from Office to Office. All newly appointed Branch Managers are appointed on an initial twelve month contract. Subject to the provision of satisfactory service a permanent contract to age 65 may be awarded. In some instances specific time bound contracts have also been awarded. There is provision in all contracts for the review of arrangements for delivery of services. Under the conditions of their contract, each Branch Manager is required to provide sufficient staffing to allow for the efficient performance of the work of the Office. Branch Managers are subject to an annual performance appraisal by the Department. Per- formance levels are measured in relation to efficiency and effectiveness, customer service and the quality of work. In addition, performance is also monitored through regular control checks, audits and inspections, which are carried out in Branch Offices by departmental staff. Details of the payments made, in the last three years, in respect of each Social Welfare Branch Office are as set out in the following table.

Payments made to Branch Managers in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Location 2006 2007 2008

\\\

Ardee 103,413 116,661 151,013 Athy 112,543 143,230 194,417 Balbriggan 173,966 205,034 269,977 Closed November 2008 Ballinasloe 120,886 139,143 166,715 Ballinrobe 79,368 86,685 98,123 Ballybofey 123,750 141,597 182,974 Ballyshannon 86,931 101,558 118,990 Baltinglass 77,436 97,194 124,805 Bandon 82,752 95,926 120,028 Bantry 70,431 80,183 91,152 Ballyconnell 77,350 88,853 101,164 Birr 113,558 128,826 153,611 Boyle 72,098 80,593 92,969 Cahir 73,800 82,892 94,402 Carrickmacross 83,969 96,015 118,959 Carrick-On-Suir 124,682 136,920 161,806 Cashel 63,441 69,642 85,481 Castleblaney 101,281 113,534 132,723 Castlepollard 64,803 77,427 93,554 Castlerea 99,232 119,750 142,052 Claremorris 80,096 91,424 111,739 Clonakilty 78,908 90,223 99,295 Clones 55,794 66,974 79,964 Dingle 58,615 64,326 77,702

263 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Mary Hanafin.] Location 2006 2007 2008 \\\ Donegal Town 84,665 105,050 116,840 Dungarvan 132,860 145,218 168,399 Dunmanway 57,080 38,629 0 Closed July 2007 Edenderry 89,971 109,271 135,583 Enniscorthy 204,554 235,656 288,945 Ennistymon 98,626 110,070 130,763 Fermoy 111,429 131,330 157,162 Gorey 156,825 185,918 231,236 Gort 84,416 106,159 112,748 Kells 85,333 97,235 122,060 Killarney 124,516 143,961 93,420 Closed June 2008 Killorglin 79,286 86,013 101,619 Killybegs 114,099 118,247 126,171 Kilmallock 110,458 123,868 164,119 Kilrush 93,190 105,741 119,006 Kinsale 88,653 98,709 112,277 Loughrea 9,078 — 0 Closed January 2006 Macroom 76,385 90,629 115,204 Mallow 102,548 118,821 140,978 Maynooth 181,755 219,813 301,897 Middleton 134,631 152,935 185,281 Monaghan 109,239 138,058 171,549 Muine Beag 84,477 103,248 124,091 Nenagh 121,342 140,828 169,122 Newmarket 76,599 94,256 113,492 Newross 158,015 183,812 224,169 Passage West 91,320 1,297 0 Closed October 2006 Portarlington 105,640 123,492 171,955 Portlaoise 123,421 158,899 221,920 Rathdowney 69,903 79,970 94,302 Roscommon 72,434 85,664 98,349 Roscrea 81,959 89,860 102,146 Skibbereen 81,096 88,041 97,099 Swinford 111,176 127,573 144,871 Thomastown 76,260 85,103 98,708 Tipperary 93,097 100,463 118,747 Trim 106,442 132,292 179,852 Tuam 153,296 180,358 215,966 Tubbercurry 67,588 76,409 92,787 Tulla 71,314 81,359 94,802 Tullow 79,569 100,201 118,849 Wicklow 114,534 130,046 155,160 Youghal 97,644 116,555 132,957

264 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Marine Accidents. 433. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the reason for delay in having the Asgard II raised from the seabed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4693/09]

434. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence the reason for the delay in raising the Asgard II; and the immediate plans in respect thereof. [4780/09]

435. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Defence when the Asgard II will be raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4803/09]

Minister for Defence (Deputy Willie O’Dea): I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 to 435, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputies to my reply in the House last Wednesday, 4 February, to Questions no. 100 and 101. I will make a decision this week in relation to the salvage of Asgard II.

Consultancy Contracts. 436. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Defence the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4812/09]

Minister for Defence (Deputy Willie O’Dea): The information sought by the Deputy in relation to consultancy firms used by my Department during the period 1 January 2008 to 14 October 2008 is set out in the following table. No new contracts have been entered into by my Department in the period from 15 October 2008 to date.

265 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers will be provided inthe relation implementation to of the Policy for a period of 3 years. \ 60,138.09 was paid \ 90,000 incl. VAT. Balance \ 50,000; final payment made. ongoing advice and assistance \ 25,000 (December 2008). \ 95,000 excluding VAT. \ 43,741.50 in March 2008. A final payment of \ 45,643 (September 2008), 29,500 to be paid on completion of the Review in 2009. \ \ 16,153.50 was made in August 2008. 60,500. Total value of contract is on Emergency Planning. Thedevelopment contract of provided the for Emergencypublication the Planning and website, distribution drafting, ofPlanning a and handbook a on mediathe Emergency advertisement launch campaign of associated the with handbook. Coordination Centre control in the Glencontrol. of Imaal and identify a plan for its medical requirements of theof Defence the Forces. review Estimated is in cost Nov. 2008. Monitoring Group to reviewthe progress publication made in by 2004Challenge the of of PDF the a since report Workplace’. ‘Response to therelation to the draftingnew of Court revised Martial Rules RulesDefence of following (Amendment) Procedure the Act, and enactment 2007.made of Two — the stage payments\ were Baldonnel. Value of contract formally is launched on 17 December 2008. Replacement Programme. Two stage— payments made to date made to date, in\ November 2008 andof December 2008 of 2008 Murray Consultants20082008 Implemented a Magnum Public Opus Information and Awareness Campaign Entograph2008 1,847,673 PA Consultant Group Project2008 complete. To provide project support services for the National Dr. Emergency Eileen Doyle To make2008 recommendations Carried on out the a best study means to of review 36,905 meeting and the evaluate options for McCann bracken Fitzgerald, Solicitors Project ongoing. 60,138.09 To provide To legal act2008 drafting, as 30,129 research external and expert advice and services to in Project chair ongoing. the Independent Project Mott complete. Mac Donald Ltd2008 59,895 37,109.12 BMT To Defence2008 carry Services, out UK a review Project of complete. Project Safety complete. Policy Report at Casement Aerodrome, Consultants FGS engaged Consulting in relation to the Naval Vessel 50,000 Project complete. However VFM Review of Military Training Lands. Two stage 70,643 payments Project 60,500.00 ongoing. Project ongoing. Year Name of Consultancy firm Work Carried Out Cost of Project Status

266 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

There is an ongoing capital building programme in my Department designed to modernise the living, training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces, both Permanent and Reserve. Consultants with appropriate expertise are engaged by my Depart- ment as necessary to provide technical services in connection with building and engineering projects. It should be noted that (as per Comptroller and Auditor General, Report on Value for Money ‘Consultancies in the Civil Service’ 1998) such design and engineering consultancies for capital projects are better examined in association with the construction projects to which they relate. My Department spends approximately \2m annually on Construction Consult- ants’ fees.

Departmental Expenditure. 437. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Defence the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4827/09]

Minister for Defence (Deputy Willie O’Dea): Civil Service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. The operation of the scheme is overseen by the Committee for Performance Awards (CPA). Details of awards to individual officers under the scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. However, I can say that during 2008 awards totalling \22,000 were made to two officers in my Department. The Scheme for Performance Related Awards also applies to officers of the Permanent Defence Force at the level of Brigadier General and Major General. In 2008 an amount of \125,900 was paid to a total of 11 personnel under this scheme. In respect of 2009, no awards have been authorised for payment under this scheme. Performance awards for other civil service grades are made to individual staff members and to groups of staff under a scheme for Recognition of Exceptional Performance of duty. In assessing eligibility for awards, regard is given to the nature and quality of the activities involved and to the circumstances under which they were carried out. Attention is also paid to the grade level of the staff members concerned and to what would be regarded as high quality performance from staff in such grades. In 2008, two individual awards of \700 each, one individual award of \400 and 7 individual awards of \200 each have been made. In 2008 there were 419 members of staff across all grades up to and including Principal Officer level eligible for consideration for an award under the scheme. No amount has been set aside in 2009 under the scheme for Recognition of Exceptional Performance awards.

Local Authority Housing. 438. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Govern- ment the position of an application by a local authority for funding in respect of a regeneration programme at a local authority housing estate (details supplied) in County Kildare; when the application was submitted; when a decision will be made in relation to the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4247/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): A Remedial Works Scheme application in relation to the estate in question was received on 3 November 2008 and, following the initial evaluation of all proposals received from local authorities, my Department has informed Kildare County Council that it is favourably disposed towards the proposal and would like to have it progress under

267 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Michael Finneran.] the Remedial Works Scheme Programme for 2009. The progression of this and similar proposals will be contingent on certain details of design, costing and phasing being reviewed and agreed with my Department and the overall level of funding available. My Department will be in touch with the Council shortly to outline what is required to advance the project in 2009.

National Monuments. 439. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to the taxpayer of the cases in the High Court and the Supreme Court arising out of the decision to refuse to grant a licence in relation to the Lusitania under section 3, subsection 5 of the National Monument (Amendment) Act 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4441/09]

458. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost to the tax payer of the High Court and Supreme Court decisions arising out of the refusal to grant a licence in relation to the Lusitania under section 3 subsection 5 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4442/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): I propose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 458 together. Following refusal of an application under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987 for a licence to dive survey the wreck of the RMS Lusitania, the applicant sought judicial review of the Minister’s decision in the High Court. In a complex judgment delivered in June 2005, the Court deemed that the refusal was ultra vires the powers of the Minister. Following legal advice, it was decided to appeal the High Court decision to the Supreme Court which held that the State’s appeal should be dismissed. Costs of the Judicial Review and Supreme Court challenge were awarded to the licence applicant. A settlement of \343,940.05 (High Court \248,248.41; Supreme Court \95,691.64) was subsequently agreed, and paid over to the applicant in December 2008. Information on the cost of the State’s legal representation in the cases is a matter for the Chief State Solicitors Office, and is not available in my Department.

Animal Welfare. 440. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if the proposed dog breeding establishment regulations will be incorporated or superseded by the soon to be published Animal Welfare Bill which is to include dogs and horses in its remit. [4203/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Work has been ongoing for some time in my Department in drafting measures to provide for statutory regulation of dog breeding establishments within the dog control legislative regime. The issues involved are complex and required detailed consideration. This process has included discussions with a number of organisations, bodies, public agencies and interests active in this area. As indicated in the reply to question No.1045 of 27 January 2009, it is my intention to introduce amending legislation in this area which will address a number of issues relating to dog breeding establishments. My proposals in this regard will be published as soon as possible

268 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers and will complement measures being prepared by my colleague the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the area of animal welfare and health.

Planning Issues. 441. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to increase the duration of planning permission to ten years in respect of applications in respect of wind farms and associated wind and green energy structures; if this can be retrospective for permissions nearing their five year period but not yet commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4206/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Planning permissions are typically granted for a period of 5 years, although a planning authority may, having regard to the nature and extent of the relevant development and any other material considerations, specify a longer period during which a permission is to have effect. Where a planning permission expires, the developer may seek an extension of the relevant period. Sub- ject to compliance with certain requirements, including the requirement that substantial works were carried out pursuant to the permission during that period, a planning authority may extend the duration of a permission by such additional period as it considers necessary to enable the relevant development to be completed. This period may be further extended where the planning authority is satisfied that the relevant development had not been completed due to circumstances beyond the control of the developer. On the particular issue of Wind Farm development, my Department also issued the Wind Energy Development Guidelines in June 2006. A copy of the Guidelines is available on my Department’s website www.environ.ie. The Guidelines offer advice to planning authorities on planning for wind energy through the development plan process and in determining applications for planning permission, including the duration of the planning permission itself. The relevant provisions of these guidelines were restated in Circular Letter PD3/08 issued on 16 July 2008. While I consider that these provisions are adequate they will be reviewed in the context of the forthcoming Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill.

Energy Ratings. 442. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will introduce a standard cost for building energy ratings assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4243/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 20 and 32 of 5 February 2009. The position is unchanged.

Health and Safety Regulations. 443. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the action he will take to address fire safety concerns in apartment complexes which are controlled by unregulated management companies; his views on recent inspections which have shown many apartment complexes containing no fire fighting equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4244/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael P. Kitt): Preparation of legislation in regard to management companies for

269 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Michael P. Kitt.] apartment complexes is a matter in the first instance for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Section 22 of the Fire Services Act 1981 empowers fire authorities to inspect any land or building, including apartment complexes, for the purpose of the Act. Under the Fire Services Acts 1981 and 2003, fire authorities can pursue enforcement of fire safety matters, including the management of fire safety. In addition, Section 18 of the Fire Services Act 1981 places a duty on persons having control over premises, such as apartment complexes, to take all reasonable measures to guard against the outbreak of fire and to ensure the safety of persons on the premises in the event of an outbreak of fire. I have no role in the day to day exercise of these functions.

Social and Affordable Housing. 444. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will provide details of the new equity support scheme which is to replace existing affordable housing schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4245/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): I refer to the reply to Question No. 16 of 5 February 2009. The position is unchanged.

Housing Grants. 445. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of funding allocated by his Department to Dublin City Council for the housing adaptation grant for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4264/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): Details of the grants and funding made available to Dublin City Council towards the operation of the schemes in question are set out in the table below. The Schemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with 20% contribution from the resources of the local authority. The Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the Housing Aid for Older People Scheme came into operation in November 2007, replacing the previous Disabled Per- sons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes, which were funded by 67% recoupment available from my Department together with 33% contribution from the resources of the local authority.

Dublin City Council 2006 2007 2008

\\\

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability Total amount recouped 1,183,013 Amount funded by D/EHLG 946,410 Amount funded by DCC 236,603

Mobility Aids Grant Scheme Total amount recouped 39,880 Amount funded by D/EHLG 31,904 Amount funded by DCC 7,976

270 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Dublin City Council 2006 2007 2008 \\\ Housing Aid for Older People scheme Total amount recouped 478,126 Amount funded by D/EHLG 382,501 Amount funded by DCC 95,625

Disabled Persons Grant Total amount recouped 10,631,897 11,412,167 10,881,800 Amount funded by D/EHLG 7,087,931 7,608,111 7,254,533 Amount funded by DCC 3,543,966 3,804,056 3,627,267

Essential Repairs Grant Total amount recouped 807,002 1,052,111 917,867 Amount funded by D/EHLG 538,001 701,407 611,911 Amount funded by DCC 269,001 350,704 305,956

Architectural Heritage. 446. Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of grant aid allocated annually to an organisation (details supplied) for each year 2000 to 2007 inclusive. [4286/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): My Department has provided a total of \3,866,356 to An Taisce in the period 2000 to 2007. The table below sets out the detail of amounts provided for each year.

271 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers 2,645 2,645 50,000 50,000 40,940 40,940 600 726 605 1,210 3,141 Funding to An Taisce \\\\\\\\\ 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Total CORE FundingConsultation/Policy submissionsMeetingsSpring CleanGreen SchoolsBiodiversity Week Advertising Blue Flag SchemeBlue Flag Conference Clean Coasts ProjectsIrish Business against LitterMiscellaneous projects 171,205Participation in planning 5,463 process 8,000Total 228,553 54,291*This amount was 1,000 provided in 250,000 2006 but was 1,311 in respect of 2005. 85,033 3,600 250,000 3,659 63,475 400 280,000 3,506 5,294 65,156 324,448 2,493 340,264 23,7096 4,538 81,771 347,237 320,360 5,608 30,000 4,994 50,000 50,000 2,191,707 314,857 5,000 5,000 6,013 86,097 1,850 *50,000 75,000 379,415 6165 185,347 5,000 27,743 150,000 100,000 542,237 16,676 651,168 200,000 5,000 750 100,000 481,249 8,000 106,861 408,000 688,923 2,250 902,203 431,861 10,876 3,866,356 15,000 16,600

272 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Water and Sewerage Schemes. 447. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Govern- ment the status of an application (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4359/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): The combined O’Briens Bridge, O’Callaghan’s Mills, Bodyke, Flagmount and Cratloe Sewer- age Scheme is included for funding in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009. Further consideration will be given to Clare County Council’s Preliminary Report for the scheme, which was received in my Department in November 2008, on receipt of additional information requested from the Council in December 2008.

448. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when funding will be provided for the Mullingar main drainage scheme, County Westmeath which requires and outlay of \16 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4374/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): The Mullingar Sewerage Scheme is included for funding in my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2007-2009 at an estimated cost of \72 million. Phase 1 of the works, involving the upgrading of the treatment plant, a pumping station and construction of the main interceptor sewer commenced last Summer. Following completion of these works, it is proposed to carry out further works, involving the rehabilitation and upgrading of existing sewers and minor pumping stations, as Phase 2 of the scheme.

Social and Affordable Housing. 449. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of affordable homes acquired by local authorities under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 for each of the years 2006 and 2007; the average cost price of an affordable home acquired by the local authority; the number of affordable homes sold by local authorities during 2006 and 2007; the number of affordable homes that remained unsold at the end of the years 2006 and 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4380/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): Information on affordable housing activity, up to the end of June 2008, is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie. Information is also published in my Department’s Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Data for the third quarter of 2008 will be published shortly. Comprehensive information on the average cost price of affordable homes acquired by local authorities and the number of units sold was not collected by my Department in 2006-2007. At the end of 2007, information supplied by local authorities indicated that the number of units on hands at that time was of the order of 2,200. Such data were not collected in 2006. It is a feature of the operation of the affordable housing schemes that individual authorities ordinarily have a certain quantum of completed affordable homes on hands at any given time, principally comprising units either being prepared for, or in the course of, sale. However, the information available from local authorities would suggest that the strong level of affordable housing delivery in 2008 and wider housing and mortgage market considerations are combining

273 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Michael Finneran.] to increase the stock of homes on hands. The indications to date are that the number of affordable units on hands nationally is in the region of 2,500 to 3,000 units.

450. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on local authorities acquiring fewer affordable housing units than they are entitled to under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and then having to sell the units acquired at below cost price due to inability to sell them at a higher price charged to them by the developer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4381/09]

451. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Waterford City Council is acquiring fewer affordable housing units than they are entitled to under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 due to the high costs of the units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4382/09]

452. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been that Waterford City Council has acquired fewer affordable housing units than they are entitled to in an estate (details supplied) as a result of prohibitively high prices charged by the developer; if he will examine the contract between Waterford City Council and the developer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4383/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 to 452, inclusive, together. Statutory responsibility for the making of agreements under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2007 rests with the relevant planning authority. An agreement under Part V may provide for, inter alia, the developer building and transfer- ring completed houses to the planning authority. The number and description of the houses will be specified in the agreement and the homes will be transferred at a price determined on the basis of the site cost of the units, calculated at existing use value together with the building and development costs, including profits, as agreed between both parties. It is open to a planning authority to accept fewer units at a lower cost price — in effect, cost subsidisation — so long as it achieves the equivalent monetary value which would have accrued had the agreement provided solely for the transfer of land. The housing yield under each Part V agreement is a matter for individual authorities to negotiate, having regard to the various considerations set out in legislation. In the case referred to, the local authority has advised that the required equivalent monetary value due to it under Part V was secured. It is open to local authorities to further reduce the purchase price of affordable homes, where appropriate, from a value for money perspective, where this is necessary to continue to meet the needs of the target group concerned.

Water Quality. 453. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that Dublin City Council’s water supply from the Vartry reservoir is not threatened by works at a quarry in Roundwood, County Wicklow. [4389/09]

274 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): The operation and management of public water supplies is a matter for the relevant local authority. Under planning legislation, the enforcement of planning control is a matter for the planning authority. The Minister has no role in the matter and is specifically precluded under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, from exercising any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleana´la is, or may be, concerned.

Election Management System. 454. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a decision will be made regarding the use of posters during election or referenda campaigns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4390/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): I have recently informed the Government that on foot of the public consultation in autumn 2008, on election postering, I intend to initiate pilot schemes in a number of local authority areas during the upcoming local and European elections. These pilot schemes will investigate how four options identified through the consultation process would work in practice. The pilot schemes will test the use of biodegradable and/or colour coded plastic ties; the display of posters in designated areas only; restricting the total number of posters per candidate; restricting the number of posters per candidate to 2 (back to back) per pole. Details on participating local authorities will shortly be finalised and the specific detail of the pilot schemes will be agreed on an individual basis with each of the local authorities involved. It is my intention to ask all candidates, local and European, in each of the participating areas to participate in the scheme so that it is as comprehensive and representative as possible. I am also reviewing the litter legislation to ensure there is absolutely no doubt that posters cannot be erected before an election has been called, and I will bring forward an amendment if necessary.

455. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a decision will be made regarding the revision of spending limits for candidates during elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4391/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Preparatory work to introduce spending limits for candidates at local elections is now at an advanced stage, and I expect to publish a Bill shortly. I intend to have the limits in place for the local elections to be held in June 2009. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine spending limits at local elections as part of the Green Paper on Local Government. Submissions made in the course of preparing the Green Paper, published in April 2008, were generally supportive of some kind of expenditure limit. In October 2008, I consulted the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the issue of spending limits. A policy research document prepared on behalf of the Committee and presented at that meeting offered useful practical guidance. There are a number of complexities that need to be considered. I discussed these with members of the Committee, and I have taken them into account in the preparation of the scheme of spending limits.

275 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Electronic Voting. 456. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a decision will be made to scrap, sell-off, donate to university or other, the electronic voting machines for which he is paying storage. [4392/09]

457. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount paid for the electronic voting machines purchased by his Department a number of years ago; the amount paid in training staff to use them; the amount paid each year since their purchase for storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4393/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together. The total expenditure on the development and roll-out of the electronic voting system to date is \51.3 million, the bulk of which has been incurred in purchasing the voting machines and ancillary equipment. Of this, training costs amount to \272,500. Responsibility for the security and safe storage of manual voting electoral materials, such as ballot boxes, stamping instruments and stationery, has been a matter for the Returning Officers, who are statutorily responsible for conducting the polls. Accordingly, similar responsibility was assigned to them for the storage of the electronic voting machines and equipment. Based on figures received in my Department from Returning Officers, the total annual costs for storage of the electronic voting equipment, including the cost of insurance, service charges, rates and heating, for 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 were \658,000; \696,000; \706,000; \489,000; and \204,000, respectively. In 2007, over 60% of the electronic voting machines, some 4,762 in total, were moved to a central storage facility located at Gormanston Army Camp. Costs incurred to date in respect of the movement and storage of this equipment are \328,000. These are largely one- off costs related to the preparation of the facility, transportation of the machines and the acquisition of storage containers. I am considering the next steps to be taken on the electronic voting and counting project. In this regard, I am taking into account the work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, which has examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, the need to maintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the programme for Government relating to electoral reform generally. Given the scale of investment in the system to date, and the importance of the issues involved for our electoral system, it is essential that the future of the project be examined objectively and in a thorough and comprehensive manner. It is important that we come to the best possible decision. It is not possible to make more specific comment at this point on the project itself, or on future plans for the machines, pending completion of the necessary work and a decision by the Government in the matter.

Question No. 458 answered with Question No. 439.

Local Authority Housing. 459. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when funding will be allocated to South Dublin County Council for an infill housing scheme (details supplied) in Dublin 14; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4458/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): My Department issued approval on 20 January 2009 for the Council to proceed to tender with this proposal.

276 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Waste Management. 460. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in regard to reduction of payment for recycling bins for persons over 70 years of age. [4475/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Waste management services have traditionally been provided at a local level, with individual arrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The present legal framework, as determined by the Oireachtas, reflects this. In accordance with section 52 of the Protection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges and any associated waiver scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority, where it acts as the service provider. Similarly, where a private operator provides the collection service, it is a matter for that operator to determine charges. I have no statutory function in the determination of charges or waivers. Significant regulatory issues have emerged as waste management services have rapidly evolved in recent years. These issues, which have been the subject of formal public consultation, include the need for appropriate reflection of necessary public service criteria in relation to the provision of services in particular areas or in respect of specific households. The existing regulatory framework requires modernisation. The identification of the changes necessary will be greatly assisted by the OECD review of the public service, which included a specific case study on waste management, and will be implemented in the context of the overall review of national waste management policy provided for in the Programme for Government and now under way. My Department has also recently received the report by the Ombudsman of waste waiver schemes administered by local authorities. It is giving the report, particularly the recommendations contained in it, full consideration. The revised approach to the collection of household waste being taken by the Dublin local authorities will further inform what measures may be necessary to underpin sustainable waste collection services, whether delivered by the private or public sectors. In these contexts, the appropriate policy responses will be developed and elaborated.

Turbary Rights. 461. Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive payment for the sale of their bog; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4483/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): I understand that the contracts are being examined in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, the necessary legal searches are being completed, and the contracts will be ready for signature in the near future.

Water and Sewerage Schemes. 462. Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on raising the level of funding for the group sewerage schemes per household to the same level as group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4492/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael P. Kitt): My Department has funded a pilot programme, proposed by the National Rural Water Monitoring Committee, to test a range of new, small-scale waste water collection and treatment systems under Irish conditions. The objective of the pilot programme

277 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Michael P. Kitt.] is to evaluate new approaches to meeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs of rural communities and to examine the potential role for group sewerage schemes in extending collection systems to households outside the catchment of new or existing public sewerage networks. The performance of new infrastructure provided under the pilot programme is being monitored and evaluated. The National Rural Water Services Committee has been asked to report to me on the results as they become available. The grants for group sewerage schemes will be reviewed in light of the outcome.

463. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress on an issue (details supplied) between his Department and a local authority since his meeting in November 2008. [4504/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Recoupments totalling \3.4 million have since been issued to Mayo County Council under my Department’s Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09. Further payments to the Council are being processed. My Department will continue to process all valid claims from the council as speedily as possible.

Natural Heritage Areas. 464. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps that have been taken to draw up a new management plan for the Burren, County Clare; when the process will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4524/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): As I indicated in the reply to Question No. 1428 of 24 September 2008, a key initiative of my Department’s UNESCO world heritage programme is the preparation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination for the Burren. Significant work, including the development of a management plan, will have to be undertaken as part of the preparation of the nomination for the Burren. Consultation with all relevant stakeholders and interested parties will be an integral part of the nomination process. Work on progressing the nomination of the Burren for inscrip- tion as a World Heritage Site will be brought forward in the context of the prioritisation of the constituent elements of my Department’s UNESCO world heritage programme.

Social and Affordable Housing. 465. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Govern- ment the safeguards in legislation to ensure that funding provided for his Department’s projects is properly used (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4652/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): The legislation provides that houses sold or leased under the affordable schemes will be subject to any terms and conditions that the local authority specifies including, inter alia, the occupation of the house by the purchaser. Furthermore, affordable housing sold at a discount from market value contain a clawback provision. The amount payable under the clawback is reduced by 10% in respect of each complete year after the tenth year of owner occupation, so long as the person who purchased the property has been in occupation of the property as his or her normal place of residence.

278 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Housing Finance. 466. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Govern- ment his views on correspondence (details supplied) and on whether the position adopted in this case will have an adverse effect on one off housing in rural areas and the right for a person to build a house in their own locality; his plans to address such a situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4657/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): Given that sentiment in the housing market is heavily dependent on wider sentiment in the economy, the Government’s approach is focused on the broader economic fundamentals and on ensuring, ultimately, that the housing market is underpinned by these. While the Government has been careful to ensure that the process of correction in the housing market is not artificially interfered with, a number of steps have been taken to ensure that in so far as possible mortgage finance is available to households who want to buy or build houses at this time. In this regard the Government announced the introduction of a new mortgage scheme in the context of Budget 2009. The Home Choice Loan has been introduced through the local authority system, backed by loan finance raised by the Housing Finance Agency. Home Choice Loan is now available to first time buyers of new houses or self-builds, subject to a maximum loan of \285,000 or max LTV of 92% (whichever is the lesser) and income thresholds. The Regulations to underpin the scheme were signed in December and the scheme commenced on 1 January 2009. In addition, the Government’s plan to recapitalise Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland includes a Credit Package under which the banks are committed to, amongst other things, providing an additional 30% capacity for lending to first time buyers in 2009. The banks have committed to actively promote mortgage lending at competitive rates with increased transparency on the criteria to be met. A statutory code of conduct on mortgage arrears which will apply to all banks is expected to be published shortly. To provide further support, the Government also increased the rate of mortgage interest relief for first time buyers in Budget 2009 from 20% to 25% in year 1 and 2 of their mortgage and to 22.5% in year 3 to 5. It will remain at 20% in year 6 and 7. This measure follows on from the significant improvements made in Budget 2007 & 2008. The ceiling for mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers was doubled in Budget 2007 from \4,000 single/\8,000 married to \8,000 single/\16,000 married. The ceiling for first-time buyers was further increased in Budget 2008 to \10,000 single/\20,000 married. Moreover, the majority of lending institutions have also now passed on in full the cumulative interest rate decreases of 2.25% announced by the European Central Bank since October 2008.

Social and Affordable Housing. 467. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if public land management supported through widespread compulsory purchase has been introduced here since the report of the National Economic and Social Council in 2004; his views on the creation of huge landbanking which influenced the housing bubble here; his further views on the impact that this might have had if it had been used to provide social and affordable housing; if there are plans to introduce such a scheme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4670/09]

279 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): The National Economic and Social Council Report Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy, published in late 2004, highlighted the importance of active land management as one of the key elements of the policy framework required to respond to the challenges arising in the housing area, while indicating that a significant element of active land management already existed in practice. Active land management strategies have since been put in place by local authorities to manage their own land banks. It is intended that these strategies will be rolled forward on an annual basis to ensure that local authorities continue to pursue a planned and strategic approach towards meeting the land requirements for their social and affordable housing programmes. In addition, where appropriate, it is open to individual local authorities to acquire land by compulsory purchase for their housing programmes. Considerable investment has been made in servic- ing of land, and the 9th housing land availability survey, undertaken in June 2007, indicated that there was 15,100 hectares of zoned serviced land nationally, with an estimated yield of 469,937 housing units. In the context of the forthcoming Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, the Government also proposes to introduce, as a possible alternative to compulsory acquisition, the possibility for planning authorities to impose an annual development incentive levy on designated land.

Community Facilities Audit. 468. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a copy of the audit by a council (details supplied) of the audit of community facilities as recommended by the Task Force on Active Citizenship; if he will provide a copy of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4721/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): In keeping with the recommendation in the Task Force Report on Active Citizenship, an audit of community, sports and arts facilities at local level was commenced in the second half of 2008 by each county and city council, under the auspices of the relevant County/City Development Board and in line with guidelines issued by my Department. These guidelines were developed in consultation with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Department of the Taoiseach and local authorities. A Steering Group representative of these bodies, as well as the Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, is overseeing the audits. A number of the audits have recently been completed and submitted to the Department, including in respect of the council referred to in the question. The remainder are in the process of being finalised at present. Further consideration of the matter will be carried out in the context of the public services expenditure estimates. Arrangements have been made with the council to have a copy of its audit forwarded to the Deputy.

Community Warden Scheme. 469. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will extend the community warden scheme to a council (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4722/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): The pilot community warden service, which was established in five local authorities in 2002, has since been placed on a permanent footing. Following a process of adjudication, the practical

280 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers issues concerning the extension of the service to other local authorities have been settled. Accordingly, it is now open to other local authorities to introduce the scheme, having regard to local circumstances and taking account of the need to achieve payroll cost reductions in 2009.

470. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is satisfied with the number of litter wardens employed by a council (details supplied); if he will provide extra resources the council in order that they can employ additional wardens in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4723/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Under the Litter Pollution Acts 1997 to 2003, primary responsibility for developing and implementing responses to litter lies with local authorities. The appointment of litter wardens is a matter for individual local authorities within each authority’s current authorised staffing level. Statistics on local authority enforcement action on litter, including the numbers of litter wardens employed, are submitted by local authorities to my Department every six months; the latest figures available relate to the period January — June 2008 and are obtainable from the Oireachtas Library. I would like to point out that local authorities are independent statutory bodies, with demo- cratically elected councils and their own management system. It is a matter for each local authority to determine the level of expenditure on individual local services, including the deployment of litter wardens, as part of its annual estimates process.

Estates Management. 471. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has received a copy of the revised policy for the taking in charge of estates by a county council (details supplied); if he will provide a copy of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4724/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Meath County Council has updated its policy on taking in charge of estates in accordance with my Department’s Circular Letter PD 1/08 and the revised policy statement is available on the Council’s website, www.meath.ie.

Local Authority Revenue. 472. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of local authority rent due per annum to a county council (details supplied) in the years 2004 to 2008; the amount of local authority rent collected per annum by the county council in the years 2004 to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4725/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): It is a matter for each individual local authority to set their rents schemes in accordance with guidance issued by my Department. The amount of rent due to any local authority from individual households is determined in accordance with its rents scheme. Data on the amount of rental income collected by Meath County Council for the years 2004 to 2007 are available in the Housing/Housing Statistics section of my Department’s website, www.environ.ie. Data for 2008 are not yet available.

281 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

473. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of moneys due from local authority housing loans per annum to a county council (details supplied) in the years 2004 to 2008; the amount collected from local authority house loans per annum by the county council in the years 2004 to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4726/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): The information requested for the years 2004-2007 is set out in the table. Data for 2008 are not yet available.

Housing Loans

Year Amount Due for Collection Collected % Collected

2004 2,184,102 2,137,537.979 2005 2,075,247 1,958,089.944 2006 2,178,003 2,082,741.956 2007 2,088,855 1,937,654.928

474. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of moneys due from rates per annum to a county council (details supplied) in the years 2004 to 2008; the amount of moneys collected from rates per annum by the county council in the years 2004 to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4727/09]

475. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of moneys due to a county council (details supplied) from non- domestic water charges per annum in the years 2004 to 2008; the amount of revenue collected from non-domestic water charges per annum by the county council in the years 2004 to 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4729/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): I propose to take Question Nos. 474 and 475 together. The information requested in the questions is set out in the table under, and has been compiled from the Annual Financial Statements of Meath County Council. Data for 2008 are not available at this time.

Meath County Council

Commercial Rates Non-Domestic Water Charges

Year Amount Due for Collected Amount Due for Collected Collection* Collection*

\\\\

2004 11,758,576 11,557,159 2,969,197 1,942,774 2005 14,270,527 13,952,467 2,508,605 1,840,374 2006 16,838,820 16,592,280 2,740,314 2,006,638 2007 18,855,725 18,493,501 2,606,936 1,557,398 *The Amount Due for Collection comprises arrears plus annual charge less waivers & write offs.

282 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Local Authority Housing. 476. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on whether it is possible to provide a sufficient level of emergency accommodation here when there is no definitive statistical evidence on the number of people who are in need of emergency accommodation being collected; his plans to request local authorities to record the number of people seeking emergency accommodation from now on and report back to his Department; if he plans to request voluntary agencies in that sector to record the number of people seeking emergency accommodation from now on and submit a report on this to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4768/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): Housing authorities are legally responsible for meeting the accommodation needs of homeless people. It is, accordingly, the responsibility of the individual housing authorities to determine the level of emergency accommodation to be provided, having regard to the need for such accommodation within their areas. My Department is currently working in partnership with the Homeless Agency and the National Homeless Consultative Committee on the development of an integrated national homelessness data system which is intended to provide comprehensive information on the use of homeless services. Use of this system will be a condition for receipt of State funding for all homeless services.

Local Authority Funding. 477. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Govern- ment if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 1043 of 27 January 2009 and to a previous parliamentary question reply where he stated that he was increasing the funding to local authorities by 8% over 2008 figures for the grant system, this decision will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4797/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): In line with my objective of prioritising the needs of the most vulnerable households, the total financial provision secured for housing in 2009 will allow for the level of funding allocated towards housing supports for older people and people with a disability to be increased by 8% over the initial estimate for 2008. In the context of an overall reduction in the Exchequer provision for housing in 2009 of 4%, this is a very good outcome and it will enable local authorities to continue to effectively respond to the housing needs of these target groups through the payment of increased numbers of grants.

