vol. 674 tuesday, no. 1 10 february 2009...2009/02/10 · ceisteanna — 10 february 2009....

Vol. 674 Tuesday,No. 1 10 February 2009

DIOSPOIREACHTAI PARLAIMINTEPARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

DAIL EIREANN

TUAIRISC OIFIGIUIL—Neamhcheartaithe

(OFFICIAL REPORT—Unrevised)

Tuesday, 10 February 2009.

Ceisteanna—QuestionsTaoiseach … … … … … … … … … … … … … 1Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources

Priority Questions … … … … … … … … … … … 14Other Questions … … … … … … … … … … … 24

Adjournment Debate Matters … … … … … … … … … … … 29Leaders’ Questions … … … … … … … … … … … … 30Request to move Adjournment of Dail under Standing Order 32 … … … … … … 35Order of Business … … … … … … … … … … … … 35Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrender to the Central Fund) Order 2009:

Referral to Select Committee … … … … … … … … … … 40Stabilisation and Association Agreements: Referral to Select Committee … … … … … 40Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008: Second Stage (resumed) … … … … … 40Private Members’ Business

Hospital Services: Motion… … … … … … … … … … … 62Adjournment Debate

FAS Training Programmes … … … … … … … … … … 88Community Employment Schemes … … … … … … … … … 90FAS Training Centres … … … … … … … … … … … 92Home Help Service … … … … … … … … … … … 94

Questions: Written Answers … … … … … … … … … … … 97

DAIL EIREANN

DIOSPOIREACHTAI PARLAIMINTEPARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

TUAIRISC OIFIGIUILOFFICIAL REPORT

Imleabhar 674 Volume 674

De Mairt, 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 regulatethe 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 regulateand 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 inrespect of the use of the Government jets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[46595/08]

4. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Taoiseach if changes are proposed in the pro-cedures 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 transportservice, 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 aredealt 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, thedestination and other logistical details. Any necessary clarification or further information issought at that point. All screened requests are then submitted to me for my consideration andapproval, if deemed appropriate. Once approved, all operational matters are settled directlybetween 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 Governmentcould make substantial savings by travelling on commercial flights? Does the Taoiseach haveany 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 ofcommission 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 longlifespan. Is the Minister, Deputy Gormley, speaking for the Government when he says therewill now be a big shift onto commercial air flights? What is the status of the Gulfstream? Is itoperational and fully ready to fly?

The Taoiseach: Where appropriate, scheduled flights are used by Ministers. In addition, useis made of the ministerial air transport service when it is the only way for a Minister to get tomeetings and carry out his or her ministerial functions. It offers the type of flexibility thatscheduled flights cannot provide. It is not tied to set routes or timetables. The jet can also usemilitary 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 avail-ability of scheduled flights as well the differences in financial costs and levels of emissions. Abalance 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 alternativescheduled 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 yearsand has an annual overhaul as required by the service guidelines applying to it. It is operationaland 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 countryand the busier Departments. We had this argument before.

The Minister, Deputy Gormley, has been very upfront about carbon footprints. There is noextra carbon footprint when one takes a commercial flight because it is going anyway. I do notbelieve Prime Minister Blair ever had the use of a government jet.

Deputy Noel Dempsey: Always.

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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 theMinisters know.

Does the Taoiseach have a figure for the carbon footprint per kilometre of the Gulfstreamand the Lear jets? I am not sure how that is calculated, but if it can be calculated for cars, itcan be done for jets. Given that the Minister, Deputy Gormley, is very agitated about thismatter, I note that the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, DeputyMary Coughlan, and the Minister for Defence, Deputy Willie O’Dea, went on a failed missionto Austin, Texas, to talk to Mr. Michael Dell prior to the Dell announcement, which, we aretold, cost \164,000. I just checked before coming to the Chamber and an economy AmericanAirlines flight leaving Dublin tomorrow and returning in two days would cost \1,000 for thetwo Ministers. However, since they are Ministers, it would cost \9,000 if they travelled businessclass 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 Departmentvetted it. Would it not have been considered that substantial savings could be made if bothMinisters flew comfortably in business class to Texas? Has the Taoiseach since issued remindersthat, where possible and within reason, people should fly commercially when such flights areavailable?

The Taoiseach: On the specific issue, there was a requirement to meet with the managingdirector of Dell very quickly in regard to impending decisions and it was the right thing to doin the circumstances.

I am informed by the Department of Defence that, in keeping with normal practice in theaviation 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 hourwould be a more reasonable measure. These are costs which arise while the aircraft is beingflown and include maintenance, fuel and support services. One is at times required to meet anumber of people from one stage to another and the jet is used for that purpose. Scheduledflights could not be used in situations where, for example, one is going to Luxembourg andBerlin before continuing on to London.

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

An Ceann Comhairle: Never mind that.

The Taoiseach: The idea in these modern times that Government business can be conductedwithout requiring the use of these facilities is not correct. In the interest of getting work doneand then returning, it is important they are used. It is also important, where it is appropriateand 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 suchas that used by the Government?

The Taoiseach: Specific questions about levels of emissions, etc., should be addressed to theMinister for Defence.

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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 theGovernment jet in the morning and it would not cause us any problem whatsoever. Does theTaoiseach agree with that statement? Would he agree, for example, that since the first purchaseof a Government jet in 1980, there has been a huge increase in the availability of commercialflights and access from this country to various parts of Europe and elsewhere and that perhapsthe 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 “collectivecabinet responsibility” used to exist. I would like to know if the Minister’s opinion is in factthe Government’s opinion and how the Taoiseach might feel if the House put the statementto 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 orrefused, how many applications were received by the Department in the past year for the useof 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 thenumbers 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 notrequired in all cases or at all times by all Ministers and it is not used in all cases or at all timesby all Ministers. In the context of doing business, it is necessary to make these facilities avail-able. 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 thatis sought to be used inappropriately. The Government jet is used in the conduct of Governmentbusiness 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 Governmentsof which I am aware, in particular those in the European Union.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: Is the Government jet used where there are available direct sched-uled flights between Irish airports and the capital concerned? For example, is it used in connec-tion with business in Brussels and, if so, how many times has it been used given the reasonablyregular scheduled service to that city?

The Taoiseach referred to the Government jet. There are three such aircraft or two and ahalf 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 thelongest 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 toEurope and so on. The Beechcraft is used by the Air Corps for aircraft training purposes. It is

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not used often, if at all, for travel purposes given, as stated, it is 29 years old. They are theaircraft available.

On the Deputy’s other question, the Government jet is used from time to time in connectionwith business in Brussels bearing in mind what time meetings are taking place and at what timepeople are required to be back home. This type of service is not guaranteed on scheduledflights. It is not possible to use scheduled services in all cases though they are used by personneldoing business in Brussels on a regular basis.

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: Is it necessary for the Government to maintain threeaircraft?

Deputy Dermot Ahern: Two.

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: The Taoiseach indicated that one of the aircraft is beingused by the Air Corps. Would it not be better for the Government to dispose of it or to signit 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 byMinisters as a first choice? Does the Taoiseach have information in respect of foreign travelcatered for by scheduled flights operated by commercial airlines and, if so, will he share thatinformation with us?

Last Saturday, we all raised a cheer in celebration of Ireland’s win over France. When listen-ing earlier to questions from my colleagues, I was reminded of the Taoiseach’s rugby interestsand his attendance last year at the Heineken Cup final in Cardiff. The Taoiseach may recallthe heavy water which he and Ministers Cullen and Martin got into in respect of their explor-ation of Welsh-Irish relations during their attendance with Mr. Morgan at the cup final inCardiff. Did the Taoiseach, arising out of that early experience in his role as Taoiseach initiateany new regulations or standards which Members, Ministers or taoisigh should meet in respectof the use of the Government jet or jets? Will the Taoiseach accept there was quite a brouhahain 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 theTaoiseach comment on inappropriate use of Government jets for the transport of unofficialrepresentatives. For example, for the visit last year by the Minister, Deputy Harney, to theUnited States in an effort to inform herself of further measures to privatise health services, Iunderstand 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 accompanyMinisters on ostensibly official business representing the Government? If this is the case, is itfrequent or infrequent? Is there any regulation in regard to offsetting the cost through a contri-bution? Arising out of the exposure of that trip, did the Taoiseach take any steps or furtheractions following his Cardiff experience to set in train more appropriate guidelines for the useof Government jets into the future?

The Taoiseach: As I said earlier, the same regulations apply now as applied in my prede-cessor’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 possibleto 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 theDeputy wants more general information he would be best to put his questions to the Minister

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[The Taoiseach.]

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

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: Nobody is in dispute about the usefulness of the facility inregard to specific instances. However, given the Taoiseach has indicated that, as Taoiseach, hehas employed the use of commercial airline scheduled flights, does he agree that the infor-mation in regard to the ratio of use between commercial airline scheduled flights and the useof the Government jet, across not only his own Department but all Departments, would be auseful aid to having a better picture and understanding of the balance, if such exists, and if itapplies as a balance across the board?

Finally, from the experiences I have instanced that attracted a degree of public attention andsome critical voices, has the Taoiseach in the course of his tenure introduced any new rulingsor indications of what he expects from Ministers? Has he communicated to his colleaguesacross 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 simplyapplied as appropriate in line with the regulations. I have always used these facilities on thebasis of official visits or official work. As I said, the workload for officeholders both at homeand 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 answerableto this House. When one leaves for a meeting abroad, there may be criticism as to why one isnot still at home, answering questions, having probably done so for an hour or two thatmorning.

One cannot win. The bottom line is that one has to do the job that has been assigned to oneto the best of one’s ability, using the facilities as appropriate, and obviously being mindful ofthe cost effectiveness of these issues where long flights and other flights can be accommodatedby 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 ofthe 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, becausethe job of the Government is to govern and there is a need for one. Has the Minister, DeputyGormley, 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 GreenParty 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 ofthe Green Party, speaking out of both sides of the mouth.

The Taoiseach: I do not accept that. The Minister, Deputy Gormley, was answering a ques-tion 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 respondingto a wide-ranging interview and gave his opinion on these matters is fine. These matters are

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not raised directly with me. However, the question of offsetting the carbon footprint from theuse 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 arrange-ment to the beginning of the Administration in 2007 following the general election. Initiativeshave been taken by the Minister concerned from a carbon emissions point of view. This was agood initiative and one which heightens awareness of the issue and ensures there is an offsetin respect of any carbon emissions arising as a result of the use of these aircraft for Governmentpurposes. It is a good initiative.

Deputy Paul Kehoe: Can the Taoiseach confirm how many times the Minister has used thejet 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 ratificationby 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 Governmentwith the social partners under the Towards 2016 process is due; if an agenda has been agreedfor 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 decisionof a group, details supplied, not to pay the wage increases agreed under Towards 2016, reviewand transitional agreement, 2008 to 2009; his views on the implications for social partnershipof this decision; if he has plans to meet the group to discuss this matter; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [45070/08]

8. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the implementation of thesocial 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 thenational 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 infra-structure and public private partnerships will next meet; the number of meetings of the teamplanned 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 Economicand 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 socialpartners 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 publi-cation on 18 December 2008 of the Government’s framework for economic recovery. [1002/09]

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

16. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his discussionswith the social partners regarding the economic recession and the implications for the socialpartnership 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 infra-structure and public private partnership last met; when the next meeting is due; and if he willmake 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 September2008. The transitional agreement sought to provide certainty and stability during a periodof great change and difficulty facing the economy while maintaining the orderly conduct ofindustrial relations.

The transitional agreement was subsequently ratified by the Irish Congress of Trade Unionsand the main employers’ body, IBEC, on 17 November.

3 o’clock

I have noted the recent letter from IBEC to ICTU on the application of the pay terms ofthe agreement in the private sector. I understand that representatives of ICTU and IBEC havehad 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 agreementcontains robust “inability to pay” provisions specifically designed to take accountof current economic realities. I was disappointed that the Construction Industry

Federation, CIF, did not consider it possible to ratify the agreement last November. Whilerecognising the very real difficulties experienced by CIF member companies, I am of the viewthat 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, therehas been a serious deterioration in the global economy, greatly exacerbating domestic economicand fiscal pressures. The Government responded by bringing forward the date of the 2009budget and subsequently published a framework for sustainable economic renewal inDecember, which outlines a set of measures to support a return to sustainable growth and jobsin the medium term, while also identifying the need for short-term measures to stabilise theeconomy and public finances.

The Government invited the views of the social partners on implementation of the frame-work for sustainable economic renewal and on the immediate fiscal adjustment required in2009. The social partners engaged in extensive and meaningful discussions on these issues overrecent weeks.

On Wednesday, 28 January the Government and social partners agreed on a framework fora pact for stabilisation, social solidarity and economic renewal. That framework acknowledgedthat urgent and radical action was required to restore stability to the public finances, to maxi-mise short-term economic activity and employment and to improve competitiveness.

Last week there were intensive discussions between the Government and social partners toattempt 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-yearsaving of \1.4 billion through the introduction of a pension levy in the public service. Theunions decided that they were not in a position to agree to that proposal. While this is regret-

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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 thisyear on a credible basis was also agreed. The need for a significant contribution to be made bythe public service pay bill in achieving that adjustment was also agreed, as were the links tothe economic renewal strategy published in December.

The Government’s decisions last week on achieving the \2 billion adjustment were takenwithin these parameters and in accordance with principles agreed with the social partners. Inrespect of the public service, implementation will be discussed in the normal way with thepublic service committee of ICTU.

The social partnership process focuses on engagement and the sharing of analysis, as well asthe forging of specific agreements. The discussions over the past few weeks have deepened theshared understanding of the challenges facing the economy. The inability of ICTU to agree tothe Government’s proposals does not mean that the partnership process has failed. The overallframework agreed with the social partners remains in place and the Government, for its partis committed to its implementation. We are available to continue discussions on the implemen-tation of the overall framework.

I am chairing a Cabinet committee which will implement the Government strategy for econ-omic renewal. A senior officials group chaired by my Department supports the work of thisCabinet 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 frame-work in their respective areas of responsibility.

Given the importance of focusing on the agenda for economic renewal, and the role ofinvestment 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 thesenew arrangements.

Apart from the pay provisions, the transitional agreement contains a comprehensive set ofcommitments dealing with such issues as employment rights and compliance; workplace learn-ing and upskilling; employee representation; the regulation of employment agencies and tem-porary agency workers; and pensions and public procurement.

Following ratification of the agreement, work has commenced on the implementation ofthese commitments which, in the employment law area in particular, will involve several signifi-cant 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 theseissues.

The agreement also sets out an agenda for public service modernisation which builds on theextensive commitments contained in Towards 2016. There is an ambitious programme of workgetting under way in this area on foot of the publication last November of the report of thetaskforce on the public service and the Government statement on transforming public services.The Cabinet committee on transforming public services will oversee this transformationprogramme.

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 myDepartment, continues to meet as necessary to oversee delivery of the industrial peace andstability provisions of the Towards 2016 transitional agreement.

The NIB has dealt with several important disputes in recent months, including the issue ofrestructuring Aer Lingus, and is overseeing a process undertaken by the Labour RelationsCommission which is aimed at supporting the implementation of a 37.5 hour working week for

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[The Taoiseach.]

nurses. Meetings of the body also provide opportunities for informal discussions on somebroader issues relating to the social partnership process and the industrial relations climategenerally. These discussions are held regularly.

The National Economic and Social Council’s last few meetings discussed Ireland’s currenteconomic crisis and will continue to contribute to the evolution of thinking in this regard. Itswork programme for 2009 also includes the following studies — the role of the EuropeanUnion 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 inIreland; and innovation — widening and deepening Ireland’s innovation policies in the contextof globalisation.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: The Taoiseach referred to the transitional agreement which thesocial 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, announcedrecently that it will not honour its pay terms. Last week in the House the Taoiseach effectivelysaid the same, that in respect of employees in the public service the pay terms of that agreementcannot be honoured. A string of industry representative bodies covered by the joint labourcommittees have indicated they are having difficulty paying the terms of the legally enforceableemployment regulation orders in their industries. Since the agreement was negotiated theTaoiseach announced a budget which imposed an income levy, or tax on incomes, a reductionin 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% averageso-called pension levy on public service employees which is in effect a pay cut for thoseemployees.

While there is much lip service being paid to the concept, principle and desirability of socialpartnership, the reality is that the agreement at the heart of the social partnership processis now in tatters. There is little or no prospect of the pay elements of that agreement everbeing implemented.

The Taoiseach: We have social partnership structures and processes in place. It is true thatwe have a pay freeze in the public sector until October. We indicated that we would not beable to pay the instalments due in October 2009 and June 2010, due to current financial arrange-ments. Representatives of ICTU and IBEC have had discussions on the private sector payagreement and others issues related to the implementation of the agreement. There are diffi-culties, strains and problems, as a result of the deterioration of the economy since the agree-ment was made in September. Assumptions have since considerably changed on things likeinflation 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 centralisedagreements in the past, and they have brought benefits. It is true that there are strains anddifficulties, 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 willtake a two year pay freeze, and will not receive the 2.5% pay instalment due in June. What isthe 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 fromthe media? Does the Taoiseach regret that the pay increases were awarded in September, inview of the fact that the financial crisis has worsened considerably since then?

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The Taoiseach commented last week that he would listen attentively if there was a tweakingof the pension levy proposals that might bring the unions back on-side. A number of thoseunion personnel were quite upset at being put in the position of being decision makers, whenthey 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 pensionlevy proposal? If he has made such contact, has there been any response? Is he consideringthe idea of looking at the lower paid members of the public sector when evaluating the pensionlevy? Many of those members will be required to pay a pension levy for a pension that theywill effectively never receive, as they will be entitled to the State contributory pension inany event. This is causing a great deal of anger and pressure on the families of thousands ofthose 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 paydeal for those companies that wish to claim inability to pay. If companies that have profits andare in a position to pay decide to proceed with payment, they will be in compliance with thepay 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’sapproach is an indication of the sensitivity it wishes to show to other workers who are in a farmore difficult situation. It has stated its intentions, at this stage, regarding any further amountsthat are due under the deal. I hope that will confirm that the company is trying to add to publicconfidence. There is a requirement to show restraint, even in those companies that have anability to pay the first instalment of the deal. Agreement was reached between managementand 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 astatement to the effect that he welcomed the deal. I presume the representatives of unions andworkers in firms that are in a position to pay, or have the ability to pay, will be knocking ondoors 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 represen-tative bodies on both sides after the negotiations were completed. What was Deputy Kenny’sother 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 takein respect of proposals that might be made in respect of the levy. I indicated that if the schemehad the effect that was being suggested in some quarters, we would examine it. I did not saywe 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 schemeis designed to raise. As Deputy Kenny knows, it applies to all workers in all sectors of thepublic service, including civil servants, health care workers, members of the Defence Forcesand teachers. I take the point that any levy, by its nature, is an imposition. We have had toconsider this issue in the context of the need for a wider economic response to the budgetarysituation 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 thisarea. If we did not do so, we would have had to consider making savings in the social welfare

11


[The Taoiseach.]

system or through the dislocation of services in non-pay areas. That was the decision theGovernment took. It motivated the decision that was announced last week. As Deputy Kennysaid, some people at the lower end of the scale have been taken out of the tax net altogetheras 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 mean-time, also arise. These are all considerations. Some people will have a difficulty with it in anyevent, regardless of the line of argument that is taken. Decisions were taken on the basis ofthe situation the Government had to confront.

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: During the negotiations, why did the Government leave itso late before it proposed the public service pension levy? Surely the Taoiseach realised theunions could not have run with such a proposition. How does he respond to the view, which Ihave heard expressed by many people, that the Government made a conscious decision not tobe serious about trying to reach agreement with the trade unions during the talks? How doeshe respond to the view, which has considerable support, that the Government had taken com-fort from an already indicated IBEC agreement on the measures involved and decided, withthe support of many in the media — not least the Independent Group which was in a full flowtirade of abuse directed at the public service and the trade unions — to hell with it, it wouldrun with it, go for broke and let the negotiations collapse? Will the Taoiseach give us his viewon these charges? Will he confirm that the social partnership process has been seriouslydamaged as a result of the collapse of the negotiations and that if it is to be rebuilt — this isan 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 nationalagreement and others where we have had national agreements where occasionally employerspleaded inability to pay. We have never had a situation where we have had a national payagreement which virtually nobody will pay. The Government will not pay it and IBEC says itwill 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 arriveat a real understanding or agreement on matters relating to pay, taxes, levies and all that goeswith it? The average family does not know where they stand. The prospect of a pay increaseis off the table. In many cases, jobs are at risk. The question of pay cuts is on the table in manyareas, including, effectively, in the public service. Now the Taoiseach and all his Ministers aretalking about the prospect of tax increases sometime later in the year. The average family hasno idea what their personal and family budgets are for the year. It would be a good idea if theTaoiseach reconvened a meeting of the social partners to get some real understanding as tothe situation on pay, given that what we have currently is a fiction. The Government has anagreement 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 Caolain or DeputyGilmore in terms of what they had to say. Deputy O Caolain is the first, I understand, toquestion the good faith of the partners, including the Government, on the detailed and longnegotiations that took place. No one who came out of those talks — people with whom wehave been dealing on an ongoing basis — made the assertions he has just made. That indicatesnot only the inaccuracy of those assertions, but the fact that they have no foundation in fact.

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

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: 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 theDeputy is incorrect because he is trying to suggest there was some sort of a predeterminedoutcome 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. Thatis 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 constituenciesand 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 andreject the picture painted by the Deputy regarding everyone’s intentions and efforts.

The second point I would make in regard to——

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: 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 heshould accept he is wrong.

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: 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 theassertions the Deputy made were not made by anybody else. Deputies will be aware also thatthe talks covered a long agenda linked to the headline issues under the framework agreed somedays before. Each issue required lengthy and detailed consideration in turn and, in accordancewith normal practice in these types of negotiations, there were very experienced and skillednegotiators on all sides. Issues in respect of pay were discussed after all the other issues weredealt with.

That said, social partners were aware from an early stage that the majority of the \2 billionsavings was required to be found from the public service pay bill, and that a pensions levy wasthe most likely vehicle for securing these savings. In the immediate aftermath of the breakdownof the talks, the contention was made that it was a surprise that this issue arose and the stageat which it arose. Anybody who knows anything about the dynamics of negotiations knowsthat such was not the case. Obviously, an orientation in the discussion took place over theweekend. One waits to see the way ahead. It would have been a requirement of some of thenegotiators to know where the Government was going on some issues in order that they couldlook 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 skillsand track record of all those people.

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: Nobody suggested that except the Taoiseach.

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

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: That is the interpretation.

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Priority 10 February 2009. Questions

The Taoiseach: That was suggested within hours of the breakdown. That was the picture thatwas painted. What was first broadcast on radio, namely, the first couple of inserts on “MorningIreland”, became the picture. That is incorrect.

With regard to the points made by Deputy Gilmore, there are instances where the payagreement is being honoured, or has been paid. As Deputies know, there are inability-to-payclauses 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 ofthe unprecedented situation which this and every other country faces. The context is the deep-ening 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 theagreement of all sides. The present position of the trade union movement is that it has anagreement and that those who are in a position to pay should pay and those who have aproblem should proceed, in the normal way, to use the terms of the agreement to addressissues and to try to deal with these matters at enterprise levels. That is the position. It is not aquestion 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 NaturalResources the way he will proceed with an energy price review through the Commission forEnergy Regulation, CER; the timescale for the review announced in February 2009; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4855/09]

77. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources when the energy regulator’s decision to reduce the price of electricity by a two-digitnumber 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 ofcompetitiveness here and to help ameliorate fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [5060/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I pro-pose 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 statutoryresponsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation, CER, under the Electricity RegulationAct 1999 and the Gas (Interim) Regulation Act 2002.

I welcome that the CER announced on 1 December 2008 there would be no further increasein the price of gas from January 2009 and that there would be a small average decrease fromthat 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 thesubstantial 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 priceincreases in the Irish market which were lower than those in some of our neighbouring markets.

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In Great Britain, for example, independent suppliers increased electricity tariffs by more than26% on average, and gas tariffs by more than 40% on average in 2008, in response to increasingfossil fuel prices. By contrast, regulated tariffs in Ireland increased by an average of 17.5% inthe case of electricity and 20% in the case of gas. In taking this phased approach, the CERtook account of the difficult economic situation and the impact of price increases on businessand consumers, including vulnerable customers.

The CER has previously demonstrated an ability to adapt its tariff regulation process in linewith evolving market conditions. I note, for example, the CER decision to end tariff regulationfor large electricity users in 2006, based on its conclusion that there is a sufficient level ofcompetition in this market. The majority of large industrial and commercial electricitycustomers are currently supplied by independent suppliers. Many of these large industrial con-sumers are on fuel variation tariffs and have already experienced the benefits of falling gasprices.

The CER is required to ensure that regulated tariffs are cost reflective. However, I believeit may be possible to lower energy costs to consumers in a non-distortionary fashion, throughan expedited review of tariffs. To achieve this, I have asked the energy regulator to undertakean immediate review of options to bring forward a reduction in electricity prices. As I statedin this House last week, if current trends in energy prices, particularly gas, continue, I wouldexpect 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 inenergy prices in the short-term. The ESB rebate, which I mentioned earlier, demonstrates thetype of imaginative solutions that can be developed when all parties work together to ensurethe best outcome for energy consumers in Ireland. I expect the timeframe for implementationof any reductions to become clearer in the coming weeks as we develop a better understandingof these potential measures. The priority for the Government is to ensure that we act swiftlyin the interests of energy consumers.

Deputy Simon Coveney: I agree with the Minister that it is important the Government actsswiftly in respect of these matters. The Minister was instructed by the Taoiseach to undertakean energy price review and he is acting on that. He has raised the bar somewhat by saying heexpects a double-digit energy price reduction this year. Presumably, he is talking about house-holds. What I and others wish to hear from him today is when we will see the short-term pricereview he spoke of today. How long must we wait for that?

Bord Gais will launch a new product next week, supplying electricity to homes for pricesthat are 10% to 14% cheaper than those the ESB currently charges. How can that be? If thatis 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 theshort-term review he mentioned today?

Concerning the broader review of energy price regulation, can we expect the double-digitreduction in energy prices for the commercial-industrial sector? That sector is not subject todirect price regulation but is subject to the influence of regulation in terms of the regulatedprice 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 householdsector. As I said earlier, unlike householders, since 2006 the large business consumers haveoperated in an unregulated market. Because of the nature of the contracts they have, thesesectors are already seeing a double-digit reduction in prices, arising in particular from lowerinternational gas prices. The immediate timeframe set out is for the regulator — who was asked

15


[Deputy Eamon Ryan.]

to see whether that expected reduction can be brought forward — to come to Governmentwithin 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 anumber of options in this regard, each of which might have advantages and disadvantages. Inmy contribution I set out the disadvantage of a unilateral reduction from the ESB because ofthe effect it would have on competition. I also mentioned the disadvantage of repeating thegenerous act the ESB undertook last year in forgoing \300 million in its revenue stream and afurther \100 million this year from the sale to Endesa. To transfer that across the market isnot a satisfactory outcome because it could endanger some of the investments we want theESB to make.