Architectural Heritage. 478. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, further to Parliamentary Question No. 352 of 9 December 2008, the discussions since that date with the local authority and landowners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4807/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Consultations on an appropriate land management regime for the site are taking place between my Department and the Office of Public Works, prior to further contact with Roscommon County Council.

283 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Consultancy Contracts. 479. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4815/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): The information requested in respect of my Department is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Expenditure. 480. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4830/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Civil service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. It does not apply to Secretaries General. Details of the procedures, the numbers covered by the scheme, the range of awards and the total amounts paid in Departments are outlined in the annual reports of the Committee for Performance Awards (available on the website www.finance.gov.ie). The Committee does not identify the amount paid to individuals as this is regarded as personal information. Payments for 2007 in the sum of \101,800 were made to 7 staff members in my Department in 2008. No specific funding has been set aside in 2009 in respect of performance in 2008.

Local Authority Housing. 481. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will confirm having received an application from Westmeath County Council in respect of a voluntary community association (details supplied) to provide voluntary and community housing; if he will take steps to have same processed as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4861/09]

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran): An outline proposal was received in my Department from West- meath County Council in relation to a proposed scheme for Cluid Housing Association at Springfield, Mullingar in May, 2005. Following my Department’s response and subsequent discussions on the matter, the Council sought Departmental approval for the scheme in November, 2008. My Department wrote to the Council on 21 January 2009 seeking additional information. On receipt of this information, the application will be considered further, in the light of available resources and competing demands.

Grant Payments. 482. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the grant aid available to disabled persons to insulate their homes; the funding available towards carrying out the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4702/09]

284 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): For households on low incomes, such as those in receipt of fuel allowance, invalidity or disability benefit, the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) managed by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) will install cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, a boiler lagging jacket, draught proofing measures and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Advice is also provided to householders on minimising energy use. These measures are provided free or at a nominal cost. The total spend on the WHS in 2008 was \5.6M, which represented a doubling of the previous years allocation. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the WHS and this is expected to support energy efficiency interventions in up to 15,000 low income homes this year and should substantially reduce the time spent waiting for energy efficiency interventions under the scheme. There are 20 community based organisations currently delivering the WHS, and represent coverage of just over two thirds of the country. It is a priority of the scheme that full national coverage is provided by community based organisations in 2009. It is planned to commence the introduction of new organisations from the end of March this year. A number of improvements to the WHS will be introduced over the coming weeks, including a new free phone service designed to assist householders identify their nearest provider. If outside of current coverage, their details will be recorded and notified as soon as the service becomes available in their area. In addition, a new website will be launched to allow homeowners, neighbours or relatives find out more information about the WHS and other grant schemes available in their area.

Energy Resources. 483. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his timeframe for providing natural gas to Nenagh, County Tipperary; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4202/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The development and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercial matter for Bord Ga´is E´ ireann (BGE´ ), which is mandated under Section 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a system for the supply of natural gas that is both economical and efficient. The Deputy will be aware that BGE´ has been examining many areas of the State not yet connected to the natural gas network to see if the network can be extended to new localities. Having agreed a new Connections Policy with the Commission for Energy Regulation, whereby towns can now be evaluated in clusters rather than individually, thus giving new towns a better chance of meeting the economic criteria, BGE´ completed the first and second phases of its New Towns Analysis. Several new towns along the Mayo-Galway Pipeline, two towns along the Galway-Limerick section of the Pipeline to the West, and other towns close to the Cork- Dublin Pipeline met the economic criteria and are now in the process of being connected. Phase 3 of BGE´ ’s New Towns Analysis is being completed at present. In this phase BGE´ is looking at several areas, including Nenagh, to see if the economic criteria that would allow connection can be met. I am awaiting completion of this analysis, which will be published by BGE´ on completion.

Grant Payments. 484. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the new grant scheme for improving home insulation will be available; the

285 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Terence Flanagan.] eligibility criteria for persons wishing to avail of the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4249/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The improvement of energy efficiency in the housing stock is internationally recognised as one of the most cost effective ways of reducing emissions and energy bills. Energy efficiency measures to tackle deficiencies in households also support and strengthen employment in the construction and energy services sectors. I launched the national Home Energy Savings Scheme on Sunday last with a budget of \50 million in 2009. This is expected to support the upgrade of at least 27,500 homes, and with other building insulation programmes in my own Department and the Department of the Envir- onment, will contribute to the creation of 4,000 direct and indirect jobs. Experience from the pilot phase of the Home Energy Saving Scheme in 2008 has demonstrated that there is considerable demand for a support scheme for energy efficiency measures, not only among householders, but also among building energy rating assessors, product manufacturers, installers and other market players. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimates that demand among householders across the country could well exceed 100,000 homes over the lifetime of the scheme. Homeowners can expect to save up to \700 on their energy bills if they implement the full suite of measures being proposed under the national scheme. This Scheme offers grants of up to 40% of the typical cost of energy efficiency upgrade measures, varying depending on the measure concerned. Owners of homes built prior to 2006 can now contact SEI on 1850 927000 or [email protected] to register their interest in this scheme. A list of eligible measures and fixed grant rates is set out in the following table.

Measure Fixed grant rate

Departmental Expenditure. 485. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of funding allocated by his Department to Energy Action Ireland for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4262/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Sus- tainable Energy Ireland (SEI) allocated funding to Energy Action in 2006, 2007 and 2008 for the delivery of energy efficiency measures to assist low income householders and for mentoring services under the Warmer Homes Scheme. The mentoring role undertaken by Energy Action involved providing assistance to potential and new community based organisations in the administration and delivery of the Warmer Homes Scheme service. 286 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

From 2006 to 2008 Energy Action addressed 1,661 homes with substantial energy efficiency improvements. The funding provided by SEI to Energy Action from 2006 to 2008 is outlined in the following table:

Year Warmer Homes Scheme Mentoring Services Total Amount

\\\

2006 171,605 72,967 244,572 2007 224,942 69,319 294,261 2008 769,464 — 769,464

486. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the amount of funding allocated by his Department to Sustainable Energy Ireland for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4263/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Sus- tainable Energy Ireland was set up by the Government in 2002 as Ireland’s National Energy Agency. Its mission is to promote and assist the development of sustainable energy. This includes implementing significant aspects of the Energy White Paper and the National Climate Change Strategy. Sustainable Energy Ireland manages programmes aimed at:

• Assisting deployment of superior energy technologies in each sector;

• Raising awareness and providing information, advice and publicity on best practice;

• Stimulating research, development and demonstration (RD&D);

• Stimulating preparation of necessary standards and codes;

• Publishing statistics and projections on sustainable energy and achievement of targets.

Funding for SEI (\m)

Pay Non-Pay Capital

2006 3,400 2,938 16,000 2007 4,108 2,892 47,200 2008 4,916 2,614 79,500

Postal Services. 487. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on reports from the UK that deregulation of the postal market had delivered no benefits to most customers and put the finances of the State owned postal company under strain; if there are lessons to be learned from the UK experience; if so, the steps he will take to address them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4376/09]

488. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans that have been agreed to transpose the third directive on postal liberalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4377/09] 287 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 488 together. The Irish postal market is due to be liberalised from 1 January 2011 as set out in the third EU Postal Directive. My Department is currently developing a framework dealing with the key issues to be decided in transposing the Directive into Irish law by the end of next year. The initial consultation process has been completed and the experiences of other countries, including the findings of the reports referred to by the Deputy are being examined to inform the development of the framework. Following this the necessary legislation will be prepared. My priority is to facilitate competition and the provision of high-quality, competitively priced postal services whilst ensuring the protection of the universal service in a liberalised market so that all postal consumers will have access to a basic, high quality suite of services.

Question No. 489 answered with Question No. 100.

Grant Payments. 490. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a waiting list of one and a half years, in Drogheda, County Louth, for senior citizens who qualify to have their homes insulated under grant aided funding; the steps he is taking to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4443/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Cover- age of the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) in County Louth is currently provided by a Dublin based provider. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has received an expression of interest from a Louth based community group interested in delivering this service and it is anticipated that additional service provision will be provided by a local organisation in 2009. To date, more than 20,000 homes have been substantially addressed by the WHS. There are 20 community based organisations currently delivering the WHS, and represent coverage of just over two thirds of the country. It is a priority of the scheme that full national coverage is provided by community based organisations in 2009. It is planned to commence the introduction of new organisations from the end of quarter one this year. A number of improvements to the WHS will be introduced over the coming weeks, including a new free phone service designed to assist householders identify their nearest provider. If outside of current coverage, their details will be recorded and notified as soon as the service becomes available in their area. In addition, a new website will be launched to allow homeowners, neighbours or relatives find out more information about the WHS and other grant schemes available in their area. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the WHS. This is expected to support energy efficiency interventions in 15,000 low income homes this year alone.

491. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to increase grant aid in respect of home insulation for older people, whereby roofs are insulated, in order that waiting times for this service can be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4457/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) is overseen by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), and is targeted at households on low incomes, such as those in receipt of fuel allowance, invalidity or disability benefit. The WHS will install cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, a boiler lagging jacket, draught proofing measures and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Advice is also

288 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers provided to householders on minimising energy use. These measures are provided free or at a nominal cost. The total spend on the WHS in 2008 was \5.6M, which represented a doubling of the previous years allocation. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the WHS. This increased level of funding is expected to support energy efficiency interventions in up to 15,000 low income homes this year alone and should substantially reduce the time spent waiting for energy efficiency interventions under the scheme. There are 20 community based organisations currently delivering the WHS, and this represents just over two-thirds of the country. It is a priority of the scheme that full national coverage is provided by community based organisations in 2009. It is planned to commence the introduction of new organisations from the end of March 2009. A number of improvements to the WHS will be introduced over the coming weeks, including a new free phone service designed to assist householders identify their nearest provider. If outside of current coverage, their details will be recorded and notified as soon as the service becomes available in their area. In addition, a new website will be launched to allow homeowners, neighbours or relatives find out more information about the WHS and other grant schemes available in their area.

Telecommunications Services. 492. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps which he is taking to address the regional differences in broadband performance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4471/09]

511. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent, if any, to which he proposes or intends to encourage state of the art investment in the telecommunications sector, with particular reference to the need to dramatically improve the State’s capability in this sector and the need to become leader in this sector throughout the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4957/09]

512. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects Ireland to again join the leading EU countries in the telecommunications sector in respect of both cable, wire and wireless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4958/09]

515. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects broadband availability and speeds to become as available here as in leading competing economies throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4961/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 492, 511, 512 and 515 together. The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Govern- ment. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg’s report for Q3 2008, had a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps.

289 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with 3, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area will be served by September 2010. Details of the areas to be covered by 3 under the NBS are available at www.three.ie/nbs. Moreover, the consultation paper on Next Generation Broadband, which was launched for public consultation earlier this year, considered the optimum role for Government in facilitating the roll out of high speed broadband networks and sets out the Government’s commitments in that regard. A central commitment is that there will be universal access to broadband by 2010 and that by 2012 our broadband speeds will equal or exceed those in comparator EU regions. The consultation period on the paper has now concluded and my officials have examined the written submissions received and the contributions made at a one day consultation forum that I hosted on 30th September 2008. I intend to publish a finalised report shortly having regard to the contributions we have received.

493. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps which he is taking to enhance demand side initiatives for business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4472/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market and stimulate demand to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps. It is also encouraging that, at the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg’s report for Q3 2008, had a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps. There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with 3, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area will be served by September 2010. Businesses located within the NBS area and currently without any broadband service will benefit by being able to send and receive emails and files, surf the web, and update their own websites. Under the NBS, 3 is committed to a comprehensive demand side programme which includes amongst other things, marketing, outdoor advertising, radio and press advertising, engagement with communities and stakeholders as well as other promotional activities. Finally, my colleague the Minister for Finance, who is responsible for eGovernment, is committed to demand stimulation through the use of broadband for internal State business and for the provision of electronic services to citizens.

290 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

494. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the steps which he is taking to address the expensive cost of broadband, the relative lower speeds and the capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4473/09]

Mine Rehabilitation. 495. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the rehabilitation works at a site (details supplied) in County Tipperary is running according to schedule and to budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4582/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Sea´n Power): The rehabilitation works at the Gortmore Tailings Management Facility are being carried out in phases. The first phase was commenced in July 2008 and successfully completed in December 2008 in accordance with the schedule and within the budget allocation. Associated reconstruction works to local roads are still ongoing. Design works for phase two are currently in progress and advertisements have been issued by North Tipperary County Council inviting expressions of interest from contractors. It is anticipated that the phase two construction works will commence in the summer of 2009, for completion before the end of the year.

Telecommunications Services. 496. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the position regarding Project Kelvin in terms of an account of project status; if he will provide a progress report on money approved and spent; if there have been changes in the status of the project since July 2008; the person who changed the status of the project in the event of it having been changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4641/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The contract for the Kelvin project was awarded in late December 2008 and it is now being implemented by Hibernia Atlantic, the winning bidder for the contract. \12m of Irish Exchequer funding has been approved for the project, of which \9m will be refunded to the Irish Exchequer from EU funds. This is because it is a joint North-South project approved for 75% EU funding under the INTERREG IV Cross Border Cooperation Programme. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland, our joint partners in the Kelvin project, has approved a total of \18m for the Kelvin project for total public funding of \30m. Expenditure of \1,290,781 was paid by my Department towards the Kelvin project in December 2008 after the award of the contract.

291 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

In July the Kelvin project was at the tendering stage, whereas the contract has now been awarded to implement the project. The evaluation of the tenders submitted for the implementation of the project was a joint process between officials of my Department and the Depart- ment of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland. The Kelvin project will provide high speed direct international broadband connectivity to the North West of Ireland at a very competitive cost, in particular for the towns of Derry, Letterkenny, and Monaghan. This will make the region more attractive for international business and for foreign direct investment and will improve Ireland’s overall international connectivity. We are fortunate that funding was made available for the Kelvin project in view of current pressures on public funding; this reflects the strategic benefits of the project for the North West of Ireland and for Ireland as a whole.

Energy Market. 497. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the efforts he is making to increase competition in the energy market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4591/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The introduction of the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM) in November 2007 marked an important milestone in the development of competition in the Irish electricity sector. This market has already attracted new entrants to the Irish electricity generation market. Our ambitious renewable generation targets will also attract new generators to the Irish market. However, the all island market is relatively small and accordingly only a certain level of generation capacity can be adequately accommodated. This is mirrored by developments in the retail electricity market. Airtricity has decided to offer a new tariff to domestic electricity users to compete with ESB and I understand that other companies are currently considering entering sections of the market. This progress represents the dawning of real choice for electricity consumers, which will help to keep energy costs competitive. The Government will continue to promote the development of competition as a cornerstone of our energy policy. We will ensure the completion of the reduction of ESB’s market share in line with the CER-ESB Asset Strategy Agreement, the completion of the transfer of the Transmission System Assets from ESB to EirGrid, the successful development of the East West Interconnector by 2012 and the implementation of the grid development strategy set out in EirGrid’s Grid 25 programme. On a European level, the Government will continue to implement reform of the electricity and gas markets in line with EU Internal Energy Market Directives.

Telecommunications Services. 498. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when quality broadband will be available to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; his views on whether it is difficult for a person to operate an on-line service to relevant departments without such broadband availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4786/09]

499. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when quality broadband will be available to business personnel in a village (details

292 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers supplied) in County Cavan; his views on whether it is difficult for a company to operate an on-line service without such broadband availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4787/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 499 together. The widespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Govern- ment. In that regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2 Mbps–10 Mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg’s report for Q3 2008, had a connection in the speed category of 2 Mbps–10 Mbps. There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commercial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with 3, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provide services to all residences and businesses that are within the NBS area and who seek a service. Services will begin to be rolled out in April 2009 and the entire NBS area will be served by September 2010. The areas of Tyholland, County Monaghan and Mountnugent, Kells, County Cavan will be covered by the NBS. Details of the areas to be covered by 3 under the NBS are available at www.three.ie/nbs.

Question No. 500 answered with Question No. 106.

Consultancy Contracts. 501. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4810/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): In the time available, it has not been possible to identify and assemble the information requested. My Department is in the process of identifying and assembling the information and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Departmental Expenditure. 502. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4825/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): My Department operates a Merit Award Scheme for grades up to and including Assistant Principal Officer. Last year my Department’s Management Committee made a decision to restrict merit payments under this scheme to Service Officers/Attendants and grades represented by the Civil

293 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.] Public and Services Union (CPSU). Awards totalling \3,910 were made in December last under that scheme. A total of \41,100 was paid to 3 Assistant Secretaries in my Department in early 2008 in respect of 2007. Details of the operation of the scheme are available in the report of the Committee for Performance Awards, which can be accessed on the website of the Department of Finance at the following link: http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/CPArep2006.pdf. No specific provision has been made in the 2009 estimate of my Department for bonus payments.

Commission for Energy Regulation. 503. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will take steps to bring within the scope of the Commission for Energy Regu- lation the suppliers of bulk LPG gas who supply domestic consumers through a gas network in housing estates when such supply is specified in the planning conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4859/09]

505. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on whether suppliers of bulk LPG gas for domestic use are to be within the remit of CER; whether he is aware of concerns over the price charged by suppliers of bulk LPG gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4919/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 503 and 505 together. The transportation and supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is not licensed under the Energy Acts and neither my Department nor the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) have any role in the regulation of LPG transportation and supply. The regulation of the transportation of LPG by sea is a matter for the Maritime Safety Directorate under maritime safety legislation. Transportation overland and the safety regulation of storage facilities are covered by regulations governing the transportation and storage of dangerous substances, and by the Health, Safety and Welfare Act 2005. Section 14 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 enables the CER’s responsibilities to be extended to cover the activities of LPG undertakings and installers with respect to safety. My Department is liaising with the CER in regard to the commencement of this provision. I understand that the CER expects to publish final proposals on the safety regulation of the LPG industry in the near future. These proposals will inform a decision on the commencement of Section 14. I have no plans to extend the role of the CER beyond the regulatory role as envisaged under Section 14. While the regulation of Bord Ga´is E´ ireann natural gas tariffs is the responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is statutorily independent in the performance of its functions, the Commission has no function in regard to the setting of the retail price of LPG, which is a by-product of oil. The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised and deregulated and there is no price control on petroleum products in Ireland. The National Consumer Agency has specific responsibilities for protecting the rights of consumers.

Electricity Network. 504. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural

294 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Resources the position in relation to the provision of electricity interconnectors, north-south and east-west; if he has a specific timeframe in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4917/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The building of transmission lines is an operational matter for EirGrid, as regulated by the Com- mission for Energy Regulation (CER), along with the relevant planning authorities, and not one in which I have a function. The East-West and North-South Interconnector projects are of strategic national importance to Ireland and are key Government priorities. The Meath-Cavan and North-South transmission lines are part of a major upgrade to supplies in the North East region and will bring critical infrastructure to the North East region, ensuring the delivery of high quality and highly reliable services into the future and facilitating competition as part of the All Island electricity market. EirGrid will be required in its planning application to An Bord Pleana´la to submit full details of its proposed route and technology selection. Consultations on the route selection are ongoing. As part of these consultations EirGrid has opened information centres in Navan and Monaghan and has met with stakeholders including individuals, local interest groups and public interest groups. At a recent meeting that I facilitated with North East Pylon Pressure (NEPP), it was agreed that consultations between EirGrid and NEPP would be intensified with a view to progressing a shared understanding in relation to the projects. I understand that EirGrid has also agreed to facilitate a meeting between NEPP’s consultants (Askon) and EirGrid’s own technical experts, and will fund the costs of Askon attending the meeting. EirGrid will shortly publish a detailed study on undergrounding issues relating to the entire route, the preparation of which is one of a number of requirements for its application for planning consent to An Bord Pleana´la. EirGrid expects to submit a planning application for the North/South interconnector to the planning authority, the Strategic Infrastructure Board of An Bord Pleana´la, in 2009 which will include a full Environmental Impact Statement. The target completion date is 2012. The East-West Interconnector is a 500 MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector, which will link the electricity grids of Ireland and Great Britain. The advantages that the development of the East West interconnector will bring include improved security of supply and increased competition in the single electricity market as well as significant environmental benefits such as assisting in achieving our ambitious renewable targets and reducing carbon credit payments. EirGrid has been entrusted with the development and ownership of this interconnector by the Government. Working closely with the CER and with my Department, EirGrid is progressing the project to schedule. The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Act 2008 provides the necessary legal basis for EirGrid to construct, own and operate an interconnector. I am advised that EirGrid expects the contract for design and construction of the interconnector to be completed shortly, when the successful bidder will be announced. EirGrid has secured Woodland in County Meath as the connection point for the interconnector on the Irish transmission system and Deeside in Wales on the UK side. Furthermore, EirGrid has undertaken a marine survey to determine the most suitable route for the undersea cable. A planning application in respect of the project was submitted to An Bord Pleana´la in November 2008 and public consultation is currently underway in respect of foreshore aspects of the development. The target for the completion of commissioning and testing and the start of commercial operations is 2012. The project remains on track to meet these target completion dates, subject to the outcome of the planning processes.

295 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

Financing options for this project are being pursued by EirGrid with the objective of achieving the most cost-effective and efficient financial package. The European Commission has included the Interconnector on the list of energy projects under the European Economic Recovery Package which is currently being negotiated in Brussels. I welcome the Commission’s recognition of the strategic importance of the project and will continue to work intensively in the negotiations with Member States and the European Parliament to secure the funding.

Question No. 505 answered with Question No. 503.

Digital Hub. 506. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which targets set in respect of the development of the digital hub have been achieved to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4946/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): The Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA) continues to develop and grow the Digital Hub. The number of companies and employees based in the Hub has grown steadily and the demand for additional space for digital media companies continues to increase. There are now 870 employees working in 101 companies located in the Digital Hub. A further 290 approximately contract employees are engaged on a regular basis by Hub companies. Approximately one in six digital media companies currently operating in Ireland is based in the Digital Hub. The work of these companies encompasses computer gaming, animation, on-line bookings, Internet security, website development, mobile technologies, broadcasting, design and Internet services. Such highly-skilled knowledge economy companies are key to maintaining and developing economic success. The DHDA has been successful in developing and promoting the identity and brand of the Hub. Late last year, GOA Games Services, a subsidiary of France Telecom, which already employs 200 people in the Digital Hub, announced an expansion to 400 employees in the next 12 months. Gala Games, a Japanese employer also located in the Hub, recently announced 50 new jobs. Havok, an Irish world leader in computer graphics technologies, was recognised with an Emmy Award in the United States last year. It is also notable that two Digital Hub companies, Lincor and Zamano, took first and second place in the Deloitte Fast 50 rankings of Ireland’s fastest growing enterprises. The DHDA also has remits relating to education, community and urban regeneration. The DHDA delivers a very successful learning programme, which provides state-of-the-art digital media education to schools and the wider community in Dublin’s south-west inner city, with a view to improving learning, employment and leisure opportunities for local residents. The programme is very successful with over 3,300 participants in 2008. To date, in excess of 10,000 individuals have participated in these programmes. The growing demand for commercial property for digital media companies at the Digital Hub is further evidence of success. The DHDA has leased office space to meet the requirements of its tenant companies and has reached the point where all of its own available space has been occupied — approximately 80,000 square feet in State ownership by the DHDA or OPW. A further 80,000 square feet is occupied by Digital Hub tenants under interim lease arrangements with third parties. An additional 20,000 square feet is likely to be delivered during 2009 under a proposal to redevelop another State owned building. In order to rationalise its property portfolio and continue to cater for expansion, the DHDA has entered into an agreement with

296 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers two private developers for an additional 140,000 square feet of office space. Planning permission was granted for this last year.

Electricity Generation. 507. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which alternative energy now supplies the national electricity grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4947/09]

509. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the degree to which the wind energy sector has grown and contributed to the national electricity grid in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4949/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 507 and 509 together. The year on year increase in the contribution from renewable energy technologies to the electricity market is set out in the table below. The table records the combined contribution from all renewable energy technologies. The vast majority of the growth achieved in each year is attributable to wind-powered technologies, which now exceeds 1,000 megawatts of installed capacity connected to the electricity grid. The data for 2004-2007 is published data. The contribution for 2008 is an initial estimate calculated by EirGrid.

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

5.2% 6.8% 8.6% 9.4% 11%

Exploration Licences. 508. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of exploration licences granted in each of the past five years; the number of commercial fines arising therefrom, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4948/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Sea´n Power): Details of the number of Mineral Prospecting Licences (PLs) issued in the last five years are contained in the following table.

PLs Issued Years 2004-2008

Year Total issued Issued 1 Jan-30 June Issued 1 July-31 Dec

2004 26 25 1 2005 51 30 21 2006 165 77 88 2007 143 51 92 2008 91 31 60

No new economic deposits of minerals have been discovered onshore in recent years. However, there have been some encouraging results. Exploration adjacent to the existing base metal mine at Navan, County Meath (Boliden Tara Mines Limited), discovered additional reserves with the potential to extend the life of that mine. Diamond drilling in north-east County 297 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Sea´n Power.] Limerick by Minco and Xstrata Zinc, has encountered high grade intersections of zinc and lead. Conroy Diamonds and Gold plc recently announced that it had increased its estimate of gold resources at its Clontibret prospect. Although these results are encouraging, it is too early to say whether economic mineral deposits occur in the areas in question. 25 Petroleum Exploration Licences were also issued by my Department during the same period.

PELs Issued Years 2004-2008

Year Offshore Onshore

2004 3 0 2005 5 2 2006 4 0 2007 5 0 2008 5 0

Three finds have been made and further studies are being undertaken to determine whether any of these finds can be progressed to commercial developments.

Question No. 509 answered with Question No. 507.

Question No. 510 answered with Question No. 106.

Questions Nos. 511 and 512 answered with Question No. 492.

Energy Costs. 513. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the plans he has to reduce energy costs to consumers, domestic, industrial and commercial; if he has set any targets for such; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4959/09]

514. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans, if any, to bring energy prices for consumers here into line with those prevailing in other EU countries, with particular reference to those without access to nuclear power; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4960/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 514 together. The regulation of ESB customer supply electricity tariffs and BGE´ gas tariffs is the statutory responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) under the Electricity Regu- lation Act 1999 and the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002. I welcome the fact that the CER announced on 1 December 2008 that there would be no further increase in the price of gas from January 2009 and that there would be a small average decrease from that month of just less than 1% in the price of electricity supplied by ESB Customer Supply. This decision is reflective of recent easing in international fossil fuel prices, which follows a period of exponential increases in global oil, gas and coal prices. I also welcome the substantial rebate being provided by ESB to all electricity customers, irrespective of supplier, which has helped to stabilise electricity prices for 2009. 298 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

The CER is required to examine the costs underlying the regulated tariffs to ensure they are cost reflective. However, I believe that we can lower energy costs to consumers in a non- distortionary fashion, through an expedited review of tariffs. To achieve this, I have asked the energy regulator to undertake an immediate review of options to bring forward a reduction in electricity prices. As I stated in this House last week if current trends in energy prices, particularly gas continue, I would expect a double-digit cut in electricity and gas prices to become a reality later this year. Encouraging a competitive energy supply is a key policy objective for the Government. Rising energy costs are a major concern for all sectors of the economy and for consumers. It is a major concern for the European Union and globally. In this context, I welcome the National Competitiveness Council’s investigation into electricity prices. This report, along with other recently published research, such as Sustainable Energy Ireland’s report on Understanding Electricity and Gas Prices in Ireland, provide a valuable insight into the drivers of higher energy costs in our market. In particular, they underline the imperative to reduce Ireland’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and our exposure to volatile international market prices for these commodities. The Government’s Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government set out the actions being taken to deliver security, sustainability and competitiveness of energy supply. We must use energy far more efficiently, deliver on our ambitious renewable targets and progress vital strategic energy infrastructure such as the East West Electricity Interconnector. Initiatives in all these areas are being progressed.

Question No. 515 answered with Question No. 492.

Question No. 516 answered with Question No. 129.

Corrib Gas Field. 517. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he expects gas supplies from the Corrib gasfield to become available to the Irish consumer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4963/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Sea´n Power): The developers of the Corrib Gas Project, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, have stated their expectation that first gas will be available in the last quarter of 2010. Completion of the development works by the developers is the principal factor that will ultimately determine the date for first gas.

Postal Services. 518. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the future of An Post; the extent to which he has had discussions with management in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4964/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): It is Government policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to compete in a liberalised market, provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nationwide, customer-focused network of post offices. In the past twelve months, I and officials from my Department have met a number of times with An Post management to discuss issues of importance to An Post, including the future of the company. However, it is the responsibility of the board and management of the company

299 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Eamon Ryan.] to make strategic decisions regarding its future and how it will prepare itself for competition, particularly in advance of the full liberalisation of the postal sector, set to happen in 2011. In preparation for competition, it is vital that the company restructures itself effectively and that management and trade unions in An Post work together to transform the company into an efficient, innovative and modern service provider by implementing the agreed restructuring programme and providing innovative new service arrangements for the public.

Energy Policy. 519. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he has had discussions with the ESB, EirGrid and other energy producing companies, bodies or groups in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4965/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I and my Department are in regular contact with the energy commercial semi state bodies and also meet the Independent energy companies frequently. Discussions are held on a regular basis and are integral to the Government’s energy policy objectives. This engagement has been particularly strong in the past twelve months, given the Government’s policy objectives for energy and the challenges in the energy sector both globally in the EU and nationally.

Foreshore Licences. 520. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a location (details supplied) in County Clare does not require a foreshore licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4212/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): My Department’s Engineering Division has confirmed that the site in question does not encroach on State Fore- shore. Accordingly, the matter of a foreshore lease does not arise. However if activity on the site requires access via the Foreshore, or if activity affects the Foreshore, a Foreshore licence will be required.

Rural Environment Protection Scheme. 521. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded a REP scheme four. [4213/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared. Queries have arisen during the administrative checks on the plan of the person named and it is currently under further examination.

522. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications made for a payment (details supplied) in County Mayo; the number paid to date; and the number currently being dealt with. [4214/09]

300 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The number of REPS 4 applications for payment received in Mayo up to the closing date of 15 May 2008 was 1,066. The first payments for these cases issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared. In total 51 REPS 4 payments have either issued or are scheduled for payment to farmers in County Mayo. Queries that have arisen during the administrative checks are currently under further examination.

Farm Waste Management. 523. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Depart- ment will return invoices submitted by farmers with applications for farm waste grants in order that they can submit VAT claims prior to the July dates of payment schedules. [4219/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): In respect of applications made under the Farm Waste Management Scheme, arrangements are being made in my Department’s local offices for the return to farmers of original invoices as soon as possible to facilitate any such farmers who require those invoices to claim VAT refunds from the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.

Food Labelling. 524. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when it is proposed to introduce legislation providing for country of origin labelling of food products, particularly in respect of meat products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4220/09]

526. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his views on the fact that pigmeat and poultry products being labelled as Irish are being produced in other countries; the steps he will take to regularise this situation to ensure that the country of origin is shown on the label; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4255/09]

527. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the discussions he has had with the European Commission and the EU Council to ensure the concept of substantial transformation is altered in order that pigmeat and poultry products with raw materials originating outside Ireland is labelled as such; the results of such discussions; when any resulting changes will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4256/09]

528. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has had discussions with the Department of Health and Children on drafting new regulations to require operators in the retail and catering sectors to provide country of origin information on pigmeat, poultry meat and sheepmeat, as is the case with beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4257/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): I propose to take Questions Nos. 524 and 526 to 528, inclusive, together. The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Under the general labelling Directive (2000/13/EC), the place of origin of the food- stuff must be given only if its absence might mislead the consumer to a material degree. The European Commission is currently undertaking a major review of all food labelling legislation. In this context the Commission has prepared draft revised labelling regulations and these are

301 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brendan Smith.] being discussed at Council Working Party level in Brussels. These draft regulations will be submitted to the EU Council of Health ministers during 2009. Notwithstanding the outcome of the current review on origin labelling my Department has taken steps to try to introduce origin labelling for meats other than beef, which is already subject to specific legislation since September 2000. Regarding the labelling of poultry meat, there are EU Regulations, which provide for the labelling of unprocessed poultry meat at retail level. The Regulations require such poultry meat to be labelled with the information regarding class, price, condition, registered number of slaughterhouse or cutting plant and, where imported from a Third Country, an indication of country of origin. My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, drafted regulations that would require the country of origin to be indicated on pigmeat, poultry and sheepmeat. This was notified to the EU Commission in December 2007 as required by legislation. The Commission was not prepared to adopt the draft regulations in their present format on the grounds that the proposed legislation is not in compliance with EU food labelling regulations. The Commission’s main contention is that only harmonised rules with EU-wide applicability may be applied to food labelling other than in exceptional circumstances. In March, the EU Commission delivered a negative opinion on the regulations but afforded Ireland an opportunity to provide further information in support of them. In the meantime, the Department provided additional details including the current misleading labelling practices and evidence of consumers’ desire for country of origin labelling. However the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health formally adopted the negative opinion in December 2008. There is also the issue where a primary product can enter Ireland and be processed in some way thereby allowing it to be branded, as an Irish product, this is known as “substantial transformation” This terminology originates in WTO, CODEX and EU Legislation governing the EU Custom Code and therefore can only be amended at EU level. I have been concerned that this arrangement could, in certain circumstances, be used to mislead the consumers as to the origin of the raw materials used in certain products. This was one of the principal points made to the European Commission in the context of our request for their approval of our proposed national arrangements. We will continue to pursue this issue in conjunction with Department of Health and Children, at EU level in the context of the current review. In the meantime products carrying the Bord Bia quality assurance label provide consumers with assurance on product origin.

Rural Environment Protection Scheme. 525. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive their payment; if checks will be made on the application; when these will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4246/09]

302 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers during the administrative checks on the plan of the person named and it is currently under further examination. Questions Nos. 526 to 528, inclusive, answered with Question No. 524.

Grant Payments. 529. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a payment will be made under REP scheme four to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo which was approved for payment in November 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4259/09]

Farm Retirement Scheme. 530. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of people awaiting approval under a scheme (details supplied). [4276/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): My Department is currently processing 145 Early Retirement Scheme applications received before 14 October 2008 and these will be paid subject to approval.

531. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the length of time it will take, once an applicant is approved under a scheme (details supplied), for the person to be paid. [4279/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): When an application under the Early Retirement Scheme is approved and provided there are no other outstanding issues, the application is scheduled for the next available payment date. Payments under the scheme are issued in monthly instalments on the last working day of the month.

Grant Payments. 532. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be awarded their farm waste management grant, which was sanctioned on 17 December 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4287/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person named is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A decision will be made in respect of the application as soon as possible.

533. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers sanctioned for grant aid under the farm waste management scheme in counties of Cavan and Monaghan; the number who have been paid to date again in each of the counties; the number awaiting payment having completed their jobs on time; if he is satis-

303 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Seymour Crawford.] fied that payments will be made according to the agreed Charter of Farmers’ Rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4288/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The information requested by the Deputy will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

534. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4338/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person named is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. My Department is currently examining the application and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

535. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of an application by a person (details supplied in County Clare); when same will be inspected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4360/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. My Department is currently examining the application and will carry out the farm inspection concerned as soon as possible.

536. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4361/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person concerned is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A decision will be made in respect of the application as soon as possible.

Pigmeat Sector. 537. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the action he will take to ensure the payment of money from the pigmeat recall scheme is for Irish produced pigmeat products only; and the action he will take to ensure that pork products sold here can be identified by their country of production. [4386/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The product recall scheme provides assistance in respect of eligible product manufactured from pigs slaughtered in Ireland between 1 September and 6 December 2008. However, a case has been made for other products manufactured in Ireland and that were affected by the product recall to be considered for assistance. These would include products containing both Irish and imported pigmeat and products made here using solely imported pigmeat that, at the time of the recall, could not be segregated satisfactorily to facilitate their sale. My Department is currently considering the position of such products. As regards identification of country of production, in December 2007 my Department submitted to the European Commission draft national legislation that would require the country of origin to be indicated on pigmeat, poultrymeat and sheepmeat and on food products containing over 70% of these meats. Over the last year the Department has been in extensive communication with the Commission with a view to justifying and pressing the case for the proposed legislation. The Commission, however, adopted a negative opinion in relation to our

304 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers proposal on the grounds that it was not consistent with the EU labelling directive. The Com- mission’s main contention is that only harmonised rules with EU-wide applicability may be applied to food labelling other than in exceptional circumstances. This negative opinion was formally adopted at a meeting of the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health in December 2008. My Department will continue to press for compulsory country of origin labelling in the context of the Commission’s proposal for a new regulation on food information. The Depart- ment of Health and Children is the lead Department for that proposal and my Department will continue to liase with it on this issue.