My preferred option, if it is possible in a non-distortionary manner that does not affectcompetition and investment plans, which is important, is to see whether the regulator can bringforward such reductions from the October date we expected. I was looking at the gas pricesagain this morning. If one looks forward for the next six months or year — and most of thecontracts are done forward — the price of gas is sufficiently low for us to confidently expect adouble digit price reduction. The exact month in which it occurs must be advised by the regu-lator. That is the timeframe within which we are working.

Bord Gais must announce its plans. I will not pre-empt——

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

Deputy Eamon Ryan: First I want the regulator, in discussion with all the players, to comeforward 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. Theregulator 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 insuf-ficient to the task? People’s incomes are plummeting and their utility bills are soaring. I do notknow how insulated the Minister is from the realities of life but I will give a couple of quickexamples 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. Sean’s bill was between \600and \800; he was away for Christmas, yet his latest bill was \1,250. Eileen had no Christmastree, yet her ESB bill went up by \25. That is what people live with. For the Minister to attendthe House and refer to a range of options is an inadequate response to the daily experiencesencountered by people.

When can people expect the two-digit reduction the Minister has promised Will he ensurethere is a price ceiling rather than a fixed price to allow, at long last, for some good value forpeople who struggle with their bills? For too long we have seen competitiveness sacrificed onthe altar of competition. Does the Minister recognise we have to open it up in a way that meetsthe 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 anincredibly difficult economic climate. Does this not require urgency on the Minister’s part todeal with this issue once and for all?

Deputy Simon Coveney: He is doing nothing about it.

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Deputy Eamon Ryan: At the centre of our energy policy is the interest of Irish householdersand 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 policiesfor 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 themost important factor in continually driving down prices for the Irish householder and businesscommunity 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 mustnot turn it upside-down by completely getting rid of a regulatory system that is in place andacts 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 theoptions is the correct choice. One should not rush into this like a headless chicken, slashingand demanding change. One should work through how to proceed in a way which maintainsthe various objectives and brings down prices consistently. A short-term decision could, in thelong run, lead to higher electricity prices, which would be against the interests of Irish house-holders. That is why one is better to let the regulator work with the various companies involvedin the area to come back with options from which the Government can make the call. That isour central policy objective and is the right approach in this area. It will bring down electricityprices. We know that is coming from the price of the raw materials. A proper, regulated andcompetitive market is the best way to extract every last cent of price reduction we can fromthe 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 householderswho have high electricity bills but will invite options in three or four weeks’ time. He is doingnothing 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 Ministersays he will continue as normal and we will stick with the energy regulation plan that has beenthere for the last ten years. No electricity cost adjustments will be made in response to arecession or as part of an economic recovery plan.

Deputy Liz McManus: In these very bleak times the Taoiseach announced he would dealwith 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 stillstuck in a rut. He has not altered his position in the face of the economic climate and thepersonal 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 pricereduction 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 pricesand 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 Gais are building. It is the correct policy for us to see companies suchas Endesa spending \800 million developing existing plants so we can get them on stream.

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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 havehad high prices and recognise the policies we are pursuing are addressing that fundamentalreason. 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 onfossil fuels. The consistent determination by my Department, the Government and I to switchourselves 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 andcompetitive 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 thebusiness 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, becauseinternational prices are reducing, we will see lower prices. That will be done in the properfashion.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister did not even keep an eye on salaries at the ESB. Thatshow 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 NaturalResources the amount of the \26 million package announced in January 2008 in respect ofocean energy programmes which has been spent; the reason promised grant aid to companieshas not been awarded; the further reason applications for grant aid were only sought as recentlyas 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 programmein 2008. The grant aid programme for companies is one element of a wide-ranging suite ofinitiatives intended to accelerate and strengthen the development of ocean energy technologiesin Ireland. These are managed by the ocean energy development unit, which is located atSustainable 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 soughtduring November. Agreement on funding levels in accordance with EU State aid rules is now

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being finalised and the first contracts will be issued in a matter of weeks. I am advised that thepace of expenditure will accelerate, increasing to around \7 million in 2009. This will contributeto the delivery of the Government’s high priority goal of supporting the development ofIreland’s ocean energy potential in a reasonable timeframe.

The ocean energy development unit was established last year within SEI. The unit managesthe ocean energy strategy and administers the substantial funding provided for the benefit ofresearchers and project developers. The unit commenced the grant aid programme in its firstyear. It has also invested in the creation of a state-of-the-art national ocean energy facility atUniversity College Cork, which work will continue into 2009. It is also managing the develop-ment of a grid-connected wave energy test site off the west coast. In addition, in the sameperiod, the unit has established an advisory group comprising my Department, the Commissionfor Energy Regulation, the coastal zone management division, 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 forocean energy. The unit has also commenced work on the delivery of studies of common interestto the sector, including a study on the engineering and specialist support requirements for thesector to enhance Ireland’s capability to maximise participation in the construction and oper-ation 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 part-nership 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-yeardevelopment plan set out in our ocean energy strategy. These technologies are very much atresearch and development phases, and devices are using different approaches to try to generateelectricity from the ocean. The ocean energy unit is working closely with developers to developand finalise their project applications. I am satisfied that all components of the ocean energypackage are now under way and are being advanced at a pace consistent with the priority theGovernment attaches to this area. I am confident this programme will greatly assist in realisingIreland’s huge potential in this area and will allow us to meet the Government’s target ofgenerating 500 MW of ocean energy by 2020.

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

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

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got the unit and the strategy right, and the money will be spent this year or next to allow us tocatch up.

Deputy Simon Coveney: Can I confirm that the Minister is saying that because only \1million 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 thatin 2010 we will be spending the remaining \18 million on funding ocean energy projects. Isthat correct?

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

Deputy Simon Coveney: They are specific questions.

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

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

Deputy Eamon Ryan: It is not all about budget.

Deputy Simon Coveney: The Minister is all about announcements and not delivery. That isthe 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 theOireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources in examiningthe need for us to develop our ocean planning strategy, so we could get that right. It is probablythe first and most crucial hurdle we need to overcome in the first half of this year so thatcompanies 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 nexttwo years?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I am committing on behalf of the Government to giving this area thehighest priority and to making the necessary funding available to deliver on the strategy wehave 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 NaturalResources the progress made on the roll-out of net meters here; the timescale for the avail-ability of feed-in tariffs for micro-generation units selling electricity back to the grid; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4857/09]

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Deputy Eamon Ryan: As well as providing valuable information for both the consumerand electricity supplier, net metering allows micro-scale renewable energy projects in domesticsettings to export electricity to the grid. The typical electricity meter installed by the ESB inthe 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 examiningalternative ways of integrating micro-scale renewable energy systems into the electricity gridas soon as possible.

An alternative approach is to provide a guaranteed price for electricity exported to the gridfrom micro-scale projects. The renewable energy feed-in tariff, REFIT, support schemeoperated by my Department provides a fixed price to electricity producers. However, it alsorelies on electricity suppliers’ voluntarily contracting with electricity producers to purchase thepower produced. Suppliers have demonstrated in the past that their interest is in purchasingpower from large-scale projects producing electricity in commercial quantities only. Micro-scaleplants are of a much smaller size and require a different solution outside the REFITprogramme.

My Department is currently working closely with the Commission for Energy Regulationand other stakeholders to put in place in the short term an appropriately structured paymentsystem for micro-generated electricity exported to the grid, which will operate separately fromthe REFIT mechanism. In addition, Sustainable Energy Ireland is proposing a micro-generationpilot programme under which research and field trials will be conducted, including support forbetween 50 and 60 installations of micro-scale projects on a pilot basis. The field trials willaddress a range of issues, including grid connection and technical standards, to ensure thepower security, safety and quality of installations. CER and ESB Networks have amended therules associated with connecting micro-scale plants so that generators of less than 6 kW onsingle-phase cables and 11 kW on three-phase electricity supply cables can now connect to thegrid without prior authorisation.

Following these changes, SEI has arranged to publish a guide to connecting renewable andcombined heat and power electricity production plants to the electricity network, includingadvice for micro-generators, which will be of assistance to those connecting micro-scale plantto the network. In addition, revised planning guidelines from my colleague the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government establish an exemption from planning consentrequirements for micro-scale projects of suitable height. Work is now concluding on the designof the programmes referred to and I expect to make an announcement on the detailed arrange-ments for micro-scale projects in the coming weeks.

Deputy Simon Coveney: I suspect I agree with the Minister when I say that micro-generationand the decentralisation of energy generation generally is a significant opportunity for jobcreation. The key element of this is the export tariff that people can get by supplying powerfrom micro-generators back to the electricity grid. My understanding at the moment is that theproposition from the ESB is to pay 9 cent per kilowatt hour. This does not compare favourablyto 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 onthe right tariff. Will the Minister give his view on whether the recent ESB proposed tariffis appropriate?

Second, the Minister is true to form with regard to net metering. In November 2007, heannounced that 25,000 homes would have net meters installed in a pilot project, while inSeptember 2008 he said it would be 21,000 customers. To date, how many smart meters havebeen installed and are functioning in homes? Am I correct that under the timeframe the Mini-

21


[Deputy Simon Coveney.]

ster has set we will have to wait until February 2011 to get some feedback on the findings ofthe pilot project in net metering?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. The 9 cent per kilowatt hour is there as aninstrument to break the logjam that has existed for years whereby nobody would or couldpurchase the power. Part of the measures we want to put in an interim package is that therewould be a further price support measure which would complement that to provide an incen-tive. It is just an interim measure. We have also commissioned very detailed analysis of eachof the small micro generation sectors to consider the more long-term, sustainable approach toencourage the development of this generation system. The price we will put in will be aninterim measure. It will provide a more significant price support than the 9 cent referred tobut it is, in itself, only an interim measure.

We can examine Spain, Germany, France and the countries the Deputy mentioned to con-sider their experience. What one does not wish to do, which has happened in some of thosecountries, is set a very high price and then undermine the market by having to claw that back orbring 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 effectivelyin the Irish landscape and weather and give them an ability to sell on. That price is only afraction 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 metersdelivered to date, but we are on target for installing the 21,000 meters so we can test howhouseholders use the meter and how it works. That is the right way to do this. People cancriticise and say we should have installed 500,000 by now but my experience with a range ofdifferent projects in which we have engaged is that one first tests the item in the real world. Itis not a small test; a total of 21,000 houses is a significant sample of the population. That willprovide the figures and analysis that will allow us to deploy it across the country, which I amconfident we will do.

I am confident that we are ahead of other countries. Members of the Opposition are criticalthat we are not further advanced but we are ahead of most other jurisdictions. Crucially, weare ahead in terms of learning from the mistakes. Other countries have installed smart metersbut 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 theroll-out of smart meters, as are many other people because it leads to other technologies, theproblem is that we are utterly frustrated by how long each stage is taking before smart meterswill 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 willprovide access to 4,000 of the smart meters we have available to farmers, small businesses orhouseholders 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 micro-generation. We are using the smart meters which are available to us and which we can deployin a way that kills two birds with one stone — it develops a new power supply system wherebypeople can supply power to the grid and provides lessons that we can then apply to the rest ofthe country.

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Natural Gas Grid.

80. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the plans in place to extend the natural gas infrastructure in north Tipperary; thetimescale 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 thefirst instance, a commercial matter for Bord Gais Eireann, BGE, which is mandated undersection 8 of the Gas Act 1976, as amended, to develop and maintain a system for the supplyof 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 ofthe assessment and licensing of prospective operators who wish to develop and-or operate agas distribution system within the State under the Gas (Interim) (Regulation) Act 2002. I haveno 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 opportunityto reassess the feasibility of connecting certain towns to the gas network. In order for any townto 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 thenetwork are recouped through the actual consumption of gas and the associated tariffs. Thepolicy allows for the appraisal of a town either on its own or as part of a regional groupof towns.

In this context, BGE is carrying out a comprehensive assessment of towns not already con-nected to the national gas network. I am advised that Ballina and Newport in north Tipperaryare already connected to the natural gas network. Nenagh, Roscrea and Thurles are includedin a total of 42 towns being examined as part of phase three of this assessment, which isscheduled for completion in April this year. BGE’s final report will outline which towns orgroups of towns would be economically viable for connection, within the revised connectionpolicy criteria. In the event that the appraisal indicates that Nenagh, Roscrea or Thurles areviable for connection, I am advised that it may be possible to assess additional towns in closeproximity in that context.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: I am disappointed that the Minister started his reply by stating hehas no responsibility for this and that it is a commercial matter for Bord Gais Eireann. Prelimi-nary results from the analysis carried out by DKM indicate subvention from the State will berequired to have gas delivered to the towns of Thurles, Nenagh and Roscrea. According to thereport, a sum of \11 million will be required in the case of Thurles, but it is only \3 million ifit is linked with Callan and Tipperary town or a cluster of towns.

4 o’clock

The Minister should not hide behind Bord Gais. The Government must put facilities in ruralIreland that facilitate job creation and competition and enable industry to thrive and prosperin 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 moneyinto those schemes for towns such as Thurles, Nenagh and Roscrea? Will theGovernment 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 adisadvantage of possibly 30% when compared to similar industries in other counties that havethe facility of natural gas. Will the Minister indicate that the Government is committed tosupplying the funds to enable Bord Gais, as it wishes and is prepared to do, to provide thisinfrastructure 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 hadearlier. We must keep our electricity and energy prices low and competitive. It would be easyto come to this side of the House and take on responsibility for the allocation of infrastructuresuch as this if one could promise it left, right and centre and disregard the actual cost to theconsumer at the end. If a grid was built to an area where there might not be an economic casefor doing so, and I am not saying that is the case in any of those towns, it would put the priceof gas and electricity up for every other town. Any Member of the Opposition would screamfoul and point out that the gas prices were too high. That is why this issue is left within theregulatory system and Bord Gais. It is not a political decision. It is better that it is done on anassessment of how to keep prices low as well as providing the obvious benefits of gas formanufacturing, bakeries and so forth. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot scream pricesare too high and in the next breath scream that the grid must be built to a place where it mightnot be economical but might bring other benefits.

Deputy Noel J. Coonan: I do not accept the Minister’s analogy. Infrastructure must be putin place to attract people and industry to an area. What was the cost of the 35 jobs that werelost in Taylor Made, Templemore, yesterday because of energy prices, following the 24 lostlast 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 downto help people keep their jobs. However, in doing so one must be careful that one does notcause jobs to be lost in another town because the price of its gas connection is increased. Thereis a complex algorithm and a complex balancing act that must be done to meeting the economicobjectives of having a wider gas network, at the same time keeping our gas prices low so thatwe hold on to the jobs we have.

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

Other Questions.

————

Telecommunications Services.

81. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources if the management contract for the MANs network phase II has been signed; and thereturn 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. Constructionof 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 interimbasis by the technical services firm Magnum Opus on behalf of my Department. Magnum Opuswill manage the phase II MANs until such time as a management services entity is engaged forthe phase II MANs — MSE 2.

The engagement of MSE 2 is currently the subject of a procurement process, which isexpected to conclude before the end of March 2009.

24


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 gapsin broadband coverage. Previous initiatives such as the Global Crossing deal, the group broad-band scheme, grant aiding ESBT, and MANs phase I, as well as current initiatives such asProject Kelvin, the national broadband scheme and MANs phase II, have all underpinned thepro-competition policies that are now bearing fruit.

Policies built on the cornerstone of competition provide the investment certainty that theelectronic communications market needs. Service providers fully understand that Governmentintervention, by way of funding infrastructure, will only occur where the market has failed tobridge a digital divide.

Such policy and intervention initiatives, including phase II of the MANs programme havehelped to facilitate the development of the market to the point where over 60% of Irish house-holds now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that61.1% of those households have a connection in the speed category of 2 -10 mbps. At the endof Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, accord-ing 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. Theyhave provided all service providers with access to local markets and encouraged the roll-out ofDSL in the relevant towns. They have assisted the IDA in the attraction of foreign directinvestment and, more recently, are being considered by mobile broadband operators who wishto deepen the fibre in their networks to cater for the rapidly increasing demand for bandwidthby mobile users.

While information regarding the revenue generated from the phase II MANs is commerciallysensitive and I do not propose to release details of the revenue generated at this time, I dobelieve that the MANs will play an ever increasing, and crucially important, role in our com-petitive 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 debateon 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 manageMANs phase 11. Some 58 metropolitan area networks under phase II are completed. It hascost 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 \80million of expenditure on the 58 MANs that are waiting to be lit up and add backbone to thebroadband infrastructure across the country.

The reason the vast majority of them are not being used at all is that we do not have anentity managing this infrastructure on behalf of the State. I asked the Minister last Novemberwhy 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 ofone or two, yet MANs phase II, at a cost of \80 million, is not being used at all. The MANsphase II are not being managed properly because the Minister and his Department are delayingputting 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


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 completingcertain MANs and where the ones that were finished were available through the interim oper-ations, 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 Stateand 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 theState. 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 notbeing 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 timedelay between July last and now. He now states that we will not see it until the end of Marchbecause he wants to get a better deal for the taxpayer. The taxpayer is losing by the day becausewe do not have a satisfactory broadband infrastructure across the country, partly because wehave a great many wires and fibre in the ground that are not being used because of delays inthe Minister’s office.

Maybe he could tell us how many of the 58 MANs phase II under interim management arebeing used at present. He stated they are available for use and I dispute that. How many ofthe 58 are being used and why is the Department delaying putting a contract in place for theproper management of this expensive piece of broadband infrastructure?

Deputy Eamon Ryan: This infrastructure will be used effectively because, as I stated in myresponse, we will see mobile operators and others availing of it. We will not leave it therestranded 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 thatso that we get a good deal for the State. I would prefer to do that and take the time to get itright rather than get a bad deal quickly.

26


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 themedium term, which is a ten-year horizon, fibre will become increasingly important and wewill 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 thebusiness 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 negotiateand come to a conclusion.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: One negotiates to get the best deal. I believe we will get that in termsof management of the MANs II. This infrastructure will provide a vital role among a range ofdifferent 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 infra-structure.

Deputy Eamon Ryan: I am not dillydallying at all. In the past two years broadband numbershave 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 and96 together.

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


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

96. Deputy Sean Barrett asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the progress that has been made in meeting the targets that the State has set foritself in terms of delivery of electricity power generation from wave energy sources. [4598/09]

27


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 oceanenergy potential. As the Deputies are aware development of this renewable energy source isat the very early stages and will require considerable research to bring it to fruition as a generalsource 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 thatsignificant progress has been made in completing the necessary preliminary tasks to ensure theproper functioning and financial management of the programme.

The ocean energy development unit base has been established within Sustainable EnergyIreland, SEI. This unit will manage the ocean energy strategy and generally administer thescheme.

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 thedevelopment of a grid-connected wave energy test site off the west coast. It has also com-menced the ocean energy prototype fund, which will assist research projects in this area. Thefirst tranche of applications and allocations from the fund will be decided within a matter ofweeks. In addition, I have also announced the introduction of a new feed-in-tariff under theREFIT scheme for wave and tidal technologies of \220 per megawatt hour, which will beavailable to future full-scale projects connected to the grid.

The unit has also established an advisory group comprising my Department, the CER, theCoastal Zone Managing Authority, Enterprise Ireland, EirGrid, ESB Networks, IDA Ireland,the Marine Institute and Science Foundation Ireland, to co-ordinate the activities of theseagencies in developing and delivering an efficient roadmap for ocean energy.

The ocean energy development unit has also commenced work to deliver studies of commoninterest to the sector including a study on the engineering and specialist support requirementsfor the sector in order to enhance Ireland’s capability to maximise participation in the construc-tion and operation of wave and tidal systems; a review of the planning regime for ocean energydevelopment, a strategic environmental assessment for ocean energy in Irish waters, to investi-gate partnership with industry for data gathering and processing, and a detailed review of themacroeconomic benefits that ocean energy can deliver for Ireland.

Expenditure in 2008, at just over \1 million, reflects the fact that each of the componentmeasures was in the process of being established and I am advised that this pace will accelerateand 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 by2020 — which should be seen as the base of our ambitions, not a limit on them — from oceanenergy technologies will be enabled as the current research and prototype development andthat Ireland’s considerable potential in this area can be realised.

Deputy Liz McManus: Does the Minister accept the gulf between his rhetoric and his recordis such that it leaves him vulnerable to criticism? When he launched this so-called \26 millionprogramme on ocean energy in January 2008, he said he was setting out to ensure Irelandwould win the race in establishing a viable ocean energy device. Will he not accept that othercountries are in the process of winning that race and that we have failed in regard to the firstambition the Minister set out for himself? He said we had the most sophisticated State-supportsystem for ocean energy in the world. He has not been able to get his unit up and running intime to spend the \5 million he was supposed to spend last year, so sophisticated is his recordin 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 oneyear, where he has spent only \1 million. This year he is talking about \7 million; what is thesituation as regards the following year, 2010?

I have a specific question, too, on the applications, which were sought only in November bythe Department. How many applications have been sought, how many proposals have beenreceived and what is the funding available for them?

Deputy Sean Barrett: Does the Minister not see the potential of both offshore wind and windenergy in this area? Has he not got the wherewithal to ensure we are the world’s leading expertsin this area? This is something that is natural to this country. We, on the Joint Committee onCommunications, Energy and Natural Resources, have prepared legislation in this regardbecause we do not even have modern legislation to deal with this. This legislation got burieduntil people such as myself and others started to make noises. Is the Government serious aboutthe \16 billion investment in this area? Is it serious about getting this up and running? Irelandis an island stuck in the Atlantic, where we have natural resources second to none. Can he notplease 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 companiesthat have real opportunities to become world leaders in this area. They are working withinternational utilities and investors that are seriously considering investment in Ireland. Wehave to get a number of measures right for that. The budget figures are important, but theyare not the crucial constraints. What Deputy Barrett says is true. The first thing they want iscertainty around planning and community support. When one talks to the companies consider-ing 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 ofadvice 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 aboutwhich we are talking here. We are talking about a large multiple of that, if any one of thesedevices 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 Intelerected a small cabin in Leixlip, because if one of these devices works and takes off, we shallbe talking in terms of billions, not tens of millions. The crucial test for us is getting communitysupport behind it because that is what the investors need in terms of confidence about planningand getting our planning system right. The ocean energy unit within our Department, in con-junction 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 respectof which notice has been given under Standing Order 21 and the name of the Members in eachcase: (1) Deputy Ulick Burke — the problems experienced by FAS apprentices who have beenmade redundant, in finding alternative employment; (2) Deputy Kieran O’Donnell — the needfor 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 otherprogrammes to commence immediately, to restore public trust in the project; (3) Deputy FrankFeighan — the need to make changes to the qualifying criteria of community employmentschemes; (4) Deputy Joe Costello — the need to maintain FAS 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 theclosure of St. Brigid’s ward at St. Patrick’s geriatric hospital, Waterford, with the loss of 19public beds; (7) Deputy John Cregan — the threatened closure of the agriculture college inPallaskenry, Country Limerick; (8) Deputy Sean Barrett — the need to discuss the proposedserious cuts by Dublin Bus to bus services in Loughlinstown, County Dublin; (9) Deputy DinnyMcGinley — 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 inthe north-west and the urgent need to amend the legislation to rescue the sector from terminaldecline; (10) Deputy James Breen — the need to sanction an extension in respect of Barefieldnational school, County Clare; (11) Deputy Ciaran Lynch — to ask the Minister for the Envir-onment, Heritage and Local Government to lay before the House details, including financialimplications of his plans to enable local authorities to lease estates from developers as outlinedby the Minister of State in recent days and to lay out his programme to spend \20 million inleasing currently idle properties from developers; (12) Deputy Noel J. Coonan — to ask theMinister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when an application for fund-ing for a new fire station facility in Cloughjordan, County Tipperary will be provided, takinginto account the extreme deteriorating conditions at the establishment, and health and safetyconcerns; and (13) Deputy Tom Sheahan — the many serious issues affecting fishermen in westKerry 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 SeymourCrawford have been selected for discussion.

Leaders’ Questions.

Deputy Enda Kenny: I want to give the Taoiseach some credit today. I was glad to hear himspeak a piece of his mind last week. He spoke so well that he caused some type of mediafrenzy, 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 inthe 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 contri-bution and said that if Deputy Brian Cowen made two more speeches like that the recessionwould 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 asunderstanding who we are, what the national interest is, engaging, listening to people, workingin solidarity and co-ordination in order to move Ireland out of the financial and economiccrisis. One of the methods being adopted by Government is the pension levy. I want theTaoiseach to understand that, given the extent of the cutbacks and savings required, the FineGael Party agrees with the figure of \2 billion put up by the Government. All sections ofsociety, particularly the public sector, which did not cause the problem but is being asked topay for the majority of it, are willing to play their part in moving the economy out of the crisiscaused by the mismanagement of Government over the years. It appears to me, from talkingto a broad range of people, that they are prepared to play their part, but they want the systemto be fair and balanced. It is clear, however, that anomalies have arisen from the Government’s

30


conclusions and the announcement of the pension levy scheme. The lower paid are beingcrucified as a consequence of the pension levy, and there are examples of those on higherearnings 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 nowexpected 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 notdeny for a moment that this is an imposition on public service workers. It is set against acontext in which adjustments are being made across all sectors of the economy, including theprivate sector, to deal with an unprecedented situation.

I must emphasise the seriousness of the situation in which we find ourselves and the need tocontinue working through it. The \2 billion in savings that were announced are a signal of thefurther measures which will have to be taken. We have indicated how we will go about doingthat both in terms of the committee looking at public service numbers and expenditure in allareas in the public service and the report of the Commission on Taxation, which I am sure willmake important recommendations.

What is important for us to realise is that we are in a new situation and are unlikely to returnto the high levels of growth we saw in the past. We can return to growth as soon as the upturncomes provided we take the right steps in the meantime. One of the matters we have to addressis the position of the public finances. This is not only important in its own right — we had thisdebate last week — but also in terms of retaining the maximum number of jobs and maintainingand rebuilding confidence in the economy both internally and externally. The issue of externalconfidence is important in the context of the financial crisis with which we are all trying tocontend.

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 andalmost 10% at the highest end. While there was no agreement at the end of the day, it wasagreed in principle that \2 billion is the amount with which we need to deal at present, thatthe question of public service pay and pensions provided us with the means by which many ofthese savings would be identified and that we need to continue working on a range of othernecessary issues as we try to identify further savings and taxation measures which can help usaddress the gap in the public finances. That was the motivation behind what we did and whywe did it, and why this is an important part but not the full response. It is mirrored in othersectors 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 hasbeen no clear strategy from the Government on how to sort this out. It brought forward itsbudget 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 weare 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 tosingle taxpayers, John earns \15,000. His net reduction in take home pay will be \450, or a cutof 3%. His cousin works up the road and earns \19,500. His net reduction in take home paywill be \105 because given the nature of the taxation system, he pays 0.5%. A single publicservant who earns \36,400 will have his or her pay reduced by \1,769 per annum, whereas asingle person earning \40,000 will have a reduction of \1,649. The take home pay of a marriedperson earning \45,400 will be reduced by \2,537, whereas if one earns \55,000, one’s take

31


[Deputy Enda Kenny.]

home will only be reduced by \2,403. These are clear anomalies in a system that is not fairor balanced.