Grant Payments. 538. Deputy Brendan Kenneally asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the REP scheme four payments will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4402/09]

539. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of the application for REP scheme four in respect of a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4404/09]

540. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a farmer (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment under REP Scheme four; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4407/09]

305 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

541. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when farmers in County Mayo will receive their payments under REP scheme four; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4415/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first REPS 4 payments to farmers in Mayo issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared. In total 51 REPS 4 payments have either issued or are scheduled for payment to farmers in County Mayo.

542. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers in County Mayo who have been approved for REP scheme four and are waiting to receive their payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4416/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The number of REPS 4 applications for payment received in Mayo up to the closing date of 15 May 2008 was 1,066. The first payments for these cases issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared. In total 51 REPS 4 payments have either issued or are scheduled for payment to farmers in County Mayo. Queries that have arisen during the administrative checks are currently under further examination.

543. Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive their forestry grant in view of the fact that land was planted in June 2008 and no payment has been received to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4447/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): I understand that following receipt of application for payment in August of last year it was discovered following a field inspection that remedial work was required on the plantation. This work has now been completed and approved and I expect payment to be made within the next three weeks.

544. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the transferee status of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can be approved in order that relevant payments can be paid. [4460/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): As outlined in reply to a previous question from the Deputy, an application was received on 15 May 2008 requesting the transfer of 15.02 standard entitlements to the person named from his father by way of gift. The subsequent transfer of the herd-number to the person named from his father has made it possible to proceed with the processing of this application. Several documents relevant to this transfer were issued to the person named, most of which have since been completed and returned to my Department. However, the signature of the person named on the Deed of Transfer had not been witnessed and this was also returned to the person named for correction. To date, this completed document has not been returned to my Department. Upon receipt of this latter document, the application will be processed without delay.

306 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Installation Aid Scheme. 545. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when persons (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be awarded their installation aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4465/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The persons concerned are applicants under the Installation Aid Scheme and their application is currently being examined within my Department.

Grant Payments. 546. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be awarded their farm waste management grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4499/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A decision will be made in respect of the application as soon as possible.

Foreshore Licences. 547. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position of an application for a foreshore licence from Mayo County Council in relation to a scheme (details supplied). [4503/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): Ministerial approval was granted to Mayo County Council in 2005 to facilitate the construction of an outfall for Killala Sewerage Scheme. The Council subsequently revised its proposal to allow for the connection of the sewerage scheme to an existing outfall in the vicinity. The new proposal has been assessed and approved by my Department’s technical advisors and consideration of the proposal, including its legal implications, is at a very advanced stage. Consequently, I expect to be in a position to make a determination in the case shortly.

Grant Payments. 548. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason payment has not issued to a to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who has made an application under the farm waste management scheme; the total amount to be paid to the applicant; when payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4571/09]

549. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason for the delay in payments in respect of the rural environment protection scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4572/09]

307 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

550. Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a REP scheme four payment will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4589/09]

551. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who is awaiting payment under the farm waste management scheme, will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4637/09]

552. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when persons (details supplied) in County Cork, who is awaiting payment of grants under both the farm waste management scheme and the farm investment scheme, will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4638/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The persons concerned are applicants under both the Farm Waste Management and Farm Improvement Schemes. Decisions will be made in respect of the applications for payment as soon as possible.

553. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be awarded their farm waste management grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4691/09]

Aquaculture Development. 554. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he

308 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers will release the \5 million that was set aside for aquaculture in the national development plan. [4701/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): A provision of \5m. has been made in my Department’s Vote to support Aquaculture development in 2009. It is planned to roll out a number of actions to assist the development of aquaculture and draw down the available funds in the near future.

Grant Payments. 555. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cavan will be awarded their farm waste management grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4703/09]

556. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a REP scheme payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will confirm that an administrative check has to be carried out on this and other applications prior to presenting approval for payment; and when he expects payment in this particular case to issue. [4712/09

557. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive their REP scheme three payment. [4759/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): An amended REPS 3 plan has been requested from the person named. Processing of the payment claim cannot be resumed until the amended plan has been received.

558. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a payment under the REP scheme will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [4760/09]

309 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brendan Smith.]

Queries have arisen during the administrative checks on the plan of the person named and it is currently under further examination.

Departmental Staff. 559. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of uncertified sick days taken within all sections of his Department for the years 2007 and 2008; the number of employees who have taken uncertified sick days in the category one to ten days and over ten days; the number of uncertified sick days taken on Fridays and Mondays; the number of persistent offenders with regard to uncertified sick days who have been sent for an independent doctors opinion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4766/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The following table sets out the information requested by the Deputy:

2007 2008

No. of uncertified Sick Days 3,426 3,095 No. of employees who have taken 1-10 uncert. Sick Days in year in question 2,469 2,156 No. of employees who have taken more than 10 uncert. Sick Days in year in question 0 1 No. of uncert. Sick days taken on a Friday 317 255 No. of uncert. Sick days taken on a Monday 703 653 No. of staff referred to CMO 0 0

Farm Waste Management. 560. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange to return documents submitted with an application for a grant under the farm waste management scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who requires these documents for a VAT refund. [4791/09]

Grant Payments. 561. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason for the delay in having REP Scheme four awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny whose documentation is in order for payment. [4792/09]

Consultancy Contracts. 562. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Depart- ment for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4808/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department is set out in the table below.

Consultant 1 Jan to 14 Oct 2008 15 Oct 2008 to 5 Feb 2009

Fitzpatrick Associates Independent Ex-post evaluation Commenced: 3 Oct of the Rural Development Plan 2000-2006 Completed 22 Dec Cost \74,084.25 Deloitte & Touche Independent certification of the 2007 EAGF & EAFRD 2008 EAFG & EAFRD EAGF/EAFRD annual accounts as required under (payment 3) \101,563.30 (Payment 2) \222,073.10 EU Regulations 2008 EAGF & EAFRD (payment 1) \195,531.84 John Malone Consultant: Preparation of Report 23,363,83 “Factors Affecting Afforestation in Ireland” Aquatic Services Unit, UCC Monitor water quality in 47,894.22 Freshwater Pearl Mussel areas Espion Quarterly IT Security review Reports 15,125.00 605.00 Morehampton Consultancy Services: Work on 2008- 950.00 2011 IT Strategy Mazars Provision of IT Audit expertise 46,797.00 38,054.00 Veterinary Laboratory Services: BSE Risk Analysis 4,594.85 RPS Consulting Engineers: Coastal Protection Strategy 5,929.00 Study (phase 2) RPS Consulting Engineers: Coastal Protection Strategy 180,266.33 80,928.20 Study (phase 3) RPS Consulting Engineers: Coastal Protection Strategy 4,894.98 Study (Storm Surge) Philip Lee Solicitors: Procurement advice 1,658.31 Moore Stephens Caplin Meehan Accountants: Audit 2,100.00 of PRISM system Marine Modelling Centre — NUIG — PRISM 25,000.00 Computer System RPS Consulting Engineers (Dingle dredging study) 53,603.00 Aquafact International: (Doonloughan Marine Study) 5,747.50 Keville & O’Sullivan Associates (Doonloughan Marine 2,678.94 Study) Aquatic Services Unit — Environmental Research 19,915.39 Institute: Sediment sampling & analysis of Dunmore East Fishery Harbour MERC Consultants Ltd: Sediment sampling and 20,920.90 analysis report of Howth Fishery Harbour REPS Consulting Engineers: Dunmore East 18,634.00 sedimentation study Horizon Consulting: review of VFM report 2,299.00 Horizon Consulting: review of VFM report 1,936.00 Raymond Burke Consulting: Review of VFM report 2,722.50 Raymond Burke Consulting: Review of VFM report 3,267.00

311 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Brendan Smith.] Consultant 1 Jan to 14 Oct 2008 15 Oct 2008 to 5 Feb 2009 \\ I write: Review of VFM report 2,420.00 Brendan Riordan Consultant: Completion of report 3,000.00 “Net Contribution of the Agri-food sector to the inflow of funds” Raymond Burke Consulting: Review of VFM report 2,885.63 Petrus Consulting Ltd: Review of VFM report 2,430.00 Surepath Solutions: Health & Safety advise 2,986.50 Integrated Risk Solutions: Health & Safety advise 3,085.50 Ray Burke Consulting: Business Plans for Fisheries 64,903.19 14,749.90 Harbour Centres Ray Burke Consulting: Border inspection Post at 7,292.67 Killybegs Poseidon Aquatic Resources Ltd: Cost benefit analysis 17,968.50 of Dunmore Fishery Centre Dr Noel Cawley: Chairperson of the Seafood Strategy 56,305.00 implementation group overseeing the implementation of the Seafood industry report “Steering a new course” Achilles Procurement Services Ltd: Human Resources 847.00 Management System Achilles Procurement Services Ltd: Procurement 317.63 advise — HRD

Departmental Expenditure. 563. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4823/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): There are two bonus schemes operating in my Department. The first is a scheme of performance-related awards that applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to the Secretary General. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. In 2008 a total of \180,000 was paid to 11 staff in respect of their performance during 2007. Details of the operation of this scheme are available in the annual reports of the Committee for Performance Awards which can be accessed on the website of the Department of Finance www.finance.gov.ie. Following the announcement in the Da´il on 5 February last relating to the discontinuation of the scheme for Assistant Secretaries, Deputy Secretary and related grades, there is now no specific provision for payment under this scheme. The Minister for Finance, in 1998, sanctioned payment of not more than 0.2% of Subhead A.1 (Salaries), to individual staff members or groups of staff in recognition of exceptional performance of duty. Awards under this provision can be made in the case of all grades below Assistant Secretary level. In 2008 \405,595 was paid out to staff in recognition of exceptional performance carried out in 2007. No funds have been allocated for the payment of awards in 2009. 312 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Grant Payments. 564. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when an application will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4845/09]

565. Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a single farm payment will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4892/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 30 April 2008. This application was selected for a satellite eligibility inspection, which required a follow-up field visit being carried out by a Department inspector. During this visit, discrepancies were found in relation to parcels A11812095, A11812096, A11812097 and A11812102. As a result of these discrepancies the claimed area of 47.04ha was reduced to 45.03. If the total area found is not sufficient to support the number of entitlements held, penalties will be applied as per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. In this case the number of entitlements held by the person named is 47.04. As the difference between the area declared and the area found is more than 3%, under EU Regulations, the difference between the area found and the area claimed is doubled and deducted from the area found. As a result the area put forward for payment under the Single Payment Scheme was 41.01 hectares. Notification of these results will be forwarded to the person named in writing as a matter of priority. If the person named is not satisfied with the results of the inspection, he may seek a review by contacting his Local Office. He also has the right to appeal the outcome of any such review to the Agriculture Appeals Office.

566. Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment of installation aid will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, as all his documentation is now in order. [4920/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person concerned is an applicant under the Installation Aid Scheme. His application has been approved and payment will issue shortly.

567. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment under the farm waste management scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5050/09]

568. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork, who is an applicant under the REP Scheme four will receive their first REP scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5052/09]

313 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Employment Support Services. 569. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science the allowances available for people who have recently lost their jobs, not through redundancy, and who wish to pursue courses through the Vocational Education Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4306/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Department of Social and Family Affairs offers a range of education and employment supports designed to assist and facilitate people on social welfare payments to return to the active labour force. The back to education allowance (BTEA) is the main education support scheme of the Department. It is designed to encourage people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to work. An applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period, to qualify for the back to education allowance. This requirement has always been a feature of the BTEA scheme and is considered necessary to ensure that limited resources are directed at those most in need. The allowance essentially replaces a person’s existing social welfare income and, in addition, an annual \500 cost of education allowance is payable. In general, an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 6 months if pursuing a second level course or 12 months if pursuing a third level course. In addition, the qualifying period for access to the third level option is further reduced to 9 months for persons who are participating in the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) process and people who are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study. FA´ S Employment Service helps job-seekers, in particular those who are most marginalised, to enter-re-enter the active labour market. Job-seekers who are considered to be distant from the labour market are provided with appropriate and intensive professional vocational guidance which results in an action plan setting out specific actions and measures to be implemented with a view to helping them integrate into the labour force. FA´ S provides various financial supports in the form of allowances to assist participants of training c FA´ S provides various financial supports in the form of allowances to assist participants of training courses and grants or subventions to encourage employers to support training programmes. Participants on the majority of FA´ S training courses are eligible for various allowances. The main allowances given for the course participants are training, travel, accommodation, meals and childcare. FA´ S operates a National Contact Centre which may be contacted, by job-seekers, using a free-phone number to obtain information on jobs available and on FA´ S training and employment programmes. For information on the full range of allowances and grants and advice on their personal options a person should contact their local FA´ S office.

314 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

School Enrolments. 570. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is satisfied with guidelines in relation to school enrolment and the requirement of parental consent in the matter of guardianship of infants; if provision is made for both guardians to be consulted in cases of joint guardianship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4177/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are respected. Article 42 of the Constitution provides for the right of parents to choose the form of education they provide or to have provided to their children. Primary legislation gives effect to this right and includes the Education Act 1998 and the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. None of the foregoing legislation specifically distinguishes between parents who act in concert and those who disagree and are separated, divorced or unmarried. However each provides that “parent” shall be interpreted to include — “a foster parent, a guardian appointed under the Guardianship of Children Acts, 1964 to 1997, or other person acting in loco parentis who has a child in his or her care subject to any statutory power or order of a court and, in the case of a child who has been adopted under the Adoption Acts, 1952 to 1998, or, where the child has been adopted outside the State, means the adopter or adopters or the surviving adopter”. My Department has not issued guidelines to schools in relation to school enrolment policies. Enrolment of children is, in the first instance, a matter for Boards of Management rather than my Department and Boards must address the circumstances of each case while respecting any order made by the Court in relation to the custody and welfare of the child.

School Staffing. 571. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will respond to a query from a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4210/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The 2009 Budget required difficult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made to control public expenditure and to ensure sustainability in the long run. In this respect Edu- cation, while protected to a much greater extent than most other areas of public expenditure, could not be totally spared. The various impacts at school level in relation to both staffing and grant levels were included in the Budget day announcements. Even with the budget measures in place there will still be a significantly increased borrowing requirement in 2009. The staffing schedule for the 2009/2010 school year, Primary Circular 0002/2009, has been published on my Department’s website at www.education.ie and my officials have written to all schools to notify them in this regard. The schedule is a transparent and clear way of ensuring that schools are treated consistently and fairly and know where they stand. Within the terms of the staffing arrangements for primary schools there is provision for additional posts, referred to as developing school posts, to be assigned to schools on the basis of projected enrolments for the next school year. Under these arrangements, a developing school post may be sanctioned provisionally where the projected enrolment at 30th September of the school year in question equals or exceeds a specified figure. If the specified figure is not achieved on 30th September, sanction for the post is withdrawn.

315 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

It is open to the school referred to by the Deputy to submit an application for an additional post(s) to the Primary Payments Section of my Department if it considers that it meets the criteria for developing status. The allocation process includes appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The final allocation to a school is also a function of the operation of the redeployment panels which provide for the retention of a teacher in an existing school if a new post is not available within the agreed terms of the scheme.

School Transport. 572. Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will extend the school transport service for children (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4217/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sea´n Haughey): Under the terms of the primary school transport scheme pupils are eligible for transport if they reside 3.2 kilometres or more from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by my Department. The families referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, should apply, in the first instance, to their local Bus E´ ireann office. Their eligibility for school transport and the availability of a suitable service can be established at that stage.

School Enrolments. 573. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will assist a school (details supplied) in County Louth in the provision of first year places in view of the large number of disappointed applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4261/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The school in County Louth to which the Deputy refers made an application for an extension in 2006. An assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments in the area will need to be carried out to ensure that any capital funding provided will deliver accommodation appropriate to the school’s future needs. When the long-term projected enrolment has been finalised and agreed with the school authorities, my Department will draw up schedules of accommodation for the project which will be notified to the school management authority. The project will then be considered in the context of the multi-annual School Build- ing and Modernisation Programme. Pending the completion of this assessment, it is open to the school authorities to contact my Department with regard to any immediate shortage of accommodation to cater for its needs. To date, no requests have been made to my Department from the school authorities for additional accommodation to cater for 1st year students looking for places for the 2009/10 school year.

State Examinations. 574. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will describe and list the forms and nature of assistance provided in State examinations to students with special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4266/09]

316 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The State Examinations Com- mission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. I can inform the Deputy that the Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accom- modations in the certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. A range of accommodations are provided to enable students with special needs to access the Certificate examinations. For example enlarged print, Braille translation, modified questions, use of a scribe, a reader, a personal assistant, a tape recorder or word processor, may be allowed depending on needs. The scheme was introduced following the report of an expert advisory group, and the introduction enabled opportunities to be provided for exemptions where a candidate was not in a position to demonstrate achievement in a core area of assessment. I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission who will give you a more comprehensive reply.

Schools Building Projects. 575. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to a school (details supplied) to move their extension and refurbishment project to tender stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4267/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning for an extension/refurbishment. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

576. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to a school (details supplied) to move its development project to the next stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4268/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): It is my Department’s intention to provide the school to which the Deputy refers with a new building on a greenfield site. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

577. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to a school (details supplied) to move its project to the next stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4269/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for an extension project.

317 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

578. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to a school (details supplied) to move its project to the next stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4272/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for an extension project. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

579. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to a school (details supplied) to move its extension and refurbishment project to the next stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4273/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

580. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to a school (details supplied) in County Clare to move its project to the next stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4274/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The school to which the Deputy refers has applied for an extension/refurbishment project. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Mod- ernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

581. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to a school (details supplied) in County Clare to move its extension and refurbishment project to the next stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4277/09]

318 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Mod- ernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

582. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to a school (details supplied) to move its extension and refurbishment project to the next stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4278/09]

583. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approval to a school (details supplied) in County Clare to move their project to the next stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4281/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): It is the intention of my Depart- ment to provide the school to which he refers with a new building on a greenfield site. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from site acquisition and initial design stage through to the construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Teachers’ Remuneration. 584. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when he expects a category of people (details supplied) to be awarded the arrears which are due to them; the position of same; and the estimated cost of this payment. [4283/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department has been very aware of the issues raised in relation to the adjustments to pay due to certain part-time teachers under the Protection of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001 and has worked closely with the school management bodies and teacher unions to ensure that the legislation is implemented and applied to teachers in a fair and consistent manner. My Department has already made the pay adjustments and paid arrears for the majority of part-time teachers, including substitute teachers, that are on the payrolls that it directly administers. The group of part-time teachers that have still to receive adjusted pay and arrears are those employed on a part-time basis by individual Boards of Management of primary schools. Cur- rently a grant system operates, which allows the Boards to claim from my Department, the funding required to pay these teachers. The Boards of Management pay the part-time teachers directly.