Yesterday, I listened to 250 public service workers whose anger was focused on the unfairnessand imbalance of this measure. There is no desire for social unrest or industrial disputes. TheTaoiseach rightly said last week that he is prepared to listen and, if possible, to tweak thescheme to allow for progress. In view of the anomalies which impact on thousands of cases oflow paid workers or at the lower end of the public sector and for those above and below themarginal rate, in respect of whom a difference now applies, is the Taoiseach prepared to tweakthe proposal put forward by the Government in the interest of fairness and balance and toavoid 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 \1billion. 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 suggestedanomalies will not in fact exist when all considerations and the various credits and allowancesare taken into account.

In regard to the amounts, the estimated savings take into account the revenue lost on theother side. In the stabilisation update we submitted to the European Commission, we haveallowed 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 termsof reduced wages and, therefore, less tax being paid as a result of the pension levy beingintroduced.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: One of the proposals which the Labour Party has been puttingforward in order to address the serious economic difficulties which the country and workingfamilies are facing is a guarantee for families that they will not lose their homes during theperiod of this recession. To be fair, it appears that the Government has taken up this proposalin some way and has discussed it with the financial institutions. It is reported today that theBank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank are prepared to delay issuing repossession orders onhomes for 12 months. That is not good enough because all it does is put off the evil day for 12months. It is not sufficient time because, as was noted this morning by Michael Culloty fromMABS 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 theirfamily homes will not be repossessed.

In any event, the idea of delaying the inevitable repossession for 12 months misses the pointthat people who are losing their jobs or are worried about doing so have the additional worryof losing their homes and they need reassurance. That reassurance needs to be provided by theGovernment securing an arrangement with the financial institutions.

I ask the Taoiseach two questions. First, what arrangements is the Government discussingwith 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 repos-session of homes? Second, can he give security and a sense of safety to families by reassuringthem that their homes will not be repossessed, having regard to the arrangements he is dis-cussing with the financial institutions, the considerable resources the State is now making avail-able to recapitalise banks and underpin the financial institutions of the State and the existingarrangements for rent allowance and mortgage interest subsidy?

32


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

The Taoiseach: Part of the purpose of the discussions on this matter is to provide reassuranceto people who work honestly and reasonably, taking account of changed circumstances, withthe bank or lender to reschedule mortgage arrangements that there will be no precipitativeeffort by financial institutions, including those outside the voluntary code who must now, inmy opinion, sign-up to the statutory code, to repossess their homes. We are requiring that alllending institutions act in a humane and sensible manner on the basis that we wish to providethat reassurance to mortgage holders. In practice, assurance is given in the normal course ofevents that every effort will be made to avoid repossessions. This is evidenced by the low levelof repossessions to date, the latest figure for which is 0.3% of the more than 1 million mortgagesin the country.

It is important that the code be put on a statutory footing. This will provide protection andreassurance. Also, the code must be comprehensive. Obviously, the financial institutions mustfind the most humane way possible of dealing with the situation while distinguishing betweenthose who can pay and those who will not pay. Those who cannot pay because of changedcircumstances 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 notdeliver on this. This is about those who cannot pay. There are plenty of ways in which thosewho 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 beable 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 howthey are going to make repayments on their homes and about the day somebody will comeknocking 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 homeshave been repossessed. There have many more repossessions of homes than of sites and halffinished speculative developments, some of which are the subject of what are now known asbad 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 inrespect of big borrowings for large developments which are deemed part of the bad debtproblem which the State had to guarantee and in respect of which it must now recapitalise thebanks. We appear to have a regime which is about to recapitalise big loans and repossess inrespect of small loans. Saying there have not been many repossessions is not sufficient becausethere has been a very substantial number of voluntary surrenders. The hammer is put on peoplewho cannot pay and they are effectively forced into surrendering the dwelling to the financialinstitution. This does not make sense.

33


[Deputy Eamon Gilmore.]

Ultimately, when a family loses its home, the State must step in and provide rent allowanceand so on. What is the financial institution to do with such dwelling? It cannot sell it in thecurrent market. It makes sense for a whole pile of reasons that there is a regime in place thatensures homes are not repossessed. A formula must be agreed that allows the Taoiseach orany other Member of the House when speaking to worried families about the prospect of theirhome being repossessed to reassure them that for the next two or three years or during difficulttimes their homes will not be repossessed. People will still have to repay the mortgage but weshould put in place a formula which helps them to get through such times. This, apart fromreassuring people about not losing their homes, would provide the type of security and reassur-ance that might encourage people to spend again, which would have a knock-on effect on theeconomy. This is about more than just saying repossession orders will be delayed. This is aboutproviding confidence and security to families who are worried about how they will pay mort-gages, 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 aboutidentifying the bad debt provision that all bad debts are provided for in the accounts. DeputyGilmore is asking me to predict what will be the performance of individual loans, be theyresidential or commercial mortgages. That cannot be predicted in the here and now. Thesuggestion is being made that provision is made for bad debts before they become such. Wemust be careful and point out, in the interests of maintaining confidence and providing anaccurate picture of the current situation, that where debts become bad, provision is madefor 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 differentpeople. 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 performdo perform and, second, to provide reassurance to people who get into difficulties in respectof their principal private residence. What I am saying in respect of the latter is that reassurancewill be provided. People who make contact, as they have been doing up to now — one musttake into consideration the rate of possessions taking place despite current difficulties — willbe able to put in place rescheduling or interest only arrangements and may agree to havearrears recapitalised onto the main mortgage amount. As stated, it is in the interests of themortgage holder and the lender to find an arrangement which meets the current circumstancesof the parties concerned.

As Deputy Gilmore stated, institutions are aware the housing market is not good. Theirability to take on assets for the purpose of disposal is not a good mark. It is better for them towork with the people and to assist them through the next number of months or years whenthey are in difficulty. That is in practice what the lending institutions, in their own interestsquite apart from the wider public interest, have to and will do. It is a question of providingreassurance in terms of the statutory code and what practice arrangements will be in place. Tomake 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 waythat provides confidence that the performing loans are performing and those which are not, inparticular in respect of private residences, will be dealt with in a humane and sensible fashion.

Request to move Adjournment of the Dail under Standing Order 32.

An Ceann Comhairle: Anois, iarratas chun tairisceana a dheanamh an Dail a chur ar athlofaoi Bhuan Ordu 32, a request to move the adjournment of the Dail under Standing Order 32.

Deputy Arthur Morgan: I seek the adjournment of the Dail under Standing Order 32 todiscuss the following matter of urgent national importance, namely, that the Governmentrealise 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, theGovernment should appreciate the strong position it is in and the need for it to dictate to thebanks 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 ingenuine mortgage difficulties are given a moratorium; and that small to medium-sizedenterprises have access to the reasonable level of funding necessary to maintain their viablebusinesses. We have had enough messing from the banks. It is time they were sorted out onceand for all.

An Ceann Comhairle: Tar eis breithnithe a dheanamh ar an nıardaithe, nıl se in ord faoiBhuan 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 ofproposed approval by Dail Eireann of the Finance Act 2004 (Section 91) (Deferred Surrenderto the Central Fund) Order 2009; No. 9, motion re referral to Select Committee of proposedapproval by Dail Eireann of the terms of the Stabilisation and Association Agreementsbetween the European Communities and the Republic of Montenegro and the Republic ofBosnia and Herzegovina; No. 17, Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008 — Second Stage(resumed); and No. 18, Employment Law Compliance Bill 2008 — Second Stage (resumed). Itis proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, that Nos. 8 and 9 shall be decidedwithout 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 dealingwith Nos. 8 and 9 agreed?

Deputy Richard Bruton: With regard to the proposal on No. 8, this is the arrangement whereeach year a certain proportion of money that is not spent under capital budgets is allowed toroll over into the next year. The level of information we get on the capital budgets and theirperformance against criteria of performance is hopeless. The Dail is in the dark as to whetherprojects are on time, ahead of time, behind time or on budget. If we are taking this vote on anod, we should have proper reports on how each project is progressing, whether it is meetingits 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 2008being 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


[The Taoiseach.]

which are responsible for major capital projects, including the NRA with regard to roads, whichthankfully are in all cases now coming in before time and within budget, and also other areasof activity, whether with regard to schools and the Department of Education and Science. Allof 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 Caoimhghın O Caolain: 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 ofthe Nursing Homes Support Scheme Bill 2008. Before agreeing to the Order of Business, Iwish to know whether, if Second Stage concludes today, it is intended to proceed immediatelyto 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 specificdetail. 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 itsintention 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. Thequestion of taking Committee Stage after Second Stage is a matter for the Whips. There isusually a two-week interval for Members to prepare amendments if they wish. I am not awarethere is any particular problem with the——

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: There is a serious deficit of information in terms of preparingfor the further engagement on this legislation.

An Ceann Comhairle: I take it the arrangements for dealing with Nos. 8 and 9 are agreedto. 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 bepublished during this session and in view of its urgency the Taoiseach might be able to indicatewhen it is expected to bring it before the House.

With regard to the comments by the Taoiseach on the repossession of houses and the require-ments for a compulsory scheme to protect house owners, and to give legal effect to that, willhe 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 positionwith regard to the replacement Bill for the foreshore Bill which deals with offshore renewableenergy development, and which was drafted under the chairmanship of Deputy Barrett on theJoint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security? The Minister was to make someadjustment if he was not prepared to accept the full Bill. This is something on which we mustmove as a matter of urgency. The Taoiseach might be prepared to indicate what is the positionof Minister.

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

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On the question of the code of practice regarding mortgage issues being put on a statutorybasis, that is being prepared and will be brought forward. The Financial Regulator is finalisingarrangements 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 Ministerhad 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 LocalGovernment to see in what way some of their ideas might be incorporated in terms of the workhe is undertaking.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: I want to ask about two Bills. The first is the Bill to give effect tothe so-called pensions levy. Will the Taoiseach tell the House when that Bill will be introducedin the House and what is his timetable for its enactment? Can the Taoiseach tell us if the headsof the Bill have yet been approved by the Government and, if so, will the Government publishthem? There is much uncertainty as to what exactly the Government is proposing in regard tothis levy, to what incomes it will apply and from what date it will apply. Will Taoiseach givethe House the information in this regard?

Second, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has announcedthere will be spending limits for the local elections this year and that they will apply for aperiod of 60 days before the local elections, which means they will apply from 5 April orthereabouts. I welcome this because it is something the Labour Party has been advocating forsome time. The limits announced are not quite as low as the Labour Party would have likedbut, in any event, I welcome the fact they have been announced. There is a need for legislationto 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 andintroduced 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 iteffective for the forthcoming local elections this year. The intention would be to introduce itin a timely manner.

With regard to the statutory arrangements being put in place for the pensions levy, the headsof the Bill were considered by Government today. It is intended that it will come beforeCabinet again very quickly, be published, brought to the House and enacted as a matter ofurgency, because it is important it is enacted quickly. We intend that it would be effective fromnext month.

Deputy Eamon Gilmore: Do I take from that reply that the heads of the Bill have not yetbeen agreed by the Government? Given what the Taoiseach said on the agreement of theheads of the Bill, when is it likely the detail of its contents will be agreed by the Governmentand when is it likely to be published? I suggest to the Taoiseach that when the Governmenthas approved the heads of the Bill, the heads themselves should be published so the maximumof 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 levyapply? Will it apply from a future date following the enactment of legislation or from the dateit is announced in the House? From when will it apply?

The Taoiseach: When the legislation is published that date will become clear. My indicationsare that it will be from next month onwards.

37


[The Taoiseach.]

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

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: The Taoiseach indicated last week that legislation would beintroduced to facilitate proposals regarding the early childhood supplement. Can the Taoiseachindicate exactly when that legislation will be published and when it will be introduced to theDail? This legislation was signalled, legislation for the pension levy has been indicated, andother legislation is expected that was not part of the legislative programme put before Membersa little over two weeks ago. This is our third week back in the Dail. Many changes to theprogramme are now anticipated in the coming period. Would it not be appropriate to publisha supplementary legislative programme as a result of all these newly signalled measures theGovernment intends to introduce?

The Taoiseach: No, I do not agree. I do not believe we require a supplementary list. Thelegislative changes that must be brought about as a result of last week’s announcement will beincorporated in one Bill. The early childhood supplement legislative changes will be incorpor-ated 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, electionsto the regional fisheries boards have been deferred. There is a tight timeframe and my under-standing was that before Christmas the plan was to fast-track the legislation. Now, everythinghas 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 thisyear.

Deputy Liz McManus: Probably?

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

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

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

Deputy Olwyn Enright: I am sure the Taoiseach is aware of the substantial queues in socialwelfare offices throughout the country and the knock-on effect this has had on the communitywelfare service. The Minister for Social and Family Affairs is distancing herself from responsi-bility for the community welfare service, which is currently vested in the Minister for Healthand Children, Deputy Mary Harney, and the HSE. However, the Government and theTaoiseach might recall we enacted the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007, which transferredresponsibility for this service from the HSE to the Department of Social and Family Affairs.

38


Is this still Government policy? When will the commencement order be signed, or has theGovernment 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 beaddressed.

Deputy Joan Burton: I, too, refer to the pensions levy. We are all receiving large volumes ofcorrespondence on the matter. Will the Taoiseach clarify in advance of the publication of theBill if all salary payments, including payments not reckonable for pension purposes, are tobe 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 payfor a statutory old age pension. It appears from what the Minister for Finance is saying that itwill be levied on gross pay, even though a good deal of pay is not reckonable for pensionpurposes. These are low paid people.

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

Deputy Joan Burton: If the Taoiseach clarify the matter he would save a good deal of indus-trial 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 iswell 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 inrespect of recapitalising the banks. Will that legislation contain any proposals to recapitalisethe 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 passingthe cheques onto the banks anyway.

An Ceann Comhairle: If the Deputy wishes to put a question on legislative proposals, hemay 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 offarmers 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 tothose farmers.

An Ceann Comhairle: There is another way of raising the matter and if the Deputy raisesthe matter in an appropriate way, I will try to assist him in every way possible, but I cannotdeal with the matter now. That is the way the House works.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: The Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, publisheda 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 anyfunding 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 Dail Eireann 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 Dail Eireann on 29th January, 2009, bereferred to the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service in accordance withparagraph (1) of the Orders of Reference of that Committee, which, not later than 3rd March,2009, shall send a message to the Dail in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 87, andStanding 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 Dail Eireann approves the terms of the Stabilisation and Associ-ation Agreements:

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

(ii) between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, andthe Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, of the other part, signed at Luxembourg on 16thJune, 2008, which was laid before Dail Eireann on 20th January, 2009; and

be referred to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs in accordance with paragraph (1) ofthe Orders of Reference of that Committee, which, not later than 3rd March, 2009, shall senda message to the Dail in the manner prescribed in Standing Order 87, and Standing Order86(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 Fearghaıl.

An Ceann Comhairle: Is that agreed? Agreed.

40


Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick: I am pleased to speak on this Bill which provides the legislativebasis 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 theirfamilies, neighbours and friends. At present, there are some 7,700 people in public long-termresidential care and a further 15,200 people in private nursing homes. The legislation will makearrangements for financial support for almost 23,000 people who need long-term, comprehen-sive care.

Under the present system of nursing home subvention, some older people and their familiesundergo real financial hardship to pay for the cost of care. This can include having to sell orremortgage homes. It can put families under major financial and emotional strain as they seekthe funds to pay for an elderly person’s care; it is a particular strain on sons and daughters withyoung families. Under the new fair deal people will be asked to contribute to the cost of theircare according to their means. This system is fair and it treats older people equally regardlessof whether they are in public or private nursing homes.

Under the new arrangements people requiring residential care will be assessed to calculatetheir ability to contribute to care. Under the scheme, people requiring long-term residentialcare will contribute 80% of their assessable income, including pensions, whether for public orprivate nursing home care. Depending on the amount of a person’s assessable income, theremay also be a contribution of up to 5% of a person’s assets. The system allows for flexibilityas payment can be deferred until the settlement of the person’s estate. This is a welcomemeasure 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 nursinghome.

5 o’clock

While I welcome the provision for older people in residential care, I firmly believe that ifolder people so wish, they should be supported to live in their own homes for as long as ispossible 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 ortherapy care at home. This service was available only in a hospital or a nursinghome. 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 helphours were provided during 2007. Since 2004, the Minister for Health and Children, DeputyMary 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 homeand that their families can be updated by downloading the home’s inspection reports. InKildare, there are more than ten nursing homes, over half of which are in rural areas. Locationis important to patients and families. I welcome the location of nursing homes in rural areaswhere patients can enjoy a rural setting for their twilight years. Patients also want to be nearfamily and friends.

In my local authority area, the council has pursued a policy of refusing permission for nursinghomes on the edges of towns and villages, preferring to locate them in their centres notwith-standing the success of those located in rural areas. At the end of last year, the Minister openeda new nursing home on the edge of Maynooth which provides a quality service to that com-munity and its patients and provides badly needed local jobs, equivalent to those provided bya medium-sized factory. Making more beds available will free up our acute hospital beds andallow our senior citizens to live near their families and friends in comfortable surroundings.

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[Deputy Michael Fitzpatrick.]

Residential care facilities are very important but we must realise that only approximately5% of older people ever need them. They are usually required after a spell in hospital, whenthe 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 aloneby illness or disability. I welcome the work of the hospitals, nursing staff and HSE in securingnursing home places for elderly patients. The HSE provides a wide range of designated supportfor people in their own homes but at times when these people need nursing home care, it canbe hard to know what is available and to what one is entitled. The forum for older people, setup in 2006 and comprising almost all of the major national organisations with a special interestand 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 whichdramatically 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 comprehen-sive range of services to older people. It is important that we do not consider the service inisolation 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 nursingservices, etc. We must prioritise improved support for expansion of community-based supportsand improvements in the quality and availability of hospital and residential care.

Older people are a core priority for Fianna Fail in Government. Last year, for the first time,we appointed a Minister of State with cross-departmental responsibility for older people. Thehealth service is undergoing its biggest reform since the foundation of the State but improve-ments are being made. There are real problems yet to be overcome, however, for those awaitingservice and their families.

Contrary to some commentary, most of those working in nursing homes, hospitals and com-munity-based facilities provide an excellent service which at times is not recognised. We needthem and it is important to recognise their service. Sometimes we hear about hospital-acquiredinfection. The Health Information Quality Authority, HIQA, national hygiene services reviewis welcome particularly for its findings on service delivery which validate the focus of the HSEon hygiene in the past two years. The HSE has recently put in place a significant number ofstrategic, structural and governance initiatives. Much good work has been undertaken andpositive assessments made of hospital hygiene and, in particular, of service delivery areas suchas hand hygiene, equipment, medical and cleaning devices.

The Bill is fundamental to meeting the commitment given in Towards 2016 that supportshould be equal for public and private care recipients. It offered assurances to the most vulner-able groups in our society, those in need of long-term nursing home care, that such care wouldbe, and remain, affordable as long as it was needed.

Deputy Sean O Fearghaıl: 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. TheMinister and the Government have been correct in taking their time to ensure that any legalor other impediments have been dealt with.

This debate may highlight other issues that might require changes to the legislation. I trustthat the Minister and her colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Maire Hoctor, will closelyfollow the debate and take on board positive proposals from all sides of the House. There isgreat interest in this measure among Members of all parties who all have, as public representa-

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tives, dealt with the various issues raised in the legislation, and in many cases have had toconfront them within their family circumstances.

The care of our aging population is one of the most important issues that we will face in thiscentury and is a political and societal challenge. The issues involved vary from pension pro-vision to medical care and residential care. The residential care element is probably the mostimportant because it has such a significant impact on the person as well as on his or her partnerand 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 andis 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 borrowheavily or sell the family home to offset the cost of care for an elderly relative. This Bill willnegate 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 elderlypeople 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 thecountry. In addition, the HSE partially finances 9,000 beds, “subvented beds”, 3,000 of whichare fully financed contract beds. These were secured between 2005 and 2008. Last year, theHSE indicated a strong commitment to providing over 800 public fast-track beds before theend of this year — more than half of which were to be in place at or before the end of2008. This six-fold increase in Government spending clearly signifies its strong commitment toproviding 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, andit has been clear for some considerable time that the State needs to reorganise the way inwhich it supports long-term residential elder care. It is deeply unfair that people were facedwith hugely varying costs for nursing home care, depending on where they lived, or whetherthe nursing home was in public or private ownership. Under this new measure, families willhave a certainty and consistency, something that is definitely not available to them under thecurrent 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 upand down the country, a peace of mind which will ultimately be beneficial for their personalhealth and well being. At the moment, nobody is charged more than 80% of the non-contribu-tory pension for care in a public nursing home, regardless of income. However, the costs werequite substantial in the private nursing home sector, even allowing for subvention. This anomalyhad to be put right and the Government will thankfully bring equity to the situation with thisBill. The pressures placed on family members to provide care for a dependent relative wereextremely 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 fordecades to come. There was a clear need to address the situation and we are now in a positionto deal with the matter effectively and decisively. The requirement to reform the manner inwhich nursing home provision is subvented has been apparent for a considerable time, but themanner in which nursing homes are managed and regulated was highlighted by the RTE exposeon the Leas Cross nursing home in north county Dublin. I pay tribute to Deputy FergusO’Dowd for the work he has done in highlighting the inadequacy of the service in many nursinghomes around the country.

This Bill requires all nursing homes to be registered. The Health Information and QualityAuthority will be responsible for the monitoring and inspection of nursing homes, based onthe provisions of the Health Act 2007, and taking into account the recent draft report on quality

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[Deputy Sean O Fearghaıl.]

standards presented to the Minister. The combined objective of all those involved in this pro-cess 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 pos-sible standards. These standards will apply to both public and private nursing homes and willaddress the safety and financial concerns of many families in caring for their loved ones inlong-term dependency situations.

In the period since the Leas Cross revelations, significant progress has been made by theHSE in the development of its elder abuse programme. The initiatives rolled out include theappointment of 29 senior case workers nationwide; the establishment of a national steeringcommittee to oversee the provision of HSE elder abuse services in detection, reporting andresponse; improved training for staff; and the development of a public awareness campaignaimed at informing people on the risks and realties of elder abuse. These initiatives will ensurethe prevention of elder abuse in public and private care facilities, but the care and attention offamilies 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 ontheir location, to which Deputy Fitzpatrick referred. A number of homes have been built orare 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 BordPleanala stated:

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

Like Deputy Fitzpatrick, I do not entirely share the board’s views on this matter. We shouldnot be too prescriptive in this area. I feel that, as in many areas of life, variety is key. Manypeople who have lived in the countryside all their lives would much prefer to look out onto agreen field than on an urban scene. Alternatively, many people would still like to be able toaccess the local shops, post office, pub or betting shop if they are fortunate enough to enjoyrelatively good health in later life.

Therefore, quality and variety of location are very important. Placing someone who has livedin Dublin, or in any of the other large urban centres, in a nursing home in a rural location cancause huge difficulties for the person and his or her family, who may find it difficult to accesssuch a location. Planners, developers, advocates for older people and the HSE need to workmore 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 tradingdown opportunities for older people and in particular, to encourage the provision of retirementcomplexes in which independent or supported living conditions are available. Kildare CountyCouncil has undertaken a study, through its strategic policy committee on economic planningand development, on the provision and location of elderly care facilities within the county. TheMinister 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 oneof the most important Bills to come before this Dail. Therefore, it is vitally important that weframe it by taking as many points of view on board as possible. The title “fair deal” indicatesthis will be fair to the elderly, fair to their families and fair to the taxpayer.

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I thank the Minister, the Minister of State and their officials for the work they have done inbringing 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 thosepeople currently in nursing homes, as well as with our own future. It is about where we andour families will end up, not just those fine people — some 30,000 of them — who currentlyreside in nursing homes.

Sickness comes to us all, and none of us will live forever. The Department estimates that4.6% of the current population over 65 are in nursing home care. The total proportion of thosewho ultimately end up in nursing homes is comparatively quite small. By trying to keep ourpeople out of nursing home care and by having effective, efficient, committed and dedicatedcommunity 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 careare deemed to be highly dependent.

The fatal flaw in this Bill is that it does not deal with the fundamental issue of sharing thecost burden of the nursing home. The penalty for being sick when elderly falls on the individualwho happens to get ill. It does not respect such a person’s income, qualifications or familybackground. Everybody who ends up in a nursing home must pay the costs, or else their familypays them. This Bill makes sure that if somebody is not lucky enough to have the money topay for nursing home care, then 15% of the sale of that person’s house plus a proportion ofthe person’s assets per annum will go towards paying for his or her care. That is fundamentallywrong and unjust.

How we treat people in our society, especially the very young and the very old, indicates thevalue we place on the most vulnerable. Nobody is arguing that the cost of a long-term stay ofa child in hospital should come out of the family income. Nobody is arguing that a womenhaving 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 insistthat they must pay for their care, and if they cannot pay for it, insist that payment come fromthe sale of their homes? Not only must people sell their homes, but they must sell those assetsat 15% of their value when they went into the home. People spend three and a half years, onaverage, in nursing homes. When a house is sold in line with this measure, 15% of its end valuewill 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 wrongand unjust, we must decide how to deal with it. I suggest that we should revisit the 2002 Mercerreport on the care of the elderly, which included a number of recommendations. We shouldconsider the introduction of an insurance scheme, for example, whereby a specific contributionis made as people age. That money should be ring-fenced and ultimately used to meet the costof 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 willshare 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 ofthis issue. People value their homes more than anything else. As we know, the Government isintroducing legislation to try to ensure the banks will allow people to stay in their homes whenthey cannot afford to pay their mortgages. Everybody recognises the need for social justice inthis regard. A deeper form of justice is at play when it comes to making sure that those whohappen to end up in nursing homes do not have to sell their homes and bear the cost of it. Iurge the Government to think again about this aspect of the legislation, which is fundamentallyflawed. The proposed system is totally unacceptable to me.

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[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’sdisease cannot speak or walk. In many cases, people in nursing homes have no means ofexpressing what is happening to them. They are extremely vulnerable. The HSE website pro-vides evidence that time and time again, private nursing homes are unable to care for suchpeople. 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 aboutnursing homes in the Cork-Kerry region in 2007. The complaints related to non-accidentalinjuries, including trips, falls, fractures and bruising; dehydration; problems relating to pressuresores and wound care; lack of attention to residents’ personal hygiene; poor standards ofhygiene; inadequate care; an assault by a resident on another resident; absconding or leavinga 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 recur-ring 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 nomeans unusual in Cork or anywhere else in the country, sadly. A patient with dementia suffereda fracture while in bed. Another patient, who had high levels of dependency, was allowed torest on a broken bed. No explanation was given for the discharge of a patient, following respitecare, who had an infected leg wound. In other cases, individual patients at the home were foundto have an infestation of head lice, an untreated leg wound, to be suffering from dehydration, tohave new and discoloured pressure ulcers and bruising on the body, to have a swollen andbruised right foot, to have scratches on the genitalia and a tear on the perineal area. A patientaged 94 with poor hygiene was admitted to Cork University Hospital. Cases were reported ofrooms not being cleaned for new patients, soiled sheets being discovered and confused patientsbeing allowed to enter rooms and rummage through other patients’ clothes. Bells were notanswered at night. In cases of falls, family members were sometimes expected to take patientsto the local accident and emergency department. It was found that some clinical procedures atthe nursing home were carried out in a rough manner or without the permission of the relevantfamilies. 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 getevidence of what is happening in many nursing homes. I wish to make it clear, in the interestsof fairness and objectiveness, that a significant number of nursing homes provide an excellentand first-class service. However, an equally significant number of nursing homes are bad andsome of them are absolutely appalling. If one was depending for one’s evidence on the facts inthe Leas Cross documentation that I obtained under the Freedom of Information Acts, onewould not think there was anything wrong with the place at all. There was just one hint of aproblem 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 forout-of-hours inspections in some cases. Inspectors discovered some appalling things in a nursinghome 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 shouldimpose a statutory duty and obligation on people, particularly those who work in nursinghomes, who have evidence of elder abuse. They should be obliged to report such evidence tothe relevant authorities. There is no such obligation at present. It should be a criminal offence

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for them not to report what they know to the HSE or the competent authorities. The problemat 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 dutyof 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 thematter to the Minister. Last year, however, the HSE responded by saying that it did not keepthe information I was seeking, or that it did not have time to give it. In other words, it couldnot care less. It is appalling that there is such a lack of accountability or concern at administra-tive level within the HSE.

I have made a complaint to the Irish Human Rights Commission about the abuse of people’shuman rights that is taking place in nursing home care institutions. I received an answer fromthe commission today. I was sent a letter to the effect that a member of staff from the com-mission had spoken to the senior inspector of nursing homes within the Health Informationand 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 hasnot 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 urgethe Minister to sign it immediately. I have faith in the totally independent inspectorate that theHealth Information and Quality Authority will put in place. The inspectorate does not haveany statutory powers at the moment. It is not acceptable that we are continuing to rely on thestructures 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 ofa contribution made earlier by a Deputy, whose comments I respect. The Deputy in questionsuggested that the State now takes a neutral stance on the question of whether people shouldopt for public or private care. In other words, if somebody has to go into a nursing home, theState 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 whenit comes to the care of senior citizens. It is part of the ongoing policy of the Minister, DeputyHarney, to privatise the health services. There is absolutely convincing international evidenceto suggest that private nursing home care is not as good as State nursing home care. The bestcare of all is not-for-profit care.

There is a way around all of this. The State has encouraged builders, etc., to invest in nursinghomes. When such people build the infrastructure for a nursing home, they do not have thecapacity to run it. That is what happened in the case of Leas Cross. The State needs to continueto encourage people to invest in the physical buildings, but it should run them. In the absenceof the State, voluntary not-for-profit organisations should be encouraged to get involved. Theyshould provide services in buildings that have been developed by others. While each nursinghome would have to be run as a business, obviously, the money that would be made should bereinvested in the home’s patients and clients. If there is a problem with the person who madethe 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 theMinister of State, in her speech at the conclusion of this debate, whenever that is, to give theHouse a commitment that the final report from the Leas Cross inquiry will be debated in thisChamber. As the report has now been delayed by six months, I am sure it will include manyrecommendations, 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 suchissue is that the economic and social status of siblings living together, as many do throughoutthe country, is not recognised under the Bill. They are not classed as couples and are, therefore,

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[Deputy Fergus O’Dowd.]

charged individually, which may leave the sibling in the home particularly worse off. He or shecannot apply for financial hardship due to the conditions requiring him or her to be made partof a couple. That issue must be addressed.

Those involved in the care of the aged in our community have brought a number of otherissues to my attention. A key point is whether people will be better off under this Bill thanthey were heretofore. The case has been made that the quality of care is not improving and Iaccept that is the factual position. The majority of clients who will be cared for in nursinghomes under the provisions of this Bill will have high levels of dependency. A key point is thatnursing homes do not have sufficient staff with the necessary qualifications to care for thesepeople. Nursing home staff will not have the capacity to look after these very ill patients andthe necessary facilities will not be in place. A key issue in the case of Leas Cross Nursing Homewas that, while it was evident from television coverage or if one walked around it that it was astate-of- the-art building, patients with high levels of dependency who resided there were notproperly looked after.

There is evidence that some people in the State system are being abused, namely, somepeople in some State-run or in HSE nursing homes. Cases of such abuse in Donegal have beenbrought to the attention of the Minister of State. A case is under investigation in an institutionin Roscrea. I have not been able to obtain any further facts on it. Perhaps the Minister of Statecan advise what happened in that case, as the HSE was not in a position to advise me, otherthan to indicate that a serious investigation was carried out there. I would like to know itsoutcome.

The response I received from the HSE in one area was shameful and disgraceful. I inquiredas to the reason a facility in Dundalk was not taking in any more respite patients during thesummer. Under a freedom of information inquiry, I discovered the reason for this. It transpiredthat approximately a year ago when some agency nurses in a unit did not turn up for work andno 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 notallow that situation to continue. It decided that it would not take in any more respite patientsin order to reduce the exposure of patients to a lack of care arising as a result of agency nursesnot 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 throughoutthe country seeking information on whether there is evidence of such practice occurring else-where and I have yet to receive a response from some. The HSE in Cork kindly replied to theeffect that the processing of my freedom of information request would cost \50,000. Thatrepresents an obstruction in my trying to ascertain the facts. The Minister of State has responsi-bility for this area. I ask that she take up this issue with the HSE and inquire what otherevidence, if any, there is of agency nurses not turning up for work resulting in patients, in somecases, in State institutions not being looked after properly. If domestic cleaning and caring staffare doing the work of nursing staff, that is not acceptable.

The situation is serious. The Government has not acted adequately or properly in thisrespect. If this Bill is enacted, I would be particularly concerned about provision for thosepeople who may not have any income, other than their State pension, of whom there arethousands. I refer to people, in the main, currently in our State institutions. They are theremainly because their only income is their State pension, they do not have private insuranceand cannot afford to go into a nursing home.

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The sale of such a person’s home, the only asset he or she has, will impact heavily on thatperson’s family. Mary Murphy or Johnny Maguire, on going into a nursing home, will be toldshe or he will have to sell her or his home. That may be the only asset that person has to handon to his or her family or relatives. It is a measure of the lack of respect we have for thesepeople, if we do not say that should not happen. We would not ask such a person to sell his orher home if his or her child was sick in hospital. Neither would we ask such a person to do soto pay for his or her care if he or she was under the age of 65 and had been in hospital for along time. However, once a person goes into State care or nursing home care, that person istold he or she must sell his or her home. There is a basic inhumanity in that process. I ask theMinister of State to reflect on those issues.

Under this legislation, the Minister of State is delivering these people into the hands of anegotiating team, the National Treatment Purchase Fund, who will negotiate with the nursinghome owners the price of care. My evidence is that nursing home costs are increasing. Peoplecannot afford to pay such costs. The HSE is not increasing subventions. Will the basic cost ofcare include cost of physiotherapy, speech therapy, patients’ laundry, all those services theprovision 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 homeswill seek more and more money. My basic point is that they cannot provide adequate andproper care. Poor helpless people will find themselves in a worse situation than they are inat present.

Deputy Mary Alexandra White: I welcome the Bill before the House. It has been a long timecoming. We know that rushed legislation often is poor legislation. The patience in bringingforward this detailed Bill hopefully will result in a good Bill that is in the best interests ofpeople 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 andimportant one. I have met many families in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny who weredesperately trying to support a loved one in a nursing home, perhaps struggling to cover thecost of case with a subvention or the lack of it, paupering themselves in many instances toensure 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 thisBill at an earlier stage so that the Government could provide the country with a new frameworkfor nursing home care, but I believe this legislation will make sound investment for the futureand 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 oftendeeply upsetting, the feelings of guilt uppermost in people’s minds, even though we know withour minds, if not our hearts, that care is needed. That, added to the financial worry, results ina 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 wasmuch needed. With an aging population the demand for nursing home spaces has increasedimmensely, 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 eastcoast 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 thesouth west.

The current framework of nursing home subvention had to be replaced. The State is currentlysubsidising much of private nursing home care — 50% of private nursing home funding comes

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[Deputy Mary Alexandra White.]

from the nursing home subvention scheme — caused in part by insufficient public nursing homebeds. The regulatory impact analysis for this Bill stated that under the current system an indi-vidual who gets a public long-term care bed may be charged a maximum of up to 80% of thenon-contributory pension; while every resident in public care has to pay the charges, which arecapped regardless of means. The person availing of long-term private care, however, is subjectto a rigorous means test. Some may be deemed ineligible for subvention, hence the anomaliesin care to date. Problems also arise in our hospitals because of this framework. Many patientsare 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 shouldnot have been coined in the first place.

The new scheme, as outlined in this Bill, will provide for an accessible and far more equitablesystem. At the outset, professionals from the HSE will be required to conduct a comprehensiveevaluation of people’s care needs. This is vital if we are to ensure that care is targeted, appro-priate 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 bedisregarded; 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 Statewill guarantee the costs of nursing home care over and above 80% of a person’s assessableincome is something we can support.

The present inequitable and unsustainable system is addressed by the Nursing Home SupportScheme Bill. Long-term residents in nursing homes, who are on similar incomes, are unlikelyto end up paying vastly different care costs as a result of this Bill. I commend the Bill tothe House.

Deputy Seymour Crawford: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important legis-lation 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 changeof 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 nursinghomes and that, as a result, individuals are being called “bed-blockers”. This is an awful nameand is completely unfair. Very often, such people are not able to move because of the difficultywith the present subvention system. It is possible that I know more about that than anybodyelse in the country because of the situation in Cavan-Monaghan. I say that without fear ofcontradiction because during the last election I talked to both my party leader and to the thenleader of the Labour Party, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, about the situation in other constituenciesto which they travelled. There did not appear to be the same pressure in other areas as therewas in my immediate area. I have further proof of that because when people moved out of myimmediate area, while remaining the responsibility of the Cavan-Monaghan grouping, nursinghomes in Sligo could not believe the greater difficulty they had in dealing with the assessmentoffice in Cavan. This was no fault of the people there who were just doing what they couldwith the money available to them. However, it was a different situation. I was glad the Ministerof State referred to this in her speech. She admitted there was inconsistency between differentareas. 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 initialbudget for the fair deal Bill was \110 million but only approximately \50 million is to beallowed for this year. I imagine it was expected the Bill would take a long time to go through

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the system and that the money might not be needed. A ceiling will be put upon it and, if thatis to be the case, we will return to a situation where somebody decides who will get a nursinghome 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 thehealth services and I have a serious anxiety about that. Assessments are made concerning homehelp 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 differentgroups that are allowed to benefit from the Bill. Section 4 defines a couple, for the purpose ofthe 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 areawhere there are a few other people like me who never married, I know several situations wherethere are brothers, or brothers and sisters, or sisters living together, perhaps for 30, 70 or 80years, rather than for a mere three years. However, they are not entitled to be treated in thesame 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 allsorts of implications in this. There could be a situation where somebody retires early to lookafter a loved one. However, because that person is not the dependant of the loved one, he orshe 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 theinspection of nursing homes and the need for independent inspection. That must be equalacross all nursing homes, whether private or public. The majority of nursing homes I deal withare good and of high quality, for example, St. Mary’s Nursing Home in Castleblayney. Thathome is absolutely brilliant. There are other private nursing homes that are of an equal stan-dard, and almost as good as St. Mary’s. However, when we come across other situations, andthe 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 questionbecause friends of the family got her moved to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Droghedawhere she subsequently died. An inquiry was held but, although names, addresses and tele-phone numbers were supplied of people who had attended that nursing home and seen whathad happened, they were never contacted. What sort of inquiry was that? It was totally unrealis-tic and irrelevant and gave only the account of the staff in the nursing home. It is a home whichI normally have much time for because it usually does good work. A situation such as theone to which I refer is unacceptable and raises many questions about how investigations arecarried out.

The Bill, and the length of time it has taken to get through the House are causes of muchworry. People have been expecting it for a long time. A family approached me about 18 monthsago. They had literature from a farming organisation of which I am a member, the IFA, statingthat this great Bill would sort out everything. They had two loved ones going into a highdependency ward in a nursing home at significant cost to them. They thought this Bill wouldsort out everything. Although, thankfully, matters sorted themselves out reasonably well, inthat 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 andmaking consistent what has been haphazard is not good enough if it does not solve the problemcompletely. The capping of the money is very serious. This is a needs-led situation and nobodycan tell how many people will need this type of support on any given day. The capping of themoney is not on and must be examined. We can find \7 billion for banks that run riot, whereasonly \50 million is allowed for the remainder of this year. How much will be allowed for next

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[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 bedifferences in the ideas of HSE staff who will decide who will get a bed and when. Thatis unacceptable.

Nursing homes have different costs. While an ordinary dependency person can get a nursinghome at \800, somebody who needs a high-dependency unit, for example an Alzheimer’s dis-ease patient, could pay up to \1,000 or \1,100, even in my home area. Will that be allowed forunder this Bill? It is equally important. Many people in very poor circumstances are beingasked 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 personon an old age pension who lives just outside Monaghan town who is being asked to pay thedifference out of his social welfare yet is expected to keep a car on the road to travel to andfrom that nursing home daily. This is unjust and I hope this Bill will rectify such situations, butI am not sure because the devil is in the detail.

The other issue about which I am worried is property, specifically farm holdings. A farmermay live a normal length of life and decide to hand over the farm holding to the son ordaughter. If the holding is out of that person’s name for five years it is no longer taken intoaccount. On my way up the road this morning I was told of a situation where a young man’sfather dropped dead suddenly a couple of years ago. The man’s mother had been in a badaccident 15 years ago, and while the father could cope, the family could not and she is in anursing home at a very early age. I will not quote her age because I do not want to embarrassany family. As the property was transferred less than five years before the father’s death, thereare all sorts of complications. This Bill does not clarify how that family will cope. I hopethrough the detailed study of the Bill afterwards situations such as that can be clarified. Noteverything is clear cut and goes the way the clerks expect it to, and that is just another exampleof serious difficulty.

6 o’clock

I was glad that in the budget the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan, referred tothe tax benefit for anybody staying at home and that is some relief. Some might argue that onehouse 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 isunfortunate enough to go into a nursing home at an early age as a result ofdisease 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 thatwent on for seven years it would take 35% of a farm holding. No son or daughter could raisethat sort of money.

If the bank gets to know that the loved one who holds a title is in a nursing home, will itlend money to the young person running that property, shop or whatever other business? Someof these matters may be constitutional and raise questions. I appreciate that the Bill wentthrough 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 aboutshares. 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 thansomebody in a family situation with plenty of support and help. Will those circumstances betaken into account as part of the assessment? If not, we have a major problem. These issuesmust be clarified. Another issue was brought to my attention in recent days, that of somebodywho has recently returned home from the US, the UK or anywhere else. Deputy Connaughton

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has dealt more than anybody else with the people who went away years ago, had to come homeor wanted to come home and may not have any family. What is their situation? Will they betreated in the same way as a non-national who has been in this country only a few years? Willthe fact that they were born and reared in this country and their wish to come home be takeninto account? The person about whom I am talking, whom I met in the past few days, had twobrothers in the US, both of whom are deceased. None of the three married and they have nofamilies, yet all his family circle are in the region to which he has returned. He does not wanta nursing home now, but if he wants one in the future what will be his situation? He wouldstill carry the pension from the US, the UK or wherever he worked, but alone it would beinsufficient and he is unlikely to have any property. That is an interesting question. There isanother issue. If any person, including the Minister of State, has a second home here — I amnot sure whether the Minister of State does or not — it is taken into account, but if a personhas a home outside this country it is not taken into account. This is a strange situation and oneover which there are major question marks. I hope I am wrong. Am I?

Deputy Maire Hoctor: It is taken into account.

Deputy Seymour Crawford: That is important, because it did not seem clear in the Bill. Ihope 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 haphaz-ard. 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 willcome back to the points with which I started. There is a problem if there is a ceiling on themoney concerned. That is not possible. There are many other schemes in this country whichhave no ceiling. How can the Minister put a ceiling on what is available to the elderly? Thosepeople 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 theissue of who will decide who gets into a home. If there is a limited budget, who decides whowill get the money that is available? That is the most serious issue of all. Political structuresand pressures will be in place which will not be to the overall benefit of the elderly, whom weall want to see cared for.

My late mother died in a nursing home. I appreciate what the Sacred Heart home in Clonesdid for her. It was a sudden call because she deteriorated so quickly. That is the situation thatmany families are up against. I genuinely did not believe she would last more than weeks, butshe lasted 15 months in the home because of the excellent care she got. Nobody should decidewhat the ceiling is and nobody should decide who can get the subvention and who cannot. Itshould be available for all who need it.

Deputy Ciaran Lynch: I wish to share my time with Deputy Sherlock.

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

Deputy Ciaran Lynch: This Bill marks a significant change in how health care is delivered inIreland, as it removes the right to free health care enshrined in the Health Act 1970 and singlesout a particular sector of society — the elderly — as a group requiring institutional care andpaying institutional costs. No other section of our society will be hit by this Bill. Children areborn in maternity hospitals provided by the State. When they cut their knees in the schoolyard

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[Deputy Ciaran Lynch.]

they go to the emergency unit of a public hospital. Those of us who do not have private healthinsurance will live our lives in the public health care sector until we get old. The Minister hasnot discriminated between private and public sector by specifying in which sector this care willtake place. Is there a preference as to where the Minister sees this care being delivered? Orwill we see with the roll-out of this scheme something similar to collocated hospitals, withcollocated long term nursing beds?

If we are to take the fair deal scheme as a good idea, we must admit there is a world ofdifference between a good idea and good implementation. This scheme was launched in 2006with 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 timethinking it over. There were two years to think it over. In the absence of thinking it over, when1 January 2008 came there was no contingency plan. Nothing was in place for subvention thatyear, 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 ofthis programme, and \85 million returned as savings to the HSE during that time. There areapproximately 30,000 people in long-term care at this time, whether in the public or the privatesector, and the cost of the delay for the extended families of those people ran into thousandsupon thousands of euro. The Minister, Deputy Harney, when speaking about the fair dealscheme in one interview, mentioned a cost of \40,000, which is \6,000 more than the averageindustrial wage, to keep a person in care because of the failure to implement the scheme, whichwas on the shelf for two years.

One could make a study of the Government’s version of chaos theory. The underpinningprinciple 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 willaccept any deal except what they have at the moment. They cannot get subvention as it is notavailable or it is capped at whatever it was before 2008. In the absence of this legislation, theyare being bled on a week-to-week basis of massive sums of money. I will give just one exampleof a case I dealt with in my own constituency of Cork South-Central. The family of an elderlywoman was paying her nursing home fees, which were recently increased by \50 per week tomore than \2,600 per month. At the same time the subvention from the HSE towards thewoman’s nursing home costs was dramatically cut, leaving her family to shoulder costs of morethan \400 per week. This happened in June of last year. At first she was receiving a weeklysubvention of \472.70, but when her house was taken into consideration these payments werereduced to \182 per week, leaving the family to shoulder the remaining charges of \400 perweek. There is a great deal of nonsense in this. How, in the name of God, could the HSE givea notional value for an income based on the value of a house when the fair deal scheme wasnot even in place? I cannot get my head around it. How was this elderly women concluded tobe earning an income from this property when the fair deal scheme was not in place, she hadfamily 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 tothe current number of 30,000 people in nursing homes. That number will rise significantly inforthcoming decades. The reason this will happen is that the demography of the Irish popu-lation has changed significantly. When I was a child, and I am not that old, there were six toeight children in the average household on Connolly Road, Ballyphehane. That was anextended family that could provide care for their parents when they got elderly. Thankfully, inmy case my parents live at home. However, we have now moved to a position where the normalsize of a family in this country is two children. The extended family support, and one shouldbear in mind the age profile of the people currently in nursing home care, will not be available

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in the future. That support cannot be sustained in the way it has been to date with smallerfamily sizes.

One issue that has arisen, between the cock-up on the subvention scheme and the two yeardelay, is the overall sum of money that is to be calculated. I do not believe this issue has beenraised in any of the earlier debates. Property values have dropped significantly in the past 12months. A 15% calculation has been made to pay for these costs. Given that the value ofproperty is to drop further in the next three or four years according to all expert opinion, therewill 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 yearand a half when property values are at their lowest. Will the Minister clarify when the propertyvalue is set? Is it at the time the contract is signed, the time of the person’s death or at somepoint between the two? After all, the value of property in Cork South-Central two years agois 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. EveryMember of this House has heard their constituents discussing this situation. Where an elderlyperson bequeaths a house to a child, who subsequently marries, but the elderly person retainsa proportion of the house — perhaps one third and the husband and wife would have twothirds, how will that be calculated in the future?

How will the nursing home beds be provided? Does the Government envisage the Statebeing the main provider of the beds or will it be the private sector, where costs and standardsmay vary from one location to another? Another critical point is that if the calculation will bebased on a falling property market, I cannot see how daily costs will be met. I would be gratefulif the Minister would respond on these issues.

Deputy Sean Sherlock: Will the Minister tell us whether it is envisaged that the Health Act1970, which guaranteed the right to a bed, will be revoked and whether that right will beenshrined in the new legislation? If that right is not to be revoked and in the event of somebodydeciding not to sign up to and be a willing stakeholder in this scheme but it is decided medicallythat the person requires a bed, will he or she have an automatic right to a bed in a public orprivate facility?

On the resourcing of the scheme, if somebody goes into a private facility, will the chargesaccruing for the provision of that bed be capped by the State? Will the State legislate for orregulate the charges of nursing homes for the provision of that bed? I can envisage a situationwhere the private sphere, because of the economies of scale in that sector and the dramaticreduction in the provision of public beds for elderly people, will see an opportunity, when thebudget 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 willpresent 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 ason or daughter who is not married has been given that property legally and if there is a legalarrangement whereby the person has an automatic right to residence in the home, what is thelegal provision in the event of that person going into a nursing home? The regime at presentis such that even though the son or daughter is residing within the family home and there is alegal arrangement to that effect, there is still a calculation of 15% rental income in arriving atthe nursing home subvention. That is unfair. I consider it so unfair that I have referred thespecific case to the Ombudsman, as an independent source, to ascertain her determination onsuch a provision. What will the legal provision be in the new arrangement, after the legislationis passed?

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[Deputy Sean Sherlock.]

We are shoring up many problems but in seeking to deal with one set of problems the Houseand the Government will create a new set. I still cannot get my head around the proposals inthe legislation regarding ancillary State support. I refer Members to the Citizens InformationBoard which produced a paper in December 2008 that referred specifically to ancillary Statesupport in the context of this Bill. The paper says the Bill distinguishes between State supportand 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 applyeven if one does not qualify for State support; ancillary State support can be based on relevantassets 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, forexample, and I apply for ancillary State support, what agency will pay the money to the nursinghome in terms of the support that is given? Will it be the HSE or another such agency asdetermined by the Minister for Health and Children? If this will be a resource-based schemeand if we are now living in times of economic turmoil, I can see a situation where there will behundreds of people queuing up for nursing home beds who will not be able to get one as theywill not be able to benefit from the ancillary State support because there will not be suchfunding. 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 won-derful nursing home care are being whittled away by a process of stealth. We are moving sofar 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 beuntenable. At this stage of the process I would put forward a theory that there needs to be agreater 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 nora 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 wonderfulfacility for the provision of care for the elderly within its catchment area as a communityfacility. Those same people would happily pay their pension or a proportion of the cost ofgetting their bed within that facility and they would gladly welcome whatever subvention orState support that would arise.

However, there is no foresight and no planning. I see nothing in this legislation that wouldgive me any grounds for hope — I must be honest about it — that the Minister will ensure wewill move seamlessly from the current regime into a new regime and that this will be a panaceafor the elderly. I can see a situation where the number of people, family members of personswho 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 speakingof egalitarianism, older people should be able to come to their autumn or winter years with acertain peace of mind knowing that they or their families will not be left with an undue financialburden when it comes to caring for them. I cannot see anything in this legislation that will givesolace to those people.

I reiterate the point that if we are to have a proper system in this country, it must be withthe proviso that the cost of care in nursing homes must be capped. Deputy O’Dowd made thepoint earlier. There is the bare cost of provision for the bed for the week but there are alsothe 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.

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I am not against the private sector because I visit nursing homes on a regular basis and I seethe good work that is being done there, but there must be a good mix. This comes back to thepoint I made about the 1970 Act. I am asking that the 1970 Act not be rescinded and thateverybody 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 onthis 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 thatit 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 andanxiety free. It is all three for a certain category of person. It is surely that for someone whodoes 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 anddifficult. I do not want to see legislation going through the House that will have the effect ofsplitting 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 assetthey thought was theirs until the State gets its hands on it and proves that it was not. I will tryto explain what I mean.

No doubt the system had to be changed. There was terrible trouble about the inconsistenciesin 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 highersubvention than we could get. This scheme treats public and private patients equally and fromthat point of view, it is to be welcomed.

The old scheme had to be changed. One aspect I noted — on this issue I have considerableexperience, as much as anybody else in this House — is that in so far as keeping elderly peoplein a nursing home was concerned we had reached a point where there were only two or threefundamental points to be addressed. Deputy Hoctor will know this better than most. We arespeaking about people who had the maximum old age contributory or non-contributory pen-sion. That is what they had in their hand every Friday, approximately \200. In our case thesubvention was \300 making a total of \500 under most conditions. That was all right whenthe bed in the nursing home was \550 or \600. If they had relatives or family members, theymight be able to come up with the balance. Over the past couple of years, however, as theHouse will be aware, we found that the figure of \600 rose to \700 and \800, and by and largethere was no such increase in the pension or the subvention. The wedge that then came inbetween was so great that many families just could not afford it. That was a real issue, as theMinister of State well knows from all the representations I am sure have been made to her andto all Members. Obviously, there was a need to change that.