319 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

Under the terms of the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act, 2001, qualified eligible part-time teachers are entitled to be paid salary appropriate to their qualifications and to receive incremental credit in respect of relevant teaching service. In order to ensure that the terms of this Act could be applied to any part-time teachers paid directly by school boards, my Department took the view that the best approach was to extend the single payroll process which is in place for all other teachers in primary, secondary and community and comprehensive schools rather than persist with the practice of having boards pay them directly. This approach would ensure that the teachers concerned could get full credit for their overall service where they served part-time in more than one school. The new payroll is being developed and will be introduced from 1 September 2009 and arrears will be paid by November 2009. It is not possible to assess the exact cost of the arrears until the new payroll is introduced.

Departmental Expenditure. 585. Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost of providing in-service courses for primary and secondary school teachers in 2008 including the cost of providing supervision of classes and substitution for those involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4292/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The cost of the provision of in- service in 2008 was \35.6 million. This is broken down as support service, course and partici- pant costs. Support was provided across a range of areas including DEIS, Special Needs and the Primary and Post Primary Curriculum. The cost of providing substitution cover for in service in 2008 was \5.38m for primary schools and \5.2m for post primary schools, including the VECs. The Supervision/Substitution Scheme in addition to providing for supervision of students during periods that are not assigned to any teacher may be used to provide substitution cover for classes as determined by the Board of Management of a school in accordance with the terms of Circular PPT 01/03. Teachers are made an annual payment of \1,862 to participate in the supervision/substitution scheme. It is not possible to determine the cost of associated cover for teachers on in-service training provided under this scheme.

Schools Building Projects. 586. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in a school building project (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will allow the building work to proceed; the timetable for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4307/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi- annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

320 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Special Educational Needs. 587. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason three special needs assistants were removed from a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will review the matter again to ensure that the requirements of the special needs children at the school are fully met. [4308/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. Applications for SNAs may be considered by the NCSE where a pupil has a significant medical need for such assistance and where there are identified care needs arising from a diagnosed disability. A pupil’s level of care may diminish over time as the child matures. Pupils may move to a different school or on to post-primary school. In such situations, the NCSE will review and adjust the SNA support required in the school. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in allocating such support. The NCSE has confirmed that the level of SNA support allocated to the school in question is sufficient to meet the care needs of the children with special educational needs. The NCSE has advised my Department that the local SENO has met with the parents concerned and has clarified the position regarding their child’s special educational needs. It is open to the parents to contact the SENO directly to discuss any matter relating to their child’s special educational needs.

Schools Building Projects. 588. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary has received for works; the timeframe for when the works will commence and be completed; the works which will be carried out as a result of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4313/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension and refurbishment project. The project is at the early stages of architectural planning. The progression of all major building projects, including this project, from initial design through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department and with the level of activity in the School Building Programme, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the further progression of the project at this time. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently approved funding for works to remedy a problem with waste water disposal at the school.

Schools Refurbishment. 589. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary has received for works; the timeframe for when the works will commence and be completed; the works which will be carried out as a result of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4314/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The school referred to by the Deputy applied for funding from my Department to carry out works to the roof of the school building. Funding for the project was approved by letter issued to the school on 16 January

321 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.] 2009. The Deputy will understand that it would not be appropriate for me to give details of the amount approved for the works at this stage, as it might compromise the tender process. The grant is sanctioned on condition that the works commence on site and 70% of the funding has been drawn down within 6 months of the date of the letter and that the remaining 30% of the funding is drawn down within 9 months of the date of this letter. If there are valid reasons why the above timetable cannot be met a case can be made to my Department for an extension of the deadlines.

School Curriculum. 590. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm that all primary schools have implemented circular 0138/2006, issued in December 2006, requesting that they ensure standardised testing in English and maths is implemented; if his Department collects this information; his views on the introduction of standardised testing to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4316/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): On foot of Circular 0138/2006, primary schools are implementation standardised testing in English Reading and Mathematics at two stages, at the end of first class/beginning of second class, AND at the end of fourth class/beginning of fifth class since 2007. The results of these tests are held at school level and are available for inspection. Standardised testing is used as one of a range of modes of assessment that help teachers to make more informed decisions in relation to teaching and learning. The results of standardised tests can be used to inform parents of pupils’ progress and to assist in the identification of pupils that may require support. They are also available to the Inspector- ate as part of the school evaluation process. It was not intended that the results of standardised testing would be reported to the Depart- ment or used in any way which would facilitate school comparisons or the compilation of league tables. Instead, the implementation of standardised testing at school level is being com- plemented by a separate programme of national monitoring in English reading and Mathemat- ics undertaken by the Educational Research Centre (ERC). Schools in the DEIS programme have already been sampled by the Educational Research Centre for this purpose, and the sample of non-DEIS English medium schools is planned for 2009, with the sample of Irish medium schools planed for 2010. These programme will establish trends over time for particular categories of school. No individual school results will be identifiable in this process. The introduction of standardised testing was supported by a national programme of teacher professional development in assessment for learning. Grants of \1.65m, \1.7m and \1.76m have issued to schools in December 2006, December 2007 and December 2008 for the cost of test materials, teachers’ manuals, test scoring services or test-related software. Guidelines on assessment developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment were published in October 2007 and issued to all teachers to assist schools in developing and implementing a policy on assessment practice in classrooms and on reporting to parents.

Higher Education Grants. 591. Deputy Aengus O´ Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Science the education grants available to a person (details supplied). [4324/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): Under the terms of the maintenance grants scheme grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions

322 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previous academic attainment. The Nationality requirement as set out in the 2008 Grant schemes states: Candidates must:

• hold E.U. Nationality; or

• have Official Refugee Status; or

• have been granted Humanitarian Leave to Remain in the State (prior to the Immigration Act 1999); or

• be a person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has granted permission to remain following a determination not to make a deportation order under section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999; or

• have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to an Irish national residing in the State, or be the child of such person, not having EU nationality; or

• have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to a national of another EU Member State who is residing in the State and who is or has been employed, or self- employed, in the State, or be the child of such a person, not having EU nationality; or

• be nationals of a member country of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzer- land. Candidates must meet the nationality requirements of the scheme.

The decision on eligibility for student grants is a matter for the relevant assessing authority — i.e. the local authority or VEC. These bodies do not refer individual applications to my Depart- ment except, in exceptional cases, where, for example, advice or instruction regarding a particular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the relevant local authority or VEC. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by the assessing authority, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctly in his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant to my Department.

Teachers’ Remuneration. 592. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers entitled to salary arrears from his Department under the Protection of Employees Part-time Work Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4328/09]

593. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the amount paid out by his Department to date in salary arrears under the Protection of Employees Part-time Work Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4329/09]

594. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the estimated financial liability to his Department in the payment of arrears under the Protection of Employees Part-time Work Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4330/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 to 594, inclusive, together.

323 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department has been very aware of the issues raised in relation to the adjustments to pay due to certain part-time teachers under the Protec- tion of Employees (Part-Time Work) Act, 2001 and has worked closely with the school management bodies and teacher unions to ensure that the legislation is implemented and applied to teachers in a fair and consistent manner. My Department has already made the pay adjustments and paid arrears for the majority of part-time teachers, including substitute teachers and part- time teachers in secondary and Community/Comprehensive schools and substitute teachers in primary schools, that are on the payrolls it directly administers. The group of part-time teachers that have still to receive adjusted pay and arrears are those employed on a part-time basis by individual Boards of Management of primary schools. Cur- rently a grant system operates, which allows the Boards to claim from my Department, the funding required to pay these teachers. The Boards of Management pay the part-time teachers directly. Under the terms of the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act, 2001, qualified eligible part-time teachers are entitled to be paid salary appropriate to their qualifications and to receive incremental credit in respect of relevant teaching service. In order to ensure that the terms of this Act could be applied to any part-time teachers paid directly by school boards, my Department took the view that the best approach was to extend the central payroll process which is in place for all other teachers in primary, secondary and community and comprehensive schools rather than persist with the practice of having boards pay them directly. This approach would ensure that the teachers concerned could get full credit for their overall service where they served part-time in more than one school. My Department collected the data necessary to place the part-time resource teachers on the centralised payroll recently. The new payroll is being developed and will be introduced from 1 September 2009 and arrears will be paid by November 2009. It is expected that approximately one thousand additional part-time resource teachers will be paid on the new payroll when it is introduced. It is not possible to determine the exact cost of the arrears payable to this group of part-time teachers until the new payroll is introduced. Factors such as the qualifications of the individual, the level of teaching service undertaken and the incremental point of the individual on the common basic scale all affect the amount of the arrears payable.

Schools Building Projects. 595. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of a school (details supplied) in Dublin regarding its application for a new school building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4331/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): As the Deputy will be aware, the school to which he refers is temporarily located in its current premises. However, given the city centre location of the school, there has been considerable difficulty in acquiring a suitable site or an alternative building as a long term location for the school. The progression of all applications for large scale capital investment, including the application in question ,will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernis- ation Programme.

Third Level Fees. 596. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if the maximum support will be given to the National College of Ireland in 2009. [4343/09]

324 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

597. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will end the cap on student recruitment at the National College of Ireland in view of the fact that it is the only college here with a cap. [4344/09]

598. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will use the National College of Ireland in tackling the problem of unemployment and vulnerable low skilled workers. [4346/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I propose to take Questions Nos. 596 to 598, inclusive, together. An amount of \6.8 million which includes the estimated cost of free tuition fees has been provided in the 2009 estimates for the National College of Ireland (NCI). This provision is in line with the 2008 outturn when the expected additional income to the NCI from the increase in the third level student services charge is taken into account. This allocation must also be viewed in the context of overall increases to NCI in recent years where the current allocation represents a doubling of the provision allocated to the College in 2001 (\3.36m) and an increase of some 27% over the funding provided in 2004 (\5.669m). The Government has taken decisions to control public expenditure in light of the current economic climate and as the Deputy will appreciate it will be necessary for NCI to achieve appropriate savings in line with the requirement for all other third level institutions to do likewise. The Deputy may be aware that the cap on student numbers relates to funding under my Departments Free Fees Initiative for up to 925 students in the NCI. The College cannot expand on this limit without the approval of my Department and the Department of Finance. The NCI are free to increase the number of student places that they offer outside the free fees scheme. Specific requests have been received from NCI to lift this cap on numbers of free fee places so as to increase places in IT and business and financial related courses. My Department has examined the College’s request for an increase in places on IT related courses, however the view is that there is no need for additional IT related courses at this time due to general demand being less than places available. The Deputy may be aware that the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs published a report on the Future Skills and Research Needs of the International Financial Services Industry. The responsibility for managing the implementation of a number of recommendations in this report has been assigned to Skillnets, which is the enterprise-led support body whose mission is to enhance the skills of people in employment in Irish industry. In relation to the issue of using NCI to tackle unemployment and low skilled workers, proposals to activate greater numbers of unemployed people, through education, training, employment and community programmes are currently being examined, having regard to existing resources, by Government.

School Staffing. 599. Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider his decision not to provide substitute cover for the first day of uncertified sick leave in respect of special needs teachers in view of the particular difficulties that this is causing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4349/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): As a result of the 2009 Budget provisions for Education, arising from current economic challenges, and following subsequent

325 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.] proposals from the management bodies of primary schools, new arrangements were put in place for substitution cover for uncertified sick leave for teachers in primary schools. The new arrangements became effective from the 1st January 2009 and will remain in place for the remainder of the 2008/2009 school year. Under these arrangements the general rule is that substitute cover is not provided for the first day of an absence of a teacher on uncertified sick leave in a school. There are two exceptions to this general rule. The first is that substitute cover is provided for the first day of an absence of a teacher on uncertified sick leave in schools with two or less classroom teachers. The second is that in the event that two or more teachers in a school are absent from teaching duty on the first day of uncertified sick leave, substitute cover is provided for the second and subsequent teachers that are absent. The existing arrangements for substitute cover for other absences of teachers from teaching duty continue to apply. In the period until the end of the school year, there will be a full review of the substitution and supervision scheme and related matters in conjunction with the school management bodies and teacher unions with a view to making up the additional expenditure and thereby ensuring that the budgetary parameters are met.

Schools Building Projects. 600. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the standard dimensions of a sports hall that would be incorporated into a new generic repeat design 16- classroom primary school. [4357/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): Generic Repeat Design (GRD) buildings provide the full range of classroom and ancillary accommodation that is achieved using the traditional competitive procurement route. GRD buildings facilitate speedier delivery of projects, save on design fees and are designed to allow for easy extension if required at a later stage. In relation to a GP room an area of 195 sq. m is provided plus servery, store and W/C areas. Details of various facilities provided in a new 16-classroom school building are given in Technical Guidance Document-022 available on my Department’s website and also in information document Generic Repeat Design Schools: (http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/pbu generic repeat design schools1 2.pdf).

Vocational Education Committees. 601. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers employed under the vocational educational committee system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4363/09]

602. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of ancillary staff, outside of teaching staff, employed within vocational educational committee schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4364/09]

603. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff employed in the vocational educational committee system; the breakdown of the number of

326 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers staff employed by each individual VEC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4365/09]

604. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff employed by vocational educational committees involved in delivering front-line services; the number of staff employed in an administrative capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4366/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 to 604, inclusive, together. There are 33 vocational education committees (VECs) established under the Vocational Education Acts, 1930 to 2001. Each VEC is a statutory body with its own corporate status. The functions and responsibilities of the VECs, including their requirements to report to the Mini- ster for Education and Science, are defined in the governing legislation. VECs provide a broad range of educational services. In addition to providing post-primary education, further and adult education, they also have responsibilities in areas such as community education, training for early school leavers, basic literacy courses, traveller education and the provision of youth services. My Department provides the majority of the funding required by VECs for the delivery of these programmes. As of January 2009 approximately 9,069 whole time equivalent (wte) teaching posts and 709 SNA (wte) posts are allocated to VEC post primary schools. A breakdown of the allocation of teaching and SNA posts to post primary schools in each VEC is attached for the Deputy’s information. The information sought by the Deputy in relation to non-teaching and ancillary staff is not readily available. I have asked my officials to compile this information and to forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

605. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the budget for vocational educational committees in 2009; the budget allocated in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4367/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): This Government’s continued prioritisation of education over the last 11 years is evidenced from our investment in 2009 of \9.6 billion — over treble what it was in 1997. The increase of \302m in the Education budget for 2009 is therefore a real achievement in the current economic climate. Education is one of only three Government Departments to have increased funding in 2009. The provision for funding to Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) for 2009 shows an increase of more than 5% over the 2008 level. Funding to VECs for 2008 totalled \887.5m and this will rise to \936m in 2009. VECs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of their budgets. This allows each VEC to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need. The provision that I have made, in the context of the 2009 estimates, for this significant increase in the funding of VECs is a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritise available resources in order to best address the needs of learners availing of services provided through the network of VECs.

327 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

The Deputy will appreciate that the figure for 2009 is based on the Budget announcement made in October 2008. Accordingly, in the light of the Government’s recent announcement regarding further necessary economic and spending measures, the VEC budget figure for 2009 may yet be subject to some adjustment.

606. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the proportion of the vocational educational committee 2008 budget spent on administrative services; the proportion of the VEC 2008 budget spent on teachers’ salaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4368/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): Financial allocations are made to the Vocational Education Committees (VECs) as part of a block grant. VECs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of their budgets and each VEC is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need. Accord- ingly, my Department does not have available to it a detailed breakdown of the distribution of funds by VECs across their schools and head offices. However, I can inform the Deputy that in 2008 VECs spent approximately \629m on what is termed instruction pay (teachers and special needs assistants) in post primary schools and approximately \58.5 million on what is termed administration pay in post primary schools and head offices.

Child Protection. 607. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of designated liaison persons at primary level and second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4369/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The primary statutory responsibility for child protection lies with the Health Services Executive. The role of my Department is to provide guidance and support to schools in implementing child protection policy and to refer any allegations received to the appropriate authorities for investigation. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has issued child protection guidelines and procedures to all schools. The guidelines are based on Children First — the Department of Health & Children’s national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children. The Chil- dren First guidelines make very clear the reporting and investigation mechanisms to be followed in cases of suspected child abuse wherever they occur, and the lead role of the HSE. The guidelines for schools require each board of management to designate a senior member of staff, normally the principal, as the Designated Liaison Person (DLP) for the school. The DLP acts as a liaison person with the health authorities and other agencies on child protection issues and as a resource person to any staff member who has concerns in this regard. My Department does not keep a register of Designated Liaison Persons. The appointment of DLP’s is a matter for each school. In 2006, my Department issued Circulars to all schools reminding them, amongst other things, of the requirement to have a DLP appointed. As part of the circular, schools were issued with and were required to complete a questionnaire which sought to ascertain the level of compliance with the guidelines. The indications from that survey were that the vast majority of schools had DLP’s in place at that time. My Department does not have current information in relation to all schools. As part of Whole School Evaluation the Department’s Inspectorate checks that Child Protection Policies are in place and that a Designated Liaison Person has been appointed.

328 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

The Department has provided and continues to provide in-service training for Designated Liaison Persons and Deputy Designated Liaison Persons to assist them in dealing with child protection issues. In addition, the Department facilitates training for boards of management, parent education and also provides training at Pre-Service level if requested to do so by the colleges of education.

608. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staff at primary level and second level who have received in-service training for dealing with child protection issues and in particular reporting procedures, other than training for the stay safe programme or SPHE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4370/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The DES Child Protection Guidelines are an adaptation of the Department of Health and Children/Health Service Execu- tive “Children First” guidelines. They set out the responsibilities and requirements for teachers in the event of a disclosure in the classroom. The data sets out the provision since January 2008 when the latest round of training began for primary schools on the Child Protection Guidelines:

Primary

• Eighty six seminars took place in the school year 2007-2008

• All primary schools were invited to send their Designated Liaison Person (DLP) (usually the principal of the school)

• 1,862 DLPs attended the seminars

• 1,862 schools were represented

• 61 seminars took place in the school year 2008-2009

• All primary schools were invited to send one member of the teaching staff, this included DLPs that did not attend the round of seminars in the previous school year.