The new scheme will work well for certain categories of people but the Government iscreating havoc with regard to people who own property. I want to bring the Minister of Stateback for a moment to these deferred contributions. I hope I have scrutinised the Bill fairlywell. We hope that every person in the country is entitled to his or her own home. That is aconcept in which I always believed. That is enormously important in everybody’s life, especiallyas people grow older. What is happening is that there is a 5% surcharge for the first threeyears, 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 nursinghome for ten. However, that does not seem to apply to other assets, such as land. The rural

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[Deputy Paul Connaughton.]

constituency I represent is very similar to the Minister of State’s. There have been multiplecases of people who own a house and, perhaps, 40 acres of land. The family might be gone, inthe professions and so on and perhaps it might not have suited them to come back, so the landwas never transferred, for whatever reason. In the back of their minds, however, the elderlyfolk would have somebody in mind to continue the family name, which is enormously importantin 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 istoday’s value, with the average price per acre at around \8,000 to \10,000. A person might becharged \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 wayover that. In the event, that works out at \40,000 per annum, and if the person spends tenyears 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 aweek. 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. Therehave been several cases of that, already.

I want to talk about the house for a minute, the family home. People talk glibly about the5% deferred payments on the house. A house might be worth, say, \75,000. Until recently onecould get nothing for \75,000, although one might, perhaps, be able to buy a small LandCommission-type house for that figure now. Over the three years, \11,250 will be taken offthat. In other words somebody must come up with that amount. I shall deal, in a minute, withhow it is taken off.

Deputy Sherlock mentioned this a few moments ago, and I understand that this will comeabout by means of the ancillary State support. I understand the Revenue Commissioners areinvolved in this. If one takes the mythical 40-acre farm I was talking about, I assume that atthe end of the ten years the State will expect to get its money back. At that stage the RevenueCommissioners will apply to the Land Registry to say, in effect: “As far as we are concernedthe burden of debt is so great on that particular folio that we now own it.” At that point, whenthe State or the HSE seeks to realise the assets, will the Minister of State say whether theproperty will be sold on the open market? The family at that stage will be in no position tocome up with the money and according to the legislation, it appears to me that the RevenueCommissioners have an asset on behalf of the State and in order to realise it, I assume the landwill be sold.

I shall be obliged if the Minister of State will specifically deal with this when replying to thedebate. 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 ofthe 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 saywhere that interest is? Does it mean, in effect, that not alone are we talking about the \10,000per acre but interest on it every year as well? What will the interest rate be? Suddenly onefinds that the Revenue Commissioners will be seeking a great deal more money than anyonehad anticipated at the beginning.

That brings me back to what Deputy Sherlock mentioned. Will we reach a stage where itwill become extremely difficult for the Exchequer to keep on paying? Remember, there maynot be much of an appetite in rural Ireland for some of those sales by public auction. Some

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family members, for instance, might object on the grounds that this was where they had beenborn, 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 wantedto have the opportunity to put that before the Dail this evening. I hope this has been wellthought out but I do not believe it has.

I wanted to mention another matter. As regards the assets, as such, when a person is goinginto the nursing home, will this involve a legal commitment, and will he or she have access tohis or her own solicitor, in the event? Will each person or family be allowed to have their ownlegal representative present, beside that of the HSE, and who will pay for the cost of such legalproceedings? It would be very unfair if only the HSE legal representative was present in pro-cessing the deal. As the Minister of State knows, it is very important to have a balanced legalapproach 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, andfulfil an enormously important role. It is not the only role, as we know. We talk of primarycare and helping the elderly to stay in their own homes. If I live to be 100, I hope I shall diein my own home, not that I have anything against the nursing homes. We understand that theyexist for a particular purpose, but from my viewpoint, I hope to finish up at home, and I believea 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 whichI am familiar was anything other than perfectly run but for some strange reason the news wasreported in a slightly different manner. I have no evidence that any nursing home in Galwaywith which I am familiar is anything but properly run. I base that statement on the advice ofthe relatives of patients in these nursing homes.

In so far as this scheme is concerned, the inspectorate will be important. I hope inspectionswill take place without advance warning and at any time. That is important in regard to everyperson who depends on medical care, whether in nursing homes or hospitals. I like what I hearin regard to the inspectorate, provided the funding is in place to ensure it is strong enough toact. It is easy to determine how a nursing home is being run at 3 p.m. but it is another story at3 a.m. The people who run great homes will have no problem with inspections but if anotherLeas Cross exists, it has to be discovered. A nursing home is no place for an elderly or vulner-able 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 aroundas long as this one. When it is finally passed and the Minister of State has responded to theissues raised by Deputies on all sides, I hope there will be no more false dawns. I do not wantto hear in six months time that the money has disappeared. Legislation is no use if a cap is puton its provisions. Deputies will be aware of the trouble farmers are experiencing in regard tothe farm waste management scheme. If something is promised, the resources should be madeavailable for it even in these difficult times. Whatever else we do, let us avoid playing aroundwith 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 ruralbachelors in their late 50s and 60s who have nobody to care for them and may be living a bitrough. There may be nothing physically wrong with them but they can be lonely and are oftenunable to access activities. It would be a disaster if these people are made ineligible for placesin nursing homes because where else will they spend the remainder of their lives? A case couldbe made for their eligibility on mental health grounds alone.

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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 areviewed as a growing problem. The number of people aged over 65 has increased by 7.3% since2002 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 ofcare for older people.

The Bill defines “long-term residential care services” as “a facility predominantly for thecare of older people, which designation shall specify the health or personal care services to beprovided at that facility” but nowhere is the definition of “older people” set out. Are they overthe age of 60, 70 or 80? The provisions are vague in that regard. I remind the House thatnursing home patients also includes chronically ill young people, many of whom are inap-propriately placed.

In general, older people want to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Home carepackages are available but I would like to see an increased provision of sheltered housing andday care facilities. Nursing homes should be the place of last resort. People should be providedcare 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 publicand private nursing homes would happily live in sheltered housing if they had the choice. Weneed 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 longercontinue to live alone, nursing home care has to be provided. However, an issue arises in regardto 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 thatthe Executive will provide or will arrange for the provision of any service identified in theassessment as being appropriate to meet the needs of the person or that the Executive hasan obligation to provide or arrange for the provision of any such service.

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I am not sure what that provision means. Is it an opt-out clause? It suggests that care does nothave 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 kickin. Section 10 deals with appeals. It is important such appeals are carried out by independentpeople. As pointed out by other speakers, the Bill provides that the Executive does not haveto take into account a valuation provided by a property owner. I suggest that independentmediation should be provided for in this instance as in others where a dispute arises in respectof a valuation.

Section 10(7) refers to requests for information and states that 28 days be provided in thatregard, which is a relatively short timeframe. The section states that the Executive may refuseto further consider an application if such information is not provided. I believe more flexibilityis required and that the section should, perhaps, be reworded as often it can be difficult for aperson to obtain the information being sought.

More clarification is required in respect of interest on land outside the State. Many peopleown property outside the State nowadays. I do not believe the Bill is clear in terms of how thisissue will be dealt with. This section needs to be tidied up. The appointment of a care represen-tative 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 wholive on their own are cared for by a cousin or neighbour. The Minister of State might takeanother look at this provision. I know of elderly people, living on their own, who have no suchrelatives. 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 Ministerof 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 shallnot appoint a person to be a care representative unless it has before it a report. There appearsto be something wrong there. I cannot make sense of it. The Bill makes reference to theRevenue Commissioners and states that they cannot act after 12 years. As far as I am awarethe Statute of Limitations is six years. Perhaps the Minister of State will explain the reason forthe provision of 12 years in this regard.

The Ombudsman is not mentioned in the Bill. Could the Ombudsman have a role here inthe event of a dispute? I am aware the Health Service Executive comes within the remit of theOmbudsman so it might be useful to include somewhere in the Bill a reference to this. I didnot come across such a reference although I may have missed it. Perhaps such reference is notnecessary 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 givean opinion on some aspects of the Bill if a dispute were to arise. It is not clear from the Billwhether that is possible although I believe it may be.

On ancillary supports and property, elderly people, having sought legal advice, may opt totransfer their property to a son or a daughter when they reach their early sixties, thus takingthe gamble that five years will elapse following which the asset, having been transferred, cannotbe 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 mayreside in the house for as long as they live. It could well happen that many houses belongingto older people will be transferred at an early stage to sons or daughters with a conditionattached that they may reside in the house for as long as they want. However, ownership ofthe house will then lie with the son or daughter. Could this type of transfer get around thislegislation? From my reading of it, I think it could. I am not sure how this issue can beaddressed but it is important it is addressed.

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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 in1997. 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 soon for as long as possible. Also, they have a national rehabilitation service which we do nothave. Often, people here, many of them stroke victims, end up in nursing homes owing to alack of rehabilitation. The philosophy on the Continent is that a person first be stabilised in anacute hospital and then moved to a rehabilitation unit. I have visited some of these units, whichare amazing and provide all the services required. While we have an excellent rehabilitationcentre in Dun Laoghaire there is a lengthy waiting list for admission to that facility. We allknow stroke victims go downhill very quickly without early rehabilitation. I was amazed by theintensity of the service provided at the rehabilitation centre in Denmark and in other parts ofEurope. The philosophy is to assist a patient to be as good as he or she can be and to returnhim or her, where possible, to the home or sheltered housing. A person here who suffers astroke 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 awarethat in some places commissions have been established to set maximum prices to ensure thereare sufficient resources to run an operation, that standards are not impacted upon and thatinvestors obtain a reasonable profit. The setting of prices may be an issue worth examining. Itis 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 personto arrange for a financial assessment to be undertaken at an early stage. For example, a familywho is aware a person will require nursing home care might require that such an assessmentbe 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 nursinghome. This is when the real stress builds up. I say that bearing in mind all of the services weneed to put in place, including rehabilitation services etc.

We must be careful. There is a great deal happening in the property market. There havebeen massive changes in a short period and the value of property has fallen dramatically. Thecurrent 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 Dail Eireann:

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

— that the current staff complement of three A&E consultants in Limerick must beupgraded to eight in order to allow for a consultant delivered service (which havenot been advertised or implemented);

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— 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 per-mission has not yet been sought); and

— the necessary upgrade of the A&E unit in Limerick Regional Hospital (which hasnot taken place);

and considering that:

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

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

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

— the implementation of the HSE Teamwork-Howarth report is unlikely to take placein 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.

7 o’clock

Deputy James Reilly: This motion is self explanatory and much of the rationale behind it islaid out clearly. While all that remains for me to do is to expand on the motion, I will firstaddress 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-where”. This reference is very selective, however. In reply, the RCSI presidentstated, “While supporting this programme, this college remains extremely con-

cerned about the provision of services in the major hospitals where accident and emergencydepartments continue to be overwhelmed on an ongoing basis and where patients who requireelective surgical operations cannot be adequately managed within the health service in a timelyand predictable manner”. Clearly, the accident and emergency unit in Limerick falls into thiscategory.

Furthermore, the Government rebuttal refers to CT scanners which have been present butnot operational in Ennis and Nenagh hospitals for well over a year. The rest of the rebuttalwelcomes and supports various intentions but does not provide timelines, which is at the coreof our problem.

Yet again, the HSE and the Minister for Health and Children, backed up by a Fianna Failand 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 issuesthat had to be addressed in order to achieve their end goal, which is the reconfiguration of the

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[Deputy James Reilly.]

hospitals, with the centralisation of surgery and acute medical services in Limerick RegionalHospital.

The first area they examined was the accident and emergency department of LimerickRegional Hospital. A number of issues arose out of this. First, they acknowledged the unitneeds serious upgrading as it is regularly overcrowded, with as many as 15 to 30 people lyingon trolleys for longer than 24 hours and a mean waiting time of somewhere between seven andeight hours for all patients. Into this cocktail, the Minister will add the patients of northTipperary and Clare, which will result in further chaos and reduction of services, and is grosslyunfair on the people of Clare, north Tipperary and Limerick.

Another facet of the accident and emergency unit is the staffing levels, particularly in regardto consultants. Currently, there are three very hard-working consultants in the accident andemergency department but this number does not allow for a consultant-delivered service so itremains a consultant-led service. To achieve the former and to achieve best practice, the reportrecommends 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 fiveposts have been approved. Although none of the jobs has been advertised, the word “ap-proved” gives the impression that the posts will be filled imminently but this could not befurther from being the case. There first must be approval of a post, then advertisement, thedrawing up a panel, the interviewing of applicants and then, ultimately, the making of anappointment. It is then necessary to wait for the successful applicant to become available. Theprocess can take anything up to 18 months.

One of the main reasons for the congestion in accident and emergency in Limerick is lackof capacity within the regional hospital. The Teamwork report recognises this and recommends135 additional beds prior to the reconfiguration of the service. Not one of these beds is inplace. Instead, we are given a sop, with talk of reducing the average bed stay from 6.5 to 3.5days, which will result in additional capacity. Yet, where is the evidence to support the sugges-tion this can happen? In order for this to be achieved, practices have to change within thehospital and the community, and there needs to be much greater support for the patient in thecommunity. None of this has happened. I emphasise that none of the recommended 135 bedsis in place.

Another area of concern in the Teamwork report is the necessity for further ambulances toservice north Tipperary and the Clare region, including Ennis. None of these ambulances is inplace. 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 beable to administer life-saving blood transfusions. The paramedic will travel in the ambulancewith the patient if there is a serious life-threatening condition but with the current proposedspread of paramedics, there would not be somebody to take up the slack or to drive theparamedic’s car from the scene of the accident.

The bottom line for patients in areas like Carrigaholt and Lorrha in Clare and northTipperary is that they will be well outside the “golden hour” in terms of accessing the necessarylife-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 reportreferred 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 atLimerick Regional Hospital. Again, there is no sign of this. Planning permission has not evenbeen 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.

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Another area of deep concern relates to the local general practitioners, who were unani-mously opposed to this move at a major meeting with the HSE. Not one GP out of 81 at thatmeeting was prepared to vote in favour of this plan as currently implemented. These are thedoctors on the ground, in the community, who know the people and the real, practical diffi-culties they suffer. They are at one with their community in opposing this, not least becausethey have been in touch with their colleagues in the north east — in counties Monaghan, Cavanand Louth — where reconfiguration also took place and where a fiasco resulted. I am told thissituation resulted in 17 people passing by Monaghan Hospital in an ambulance only to arrivetoo late at Cavan. To quote one of the participants in the recent “Prime Time” programme, aClare 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 theextraordinary situation of Drogheda hospital having to close for seven hours because it justcould not cope. We have seen the additional load on accident and emergency units in theregion, 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% improvementwhen a patient is brought to a centre of excellence for multiple trauma. However, these studiesrelate 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 overcrowdedaccident and emergency unit at Limerick Regional Hospital as a centre of excellence when itwill 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 peopleis that, underlying this, they see a trend — anything that will save money is implemented posthaste but anything that will save lives or cost money will be put on the long finger into thedistant 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 yetwe are told there is only approximately \6 million to make it happen. Further, we have beenadvised by the Minister that the doctors in the hospital have been all bought into this and areenthusiastically supporting it. I have met all of those doctors. The two lead surgeons believethey will get the funding and trust the HSE to deliver but I am afraid nobody else does. Manyof their colleagues are becoming increasingly concerned. At the outset, they were concernedby the lack of consultation on the Teamwork report but they are becoming more concernedwith each passing day given the way it has been implemented and the ongoing lack of con-sultation.

Having taken all of the above into consideration, this comes down to an issue of trust of thepeople 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 therewould be. We cannot trust a Government and Minister which told us cutbacks would not hurtpatients, when they clearly did. We cannot trust the Minister or the Government who promisedthe wonder of a vaccine against cancer for our children in August 2008 and which, three monthslater, turned their backs on those same children.

The Minister for Health and Children has displayed a pattern of behaviour which is veryworrying. My words may seem harsh, but what else can one say when the Minister receivedletters from concerned doctors in Portlaoise dating back to 2002, and which were re-addressedto her in 2005, yet she did not take any appropriate actions. We saw what occurred as aconsequence. There were 11 misdiagnoses of breast cancer. The files of 97 women were throwninto the corner of an office until a cohort was reached. That horrible ethos led to the same

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[Deputy James Reilly.]

situation arising in the north east. In September 2007 the HSE knew a problem existed thereand yet took no action until May 2008. It knew it was possible there were people walkingaround 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 wasdone 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 GeneralHospital also wrote to the Minister highlighting deficiencies in the radiology service and statingit was not safe. Yet again, nothing was done. We are all familiar with the consequences in thatcase, which is now the subject of a HIQA inquiry following much public outcry, includingcomments from the family concerned. The Minister eventually agreed to the inquiry. What isemerging is a recurring pattern that borders on criminal negligence. There appears to be arefusal to listen to professionals in the field who have put their concerns in writing, a refusalto 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 muchmerit, 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 thisreport seeks to do, including to improve safety and to reach goals, is being ignored and put onthe long finger. This is not the way to proceed. The report does not have the support of thepeople or the professionals.

I appeal the Minister, Deputy Harney, her Government colleagues, the Deputies who sup-port her, especially the Ministers for State, Deputies Maire Hoctor and Tony Killeen, andDeputies Timmy Dooley and Michael Lowry to step up to the plate, to protect the people ofthe mid-west and to insist that the full recommendations of the report are implemented. Onlythen should the House consider the future of Nenagh General Hospital and Ennis GeneralHospital. I commend the motion to the House.

Deputy Michael Noonan: I support the motion and I wish to be associated with the argumentsput forward by Deputy Reilly. The people of the mid-west are very fortunate to have suchexcellent medical practitioners, including consultants, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff.The service they provide is tremendous. I visited Limerick Regional Hospital this morning at8.30 a.m. Everyone there went about their business, happily working and setting about thetasks of the day. They were able to separate their personal traumas, pension levies and familyconcerns from their day’s work. They were up at work early in the morning and quite cheerfulabout it. I held a brief conversation with a consultant. He remarked on the uncertainty of thetimes and that the only remaining certainties concerning this Government were death andtaxes, which is as good an epithet as one is likely to hear. I compliment the staff who providea great service in the hospital in Limerick. Even if they are reconfigured, they will continue todo so.

It is very easy to agree with the objectives of this report. Who would disagree with a reportwhich is supposed to deliver on improved patient safety? Who would disagree with maximisingclinical outputs, a programme to deliver better value for money, or an objective which purportsto provide a high-quality service close to all patients’ homes? It is not the objectives of thisreport with which one would disagree but its implementation, measured against the past experi-ence 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 emer-gency services at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick and to transfer to there alltrauma cases from Ennis General Hospital, Nenagh General Hospital and St. John’s Hospital.

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It is planned to turn these hospitals into minor ailment facilities operating from 8 a.m. to 8p.m. The theory and practice very quickly go their separate ways. They do so because thefacilities are not in place in Limerick regional hospital to take the existing workload and cer-tainly the facilities are not in place to take the workload which would arise from the transferof cases from Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s hospitals.

The Minister promised that the necessary facilities would be put in place. However, nobodybelieves the Minister and with good reason. The Minister has previously made promises oninnumerable occasions concerning different aspects of the health service and its deliverythroughout the country. However, the promises have not been fulfilled. Deputy SeymourCrawford will again illustrate the difficulties in the north east and Cavan-Monaghan. We willhear of the litany of pathetic cases, whereby some people we obliged to drive past MonaghanGeneral Hospital to access the services required, but did not arrive on time. That is the experi-ence of people in the regions when it comes to the integration of services. It is not a veryattractive 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 publicservice are being trashed and when the fiscal situation continues to deteriorate, does anyonebelieve the Minister will produce \300 million to put the necessary programme in place tofacilitate 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 theirlives would be saved at the age of 75 to 80. The Minister could not deliver on a promise of \8million. Does anyone believe it is credible that she will now deliver on a promise to the peopleof the mid-west, to the people of Ennis and Nenagh, and to the many people in downtownLimerick 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 approxi-mately \6 million, but \300 million is required. I do not understand how this is supposed toadd up, which is the problem we face. The report lists the necessary services, including anemergency operating theatre in Dooradoyle, of which there is no sign, the extension of theambulance service and the deployment of advanced paramedics in the region. According tothe report this service is under way. If the ambulances have been ordered, they certainly havenot yet been delivered. The human resources situation involving ambulance drivers is not yetresolved. They have not even applied for planning permission for a new critical care block inDooradoyle with ICU, HTU and CCU, although this is an essential component of the recon-figuration. New facilities in Ennis and Nenagh, a new theatre block in Nenagh, expansion ofradiology services in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s, upgrade facilities in Nenagh — these aredreams 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 butprofound proposition, that the Minister put the new facilities in place before closing the oldones. If she does that, people will vote with their feet and buy into them straightaway becausethe 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 whowent through accident and emergency services in Nenagh and Ennis. In some cases the out-comes could have been better but there is no guarantee that the outcomes will improve bytaking the patients into Limerick in an ambulance, to lie in the accident and emergency unitfor five or six hours before receiving attention.

There is a sting in the tail of this report because we have highlighted accident and emergencyservices but, on the first page of the statement I received, the HSE states accident and emer-gency surgery and critical care services need to be reconfigured as soon as possible, followed

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[Deputy Michael Noonan.]

by medicine in the longer term. If one has the patience to read to the end of the report, onecan see many plans for the reconfiguration of medical facilities which turn Ennis and Nenaghinto medical outposts.

Deputy Kieran O’Donnell: I support the motion proposed by our health spokesman, DeputyReilly. The cart is being put before the horse. The Minister is introducing changes to accidentand emergency services on 1 April and to surgical services on 1 July although the approvedservices 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 andemergency service based in the city. Barrington’s was the main provider of accident and emer-gency services in Limerick until a Fianna Fail Government closed it in 1988. St. John’s took onthat role and has done a terrific job. The report mentions that the service in St. John’s, alongwith those in Nenagh and Ennis, will be nurse-led. I welcome the commitment by Mr. PaulBurke, who is co-ordinating the reorganisation of the acute service in the mid-west, that it willcontinue to be doctor-led. That is critical for St. John’s. I hope the Minister will give thatcommitment in writing to Mr. Burke. There are three doctors in the accident and emergencyunit 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 acci-dent and emergency unit of St. John’s hospital from 19,000 to 30,000 annually. St. John’s isopen 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 emergencyservices in Limerick Regional, where the service is already overstretched. The average waitingtime for a patient in the accident and emergency unit in Limerick Regional is seven to eighthours. I cannot understand how bringing in extra patients will improve the quality of care. Thatis why it is critical that the accident and emergency services are maintained in Ennis, Nenaghand 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 \47million investment be honoured? The hospital needs new buildings and upgrading. Will theMinister provide the staffing resources to activate the much-needed CT scanner that has satidle in the hospital for the past two years? The ground floor of St. John’s has been closed fora long time. It was traditionally closed for the summer months for budgetary reasons but it hasremained 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 inthe hospitals in Nenagh and Ennis. St. John’s and Limerick Regional interact in respect ofconsultants and appointments. I would not like to see the elective surgical work that can becarried out in St. John’s moved automatically to Limerick Regional. That would worry medicalstaff 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 coalfaceand should have been consulted. Furthermore, they were not consulted before the report waspublished. We met many of these people during Deputy Reilly’s recent visit to St. John’s andLimerick Regional. It is critical that the HSE engage in meaningful discussions with the staffand management of St. John’s. We want to retain a functioning service and accident and emer-gency unit.

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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 thethroughput of patients from 19,000 to 30,000 patients, the service will increase from five toseven days? Will she say whether she is providing the resources to operate the CT scanner inSt. John’s? Will she put resources in place to enable the ground floor in St. John’s to beopened? 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 LimerickRegional, for example, that the number of accident and emergency consultants increase toeight, the addition of 135 new acute beds, the increase in the number of ambulances, the highdependency unit and the upgrade of the accident and emergency unit in Limerick regional? Ialso 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 nothinghappens 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 differenttonight because I have a number of colleagues around me. So often in the past few years, Iwas a lone voice when I spoke about this issue in regard to Monaghan General Hospital. AsDeputy Noonan and Deputy Reilly pointed out, we in the Cavan-Monaghan region have comethrough much of this. Seventeen people may not have died if Monaghan General Hospital hadnot been off call at the time of those deaths. Unfortunately, we are soon heading back to thatkind of situation. When 41 doctors advise that they are worried about this, yet we are told atthe same time that everything is fine, then one wonders where are the structures that allow fordiscussions to take place.

One of my colleagues on the Government side asked the Minister of the day why there wassuch 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, andeven though we have been told over the past few months that things would be ready in amatter 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 atthe time, because I could understand the rationale behind it. We would be catered for in Cavanand in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, which is supposed to be the specialist maternity hospitalfor the region. Yet the Neary issue has caused tremendous trouble to many people. As somepeople were on the wrong side of a particular date, they still have not been compensated. Inmore recent times, the wife of a good friend of mine lost her life, as did her child. The reasongiven for their deaths was pressure on the system. The people involved could not deal withwhat was happening.

I ask the Minister to take all these things into account. The issue is about saving money. Onecannot 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 twowards in Monaghan, and these will now be completely restructured. A CT scanner and bedsare lying in storage outside Monaghan town, for which rent is being paid. There is no effort tosave 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 inCavan a week ago, and I could see how difficult the situation has become. Our experience isthat Cavan and Monaghan can no longer cope. I warn my colleagues that the same situationwill occur in Nenagh and Ennis.

Let nobody be in any doubt that this is a Fianna Fail Government supported policy. TheMinister of State, Deputy Moloney, on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, made

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it clear in his speech that it is Government policy to repeat what it is doing in Monaghan inboth Ennis and Nenagh.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: I support Deputy Reilly on this issue. I am not from the regionconcerned, but I am close to it. Why does the Minister think that the people in Ennis andNenagh are scared at the moment? Why does she think that ordinary law-abiding people willcome out in their thousands in opposition to this? These people also believe in centres ofexcellence, as any right-thinking person would do. However, they genuinely believe fromexperience that something will happen in the regional hospital in Limerick, and nothing willhappen in Nenagh and Ennis.

There is a similar proposal for University College Hospital Galway and the west. How wouldthe Minister expect the people of Tuam to react to guarantees given by her Government overten years that the community hospital in Tuam would be built? As far as I can see, things aregetting worse, yet this hospital was supposed to complement UCHG. Certain things would bedone there that could be carried out within 20 miles of the hospital, so that people would nothave to be brought in by ambulance.

The Teamwork report could not have been more clear when it stated that no acute servicewill be withdrawn from the current general hospitals until the regional centre of excellence isresourced. 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 hermethods of bringing people towards that goal. Is she gone to the stage where she feels shemust act like a dictator? Does she feel that whether the people come with her or not, she isright all the time and that this will have to happen? People have to be made understand thatthis is being done in their best interests, but if the people of Nenagh, Ennis or west Clare areasked whether this is the case, they will say that it could not be further from the truth. Theybelieve that there will be a downgrading in their areas, and there will be no way back whenit happens.

Even though the Minister has broken many promises, she should at least ensure that shedoes things locally. I guarantee her that if this happens in Nenagh, Ennis and elsewhere, shewill have little trouble with the centres of excellence. We were talking with the president ofthe IMO last week on the health committee, and about the importance of primary medicine ata local level. He threw his hands up in the air and told us that we are making very littleprogress. How can the Minister expect people to believe that the likes of the Mid-WesternHospital in Limerick will not become a dumping ground for all these cases, and that they willnot be able to control it?

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I would like to share time withDeputies 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 “Dail Eireann” and substitute the following:

“— strongly endorses the Government’s commitment to patient safety, quality and fairnessas the priorities in the delivery of health services throughout the country;

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

— recognises that the plan to reorganise hospital services in the Mid-West is evidence-ledand 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 thatthe reforms should continue in the Mid-West and elsewhere;

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

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

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

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

— supports the HSE’s plans to appoint eight additional hospital consultants to enablethe 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-Westthrough the deployment of twelve advanced paramedics and increased out-of-hoursambulance cover;

— supports the HSE’s intention to develop a regional critical care service involving theprovision of a dedicated new critical care block which will have a total of 40 specialistintensive 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 regionto support the reconfiguration plans; and

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

I would like to begin by asking the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to clarify something. In his contri-bution, Deputy Reilly referred to the issue of me being accused of criminal negligence. I askDeputy Reilly to reflect on that. I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for his co-operation in thatregard. 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 criminalnegligence”.

Deputy Barry Andrews: Weasel words.71


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, thatreflects 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 yearsago, after the publication of the FitzGerald report, which recommended the kind of approachthat is now being adopted. The then Minister for Health, Brendan Corish, said that there couldbe “no more delays or equivocation” as it was not “medically feasible” to continue to do whatthe 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 hasalways been put on the political conveyer belt. In his contribution, Deputy Reilly invited theMinisters for State, Deputies Hoctor and Killeen, as well as Deputies Dooley and Lowry — Ido not think Deputy Collins was mentioned — to put their people before their party, or wordsto that effect.

Deputy Paul Connaughton: There was a time when the Minister was good at doing thesame 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 themid-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 surgeonsin the mid-west region support this reform. We are being asked to keep open the accident andemergency departments in Nenagh and Ennis even though there is no emergency consultantin 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 ofsix or seven patients each night and the equivalent unit in Ennis deals with an average of ninepatients each night. Can Deputy Reilly, as a doctor, stand over that? The units are not staffedby doctors who are trained in emergency medicine. The staff of the units do not even reportto 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.

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An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: The Deputies on the Opposition benches were allowed to makea substantial case without interruption. I ask them to allow the Minister to make her contri-bution 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 inconjunction with the HSE. This reform is being driven by medical evidence of what is in thebest 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 supportof it. When Deputy Reilly and I participated in a discussion on RTE the other night, wewatched 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%. Isthere 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 nottake 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 thathas 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 astatus quo that does not give patients a chance to enjoy the best possible outcomes, particularlyin respect of surgical procedures. By international standards, we have enough people withspecialist knowledge in anaesthetics and surgery to deliver emergency surgery in the mid-westregion. 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 surgicalprocedures 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 sixmonths in question. We all know that doctors’ skills cannot be maintained, and good patientoutcomes cannot be delivered, if there is low-volume activity in high-volume specialties. I donot say that merely on the basis of evidence from Ireland. What we are seeking to do in Irelandis being put into practice in virtually every country in the world that I have examined. I havespoken to my ministerial colleagues across Europe, who took these steps many years ago. Ithas also been done in Northern Ireland.

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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 chanceto 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 theFine Gael motion does not mention keeping emergency services in St. John’s Hospital, orextending them to seven days. I understand that the HSE is in discussions with the hospitalauthorities 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 thereference to 135 beds in the Teamwork-Howarth report. The report said that 135 beds wouldbe needed if the specialist orthopaedic hospital in Croom and the stand-alone maternityhospital 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 proceduresin 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 notclosing the stand-alone maternity hospital or the orthopaedic hospital in Croom. That is whythe issue of the 135 beds does not arise. In the context of a debate on a matter as importantas this — it was chosen as the subject of Fine Gael’s Private Members’ time — we should dealwith the facts that are before us.

The issue of consultant manpower in the region was also raised. We are currently recruitingtwo radiologists and one pathologist, with a specialty in cancer, for the cancer programme inLimerick Regional Hospital. We will recruit two more emergency consultants, thereby increas-ing to five the number of such consultants. They will all work together. We will have three newradiologists, three pathologists, a dermatologist, a neurologist and rheumatologist. I want totalk about them because they are new to the region. They will provide services in Ennis forthe 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. Fromthe summer of this year, those procedures will be performed in the local hospitals in Ennisand 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 engagewith 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 wehave in the region.

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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 responseto 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 com-mission’s report has been published, and Deputies are aware that it recommends the establish-ment of a system of accreditation or licensing in our acute hospitals. It will take us some timeto draft that legislation. Even if the legislation could be implemented in the morning, many ofthe acute hospital services we provide could not be licensed or implemented as they do notlive up to the requisite patient safety standards. That is a fact in Ireland and globally. We haveto prepare for the challenge of putting a licensing and accreditation system at the heart of ouracute hospital service, so that it is fundamentally organised on the basis of patient safety andgood outcomes. When we took similar steps in our cancer service, that was opposed too. I amdelighted to say that the reorganisation of breast services is ahead of schedule and will becompleted 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 willimprove outcomes for patients.

Deputy James Reilly: The numbers seeking the service in Galway is such that the system isbursting 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 capa-city of the accident and emergency department in Limerick Regional Hospital. On approxi-mately two or three occasions last year patients had to wait more than six hours in that depart-ment. 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 isthe case not only in hospitals in Ireland but in hospitals throughout the world. The fact that atany one time a given number of people are on a trolley does not prove any point the DeputyReilly is trying to make.

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

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

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.

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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 Deputyknows 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 hereis urgent.

On reading one of this morning’s newspapers — I believe it was the Irish Independent — Inote Deputy Reilly was quoted as saying that the salaries being paid by way of overtimeearnings to non-consultant hospital doctors in the mid-west is outrageous. The reason it isoutrageous, to use his phraseology, is because of the way we organise services. We have peopleon call in four hospitals in that region at night to deal with a very low level of activity in threeof those hospitals. Not only does it not make sense from a financial point of view, it does notdeliver high patient safety outcomes for the patients who visit these hospitals. This has nothingto 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 thisand that is outrageous and asking if they could only have a little bit more here and there. Thatis what we have done for the past 12 to 14 years. We have multiplied nearly fivefold the amountof 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 arenot 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 rightplace 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 placethat person should be stabilised is on the roadside. That is the international evidence. We havetrained up to 12 paramedics, six for each county. We have already procured two specialistvehicles, 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 intraining, we have recruited 12 additional ambulance crew and I accept there are industrialrelations issues. International evidence suggests that the best place to stabilise a traffic accident

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patient is on the roadside. The golden hour or two hour rule in terms of receiving treatment isnot about getting to a place called a hospital. An unfortunate accident occurred in DeputyConnaughton’s area last night and, tragically, one person died at the scene and the other persondied in hospital. Half of all the people who die everyday in Ireland die in hospital. It is not aquestion of just going to a hospital, it is about getting the people in a specialist centre as quicklyas possible.

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

Deputy Mary Harney: In regard to trauma cases, protocols are already in place in Ennis andNenagh general hospitals to take those patients to Limerick Regional Hospital. That is thecurrent arrangement. Those patients are supposed to be taken to Limerick and are not sup-posed to be taken to either Nenagh or Ennis.

Hospital services and the re-organisation of them have always been a challenge for us in thiscountry. If we were starting to put in place a hospital infrastructure today, we would neverbuild 35 acute hospitals around the country. We know that trying to get specialists, not onlydomestically but internationally, is a challenge. Those specialists work in a an extraordinaryfragmented fashion. We have 4,800 junior hospital doctors and 2,100 consultants, therefore, wehave 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 orderto 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 willsee what it has to say about how we organise services. We live in an environment where wehave a new organisation independent of the provider of services, funded by the taxpayer to setand monitor standards and to carry out inquires where it is considered there is a risk to thepatient’s care or welfare. That is what that organisation has been doing. For the first time inthe 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 ofa 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 wantcritically ill surgical patients to be brought to centres that are appropriately equipped andstaffed where there is a sufficient volume of this kind of activity to sustain the necessary levelsof skills. He went on to say, it is precisely at these times that changes can be made with sensiblecostings rather than the over-exuberant plans and unrealistic budgeting that is sometimes men-tioned. He clearly indicated, contrary to Deputy Reilly’s speech, that, as president of the RoyalCollege of Surgeons in Ireland, the training body for surgeons in Ireland, the reforms in themid-west are appropriate as far as he is concerned.

Patient safety is not only about organising services differently in our hospitals, it also involveshow we regulate professions working in the health care area. We recently modernised how weregulate medical practitioners. We have a lay majority in that respect. We have a differentprocedure as far as fitness to practice is concerned where hearings can be held in public otherthan 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 laymajority. For the first time in more than 100 years we have an appropriate regime in regard tothe regulation of the pharmacy profession. Shortly we will have a new nurses Bill, subsequentlya dentists Bill and so on.

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[Deputy Mary Harney.]

Patient safety is about the organisation of services, but it also about the regulation of theprofessions. In particular, it is about ensuring that those who work in medicine maintain theirskill 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 ifone is not a consultant with specialty training, and certainly if one is only dealing with six, eightor nine patients a night. Nobody can maintain or even acquire a skill in that kind of envir-onment. 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 willbe difficult and many people will be worried. The reason they will be worried is that politiciansare telling them that they are going to die.

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

Deputy James Reilly: They would know of the Minister’s broken promises. They have seenwhat 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 accidentand 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 interestas 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 emergencydepartment in a hospital is to close. Of course, they would be concerned. We all have our ownconcerns. Discussions are taking place with the general practitioners.

In regard to senior medics, particularly the surgeons working in the mid-west, I do not knowto whom Deputy Noonan spoke this morning. He seemed to have a Fine Gael perspective onthe world. No Government has reduced tax more, as that consultant should know, than theparties that have been in Government for the past 12 years. Therefore, I do not understandwhy he thought we did not reduce tax. However, Deputy Noonan presumably has his ownfriends who talk about death and taxes, but I have spoken to many consultants not only in the

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mid-west but throughout the country and I know that many people working in medicine inIreland 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 thecourage 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 ofmedical services in the mid-west region. Health is an emotive issue and the advent of changegenerates 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 unfortu-nate and unnecessary.

8 o’clock

The current position on the delivery of health services in the mid-west, and Clare in part-icular, is unacceptable. Patients are confronted with unnecessary risk on a daily basis. Anumber 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-come was not acceptable. Notwithstanding that, it is my understanding thatsimilar 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, thechance of a better outcome for the patient can be increased by up to 25%, based on existingcase data. He has staked his reputation on this claim. He has also stated on record that mortalityrates 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 thatthe reform should continue in the mid-west and elsewhere where these changes are necessaryand, in many cases, long overdue. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s motive is firstand foremost to achieve better and safer patient care. We want critically ill surgical patientsto be brought to the centres that are appropriately equipped and staffed and where there issufficient volume of this kind of activity to sustain the necessary levels of skills to managethese patients. Timing is often an issue and therefore patient transfer from hospital to hospitalshould 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 trafficaccident 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 proposalscontained 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 eminentmedics. Regardless of my hunches or any desire to be politically expedient, I cannot, in goodconscience, ignore the advice of these professionals who have taken an oath which places upon

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[Deputy Timmy Dooley.]

them a burden to protect their patients. Patient safety, reduced mortality and better outcomesare 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 putthe facts before the people and to accept the advice of the senior clinicians in the region. Thereare other people running around this country who are not prepared to back up what they saywith any level of evidence other than “duirt bean liom go nduirt bean lei”. That does not workfor me and it does not work for the patients in County Clare. I will be surprised if it works forthe 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 with-out delay.

(Interruptions).

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Allow the Deputy speak.

Deputy Timmy Dooley: If these changes are to be successful, they should, and must, besupported by investment in the supporting infrastructure and in bed capacity, upgraded facili-ties and improved and enhanced ambulance cover. I appeal to the Minister and herDepartment——

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

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

Deputy Tom Sheahan: That is the golden hour. One cannot get from Loop Head to Limerickin 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 withShannon Doc services is necessary to provide the people of County Clare with access to appro-priate services on the hospital site. I believe there is need for an extra eight consultants and 12advanced paramedics and also for that critical care block required at Limerick RegionalHospital. Capital investment in Ennis is long overdue. Unfortunately, it has not been advancedas quickly as all of us would have liked.

We cannot put the cart before the horse. I know the Minister is committed to ensuring thatsupport is put in place to allow the reconfiguration to proceed without delay in order that

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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 respectof the health service. All parties, with the exception of Sinn Fein, from the 1960s to the1990s——

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 honestwe must ask what was the result. We had deficits in funding, infrastructure, human resourcesand strategy. Everything has had to play catch-up in the past 12 to 15 years. We must acknowl-edge the levels of funding now available. We have invested in our infrastructures. Hospitalsare being built and improved. Our human resources are being improved. We are engagingmore consultants, doctors and nurses, all frontline staff of the kind that everybody wants tosee. We have a redundancy programme coming down the line for the administration staff thateverybody 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 respectof reconfiguration in the mid west. It was refreshing to see an input from independent peoplewho work on the frontline. That was the first time in a long while that we have not had theentire debate crowded by politicians, including all of us in this House, thereby letting it descendinto a political slagging match.

These are the frontline people who are charged with the delivery of the service and theyhave staked their reputations on that. Let us listen to them because they are qualified, indepen-dent and they know their work. I am certainly happy to buy into what they say. I mention, inparticular, 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 notconfine 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 outthat Cathal O’Donnell and Paul Burke have a shared responsibility for the region, not only forthe accident and emergency department in my local hospital, namely, the regional hospital.

For Limerick Regional Hospital and its accident and emergency department, I welcome thefact that this initiative will deliver a new emergency operating theatre, an expanded ambulanceservice and a critical care block that will bring in up to 40 beds when it is built. I am sure thiswill 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.

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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 therewill 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 advancedstage in my constituency. I am glad to know this, as most people would be, with regard totheir constituencies. To name a few, places such as Croom, Ballylanders, Caherconlish, andCappaghmore that Deputy O’Donnell knows very well, are at a very advanced stage. The rollout 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 criti-cism but I would like to see more investment in GP training and more places for GP traineesin the mid west. We have had a number of female GPs who, due to life responsibilities andfamily 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 dedi-cation, for their professionalism and for the approach they take to their jobs on an everydaybasis in difficult circumstances. I do not think it is fair there should be negative reflectionon them.

The Fine Gael motion, as tabled, states that “regularly” 15 to 30 people are on trolleys. Thatis a very liberal use of the word “regularly”. I was in the accident and emergency departmenta couple of days ago and did not see anybody on trolleys. I was in the hospital a week ago anddid 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 duringthe Christmas period.

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

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle: Please.

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Deputy Niall Collins: I shall tell Deputy Sheahan which door I used. I went in the door thatled to the accident and emergency department and presented myself. There were 15 peopleahead of me and I was No. 16. They were all seen within 25 minutes, I was seen within half anhour and nobody was on a trolley. I do not know how regular, or how liberal, is the use of thatword “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 DeputiesCaoimhghın O Caolain and Sean Sherlock. The problem with this matter is one of trust. TheMinister put forward a fine, spirited argument in this House about why what she was doingwas what she felt to be right, but the whole system is predicated on services being in place inthe Mid-Western Regional Hospital and in the community that are not in place. When I askedthe Minister when the critical care unit would be available in that hospital she was not able totell me. She is well able to tell us when surgical activities and night time accident and emergencyservices will be closed in Ennis and Nenagh, but not when the facilities that are meant to bein 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 reconfigurationplan 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 notexaggerate but is a very responsible Deputy. He said 17 people in Monaghan may not havedied if what happened in the north east had not happened.

Deputy Mary Harney: He is not a doctor.

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: 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 hap-pened in the north east is there for us to see. We must see that exactly the same is comingdown the tracks for us in the mid-west if we take this on trust, particularly in the context ofthe financial situation. Last week a HSE west meeting was told that a further \10 million willbe taken from the acute hospital budget in the mid-west on top of the \400 million that wastaken off at the end of last year after the service plan had been published. That is the realityof the cuts coming down the tracks. How are we supposed to believe the Minister? That isthe problem.

Dr. Paul Burke and his colleagues are very genuine people who believe what they are doingis right, but there are many GPs in the mid-west, who are also highly trained doctors and whoknow their patients very well, and they are unanimously against this proposal. I have spokento many who work in the hospitals in the mid-west who are extremely worried about thisproposal and, above all, the patients and the public are extremely worried about it. I attendedthe meeting in Nenagh recently and intend to attend the protest on 21 February in Nenagh. Iassume there will also be protests in Ennis. I listened to those people. There were so manypeople there that hundreds of them were out in the rain because they could not fit into thevenue. It was a huge meeting of ordinary people who live in north Tipperary — doctors,

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[Deputy Jan O’Sullivan.]

nurses, patients of the hospital and their relatives. They are genuinely fearful about what isbeing proposed.

My colleague, Senator Kelly, said people in the mid-west should be very afraid and, unfortu-nately, 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 hospitalthat is already overstretched and overcrowded. We hope St. John’s is safe, but we are not quitesure and want undertakings in that regard. Neither the Minister nor the HSE has been ableto give us any commitment that the money will be spent on what is identified in the planas needed.

If we were to accept this on trust we would need our heads examined. The plan is supposedto be predicated on more comprehensive primary and community care, long-stay beds, diagnos-tics, day-care beds, a medical assessment unit, a critical care unit in Limerick, more ambulancesand more ambulance personnel. These are all good things but the problem is that there is nomoney 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 haveno 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 the1% 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 aremore people on trolleys now and in the last year than there were during the so-called crisisthree 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 HPVvaccine for 12 year old girls next year but she has gone back on that. She talks a very goodtalk but, unfortunately, she does not deliver. The Minister and the HSE promised that specificactions to improve overcrowding in the accident and emergency unit in the Mid-WesternRegional Hospital would be provided if it went along with her plans three years ago, and itdid. The hospital was at the top of the list and was supposed to get extra consultants as areward, 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 offeredmore consultants but it is always in the future. However, they are not in place, so how are wesupposed to believe the Minister?

The crowd that turned out in Nenagh knew the issues very well. They know we need a majorspecialist centre. I have no problem with the Minister’s plan and agree that people with severetrauma due to, for example, road traffic accidents, no matter where in the region they comefrom, should be stabilised at the side of the road and taken to the Mid-Western RegionalHospital in Limerick. That is true and I have no problem with it. However, that is only a tiny

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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 tocontribute to people with more common conditions, who need surgical procedures closer tohome or who need a more straightforward access to their hospital than they can get throughthe chunnel of the accident and emergency unit in the Mid-Western Regional Hospital. Thosepeople are also stakeholders and are entitled to be involved in the debate. That is why mycolleague, Senator Kelly, and I published the Teamwork report when we received it. We hadplanned 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 todo so.

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

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 consult-ant 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 andthe public? We live in a democracy. What about the GPs? The Minister is very selective inwho 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 northTipperary should have to come to the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick? Is it notpossible, for example, for the consultants in Limerick to supervise the accident and emergencydepartments in Ennis, Nenagh and St. John’s and be responsible for what goes on in themwithout 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. Atnight it is impossible.

Deputy Jan O’Sullivan: I see no reason it should not also happen at night. There is a majorlack 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 generalhospitals prior to the build-up of new, alternative services, i.e. that the Regional Hospital willbe 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 becauseshe has already told us those services will not be in place when she removes the services inEnnis and Nenagh.

Deputy Mary Harney: I will.85


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

2009 will be a very challenging year in providing the existing level of services with signifi-cantly reduced resources requiring ongoing monitoring of the budget situation. Whereadverse budget variances are identified [that is lovely HSE speak] measures which may haveimplications 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 therequired 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 hospitalsand the community. We have not had that debate because the Minister will not engage withany stakeholders except the very few who agree with her.

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: I thank Deputy O’Sullivan for sharing time.

My colleague, Sinn Fein councillor Seamus Morris of Nenagh Town Council, has told methat a sign was recently put up outside Nenagh General Hospital, directing children and preg-nant women away from the hospital. It is the first time any such sign has appeared in thatlocation and it is ominous for the people of north Tipperary. As the Minister knows, this is afeeling all too familiar to the people of my home county of Monaghan, where exactly the samesignage has been in place since March 2001. While that sign was going up in Nenagh to turnaway women and children, where was the Minister? She was walking a red carpet rolled outby her friend Ulick McEvaddy at his private, for-profit Vista health unit in Naas. This so-calledhealth campus was built as a business venture by Mr. McEvaddy who, as we recall well, in 1999hosted both the Minister herself and the former Minister for Finance and fellow Kildare manCharlie McCreevy in his luxury villa in the south of France. It is no wonder Mr. McEvaddyand his likes are the beneficiaries of massive tax breaks courtesy of this Government’s healthprivatisation agenda.

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

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: Indeed there was. Is the Minister saying that is absolutelythe position?

Deputy Mary Harney: Yes. I am certain.

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: Is she saying that if we place the pertinent questions we willfind 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 Caoimhghın O Caolain: We will test the Minister. I assure her we will do so.

Deputy Mary Harney: The Deputy can.

Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain: The Kildare Nationalist, reporting on the Minister’s visit toNaas, mentioned that she spoke of the importance of investment in health care. It went on to

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state: “However, she was not able to comment on the current beds crisis at Naas GeneralHospital.” 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. Wenow face the threat of the axing in 2009 of all inpatient acute care in Monaghan GeneralHospital. Monaghan’s average of 3,000 acute medical admissions per year will have to be cat-ered 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 patientsand further pressure on other hospitals without the provision of additional beds and staff tomeet the need.

Nenagh hospital has set a high standard of service for smaller hospitals, and its close relation-ship with local GPs in terms of access and admission is an example that should be followed. Areport on Nenagh hospital in 2006 found that 97% of cases sent to the hospital were safelytreated and only 3% required transfer to Limerick. GPs in Clare, north Tipperary, Cavan andMonaghan have all come out strongly against the HSE plans in recent weeks. However, theGovernment and the HSE, as I had occasion to hear clearly only last Thursday when I met theMinister and Professor Drumm, in pursuing their centralisation and privatisation agenda, areworking against the interests of patients and against the advice of front line health careproviders.

The HSE report on accident and emergency services in the mid-west was jointly authoredby Teamwork, the British-based management consultants whose recommendations form thebasis for the current policy of slashing services at local hospitals and over-centralising servicesin already overstretched regional hospitals. The report on the mid-west is no different andwould see accident and emergency services taken from Ennis and Nenagh, leading to the down-grading of those hospitals and their eventual conversion to glorified day care centres. Make nomistake about it, that is exactly what will happen. We are almost at that stage at MonaghanGeneral Hospital, as the Minister knows too well, where the HSE and Government proposeto 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 veryclear that I am opposed to the plans arising from the Teamwork-Howarth report, Review ofAcute Hospital Services in HSE Mid-west, which provide for centralisation in Limerick. Lestthere be any misunderstanding, Sinn Fein does not support a position which says that if allthese contingencies are put in place then centralisation will be acceptable. It will not be accept-able, full stop and end of story. Among the recommendations of the Teamwork-Howarth reportare, lest we forget, no provision of critical care at the local centre; the removal of acute servicesin 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 arenot acceptable. They are clearly running in parallel with similar plans in my own region andare 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 acutesurgical facilities from Ennis, as opposed to the proper resourcing of the casualty unit andassociated services, will increase the risk to lives in Clare. They point out that the danger isfurther heightened for the 44,000 people who will have to undertake a journey to Limerick ofbetween one hour and one hour 45 minutes from the scene of an accident, after a possible 45minute ambulance response time. The Clare Champion reported on 6 February that it hadobtained a HSE document showing there are an average of 50 medical patients occupyingsurgical beds in Limerick Regional Hospital every day, resulting in cancellations of plannedsurgery, overcrowding in the accident and emergency unit and longer hospital stays for certain

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FAS Training 10 February 2009. Programmes

[Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain.]

patients. This is the hospital into which the Government and the HSE wish to centralise allemergency patients from Clare and north Tipperary. It just will not fit, exactly as the situationin Monaghan and Cavan will not fit. No matter how often we try to impress that on theMinister, 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 thetarget date for the closure of the accident and emergency units in Ennis and Nenagh. Surgeryis to follow some three months later. GPs in both Clare and north Tipperary are opposing plansfor 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 servicesof general surgeons from Nenagh. She said:

I have never worked without having surgeons on stand-by in the hospital. I am concernedthat GPs are being asked to work above their level of competence. Every health professionalhas to be confident they are working within their level of competence when it comes to thetreatment of patients.

Limerick Regional Hospital can’t meet its own requirements at the moment. The HSE isdevising a plan without looking at the situation on the ground. Consultants refer patientswho need a bed in Limerick on a daily basis and are regularly told there is no bed for themdue 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 closeMonaghan General Hospital — certainly to remove acute medical services from that hospitalto Cavan — over the next number of weeks. I commend the people of Clare and northTipperary on their support for their local hospitals and their determination to sustain the vitalservices they provide. That, at the end of the day, is the most important element in terms ofhealth care provision and the provision of acute hospital services, not only when we need itbut — make no mistake about it — even when we do not, for the peace of mind, assuranceand confidence to face what each day brings.

Debate adjourned.

Adjournment Debate.

————

FAS Training Programmes.

Deputy Ulick Burke: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue. Thenumber of apprentices who are losing their places daily in the on-the-job part of their appren-ticeships is alarming. Up to the end of November last year, the number of apprentices beingdisplaced from their courses was a trickle. However, throughout December, January andFebruary there has been a serious loss in the apprentices’ work schemes.

The data on which the Minister announced the employer-based redundant apprenticerotation scheme in January were incomplete and out of date, even at that time. They areparticularly out of date now. I hope the Minister of State can provide more up to date figuresthat reflect the reality of what is happening to many apprentices today. The trades the Ministermentioned, that is, carpentry and joinery, electrical, plastering, plumbing and bricklaying, relateto the construction industry. However, many other apprentices in other areas have lost theirapprenticeships.

It is a great credit to the management of the ESB that it has come to the rescue of thisscheme by offering 400 places. The construction industry and its leaders, particularly the formerMinister of State, Mr. Tom Parlon, should stand up for the many apprentices who have lost

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FAS 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. FAS and the Department of Social andFamily Affairs are combining to seek employment for apprentices. That indicates the lack ofknowledge they have of the situation and the availability of jobs in this country. Jobs aresimply not available in the construction industry unless Mr. Parlon comes forward to supportapprentices or provide for them in one way or another.