• 1,010 teachers attended the seminars, 1,010 schools were represented

The data of staff at post primary level who have received in-service training for dealing with child protection issues are as follows:

2004-2008

• Number of Schools Invited: 730

• Number of Events Held: 150

• Number of Schools Represented: 668

• Total Number of Participants 2004-2008: 4,534

For 2009 the projected training plans are as follows:

• Number of Schools Invited: 730

• Number of Events Planned: 20

329 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

• Total Projected Number of Participants: 570

School Inspections. 609. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of whole school evaluations and subject inspections carried out at primary and second level each year since 2004 to date in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4395/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): In the 2004-2008 period, whole- school evaluations were conducted in 933 primary schools as follows:

Year Number

2004 53 WSE 2005 163 WSE 2006 228 WSE 2007 244 WSE 2008 245 WSE

In the 2004–2008 period, subject inspections (post-primary) were conducted as follows:

Year Number

2004 431 subject inspections 2005 676 subject inspections 2006 730 subject inspections 2007 758 subject inspections 2008 668 subject inspections

Whole-school evaluations (WSE) and subject inspections form just part of the Inspectorate’s business plan in any given year. Inspectors are involved in a wide range of other work such as programme evaluations, the preparation of composite and thematic evaluation reports on aspects of educational provision in schools, inspection of primary teachers on probation and participation in appeal boards established under Section 29 of the Education Act. Inspectors also provide advice on an on-going basis to various sections within the Department on policy issues including teacher education, special education, and qualifications, curriculum and assessment policy. With regard to 2009, as part of the wider programme of work outlined above, it is intended to conduct 256 WSEs at primary level, 64 WSEs at post-primary level and 560 subject inspections.

610. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the level of expenditure which has been allocated by his Department to whole school evaluations and subject inspections at primary level and second level each year since the introduction of such inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4396/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I wish to inform the Deputy that information in relation to overall inspectorate costs is currently being compiled and will be incorporated in a reply to the Deputy shortly. 330 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

611. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the proportion of his budget which has been allocated to accommodation and other expenses for inspectors carrying out whole school evaluations and subject inspections each year since the introduction of such inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4397/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I take the Deputy’s reference to accommodation and other expenses as being the travel and subsistence costs incurred by inspectors while carrying out whole-school evaluations and subject inspections. The travel and subsistence costs associated with conducting whole-school evaluations and subject inspections are not recorded separately from the total travel and subsistence costs associated with the entire work programme of the Inspectorate division of my Department. In that context it should be noted that, in addition to whole-school evaluations and subject inspections, Inspectors are involved in a wide range of other work such as programme evaluations, the preparation of composite and thematic evaluation reports on aspects of educational provision in schools, inspection of primary teachers on probation and participation in appeal boards established under Section 29 of the Education Act. Inspectors also provide advice on an on-going basis to various sections within the Department on policy issues including teacher education, special education, and qualifications, curriculum and assessment policy. While it is not possible to provide the Deputy with specific travel and subsistence costs in respect of whole-school evaluations and subject inspections, I can provide details of the total travel and subsistence expenses associated with the complete work programme of the Inspec- torate division, for each year since 2004, as set out below

Year \

2004 1,429,559.33 2005 1,378,130.38 2006 1,576,419.31 2007 1,693,653.27 2008 1,558,952.27

The total budget allocation for my Department in 2008 was \9.3 billion. The gross travel and subsistence expenses for the Inspectorate in 2008 amounted to \1,558,952. Therefore, the proportion of the Department’s total budget which was allocated to cover the travel and subsistence expenses incurred in respect of the entire work programme of the Inspectorate in 2008 was 0.0168%.

Schools Building Projects. 612. Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if the extension to a school (details supplied) in County Waterford will commence construction in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4414/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The proposed building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time. 331 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

School Enrolments. 613. Deputy Sea´n Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will investigate the situation of a child (details supplied) who is enrolled in a primary school without their parent’s consent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4429/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are respected. Article 42 of the Constitution provides for the right of parents to choose the form of education they provide or to have provided to their children. Primary legislation gives effect to this right and includes the Education Act 1998 and the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. None of the foregoing legislation specifically distinguishes between parents who act in concert and those who disagree and are separated, divorced or unmarried. However each provides that “parent” shall be interpreted to include- “a foster parent, a guardian appointed under the Guardianship of Children Acts, 1964 to 1997, or other person acting in loco parentis who has a child in his or her care subject to any statutory power or order of a court and, in the case of a child who has been adopted under the Adoption Acts, 1952 to 1998, or, where the child has been adopted outside the State, means the adopter or adopters or the surviving adopter”. My Department has not issued guidelines to schools in relation to school enrolment policies. Enrolment of children is, in the first instance, a matter for Boards of Management rather than my Department and Boards must address the circumstances of each case while respecting any order made by the Court in relation to the custody and welfare of the child.

School Curriculum. 614. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps which he has taken to implement the recommendation outlined in the future requirement for high level information and communication technology skills in the ICT sector report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4433/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): Work on implementing the recommendations outlined in the report by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) on the Future Requirement for High-level ICT Skills in the ICT Sector is ongoing. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) is funding a number of awareness initiatives to promote ICT courses to prospective students and the HEA continues to provide funding to third level institutions, both to improve the attractiveness of existing ICT courses and to set up new ones. An encouraging sign is that enrolments on level 8 computing courses increased by 10% in 2008. In regard to second level, I have recently launched a major initiative, Project Maths, designed to encourage better understanding of maths, to reinforce the practical relevance of maths to everyday life, and to ensure better continuity between primary and second level, and junior and senior cycle. The initiative started in 2008 and is being piloted in 24 schools. The curriculum changes will be phased in over three years and mainstreaming will begin in 2010, prefaced by a national programme of professional development for teachers beginning in 2009. Project Maths will be supported by intensive investment in professional development for teachers and by investment in materials and exemplars for teachers. Some \3m has been provided for the programme in 2009 and the investment will continue over a number of years, to at least 2013, in a rolling programme of reform.

332 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

I am aware of the calls for the introduction of bonus points for Higher Level Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate. Decisions on the award of points and admission criteria for entry to higher education programmes are, under legislation, a matter for the higher education institutions. Following the release of the EGFSN Report, my Department asked the Higher Edu- cation Authority to initiate a discussion across higher education institutions regarding the desirability or otherwise of awarding bonus points. The overall view emerging was that the introduction of bonus points was unlikely to dramatically increase uptake of Higher Level Maths and unlikely to contribute to the national objective of greater participation in science, technology and engineering courses. The Report of the Points Commission in 1999 considered the issue of bonus points and recommended against such an approach on the grounds that it would lead to a narrowing of the range of subjects taken by students, create pressure on students to make early career choices, give rise to equity issues where the subject was not available and lead to distortions in the third level access and provision. Providing bonus points could reinforce the perception that Maths is a difficult subject. It should be noted that when bonus points were removed in 1994 on foot of curricular reform, participation in Higher Level Maths increased. We can therefore conclude that curriculum reform has more impact than points in this area. Introducing bonus points would inevitably lead to similar demands in other subjects such as science. The education sector must cater for all students, and placing some subjects at a higher value, notwithstanding the importance of other sectors of the economy, and the abilities and interests and legitimate choices of students, could potentially be counter- productive to the overall interests of the system.

Capitation Grants. 615. Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the cost overrun in the provision of extra facilities at a school (details supplied) in County Limerick, he will sanction additional grant aid for the school to make up the shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4434/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): Funding in respect of the provision of facilities at the school in question was approved in August of last year. In the event of the receipt of a request for additional grant aid for the project from the school authority, this will be assessed. However, it should be noted that a central tenet of the grant scheme is that the school, granted discretion and funding, must equally accept responsibility for prioritisation, adherence to statutory regulations, control of costs and ensuring value for money. The scheme is not intended to leave schools with significant fundraising needs but for the school to tailor the scope of capital works commissioned to the funding available. The decision on whether to continue participating in scheme or to drop out, if the scope of building is more than the funding envelope permits, is a matter for each school authority.

Special Educational Needs. 616. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamen- tary Question No. 1569 of 27 January 2009 if a psychological assessment will be placed in support of the application for a special needs assistant for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4448/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The position remains as I outlined for the Deputy on 27 January last. The SENO is awaiting further information from the school in support of the application and as soon as this is received, the application will receive further consideration.

333 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

School Inspections. 617. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost of carrying out whole-school evaluations in 2006, 2007 and 2008 at primary and post primary schools in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4479/09]

618. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost to carry out a whole school-evaluation in a post-primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4480/09]

Schools Building Projects. 619. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science the implications for school building projects in County Clare of the reprioritisation of \150 million in the schools building programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4482/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The capital allocation of \581m for the School Building and Modernisation Programme was increased last week by an extra \75 million. The allocation of this funding within the School Building and Modernisation Prog- ramme to address the many demands on the capital budget of my Department is currently being considered.

Psychological Service. 620. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if matters concerning a person (details supplied) have been brought to the attention of the National Educational Psychological Service in respect of complaints made by parents and other professionals regarding the competence of this person to remain on his Department’s scheme for commissioning private assessments; if so, the determination by the service of such information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4485/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The Deputy will be aware that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered by NEPS. I can inform the Deputy that NEPS maintains the SCPA panel of eligible practitioners under the scheme on the basis that applicants have satisfied it: that they are graduate members of an appropriate professional body (e.g. the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or the British Psychological Society (BPS)) and that they have at least two years supervised experience of administering and interpreting psychological tests for children that they are registered or chartered or certified by an appropriate professional body and receiving on-going supervision or that they are receiving on-going supervision that could confer registered status within three years with PSI that they adhere to the PSI Code of Ethics and to the ‘Policy on the use of

334 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Psychometric Tests in Ireland’ (adapted by PSI in November 2007) that they have obtained Garda clearance. A complaints procedure exists under the scheme within which issues or difficulties arising from the operation of the SCPA, which cannot be resolved between school and/or parents and the psychologist, are subject to examination and determination by NEPS. This procedure has been formalised within the past year. I can confirm that complaints were raised by two parents in relation to the psychologist referred to by the Deputy but within the limits of the detail supplied NEPS was satisfied that there were no grounds for further action in either instance. The individual fulfils all the above requirements for involvement in the panel and remains on the current panel. In addition I have recently referred another matter for consideration to the State Examinations Commissions in regard to this psychologist although not in direct connection with the SCPA. My Department has had no involvement in any complaints by other professionals in regard to this panellist. Should the Deputy have any pertinent information to bring to the matter I would ask that he submit it to my Department for examination. Of course, officials from my Department’s NEPS service are available to meet with and discuss the concerns of any parent or school authority in relation to the scheme. I set out below for the Deputy’s information a copy of the SCPA Guidelines for Psychologists — 2009 which, along with other relevant information on the Scheme is available on my Depart- ment’s website. While as Minister I am of course concerned in relation to all aspects of quality of service throughout the education system, I should add that neither my Department nor NEPS is a disciplinary body for psychologists. Such matters fall within the province of the particular psychologist’s professional body and formal complaints in regard to professional conduct should properly be referred by the complainant to that body (e.g. Psychological Society of Ireland).

SCHEME FOR THE COMMISSIONING OF PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENTS (SCPA)

Guidelines for SCPA Psychologists — 2009

Purpose of the Scheme The purpose of the scheme is to provide funding for schools to commission individual psychological assessments for children from psychologists working in a private capacity, pending the expansion of the service provided by the Department of Education and Science (DES)/National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) to all schools. NEPS is a section of the DES.

The scheme is not a substitute for a full educational psychological service of the sort provided by NEPS. It is an interim measure intended to meet current urgent needs for psychological assessment of children and young people. The DES will review the operation of the scheme on an ongoing basis.

Terms and Conditions of the Scheme Schools are responsible for commissioning psychologists to carry out assessments under the scheme. Schools may only commission psychologists who are on the SCPA panel.

The number of assessments that a school can commission under the scheme is determined by the number of pupils enrolled in that school.

335 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

The number of assessments that may be conducted by a psychologist under the scheme cannot exceed 180 in any school year.

An individual psychological assessment, in its entirety, must be wholly and exclusively carried out by a psychologist whose name appears on the SCPA panel.

Payment for assessments carried out under the scheme must be made from SCPA funds and from such funds alone. Psychologists who accept commissions under the scheme may not seek or accept payment from any other source in respect of such commissions and will be required to certify that they have not done so as a condition of receiving payment. Seeking or accepting payment from any other source in respect of an assessment under the scheme will constitute grounds for removal from the SCPA panel.

Schools and psychologists are required to adhere to the recommended procedures, as laid down by the DES/NEPS.

SCPA psychologists must work within their areas of competence, keep abreast of relevant developments and comply with DES policy at all times.

Selection of Psychologists for Participation in the Scheme The SCPA panel of psychologists is compiled by NEPS. This list is regularly updated and is available in the NEPS section of the DES website — www.education.ie. A web link is provided below:

2009 Panel of Psychologists

Psychologists on the SCPA panel are private practitioners who have satisfied NEPS:

• that they are graduate members of an appropriate professional body (e.g. the Psychologi- cal Society of Ireland (PSI) or the British Psychological Society (BPS)) and that they have at least two years supervised experience of administering and interpreting psychological tests for children

• that they are registered or chartered or certified by an appropriate professional body and receiving on-going supervision

that they are receiving on-going supervision that could confer registered status within three years with PSI

• that they adhere to the PSI Code of Ethics and to the ‘Policy on the use of Psychometric Tests in Ireland’ (adapted by PSI in November 2007)

• that they have obtained Garda clearance

• that they have obtained a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Revenue Commissioners

Membership of the panel only implies the eligibility of the psychologist to conduct assessments under the scheme and (provided the requisite terms and conditions are satisfied) to receive payment for such assessments.

336 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

The 2008 panel will expire on 31st December, 2008. Persons who are admitted to the 2009 panel are eligible to conduct assessments under the scheme from 1st January, 2009 until 30th June, 2009 subject to the terms and conditions laid down in the SCPA Guidelines for 2009. Psychologists are obliged both to familiarise themselves with and to adhere to these terms and conditions.

As the 2009 panel will expire on 30th June, 2009 psychologists on that panel wishing to be admitted to the 2009/2010 scheme will be required to complete a Renewal of Membership Form in June, 2009. Others wishing to be placed on the 2009/2010 panel will be required to follow the standard procedure for admission to the scheme.

Psychologists may be suspended or removed from the panel at any time if it is determined that their work or practice falls short of the standards required under the scheme.

Procedures to be Followed by Psychologists in Implementing the Scheme Psychologists who carry out assessments under the scheme should:

1. Work within their areas of competence at all times.

2. Conduct assessments with reasonable care and diligence.

3. Familiarise themselves and comply with circulars and documents relevant to special educational needs which are produced, from time to time, by the DES/NEPS and by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). (These are available on the DES website – www.education.ie and on the NCSE website – www.ncse.ie).

4. Supply their own appropriate, up-to-date test materials and meet their other expenses out of the fee for the assessment.

5. Have some form of identification (e.g. driving licence, passport) in their possession when conducting assessments under the scheme.

6. Personally carry out every component of any assessment for which they are individually commissioned and remunerated, including all associated tasks and activities.

7. Ensure, before meeting a child, that they have a copy of the Consent Form (Form 1) and of the Referral Form (Form 2) completed by the school.

8. Review previous reports and relevant school records.

9. Conduct the assessment on the school premises. (In exceptional circumstances, a request may be made to the local NEPS Regional Director to carry out an assessment off the school premises).

10. Administer individual tests of cognitive potential and of attainments and appropriate behavioural check-lists as necessary. Engage in classroom or playground observation as required.

11. Meet with the child’s parents/guardians and teachers to provide verbal feedback on the assessment outcome, explaining findings and their implications.

12. Provide, within one calendar month, a psychological report with recommendations for the parents/guardians and the school, bearing in mind that the style, content and format

337 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.] of the report should be appropriate for the recipients and in line with NEPS requirements in this area.

Guidelines on report writing will be provided. These may be amended from time to time in the context of regular reviews of the scheme.

NEPS intends to review a sample of all reports received from school principals (with Form 3) as it has a responsibility to ensure that assessments meet acceptable standards and that public funds are being appropriately discharged.

13. Inform NEPS when no longer accepting commissions under the scheme so that arrangements can be made for notifying schools.

Fees for Psychological Assessments Conducted under the Scheme There is no charge to parents/guardians or to schools for assessments carried out under the scheme.

A fee, subject to withholding tax, of \330 per assessment to include all expenses (including travel and subsistence) incurred by the psychologist, will be paid by NEPS. This will result in a net fee of \264. The psychologist will be responsible for the payment of any additional tax due.

Psychologists seeking extra payment for SCPA assessments from parents/guardians or from schools may be removed from the panel.

Where it is determined that a psychologist has accepted an additional payment, from a parent/guardian or from a school, for work carried out under the scheme the DES/NEPS reserves the right to withhold the standard fee from that psychologist.

Procedure for Payment under the Scheme The payment process will be initiated upon receipt, by NEPS, of a Certificate of Completion of Assessment Form (Form 3) in respect of the individual assessment.

Form 3 must be fully completed and signed by the school principal and psychologist and the original (not a copy) submitted to NEPS, by the principal, within three calendar months of the date of assessment. This form will certify:

• that the assessment has been completed

• that the psychological report has been received by the parents/guardians and by the school principal

• that a copy of the psychological report is being sent, with Form 3, to NEPS

• that the school principal and psychologist have complied with the terms and conditions of the scheme Payment may be withheld or refused until the DES/NEPS is satisfied that the terms and conditions of the scheme have been complied with. Without prejudice to the generality of the above, payment may be withheld or refused:

• where the assessment has not been properly conducted

338 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

• where the assessment has been wholly or partly completed by a psychologist who is not on the panel

• where the psychologist has not furnished a report in the proper format

• where the psychologist has sought or accepted payment from a source other than the scheme

When satisfied that the terms and conditions of the scheme have been fully complied with NEPS will arrange for payment to be made directly to the psychologist.

Grounds for Removal from Panel Psychologists may be removed from the panel on the following grounds:

• failing to conduct an assessment with reasonable care and diligence

• engaging in conduct which falls short of that which would be expected from a professional psychologist

• seeking or accepting payment from a source other than the scheme in respect of an assessment conducted under the scheme

• failing to personally conduct the assessment in its entirety

• providing false or misleading information in submitting a report or on Form 3

• providing false or misleading information in an application to be placed on the panel

• bring convicted of a serious criminal offence

An allegation of serious misconduct against a psychologist on the SCPA panel may result in suspension from the panel pending investigation of the allegation and the outcome of any such investigation.