The provision of \4 million for the FAS scheme is totally inadequate given the numbers thatare now unemployed. Why FAS has been the sole agency responsible for the off-work trainingelement of apprenticeships is baffling. The VECs have many excellent programmes availableand it is regrettable that this facility has been refused. Likewise, the institutes of technologyhave many places available in worthwhile schemes that are appropriate for many of the appren-tices who have been displaced. The amount of money available is totally inadequate. I urgethe Minister immediately to broaden the number of people and companies that can take onapprentices. 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 JimmyDevins): 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 thiscontraction, we have witnessed a substantial reduction in the number of people employed inthe construction sector in the past 12 months. This has had a severe impact on the individualswho are currently undertaking an apprenticeship. The scale of the downturn in the constructionsector is clear when one considers that at the end of last month the apprenticeship populationwas 22,561. For the same period last year, the apprenticeship population was 28,252, whichrepresents a 20% reduction in a 12 month period. In addition to this decrease, by the end oflast month FAS 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 theIrish apprenticeship system. Our apprenticeship system is a demand-driven educational andtraining programme for employed people aimed at developing the skills of the apprentice tomeet the needs of industry and the labour market. It consists of seven phases divided into fouron-the-job and three off-the-job phases. An apprentice is required to be employed so that theycan complete the necessary on-the-job training. The on-the-job training is designed to enablethe apprentice to develop the skill, knowledge and competence to reach the required level ofmastery in their trade. This implies that apprentices who have been made redundant are, there-fore, not in a position to complete their apprenticeship.

The Government is fully aware of the difficult situation in which these redundant apprenticesfind themselves. For that reason, the Government is committed to assisting redundant appren-tices gain employment as soon as possible in Ireland or abroad in order that these individualsmay complete their apprenticeships. The Tanaiste, the Department of Enterprise, Trade andEmployment and the Department of Education and Science have been working closely withFAS, the institutes of technology, the Higher Education Authority and the social partners onintroducing measures in an effort to address the problems now confronting redundantapprentices.

The measures that have been introduced to date will help in alleviating the current situationand comprise the following. The Department of Social and Family Affairs immediately refersredundant apprentices to FAS for assistance. Following this immediate referral, the FASemployment services and FAS services to business divisions work in collaboration to assist theapprentice source a new approved employer to allow them to complete their apprenticeship assoon as possible. To date, FAS has succeeded in securing alternative employment for 1,081apprentices who have been made redundant, but in excess of 3,600 apprentices remain redun-dant. In addition, in the absence of options for workplace experience, FAS has put in place an

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[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 wereattending an off-the-job phase two, four and six and a further 505 redundant apprentices werescheduled to attend one of these phases in the coming months. FAS is also looking at theadvantages that EU-sponsored programmes that facilitate mobility for workers and apprenticescan offer. In October last year, for example, FAS was successful in responding to a nationalcall for mobility projects under the Leonardo da Vinci programme, which is the EU’s vocationaleducational training programme. As a result, approximately 25 redundant apprentices will com-plete a period of on-the-job training in suitable European companies, thereby facilitating thecompletion of their apprenticeships.

In addition to these measures, at the end of last year the Tanaiste announced the launch ofa new FAS initiative aimed at providing the necessary on-the-job experience to redundantapprentices. 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 tocomplete 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 theirapprenticeship. Employers who have a past record of providing consistent systematic trainingare 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, plumbingand bricklaying.

The scheme works on the basis that FAS will place redundant apprentices with an eligibleemployer, 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 workplacetraining and assessment to the redundant apprentice. The scheme will support redundantapprentices’ on-the-job training related to phases three, five and seven.

Employers participating in the scheme are required to pay the apprentice the agreed industryrates for the specific apprenticeship trade and FAS will make a contribution of \340 per weektowards 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 totallyunsuitable for the current unemployment crisis. One must be unemployed and in receipt of asocial welfare payment for 12 months to get on a CE scheme and if one works for one or twoweeks 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 toreduce the unemployment criteria to six months and give applicants six months on a CE schemerather than the present format where one must be 12 months unemployed and when one getsa place on a CE scheme one can stay on it for three to four years. This would give genuinepeople with qualifications in child care, health care, office management, etc. who find them-

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selves unemployed an opportunity to qualify for a place on a CE scheme. The benefit will bein getting work experience and preparing them for the labour market.

The objectives in the present climate should be to give as many unemployed people aspossible a place on a CE scheme to ensure they can upskill and return to the workforce asquickly and efficiently as possible.

The increasing numbers on the live register are causing serious upset. People become veryagitated when they see jobs advertised locally and apply for them only to find that they do notqualify because of the 12 month unemployment criterion. At times vacant posts are not filleddespite the high unemployment figures due to the present strict criteria.

Many people who find themselves unemployed desperately want to get back into the work-force. The CE schemes are vital to ensure that they get upskilled and reskilled, and also thatthey will be prepared when the upturn occurs. I ask the Minister of State to look seriously atthis matter.

Deputy Jimmy Devins: I thank Deputy Feighan for raising this issue.

The FAS community employment programme is an active labour market programmedesigned to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged personswith 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 bybreaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and assistingthem 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 removedfrom the open labour market as the main client group for the programme. All CE places arefilled on an ongoing basis, as the demand always exceeds the number of places available. FASalso provides a range programmes aimed specifically at the short-term unemployed, details ofwhich are available from any FAS employment services office, any local employment serviceoffice or from the FAS website.

I am advised by FAS that CE positions in the Roscommon area are currently filled to budg-eted capacity. In terms of partaking in short-term employment prior to commencing CE, breaksfrom the live register up to a maximum of 30 days in the 12 months prior to application areallowed in assessing eligibility for CE.

Funding for CE in 2009 has been provided with a view to maintaining overall numbers onFAS schemes. At present there are more than 22,000 people participating on CE schemesnationally. In delivering these places, FAS operates flexibly in the management of this allo-cation in order to maximise progression to the labour market while at the same time facilitatingthe support of community services. This provision of places is managed through a standardisedapplication process between regional FAS offices and local sponsor and community organis-ations 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 precludingsomeone else from benefiting from the programme. FAS makes every effort to ensure thatdiffering levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised. FAS also operates theprogramme 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 oflong-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communi-ties. We are keeping the operation of the scheme under constant review in the context of thecurrent difficult unemployment situation.

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FAS 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.

FAS Training Centres.

Deputy Joe Costello: The issues we are dealing with on the Adjournment today are relatedbecause of the recession. Clearly the issue of placement on CE and that of FAS training centresare 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 bythe 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 policyof the Government in this respect should be to ensure that those who lose their jobs, with allthis entails, do not end up in long-term unemployment. This requires that a range of supportservices be made available.

Obviously, what we have heard already in terms of apprentice placements should be exam-ined carefully by FAS, the DIT and other institutions. The number on CE schemes should beincreased 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 solong 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 aboutit once he sees that it is not adequate to deal with the problem. My concern is that we ensurethat all of these measures, such as the back to education programme, back to work allowance,retraining, reskilling and CE schemes are in place.

FAS, of course, is the major provider of such services for the unemployed particularly interms of training services. I refer to one of the major training services provided in the city ofDublin, the Jervis Street FAS. It is the only one on the north side of the city in Dublin 1. Thetraining facilities of that centre are about to close. In fact, they will be gone within the nextfew weeks. It seems unthinkable that the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employmentshould be closing down training facilities anywhere in the country at this time. We are aboutto lose approximately 250 training placements in this centre and that will deprive the entirenorth side of FAS training facilities.

Most of the staff have been moved from Jervis Street. The last connections class for thenewly unemployed will finish by the end of this week. The last photography class finishes nextmonth and all the computer, IT and retail classes have closed down. The premises are virtuallyidle and the staff have been moved elsewhere.

There has been a \2.5 million refurbishment and re-equipment of the D’Olier Street FAScentre but that deals with employment rather than training services. The new employmentservice that will be moved from FAS to the Peats site in Parnell Street is also an employmentservice, not a training service. They are not in any sense replacements for the training servicesthat have been lost.

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I would remind the Minister of State that in these exceptional times of recession, the expan-sion of training facilities should be a priority and it really is unconscionable that existing servicesshould 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 FAS and the Tanaiste play in training and employ-ment offices. The Tanaiste’s role is to provide public funding and overall policy direction toFAS rather than to get involved in its day to day operational management. Decisions of thisnature are day to day operational matters for FAS as part of its responsibilities under theLabour Services Act 1987.

Before I address the Deputy’s specific concern about the FAS office in Jervis Street, I willmake a general comment on the facilities it offer its clients on a countrywide level, as well assetting out the financial commitment this Government has made in recent years in ensuringthat FAS continues to provide high quality services to its customers.

Through a regional network of 66 offices and 20 training centres, FAS provides a comprehen-sive nationwide service of training programmes as well as providing a recruitment service tojobseekers, an advisory resource for industry and support mechanisms for community-basedenterprises. In the past five years the Department invested more than \125 million in capitalexpenditure alone to ensure that FAS continues to provide the highest quality facilities for itscustomers throughout its network. This investment includes a new state of the art trainingcentre in Tallaght and a complete refurbishment of an existing facility in Ballyfermot. Majorrefurbishment projects have also been carried out on FAS facilities in Finglas, Cork, Sligoand Limerick.

To turn to the Deputy’s concern regarding the closure of its facilities in Jervis Street, Dublin1, I understand from FAS that this facility consists of a training centre, employment servicesoffice and also houses the city centre community services staff. It is the second busiest employ-ment service office in the country, and together with D’Olier House, Dublin 2, accounts formore than 30% of employment services activity in the country. FAS has been using these twocity centre facilities since the early eighties. In 2006 the landlord of the premises at Jervis Streetwas granted planning permission to develop the site and had requested FAS to vacate thebuilding. Notwithstanding this the lease for the premises in Jervis Street will expire in July thisyear. FAS has made arrangements for a suitable alternative ground floor location in the areafor employment services and community services. These services will be located in ParnellStreet, 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 ofthe Department of Social and Family Affairs, thereby facilitating those seeking to avail of theservices of both offices. The expectation is that the premises will be ready and operationalby July.

FAS also plans to further develop the Employment Services office at D’Olier House byincreasing the public usage area in order to provide its clients with an enhanced walk-in self-service operation. I understand that the board of FAS has approved the estimated fit out costsin respect of both premises.

On the training services provided by FAS at the Jervis Street premises, approximately 80%of those who receive training there are from outside the area. The continuing demographic

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Home Help 10 February 2009. Service


changes in the city as well as the high costs of renting suitable extensive facilities for trainingpurposes in the area mean that it is more cost-effective to redeploy the city centre trainingprogrammes to other Dublin training centres. Such redeployment has already commenced forlonger-term programmes to ensure minimum disruption for the trainees involved.

I cannot overemphasise the importance of the role FAS has to play in the Irish economyand society as this country faces into a very challenging period. The Government, therefore,remains wholly committed to giving FAS the resources it needs to continue to provide highquality training and employment services that are relevant to the needs of today’s labourmarket.

Home Help Service.

Deputy Seymour Crawford: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to raise thismatter.

I seldom personalise any issue in the Dail, but I raise this matter on that basis to show clearlythe 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 MaryHarney, is explaining that the closure of the two wards in Monaghan hospital will not causeany problem because there are good home help services and packages available. There issupposed to be an effort to encourage people to stay in their homes for as long as possible, yethere is a specific issue concerning a lady who received seven hours of home help in 2003, whichwas subsequently reduced to four hours. On 28 January 2009 she got a letter to say it was beingreduced to two hours.

With all due respects, what support can an 83 year old woman get from a home help overtwo hours per week? If she only takes her into town as the sole outing of the week, that willtake up most of the two hours, regardless of the need to keep the house clean and tidy andwhatever other supports she needs. The woman no longer goes to her place of worship, buttries 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 availablethroughout the country and so on, but when it comes down to the individual, that is when itreally hurts. I have another note here from someone in Belturbet, at the other end of theconstituency from the woman in Carrickmacross, where a 79 year old lady had her home helpreduced from 1.5 hours per week to three-quarters of an hour. This is really coming down tothe level of a joke. If we want to encourage people to remain in their homes, there should berealistic periods of time allocated for home help.

To return to the example of the first lady, she does not have a family member, relation oranybody else available to her. She is completely dependent on the home help and the goodnessof her neighbours. Imagine what it would cost the State if this citizen could no longer stay inher own home owing to the lack of home help. Imagine what subvention top-up and all therest would have to be paid to a nursing home. I ask the Minister of State to reconsider thiscase and the whole home help situation.

I was told the other day by the Minister’s representative, Professor Brendan Drumm, that anumber of top level personnel would be appointed to the Monaghan region to organise andlook after the home help situation there. However, if the people on the front line, the homehelp staff and home carers, are not available or not being employed, what is the use, because

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that is where the patients get the service? I ask the Minister of State to please ensure that thislady has her four hours of home help restored.

I know I am taking a risk in raising this in the Dail. The services may see my interventionas an effort to bypass them. However, I raise this solely as an example of what has beenhappening all over the area. The Belturbet case has nothing to do with this, but that is anexample where 1.5 hours has been reduced to three-quarters of an hour. What benefit canhome help of three-quarters of an hour be to a 79 year old, living on her own in Belturbet? Iurge the Minister of State to treat the situation seriously. We have never had as many peopleunemployed as there are today. Surely, it would be better to employ people as home help orhome 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, theMinister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

I thank Deputy Crawford for raising this issue, as it provides me with an opportunity toreaffirm the Government’s continued commitment to providing services for older people gener-ally and, in particular, the important area of the home help service. Government policy is tosupport older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and communitiesfor as long as possible. Where this is not feasible, the health service supports access to qualitylong-term residential care, where appropriate. This policy approach is renewed and developedin the partnership agreement Towards 2016.

9 o’clock

The Government’s objective of continuing to develop community based services for olderpersons is reflected in the funding given to the system in recent times. The total additionalfunding 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 expansionof the home help service. The new funding was both to enhance existing servicessuch as home help and meals-on-wheels and to widen the range of services avail-

able to older people through, for example, the introduction of home care packages. Home helpis the backbone of community based services and includes a range of essential supports thatmake all the difference to the quality of life of each recipient. In 2006 almost 11 million homehelp hours were provided by the HSE. The executive estimates that it will make availablenearly 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 hasalso seen increased professionalisation in recent years with the implementation of the nationalhome help agreement. This has resulted in greater flexibility in service delivery and improvedconsistency 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 operationalresponsibility for individual cases. Professional staff on the front line who are aware of localcircumstances undertake individual client assessments. Services are targeted at clients with ahigh level of dependency and in accordance with their assessed need. In such instances thelevel of service in individual cases may increase, decrease or remain the same, based on theassessed need of the individual.

In the context of the issues raised by the Deputy, I understand the person in question recentlyhad a review of her circumstances which resulted in a reduction of her service provision aftertaking account of various factors such as the recent review and the need to assist others locallywaiting for a home help service. It is open to any individual or person working on his or herbehalf such as a GP to request that the situation be reviewed by the HSE should circumstanceschange. The Deputy will appreciate that the HSE collates statistics as a matter of routine inrespect of the Cavan-Monaghan local health office. The executive has indicated that in this

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The 10 February 2009. Adjournment


local health office area some 2,800 clients benefited from the home help service in 2007 andthat approximately 3,100 clients received a service in 2008.

It is clear that the Government has made considerable improvements in recent years toenhance home help provision generally across the country, including the Cavan-Monaghanarea. There is no doubt that at times demand can exceed service resources. However, it is amatter 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 ofeach case.

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

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Questions— 10 February 2009. Written Answers

Written Answers.

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

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Questions Nos. 1 to 17, inclusive, answered orally.

Questions Nos. 18 to 75, inclusive, resubmitted.

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


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

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

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

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

105. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the position regarding the creation of a tariff that would allow microgenerationfacilities in homes and businesses to sell power back onto the grid; when a conclusion to thismatter 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 pro-pose to take Questions Nos. 83, 85, 89, 93 and 105 together.

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Net-metering enables the use of small scale renewable energy projects for domestic house-holds. It allows the export of electricity back to the grid, reversing the electricity meter in theprocess. 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 inreverse and cannot therefore support a net-metering programme. My Department is workingwith 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 energytechnologies.

An alternative approach is to provide a guaranteed price for electricity exported to the gridfrom 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 orViridian to purchase the power. The supplier in turn is compensated at pre-set fixed levels forthe additional costs they incur in purchasing and trading the electricity.

The commercial interest of Electricity suppliers is in purchasing power from larger scaleprojects producing electricity in commercial quantities only. Micro-scale plants are of a muchsmaller size requiring a different solution.

My Department is currently working closely with the CER and other stakeholders to put inplace in the short term an appropriately structured payment system for micro-generated elec-tricity exported to the grid, which will operate separately from the REFIT mechanism.

SEI is also implementing a Micro-generation Pilot Programme, involving research and fieldtrials, including support for between 50 and 60 installations on a pilot basis of micro-scaleprojects. The field trials will address a range of issues including grid connection and technicalstandards to ensure the power security, safety and quality of installations.

The CER and ESB Networks have amended the rules for the connection of micro-scaleplants to the grid. Generators of less than 6kW on single phase cables and 11kW on threephase 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 commitmentin the Government’s Energy Policy Framework and in the Programme for Government. TheSmart Meter programme is a central component of the strategy to significantly enhance man-agement 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 importand export of electricity will also form a key part of the technology trial. This will facilitate thedevelopment of micro-generation where consumers generate their own electricity and sell theirsurplus back to the grid.

Following these changes, SEI is publishing a guide to connecting renewable and CHP elec-tricity 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 requirementsfor domestic-scale projects of suitable heights.

Following completion of the work to which I have referred, I expect to announce the detailedarrangements, including the proposed payment system for micro-scale projects in the comingweeks.

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Electric Vehicles.

84. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources his policy on the use of electric cars and vehicles; the efforts he is making to encour-age 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 NaturalResources the action he is taking to encourage an increase in the number of electric cars; andif he will make a statement on the matter. [4632/09]

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

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I pro-pose to take Questions Nos. 84, 92 and 113 together.

Major deployment of electric vehicles will have a hugely positive impact in reducing ourcarbon emissions and our reliance on imported fossil fuels in the transport area. In associationwith the Minister for Transport, I announced targets last year for the deployment of electricvehicles in Ireland. We have set a target of 10% of all vehicles to be powered by electricity by2020, which will represent up to 250,000 cars on Irish roads over the next 12 years. A numberof initiatives to advance our policy in this area have already been put in place. The Ministerfor Finance has provided a new tax incentive for businesses to purchase electric vehicles in the2009 Finance Act. This enables businesses to write off 100% of the cost of purchase againsttax under the Accelerated Capital Allowance Scheme. SEI is also developing a \1 millionproject on alternative transport technologies including electric vehicles.

I have established an inter-departmental agency taskforce to progress the framework fordeployment of electric vehicles in Ireland chained by my Department. The first meeting of thetaskforce was held in October 2008 and it has met on a number of occasions. All relevantDepartments, including the Department of Transport, are members of the taskforce. Sus-tainable Energy Ireland (SEI), ESB, the IDA and Enterprise Ireland and other stakeholdersand agencies are also represented on the taskforce.

The ESB and SEI have been working intensively within the taskforce and visited Israeland Denmark last year to learn from their approaches to fast tracking the deployment ofelectric vehicles.

The taskforce is assessing the infrastructure options for the national roll-out of electricvehicles. The Government is sending out the message that Ireland is open for business in thisarea and we will also take account of global developments as the technologies mature. Thetaskforce 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.

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86. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources his views on the recent Forfas competitiveness report that placed Ireland 12th outof 14 countries in terms of broadband cost, and 9th in terms of speed; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4553/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): TheDeputy is referring to Figure 3.39 titled “Fastest ADSL Business Download Speed Availableby 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 Forfas.

This is a very specific business broadband product available only from incumbents in thecountries included in the survey for this particular figure in the report. It would be inaccurateto suggest that Ireland’s ranking for this particular product is representative of broadband costsand speeds.

I understand the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg, which publishes adetailed quarterly report on the electronic communications market, will be meeting with Forfasand the National Competitiveness Council to outline the importance of broader, more relevantanalysis 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 gapsin broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of themarket 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 connec-tion in the speed category of 2mbps — 10mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEshad a broadband connection. Most of those SMEs, 72.6%, according to ComReg’s report forQ3 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 quarterlyreport (issued for Q3 2008), ranked Ireland in 8th place in the “DSL and Cable basket” usedfor international comparison purposes and compared favourably with the EU24 average.

Energy Costs.

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

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

108. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the way in which he plans to lower utility and energy prices in order to increasebusiness competitiveness in north Tipperary and nationwide; his plans to set price ceilings forESB and gas companies and increase competition in the energy sector by encouraging newcompanies to enter the market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4570/09]

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

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

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I pro-pose 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 statutoryresponsibility 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 1December 2008 that there would be no further increase in the price of gas from January 2009and that there would be a small average decrease from that month of just less than 1% in theprice of electricity supplied by ESB Customer Supply. This decision is reflective of recenteasing in international fossil fuel prices, which follows a period of exponential increases inglobal oil, gas and coal prices.

I also welcome the substantial rebate of about \400m provided by ESB to all electricitycustomers, 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 September2006. It concluded that there is a sufficient level of generation capacity in the upper end of themarket to allow customers to receive offers of a competitively priced supply of electricity. Asa result, the vast majority of large industrial and commercial electricity customers are currentlysupplied by independent suppliers and companies and are free to negotiate alternative supplyoffers with the alternative suppliers in the marketplace. Many of these large industrial con-sumers are on fuel variation tariffs and have experienced the benefits of falling gas prices inrecent months.

The legislation is not prescriptive in terms of the methodology to be used by the CER inreaching its decisions on regulating residential and small business customers. The legislationdoes not preclude the regulator from reviewing prices more frequently nor does it preclude theregulator from adopting alternative approaches.

The CER is required to examine the costs underlying the regulated tariffs to ensure they arecost reflective and to make decisions, which do not disturb the market through a review oftariffs. I have asked CER to undertake an immediate review of options to bring forward areduction in electricity prices. As I stated in this House last week, if current trends in energyprices, particularly gas continue, I would expect a double-digit cut in electricity and gas thisyear.

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. Itis a major concern for the European Union and globally.

In this context, I welcome the National Competitiveness Council’s investigation into elec-tricity prices. This report, along with other recently published research, provides a valuableinsight into the drivers of higher energy costs in our market. In particular, they underline the

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imperative to reduce Ireland’s dependence on imported fossil fuels and our exposure to volatileinternational market prices for these commodities.

The Government’s Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government set outthe actions being taken to deliver security, sustainability and competitiveness of energy supply.We will promote energy efficiency, deliver on our ambitious renewable targets and progressvital strategic energy infrastructure such as the East West Electricity Interconnector.

Much needed long overdue investment in energy infrastructure contributes to the cost ofenergy. The provision of this infrastructure to schedule and at least cost will however, deliversecure, sustainable, competitive and cost efficient electricity and gas supplies for the benefit ofIrish business and consumers.

In relation to oil prices the Government does not control, or seek to control prices at thepetrol pump. The National Consumer Agency recently undertook an investigation into dieseland petrol price movements in Ireland. This report concluded that there is little evidence tosuggest unwarranted delays in the passing on of wholesale price changes to the consumer atthe pump. My Department is reviewing the methodology for collecting oil price statistics inIreland 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. TheEU is also reviewing price collection data across EU Member States to ensure greater consist-ency and transparency of published oil price data.

Broadcasting Services.

88. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources if he will confirm that the south east of the country will be prioritised in the digitalterrestrial television switch over in view of the switch off in Wales later in 2009; and if he willmake 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 sharedresponsibility of RTE, Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI), ComReg and my ownDepartment.

The Broadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007, provides for the development of DTT in Irelandand for the closure of the national analogue TV network. Under this Act, RTE is required toprovide a national DTT system with capacity to carry RTE, TG4 and TV3. This new servicewill replace the existing analogue free to air television service.

The legislation also requires the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to seek commer-cial applicants who are interested in providing commercial DTT services. The BCI ran a compe-tition for three national DTT multiplex contracts in March 2008.

Arising from this competition, the BCI is currently in the process of negotiating a contractwith 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 launchservices 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 onits DTT network.

Wales is set to switch off its analogue television services in autumn 2009. This is likely toimpact viewers along the South East of the country who currently receive overspill of the UKtelevision signals. Viewers on cable and satellite will not be affected.

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


Television Licence Fee.

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

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I havenot 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 independentconsultants, engaged by the Department. These reviews have traditionally examined RTE’sperformance against its published Statement of Commitments. The recommendations arisingout of these reviews have aided Government’s decisions in relation to any adjustments to thelicence 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 reviewwill inform any decision in relation to the licence fee.


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

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Theobjective of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is to provide access to affordable scaleablebroadband 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 toall broadband service providers from across all platforms, my Department has entered into acontract 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. Themobile 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 mini-mum upload speed of 200kpbs. The 200kpbs product is the minimum speed available and iscomparable 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 contentionratio of 36:1, a latency of 120 milliseconds and a 15 gigabit (12 down, 3 up) inclusive monthlyallowance limit.

Businesses currently without any broadband service will benefit by being able to send andreceive emails and files, surf the web, and update their own websites. Under the NBS contractthe broadband products will be upgraded to higher specifications (speeds, contention and datacaps) in July 2010 and again in October 2012 without any increase in the monthly recurringcharge. NBS subscribers will experience minimum download speeds of 1.6Mbps and 2.3Mbps

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and minimum upload speeds of 1.2Mbps and 1.4Mbps subsequent to these upgrades in 2010and 2012 respectively.

In recognition of the fact that some areas will be very difficult to reach using standardinfrastructure, 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, aminimum upload speed of 128kbps, a maximum contention ratio of 48:1, latency of 800 millise-conds 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 themarket for urban areas and greatly assist in bridging the digital divide.



Offshore Exploration.

94. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the position regarding the forum that he established in relation to the bringingashore 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 Sean Power): The North West Mayo Forum is an initiative involving the Ministerfor Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, the Minister for Community, Rural andGaeltacht Affairs and myself. It was established in November last following Governmentapproval. 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 NorthWest Mayo Region and to provide an opportunity for dialogue between parties with an interestin the Corrib Gas project. The Forum will also help promote an understanding of how theproject is regulated by providing an opportunity for a coordinated engagement with theGovernment Departments and other State bodies that have a regulatory role in relation to theCorrib 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 IrelandLimited. A number of local groups opposed to the current configuration of the gas projecthave so far declined to participate in the Forum.

The Forum has met on two occasions. These meetings on 5 December 2008 and 2 February2009 allowed discussion and debate on a range of issues as follows: the detail of the statutoryconsents that are in place in relation to the Corrib Gas Project; and development opportunitiesin 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 ofrelevance to the project and the region.


95. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources his views on the level of grant aid that will be received here from the EuropeanCommission Energy Security Fund. [4629/09]

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Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): TheEuropean Commission has included interconnection between Ireland and Wales on its list ofproposed energy projects under the European Economic Recovery Package, which is currentlybeing negotiated in Brussels. EirGrid, as the National Transmission System Operator, willprocure the construction of the interconnector, at the Government’s request.