Further Information Queries should be submitted to NEPS in writing, either by fax 01-2833181, e-mail [email protected] or by conventional mail to: SCPA, National Educational Psychological Service, 3rd Floor, Trident House, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Every effort will be made to respond to queries as soon as possible.

Complaints should be dealt with at point of service. Where informal efforts to resolve difficulties have failed, complainants may invoke a formal Complaints Procedure, details of which are available on request.

Scheme for the Commissioning of Psychological Assessments (SCPA)

General Disclaimers

Terms and conditions of the scheme are subject to ongoing review. They may be changed or updated at any time and without notice by the Minister for Education and Science.

The SCPA panel is not a register of psychologists. Membership of the panel is not to be confused with eligibility for statutory registration of psychologists.

339 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

In accepting a psychologist as a member of the panel, the DES is not entering into any contractual arrangement with the psychologist. SCPA psychologists are not employees of the DES/NEPS.

Membership of the SCPA panel confers no particular rights on psychologists and does not provide any guarantee of being commissioned to administer psychological tests in schools.

In any given year, unless otherwise stated, membership of the SCPA panel is generally valid from date of appointment until the end of that school year only.

The DES/NEPS reserves the right to remove a psychologist from the panel at any time.

The scheme may be discontinued at any time by the Minister for Education and Science. The DES/NEPS is not a disciplinary body for psychologists. Such matters are more properly the remit of the particular psychologist’s professional body.

Schools Refurbishment. 621. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Science when details of the summer works scheme for 2009 will be made available. [4502/09]

622. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if a decision has been made on the provision of a summer works scheme for schools for 2009. [4512/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together. I intend to have a Summer Works Scheme this year. The details of the operation of the scheme and the level of funding to be made available under the scheme in 2009 are currently being considered. The Professional and Technical Reports provided by schools for 2008 can be used again for future projects so that schools will not be at the loss of expenditure on them.

School Management. 623. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the issue between parents and the school management at a school (details supplied) in County Louth concerning pupil safety; the steps he is taking to resolve the matter in the children’s best interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4513/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I am not aware of the specific case referred to by the Deputy. Under the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management has responsibility for the day-today management of the school. Issues in relation to the supervision of pupils are therefore matters for each Board of Management. While my Department does not issue specific guidelines on requirements for supervision of pupils, it acknowledges that the degree of supervision required of school authorities varies with the circumstances, including the age of the pupil. It is the responsibility of each individual managerial authority to arrange for appropriate supervision for its pupils. At a wider level, there will be a full review of the substitution and supervision scheme in conjunction with the school management bodies and teacher unions during this school year.

340 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Third Level Fees. 624. Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1441 of 27 January 2009, if he or the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland have directed local authorities and vocational education committees regarding the placement of the postgraduate diploma in education as a level nine diploma enabling the applicant access to college grants and fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4528/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The progression route at postgraduate level, for grant purposes, is as follows: Higher Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma ? Mas- ters ? PhD/Doctorate. The Higher Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma qualifications are considered to be at the same level for grants purposes. A candidate who already holds a Higher Diploma/Postgraduate Diploma is only eligible for grant aid under the student maintenance grant schemes when progressing to either a masters or a doctorate qualification. The grant awarding authorities are aware that this is the progression route at postgraduate level for grants purposes. The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is the agency with responsibility for developing and maintaining the National Framework of Qualifications. I understand that the postgraduate diploma in education is not currently aligned to the framework but that consultations are on-going in relation to the issue.

Higher Education Grants. 625. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when an education grant refund will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4531/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The Third Level Maintenance Grant Schemes, are administered by the Local Authorities and Vocational Education Commit- tees’ on behalf of my Department. The arrangement for the payment of grants and refunds of student service charges under the grant schemes are a matter for the administering authorities. Officials of my Department contacted Kildare County Council the awarding body in this case who confirmed that the candidate referred to by the Deputy has received two instalments of the maintenance grant in respect of the 2008/2009 academic year and the refund in respect of the student service charge is being processed.

School Placement. 626. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when compliance is expected with the directive of the appeals committee formed under the terms of section 29 of the Education Act 1998 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in the matter of school placement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4532/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The determination by the Appeal Committee, formed under Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998, to hear this appeal, against a refused enrolment, was issued to both the school and family on 5th December, 2008. The determination upheld the appeal, and the accompanying directive issued to the school requested that they contact the family to arrange enrolment.

341 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

On 17th December, 2008, the school advised my Department that they intended to take legal advice on the matter. Following on from this, my Department wrote to the school on 23rd December, 2008, to advise them that determinations issued by Appeal Committees under Section 29 of the Education Act are binding by statute, subject to the right of either of the parties to seek Judicial Review of this decision and to seek a stay on the implementation of the determination, pending the outcome of Judicial Review. Officials from my Department and from the National Educational Welfare Board have had ongoing contact with the family and school in order to seek a resolution to this matter. In the meantime, the child concerned has been receiving home tuition support.

Third Level Education. 627. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals for reform of the university sector here; if in this context he will clarify the purpose of his request for an analysis of teaching hours by university staff; his views on the importance of research and publication of articles by which university performance can be measured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4636/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I announced the launch of a process to develop a new national strategy for higher education last Friday. The process will be overseen by a high level steering group, chaired by economist Dr Colin Hunt and comprising national and international expertise including academic, business, community and student interests, as well as senior government officials. It is expected that the group will complete its work before the end of the year. The higher education system is a cornerstone of national infrastructure for generating the skills, knowledge and innovation on which Ireland’s future competitive advantage relies. The strategy will be framed in the context of the Government’s drive towards sustainable economic renewal and will provide a critical examination of the current environment of Irish higher education and develop a vision and national policy objectives for the next 20 years. This will include an analysis of the current system in terms of its student numbers, funding, funding models, organisational arrangements and the roles of the different public and private entities involved in the higher education and research domain. The strategy will also take account of research activity, which is now an integral part of our higher education system. Growing research capability is a core component of the European Union’s drive under the Lisbon Agenda to become the most competitive and dynamic, knowledge-driven economy in the world. The Government’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation (SSTI) is a crucial building block in this effort and is based on a shared vision of placing Ireland firmly on the global map in terms of the excellence of our research. This is further underpinned in the Government’s Framework document for Sustainable Economic Renewal “Building Ireland’s Smart Economy” which aims to develop Ireland into the innovation and commercial capital of Europe. The Government has reiterated its commitment to implementing the SSTI despite fiscal pressures and has emphasised “the need for high levels of investment in research and innovation, both for economic competitiveness, and to yield innovations in areas such as ICT, healthcare and environmental technologies, which create employment opportunities, increase economic progress and make tangible improvements to our quality of life.” The number of academic publications and the frequency with which these are cited in future publications are key measures of research activity. Forfa´s and the HEA are currently under-

342 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers taking a mapping study of research activity in Ireland which will take stock of activity in basic, strategic, and applied research across all disciplines in both the public and enterprise sectors. As part of the mapping exercise, a bibliometric study will be conducted to quantify the number of publications and citations from Irish research which will provide an overview of research activity and impact.

Disadvantaged Status. 628. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider his decision to remove the disadvantaged status of a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that 16 of the school’s 21 feeder primary schools are disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4650/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sea´n Haughey): The school to which the Deputy refers is among a number of schools that were judged by an independent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage among their pupils to warrant their inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion. The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of the current DEIS programme which runs from 2005-2010. There will not be an opportunity before this to be included in the current DEIS programme of supports. A review mechanism was put in place in 2006 to address the concerns of schools that did not qualify for inclusion in DEIS but regarded themselves as having a level of disadvantage which was of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the programme. The review process operated under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevant identification procedures were properly followed in the case of schools applying for a review. The review was concluded and the results were notified to schools in August 2006. The school in question applied for a review at that time but regrettably the school was unsuccessful in qualifying for inclusion in DEIS. Following the introduction of DEIS, a commitment was given, as a concessionary measure, to Non DEIS schools in receipt of resources under pre-existing schemes, that they would retain a level of support in line with their size and disadvantage levels for the duration of the DEIS Initiative. Given the current volatile and challenging economic climate, difficult decisions had to be made in Budget 2009 in order to contain public sector spending. One of these decisions was to advance the withdrawal of such supports from non DEIS schools to the beginning of the next school year. The main focus of Social Inclusion measures will be to retain resources in DEIS schools. There is a need to focus targeted resources on the schools in most need and this approach is in line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General which are set out in his report on Primary Disadvantage of 2006, which recommended that my Department should focus its educational disadvantage measures on those schools serving the most disadvantaged communities.

Schools Building Projects. 629. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirm receipt of requests from the board of management of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16 seeking approval for the building of a sports hall; when the school will receive a reply from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4654/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has made a proposal to my Department in relation to the

343 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.] provision of sports facilities. The Planning and Building Unit of my Department will be in contact with the school authority shortly in relation to this proposal.

630. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science when a school (details supplied) in County Dublin will receive approval for their application for a permanent building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4656/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

Youthreach Programme. 631. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of young people on the Youthreach programme in a county (details supplied); the number of centres where the youth reach programme is run; if he will provide additional places on youth reach in this county in view of the increasing number of young people who are unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4731/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sea´n Haughey): Youthreach provides two years integrated education, training and work experience to young people aged 15-20 years who have left school early without any qualifications or vocational training. There are around 6,500 places available nationally under the Youthreach umbrella. 3,700 of these are funded by my Department and delivered in just over 100 centres by Vocational Education Committees (VECs). 2,800 are funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and delivered in Community Training Centres by FA´ S. My Department currently funds 185 Youthreach places in the county referred to by the Deputy, delivered in seven centres. Due to the difficult budgetary position it is not possible for my Department to provide further funding for the creation of additional places on the Youthreach programme.

Education Initiatives. 632. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of people in a county (details supplied) currently back in education with the support of the back to education initiative, the back to education allowance and the vocational training opportunities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4732/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sea´n Haughey): The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) commenced in October 2002. It provides flexible part- time options across Further Education and is aimed at adults with less than upper second level education, including unemployed adults. It aims to give adults who wish to return to education an opportunity to combine their return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. Programmes are offered on a part-time basis in the mornings, afternoons, evenings or at week- ends. Since September 2007, any adult with less than an upper second level education is entitled to free tuition. Originally only people with a social welfare entitlement or medical card were

344 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers entitled to free tuition. In 2008, in the county referred to by the Deputy, there were just over 800 participants in the BTEI. The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a full-time second chance education and training initiative for unemployed people delivered and managed locally by the VECs. Its primary target groups are the longer-term unemployed, the low-skilled and disadvantaged. Courses of up to two years duration and between levels 3 and 6 on the National Qualifi- cations Framework are offered. Tuition, stationery and books are provided free of charge. A childcare grant and meal and travel allowances are also available to students and they can access the adult guidance service. In 2008, in the county referred to by the Deputy, there were 70 VTOS places available and these places were fully subscribed. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs is a second chance educational opportunities scheme payable to people on welfare payments who wish to participate in full time education. To qualify for the BTEA an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period. The allowance is paid at a standard weekly rate equivalent to the maximum rate of the relevant social welfare payment that qualifies the applicant for participation in the scheme. It essentially replaces their existing social welfare income and, in addition, an annual \500 cost of education allowance is payable. The statistics on participation on the BTEA scheme are collated at the end of April in order to get an overview for the full academic year. The figure for 2007/2008 academic year for the county referred to by the Deputy was just under 80. The figures for the 2008/2009 academic year are not yet available but it is expected that they will show a significant increase.

Schools Building Projects. 633. Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science when it is proposed to allow tendering for the erection of a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4755/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Build- ing and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

634. Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the provision of a sports hall in a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4756/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building and Mod- ernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

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635. Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the proposed extension and improvement works at a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; if work is expected to begin in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4757/09]

Disadvantaged Status. 636. Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the representations which have been made to his Department, giving details of a wide range of activities that are to the advantage of disadvantaged pupils, he will consider the application from the chairman and principal teacher of a school (details supplied) in County Galway, for reconsideration and inclusion in the DEIS scheme. [4789/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sea´n Haughey): The school to which the Deputy refers is among a number of schools that were judged by an independent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage among their pupils to warrant their inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion . The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of the current DEIS programme which runs from 2005-2010. There will not be an opportunity before this to be included in the current DEIS programme of supports. A review mechanism was put in place in 2006 to address the concerns of schools that did not qualify for inclusion in DEIS but regarded themselves as having a level of disadvantage which was of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the programme. The review process operated under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevant identification procedures were properly followed in the case of schools applying for a review. The review was concluded and the results were notified to schools in August 2006. The school in question applied for a review at that time but regrettably the school was unsuccessful in qualifying for inclusion in DEIS. This school retained resources, including financial and a shared Rural Co-ordinator post under pre-existing schemes and programmes for addressing educational disadvantage. When DEIS was introduced, a commitment was given as a concessionary measure to this, and a number of other schools in similar circumstances, that they would retain a level of support for the duration of the DEIS Initiative. Given the current volatile and challenging economic climate, difficult decisions had to be made in Budget 2009 in order to contain public sector spending. One of these decisions was to advance the withdrawal of such supports from non DEIS schools to the beginning of the next school year. The main focus of Social Inclusion measures will be to retain resources in DEIS schools. There is a need to focus targeted resources on the schools in most need and this approach is in line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General which are set out in his report on Primary Disadvantage of 2006, which recommended that my

346 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Department should focus its educational disadvantage measures on those schools serving the most disadvantaged communities.

Consultancy Contracts. 637. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Science the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4813/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The information requested in relation to consultancy firms used during 2008 is currently being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible. As consultancy data is compiled in my Department on a quarterly basis, it will not be possible to provide details of consultancy firms engaged in early 2009 until data relating to the first quarter has been compiled. The relevant details in relation to the first quarter of 2009 will be forwarded as soon as it is available.

Departmental Expenditure. 638. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4828/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I assume the Deputy is referring to the scheme of performance related remuneration that applies to the grades of Deputy/Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. Awards are made on the basis of recommendations made by the Committee for Performance Awards. The Committee membership comprises the Secretary General to the Government, the Sec- retary General, Public Service Management & Development, Department of Finance and members of the private sector. There have been no payments in respect of this scheme at my Department for the year 2008.

School Staffing. 639. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if the budget changes he announced in 2008 in connection with the reorganisation of primary and post-primary schools allow schools to provide job sharing and career break opportunities for permanent staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4844/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The terms of the career break and job sharing schemes for teachers remain unchanged. The decision to approve an application under either of these schemes is a matter for the authorities of the employing school.

Higher Education. 640. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the steps taken to date to regulate the foreign student education sector here as provided for in the now withdrawn Education Ireland Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4847/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): My Department operates an Internationalisation Register which sets out programmes approved for the purpose of access to work by students who are citizens from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Under the

347 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.] immigration regime, such students will only be given access to work if they are attending full time programmes on the Register. The criteria for inclusion require that the programme be full-time, at least 15 hours per week for a minimum of 25 weeks, and lead to a nationally recognised award, or its international equivalent. Language programmes which meet the duration criteria and are approved under the ACELS quality assurance and inspection scheme are also eligible for inclusion on the Register, provided they offer assessment for students at the end of the programme using recognised language proficiency test instruments. The criteria for inclusion are included in an Information Note, along with the Internationalis- ation Register, on the Department’s website at www.education.ie. The register is updated on a monthly basis. The English language sector is currently regulated on a voluntary basis by the Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS), a company limited by guarantee which operates under the aegis of my Department. It provides a voluntary quality assurance and inspection scheme for private sector English language schools. ACELS also approves teacher training qualifications for the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) private sector, and has developed English language proficiency test instruments. Schools which comply with the ACELS quality assurance and inspection scheme are approved by my Department for the purpose of providing English language programmes in the private sector. The conditions for recognition of schools are available on the body’s website at www.acels.ie. It is my intention that the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) will take on overall responsibility for the regulation of the international education sector. My Department will hold discussions with the NQAI about taking on these responsibilities in the context of the planned amalgamation of the NQAI, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) and the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC).

Schools Building Projects. 641. Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the increasing pupil numbers, he will grant the necessary permission to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16, to progress their school building project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4852/09]

Pre-school Services. 642. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has taken a decision to withdraw funding from preschool early intervention centres (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4862/09]

348 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

643. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of preschool centres (details supplied) funded by his Department in the past ten years; the level of funding received by each centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4863/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 643 together. The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides a grant to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting an educational placement and provide early education intervention for pre-school children with autism. Home tuition grants are paid to the parents, who in turn make payment to the home tuition provider. An arrangement to directly pay the service provider referred to by the Deputy has been agreed until the end of the current school year. This is the only service provider being paid directly in the context of the home tuition scheme. Up until this current school year, grants were paid to parents in respect of tuition providers who were non-serving primary teachers.

Disadvantaged Status. 644. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science to reconsider a decision on the removal of a person’s services from a school (details supplied) in County Mayo. [4888/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sea´n Haughey): The school to which the Deputy refers is among schools that were judged by an independent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage among their pupils to warrant their inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), the Action Plan for educational inclusion. The next identification process is scheduled to be held at the end of the current DEIS programme which runs from 2005-2010. There will not be an opportunity before this to be included in the current DEIS programme of supports. The school referred to retained resources, including financial and a shared Rural Coordinator post, under pre-existing schemes and programmes for addressing educational disadvantage. When DEIS was introduced, a commitment was given as a concessionary measure to these schools that they would retain a level of support for the duration of the DEIS Initiative. While it is appreciated that the discontinuation of these resources will impact on this school, given the current volatile and challenging economic climate, difficult decisions had to be made in order to contain public sector spending. One of these decisions was to advance the withdrawal of such supports from all non DEIS schools to the beginning of the next school year. The main focus of Social Inclusion measures will be to retain resources in DEIS schools. There is a need to focus targeted resources on the schools in most need and this approach is in line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor General which are set out in his report on Primary Disadvantage of 2006, which recommended that my Department should focus its educational disadvantage measures on those schools serving the most disadvantaged communities.

Home-School Liaison Scheme. 645. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science to identify the 20 primary and 73 post-primary schools that will have withdrawn a home liaison officer from September 2009 under announcements made in the budget. [4896/09]

349 Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sea´n Haughey): My Department is currently in the process of advising the schools concerned of the impending withdrawal of these posts. The information requested by the Deputy will be forwarded to him directly, when the schools concerned have been notified.

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