I welcome the Commission’s recognition of the strategic importance of the East West inter-connector in its proposals. Negotiations in Brussels are ongoing on the Commission’s overallproposals, which have implications for the EU Budget. In that context I will be working withthe Minister for Finance and other Ministerial colleagues to ensure the best outcome for Irelandon the overall package.

Delivery to schedule of the East-West Electricity Interconnector is a key Governmentpriority. The interconnector will underpin regional energy market development and the all-island Single Electricity Market. It will ensure that Ireland can benefit from the developmentof a strong internal energy market in Europe.

East West interconnection will also give Ireland direct and secure access to the UK energymarket and onwards also to the EU mainland markets. This will increase Ireland’s security ofelectricity supply and enhance the competitive energy market. Over time the interconnectorshould exert downward pressure on prices in the all-island electricity market.

The Government has set the ambitious target of 40% of our electricity consumption fromrenewable sources by 2020. The East West Interconnector will support the increased pen-etration of renewable generation, particularly wind generation in the Irish market. It will offeropportunities for export of Irish wind generated electricity.


Energy Resources.

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

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Some80% of Russian gas imports to the EU are transported through the Ukraine. This representsabout 23% of total EU consumption.

Ireland’s demand for gas is met almost entirely by imports from the UK with decliningproduction 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 demandis currently being met by indigenous North Sea production and imports from Norway. The UKis also interconnected with continental Europe and receives some gas from Russia. I understandthis would account for less than 2 % of the gas in the UK system. As a result, Ireland experi-enced 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 tothe recent Russia/Ukraine gas dispute. We consistently supported the EU position, as voicedby President Barosso, that the actions of the parties who are involved in contractually supplyinggas to the EU have been unacceptable and that the interests of the EU in dealing with all thirdcountries can only be served by all Member States speaking with one voice. To this end, Irelandhas also voiced support on a number of occasions for the call by the European Commissionfor increased transparency in the sharing of data on gas metrics in the EU in order to providea strong basis for solidarity arrangements to be developed.

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



99. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the steps he will take to ensure that the benefits of the digital dividend can beavailed 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 thecontext of the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television (DTT), I am preparinga policy framework for identifying the spectrum required for television broadcasting in theUHF 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 withthe Broadcasting Commission of Ireland and RTE, to identify what spectrum can be madeavailable for the Digital Dividend and to advise me accordingly in a timely manner on whatuses could be made of spectrum not required for Broadcasting in the band in order for me tomake an informed assessment of the policy options for promoting various objectives.

The capacity of our spectrum resources to facilitate the development of existing and innov-ative applications and technologies in the information and communications sector is enormousand I intend ensuring that the full potential of the digital dividend will be realised for thenational good.

Smart Metering Project.

100. Deputy Ruairı Quinn asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the position regarding the smart metering project; the cost of same; the timeframeinvolved; the specifications of the smart meter model proposed; if he has liaised with An BordGais 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 NaturalResources the progress he has made in rolling out electricity smart meters; when the pilotproject 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]


The rollout of a national smart meter programme is progressing in line with the commitmentin the Government’s Energy Policy Framework and in the Programme for Government. TheSmart Meter programme is a central component of the strategy to significantly enhance man-agement 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 proceedwith the launch of a national smart meter scheme. This is a highly complex technological project

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and the trials are essential to ensure that we have the right technology and systems for the fulllaunch and implementation of a national smart meter scheme.

The pilot phase, for both electricity and gas, was launched on 15 September 2008. The resultsof 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 manage-ment purposes. The pilot phase is expected to be completed at end December 2010 and theoutcome should be a fully informed decision on the most suitable model of smart meter(s)/ITsystem(s), tariffing structure, communications system and demand stimuli, all of which workseffectively and has the capability to deliver the anticipated benefits of smart metering in theIrish market.

The pilot phase encompasses two strands — a technology trial, which is testing a number ofadvanced metering systems and their associated IT and communications infrastructure — anda customer behaviour trial, which will determine the potential of smart meters to achievemeasurable change in consumer behaviour.

The technology trial will examine meter functionality and supporting information andcommunications systems. There are many challenges involved in developing a metering systemfor 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 ofelectricity will also form a key part of the technology trial. This will facilitate the developmentof microgeneration where consumers generate their own electricity and sell their surplus backto the grid.

Participants for the customer behaviour trial are being selected to ensure that the sample isrepresentative of Ireland’s electricity consumers both in terms of usage profiles and geographi-cal spread. Invitations to participate in the trial are being issued on a phased basis with 8000letters of invitation issued thus far. To date the response has been very positive with 37% ofelectricity customers contacted expressing an interest in participating. The number of partici-pants needed for the electricity customer behaviour trial is 6,000. Installation of electricitymeters for this strand of the pilot phase is under way and is expected to be completed bymid 2009.

The participation of gas customers into the pilot phase is being progressed, with the procure-ment process for gas smart meters now underway. This should allow for the completion of theinstallation 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 Displaydevices, 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 driveimprovements in service to consumers through better fault monitoring and outage recording,power quality monitoring, reduced theft and losses and improved network planning. Inaddition, as highlighted above, the capacity of these smart metering systems to distinguishbetween 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 Gais Networks and industry participants, onthe budget for the entire pilot phase. I expect to receive confirmation of the finalised budgetof 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.

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101. Deputy Ciaran Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources his views on the adequacy of the upload speed as part of the national broadbandscheme; if he is satisfied that the coverage map used for the national broadband scheme is anaccurate reflection of the areas not served by broadband; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4552/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Theobjective of the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) is to provide access to affordable scaleablebroadband 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 toall broadband service providers from across all platforms, my Department has entered into acontract 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. Themobile 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 mini-mum upload speed of 200kpbs. The 200kpbs product is the minimum speed available and iscomparable 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 contentionratio of 36:1, a latency of 120 milliseconds and a 15 gigabit (12 down, 3 up) inclusive monthlyallowance limit.

Businesses currently without any broadband service will benefit by being able to send andreceive emails and files, surf the web, and update their own websites. Under the NBS contractthe broadband products will be upgraded to higher specifications (speeds, contention and datacaps) in July 2010 and again in October 2012 without any increase in the monthly recurringcharge.

In recognition of the fact that some areas will be very difficult to reach using standardinfrastructure, 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, aminimum upload speed of 128kbps, a maximum contention ratio of 48:1, latency of 800 millise-conds 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 themarket for urban areas and greatly assist in bridging the digital divide.

As regards the accuracy of the mapping undertaken for the scheme, a comprehensive map-ping 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 expertiseand 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 providersexcluded from the mapping process; and

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

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The resulting broadband coverage led to the creation of the map which was updated duringthe procurement process as appropriate, in consultation with the service providers. I am satis-fied 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 NaturalResources the steps he will take to ensure that households that are not covered by the nationalbroadband scheme and that do not benefit from any proposed upgrading of exchanges will beable 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): Thewidespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. Inthat regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broad-band coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to thepoint where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quar-terly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speedcategory of 2mbps — 10mbps. It is also encouraging that, at the end of Q1 2008, 83% of IrishSMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, according to ComReg’s reportfor Q3 2008, have a connection in the speed category of 2mbps — 10mbps.

Following the conclusion of a technology neutral procurement process, which was open toall broadband service providers from across all platforms, my Department has entered into acontract with “3”, a Hutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the National BroadbandScheme (NBS).

EU State Aid and competition rules govern how states can intervene in areas that are alreadysubstantially served by broadband. While recognising that some premises within substantiallyserved areas may have difficulties for a variety of reasons (including long lines, pair gains, noline of sight etc.) in receiving a broadband service, the NBS cannot cater for such limitedinstances as to do so would give rise to an unacceptable level of market distortion. It is thereforea matter for service providers in an area to address, where possible, such instances of nonaccess to broadband.

Ireland’s energy policy framework identifies energy efficiency as the most cost effectivemeans of reducing our dependence on imported energy, as well as mitigating harmful greenhouse gas emissions. Government has set a target of 20% energy efficiency by 2020 and, recog-nising that the public sector must act as exemplars in the field of energy usage, has set a morestretching target of 33% energy efficiency, for the public sector, by 2020.

I previously indicated to the House that I anticipated publishing the National EnergyEfficiency Action Plan prior to Christmas but finalisation of the Plan has taken somewhatlonger than I then anticipated. Inter-Departmental consultation is nearing completion on theissue and, after Government approval, I expect to publish the Plan within weeks. In the interimI would draw the Deputy’s attention to the important announcement on grant aid for homeinsulation measures, which I made on Sunday, 8th February.

Energy Efficiency.

103. Deputy Roisın Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources his plans to introduce a national insulation scheme; if so, the form that this schemewill 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 NaturalResources the position regarding the home energy saving scheme; when it will be extended

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[Deputy Joe Costello.]

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


The improvement of energy efficiency in the housing stock is internationally recognised asone of the most cost effective ways of reducing emissions and energy bills. Energy efficiencymeasures to tackle deficiencies in households also support and strengthen employment in theconstruction and energy services sectors.

I launched the national Home Energy Savings Scheme on Sunday last with a budget of \50million in 2009. This is expected to support the upgrade of at least 27,500 homes and withother building insulation programmes in my own Department and the Department for theEnvironment 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 demon-strated 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 manu-facturers, installers and other market players. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimates thatdemand among householders across the country could well exceed 100,000 homes over thelifetime of the scheme. Homeowners can expect to save up to \700 on their energy bills if theyimplement 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 upgrademeasures, varying depending on the measure concerned. Owners of homes built prior to 2006can now contact SEI on 1850 927000 or [email protected] to register their interest in this scheme. Alist 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


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

127. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the position regarding the greener homes scheme; the number of applications thatwere made for grants in 2007 and 2008; the number of applicants awarded grants in 2007 and2008; the cost of the grants given under this scheme per month from April 2006 to date in 2009;

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if he will provide this information in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4535/09]


The development of domestic renewable energy is a key priority and is being supported bya range of actions and programmes ranging from Research and Development, investmentincentives and mandatory requirements.

I have launched a microgeneration pilot scheme being undertaken by Sustainable EnergyIreland (SEI). The programme will assess technical, financial and regulatory issues surroundingthe deployment of small and microgeneration technologies in Ireland and will provide grantaid for around 50 pilot installations.

The initiation of the pilot trial of micro- and small-scale generation technologies that willlead to successful implementation of good quality projects yielding meaningful information ina short timeframe is a priority action in the microgeneration programme.

The pilot field trial will investigate and test technical, market and regulatory issues associatedwith their installation, network connection and operation and generation.

An associated primary objective is to assess measures required for supplier and productqualification to minimise the risk of adverse outcomes at small-scale and microgenerationinstallations, hence promoting the robust growth of a microgeneration supply base. In theabsence 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 Programmeadministered by SEI. In addition to having a minimum requirement of a Building EnergyRating 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 compulsoryrenewable energy component for all new houses. This will not only ensure that renewables areintegrated into the housing stock but will also encourage individuals to consider a range ofrenewable options when purchasing a new home. This is further underpinned by the introduc-tion of the Building Energy Rating which provides information to house purchasers on energyperformance and to which renewables will contribute.

The Government’s Greener Homes Scheme, administered by SEI, provides support to indi-viduals 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 industryfor renewable energy products, services and fuels while the application of strict product stan-dards and installer training and quality schemes has ensured that consumers are informedin relation to their choices. The following is the detail sought by the Deputy in relation tothe scheme.

Year Number of Applications received

2007 10,000

2008 11,000

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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 tohouseholders per month since the launch in 2006 of the Greener Homes Scheme to endDecember 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


\

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

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2008


\

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


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

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

500. Deputy Sean Connick asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the amount of excise relief and other forms of subsidies granted in respect ofimported biofuel in each of the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. [4804/09]

510. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources 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 suchsources 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, thoughnot approved, that have started production; the extent of any such production; when it isintended 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 pro-pose to take Questions Nos. 106, 116, 500 and 510 together.

Sustainable biofuels will play an important part in delivering the 10% renewable energytarget for transport fuels by 2020.

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The Biofuels Mineral Oil Tax Relief Schemes have resulted in 18 projects being awardedexcise relief between 2005 and 2010 with four of these projects in the bioethanol category. Theschemes 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 mainstreamedin blends of up to 5% at a number of existing petrol and diesel pumps, and higher blends arebeing sold to identified vehicle fleets. Given the fact that bioethanol is the generally approvedreplacement 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. TheOffice of the Revenue Commissioners advises that the total cost of these excise relief schemesto date is estimated at \40m. I am committed to the development of an Irish biofuels industryand 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 forthe construction of a Biofuel production facility would obviously be required from a numberof sources, such as the local authority and possibly the Environmental Protection Agency(depending on the feedstock), while in due course, compliance with the EU SustainabilityCriteria will become a condition of biofuels being counted towards EU targets.

The planned introduction of a Biofuels Obligation will require all fuel suppliers to ensurethat biofuels represent a certain percentage of their annual fuel sales. The biofuels obligationis designed to provide a long-term market based framework for the development of a biofuelssector and delivery of biofuels targets to 2020.

The public consultation process in relation to the Biofuels Obligation Scheme has recentlybeen 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 fora final Biofuels Obligation Scheme which will be cognisant of the views expressed by stake-holders. I will bring a proposal to Government soon and introduce the necessary legislationrequired 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 Schememechanism will allow us to ensure that the biofuel we use is sustainably sourced, and evolvingtechnologies 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 fuelsin the coming years, it is vital that these criteria are not alone robust and effective in protectingthose most at risk in the developing world, but that they also set the agenda for further invest-ment 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 rawmaterial input. Work is currently underway to determine what the marine environment mightcontribute to developing the national biofuels capacity. The analysis will include identifyingthe necessary research, development and demonstration projects to realise any such potential.Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) is commissioning analysis of the potential of marine algae asa 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 frommarine sources. This work will provide a comprehensive basis on which to inform research anddevelopment work on the potential use of marine algae for renewable energy. It will alsoprovide data in relation to the biofuels capacity that could potentially be derived from themarine environment.

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107. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the expected publication date of the draft policy paper on next generation broad-band networks; if he will implement the value for money and policy review of phase one ofthe 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 NaturalResources the position regarding the publication of a report into the recommendations of theInternational Broadband Advisory Forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[4562/09]


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 connectionsto 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 sub-missions received and the contributions made at a one day consultation forum that I hosted on30th September 2008.

I intend to publish a finalised report shortly having regard to the contributions we havereceived.

The findings and recommendations of the Value for Money and Policy Review of Phase I ofthe Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) Programme will be fully taken account of in theimplementation of Phase II of the MANs Programme and in the event that it is decided toinvest in further phases of the MANs Programme.


Energy Resources.

109. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources if he has met with a group (details supplied); the outcome of that meeting; if he hasnot met this group, if he will meet with them and when; the position on underground and overground lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4542/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): WhileI 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 availableat competitive prices with minimal risk of supply disruption to meet the needs of businessesand domestic consumers. It is EirGrid’s role, as the transmission system operator, to developand 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 arevitally important to the North East region for security of supply, regional and national econ-omic development and the integration of renewable electricity on to the Grid. I am aware ofconcern in local communities about the impact of overhead lines, and I was happy to be ableto facilitate a meeting with North East Pylon Pressure, which was attended by EirGrid. Themeeting was held on 16 January and all parties engaged in an active and constructive discussion

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on practical issues relating to the projects and ongoing consultations. The meeting resulted ina series of agreed action points, including an intensification of the engagement between EirGridand North East Pylon Pressure on the issues of concern.

As regards the issue of underground cables and overhead lines, EirGrid has undertaken topublish 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 theindependent Ecofys Study provided a generic analysis of underground/overhead transmissioninfrastructure issues, this report will provide a detailed, site specific analysis of undergroundingissues relating to the entire route for both projects. The report, which has been prepared overa long timescale, will form part of the documentation that will be submitted to An BordPleanala as part of EirGrid’s planning application for the two projects. The report will bepublished in the coming weeks and a period of consultation by EirGrid on its findings willfollow.

I understand that EirGrid has also agreed to facilitate a meeting between North East PylonPressure’s consultants (Askon) and EirGrid’s own technical experts, and will fund the costs ofAskon attending the meeting. I would hope that this level of engagement between EirGrid andNorth East Pylon Pressure will assist greatly in resolving issues of concern and moving theprojects forward.

EirGrid have stressed that consultations will continue with stakeholders over the comingmonths, until such time as planning consent application is submitted to An Bord Pleanala,which is the Statutory Planning Authority in relation to strategic infrastructure projects.


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

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): TheBroadcasting (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 TVnetwork.

Under the new Broadcasting Bill 2008 due to be enacted shortly, RTE continues to have anall-island remit. Section 114 of the Bill provides that one of the principle objects of RTE is “toestablish, maintain and operate a national television and sound broadcasting service, whichshall have the character of a public service, be a free-to-air service and be made available, inso 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 net-work for a transition period until an analogue switch off date is reached. Information on thedevelopment 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 counterpartsto 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 thetarget EU analogue switch-off date. I am confident that Ireland can meet that target and thatRTE, by way of DTT technology, will continue to be available in Northern Ireland.

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Energy Efficiency.

111. Deputy Ciaran Lynch asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the position regarding the publication of the national energy efficiency action planwhich 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 meansof reducing our dependence on imported energy, as well as mitigating harmful green house gasemissions. Government has set a target of 20% energy efficiency by 2020 and, recognising thatthe public sector must act as exemplars in the field of energy usage, has set a more stretchingtarget of 33% energy efficiency, for the public sector, by 2020.

I previously indicated to the House that I anticipated publishing the National EnergyEfficiency Action Plan prior to Christmas but finalisation of the Plan has taken somewhatlonger than I then anticipated. Inter-Departmental consultation is nearing completion on theissue and, after Government approval, I expect to publish the Plan within weeks. In the interimI would draw the Deputy’s attention to the important announcement on grant aid for homeinsulation measures, which I made on Sunday, 8th February.



Energy Costs.

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

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): TheFuel Poverty Action Research Project was established by Combat Poverty and SustainableEnergy Ireland (SEI) to inform public policy on the merits of domestic energy efficiency prog-rammes. The project involves an integrated and systematic ex-post assessment of the energy,environmental, thermal comfort and health benefits of the SEI-administered Warmer HomesScheme (WHS), which retrofits low income private homes with insulation and other energysaving measures. The report of the Fuel Poverty Research Project is due to be published forconsultation at the end of March 2009 following a presentation to the interdepartmental work-ing group on energy affordability.

The Warmer Homes Scheme provides energy efficiency improvements to homes in, or atrisk of, fuel poverty and is delivered by community based organisations (CBOs). The CBOswork in partnership with their local network of poverty and community support organisationsincluding public health nurses, MABS and St Vincent De Paul to identify and address vulner-able homes.

The Government is committed to protecting vulnerable consumers from the impact of highenergy costs through a combination of institutional supports and investment in improving theenergy efficiency of the housing stock. I am working closely with the Minister for Social andFamily Affairs to deliver a fully cohesive approach across Government.

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I established last year, an Inter Departmental/Agency Group led by my Department and theDepartment 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. Thisintensive cooperation and coordinated working by all the relevant Departments, agencies andthe utilities is ensuring the effective delivery of a comprehensive approach to addressing energyaffordability. The Group has been conducting a series of meetings with representative groupsand agencies including Age Action Ireland and Energy Action in addition to relevant groupsand agencies in Northern Ireland.

The Group has finalised an advisory booklet to inform and assist those seeking advice aboutsupports in relation to energy affordability. The booklet will be published this month alongsidea new complementary website and will be widely disseminated.

To date more than 20,000 homes have been substantially addressed by the Warmer HomesScheme. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the WHS with a further 15,000 homes expectedto be completed. SEI, in consultation with ESB, BGE and other stakeholders, is reviewing theoperation of the Scheme with the aim of ensuring that maximum impact is delivered from theenhanced funding.


115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the steps he has taken or proposes to take to bring the standard and quality ofcommunications here up to best international practice; his plans to encourage sufficient infras-tructural investment in the industry to bring this about; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4568/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Therole of the Government in the electronic communications market in Ireland is to formulatepolicy 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 gapsin broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of themarket 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 connec-tion in the speed category of 2mbps — 10mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEshad a broadband connection. Most of those SMEs, 72.6%, according to ComReg’s report forQ3 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 con-siderable improvement of recent years. It shows that Ireland had the fourth strongest percapita broadband subscription growth of the 30 countries ranked. With similar fast uptake ofbroadband noted in previous reports, Ireland has closed the gap on the OECD average withour 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 purposesof international statistical comparisons. However, mobile broadband statistics are expected tobe published by the OECD in the future reports. The publication of mobile broadband statisticsis expected to improve Ireland’s ranking further.

There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commer-cial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken to

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implement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with “3”, aHutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provideservices 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 bySeptember 2010.

Internationally, electronic communications markets are moving to provide next generationbroadband in order to deliver greater quality, speed and service to consumers. This is hap-pening where there is strong competition and incentives to innovate. The policy framework forfuture 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 nowconcluded and I will publish the final policy paper shortly.

I am also actively engaged with the EU Commission’s review of the regulatory frameworkfor electronic communications. Effective regulation, and more consistency in regulatoryapproaches across all the Member States, will enhance the conditions necessary for investmentin communications technology and allow Ireland exploit the opportunities such technologybrings for the benefit of our economy and society.



117. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the funding available within his Department to research and develop a biomassboiler that uses renewable energy feed stock; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [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 includethe Renewable Energy Research Development and Demonstration programme, which providesgrant support for the development of new renewable energy technologies, including thedevelopment of advanced biomass energy systems. Individuals or companies can contact SEIand apply for support under this scheme.

SEI also operates a number of other support schemes for the commercial deployment ofbiomass 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 operatesthe Renewable Energy Heating scheme, which provides 30% grant support for boilers up to 1Mega Watt in size. Boilers at a size larger than this also qualify for grant support with a slightlyreduced rate. Both programmes are designed to stimulate the deployment of renewable energyheating in Ireland and will assist in achieving the target of delivering 12% of heat from renew-able energy sources by 2020.


Departmental Expenditure.

119. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the annual cost of printing reports by his Department and the agencies under itscontrol; 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]

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Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Detailsof the cost of printing reports during 2008, by my Department, are contained in the followingtable. The table includes details of annual reports published and where identifiable, postagecosts. 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 dayoperational 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 NilActivity in Ireland’s Offshore Atlantic Waters: Rockall Basin

Ecofys Study on the Comparative Merits of Overhead Electricity No external costs — \475 (approx. 500Transmission Lines versus Underground Cables report printed copies to members

within Department of public @ 0.95 percopy)

Handbook on Oil Supply Contingency Measures Nil — published on NilDepartment’s

website

Minerals Development Acts, 1940-1995 — Report by the Minister 342.00 75.00for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for the sixmonths ended 31 December 2007

Minerals Development Acts, 1940-1995 — Report by the Minister 502.00 75.00for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources for the sixmonths 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 460.00 130.00Competition

State Mining and Prospecting Facilities 1st February 2008 60.00 130.00Competition

State Mining and Prospecting Facilities 1st August 2008 60.00 130.00Competition

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 NaturalResources 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; andif he will make a statement on the matter. [4559/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Thereis currently no requirement under EU legislation for Ireland to hold strategic reserves ofnatural gas i.e. reserves that could not be accessed under normal market conditions, as is thecase with oil under IEA obligations. Recent European Commission analysis, undertaken aspart of the Second EU Strategic Energy Review, shows that the cost of strategic gas storage is

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very high, at 5 times that of oil storage. The potential for gas storage facilities is also dependenton geological conditions. Therefore depleted gas fields (such as is the case with the storagefacility at Kinsale) are often good options for storage. This also means that some countries donot have the potential to store gas. For these reasons the European Commission has indicatedit will not impose EU obligations regarding strategic gas stocks.

The existing commercial gas storage facility at Kinsale has the capacity to hold 198 millioncubic metres, licensed for use by Bord Gais Eireann, which could supply around 50% of resi-dential 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 thestability of the UK gas market, it is nevertheless prudent, in light of our dependence on gasimported from the UK, to seek to reduce our reliance on this source. In this regard, the questionof gas storage, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), is being considered on an All Islandbasis. My Department is working with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment inNorthern Ireland, and energy Regulators North and South, to examine the medium to longterm 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. ShannonLNG — a wholly owned subsidiary of the US firm Hess LNG — proposes to construct anLNG re-gasification terminal at a site located on the Shannon Estuary between Tarbert andBallylongford in County Kerry. The project, which could potentially provide up to 40% ofIreland’s gas requirements, is being planned on a “merchant” basis. This means that the projectis private sector development which would be run on a commercial basis. LNG has the potentialto improve connectivity to the global gas market, which would be a critical factor in the eventof 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 importanceof bringing the Corrib Gas field into production. At full production this field is estimated tomeet 60% of our annual demand for gas for circa five years.

Energy Costs.

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

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): TheGovernment is committed to protecting vulnerable consumers from the impact of high energycosts through a combination of institutional supports and investment in improving the energyefficiency of the housing stock. I am working closely with the Minister for Social and FamilyAffairs to deliver a fully cohesive approach across Government.

I established, last year, an Inter Departmental/Agency Group led by my Department andthe Department for Social and Family Affairs, and which also includes the Departments ofFinance, Taoiseach, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Health and Children,the Commission for Energy Regulation, Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), ESB and BGE andthe Institute of Public Health. The Group is also liaising with relevant groups and agencies inNorthern Ireland.

This intensive cooperation and coordinated working by all the relevant Departments, agen-cies and the utilities is ensuring the effective delivery of a comprehensive approach to address-ing energy affordability. The Group has been conducting a series of meetings with representa-tive groups and agencies including Age Action Ireland and Energy Action.

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The Group has finalised an advisory booklet to inform and assist those seeking advice aboutsupports in relation to energy affordability. The booklet will be published this month alongsidea new complementary website and will be widely disseminated.

In 2009 there is \20 million available to the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) and this isexpected to support energy efficiency interventions in up to 15,000 low income homes this yearalone. At the request of the Group, SEI in consultation with ESB and BGE and other stake-holders, is reviewing the operation of the WHS to ensure that maximum impact is deliveredfrom the enhanced funding.


122. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources his views on reports of a stimulus package from the EU proposal for rural broadbandprojects; if this fund will help the areas currently unable to get broadband but that are also notcovered 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): TheEU Commission has proposed that the recently announced Economic Recovery Plan wouldcontain measures aimed at enhancing rural broadband infrastructure. While Ireland is support-ive of the proposal, other Member States are opposed and a proposal has not, as yet, beenagreed between the Commission and all Member States.

In the event that the proposal is agreed, any funding available to Member States would bedistributed under the Rural Development Fund administered in Ireland by the Department ofAgriculture and Food. Officials from the Department of Agriculture and Food and my officialshave proposed possible initiatives to the EU Commission that could be considered for inclusionin the proposal should it be agreed. These include an initiative to help residences and businessesnot covered by the national broadband scheme and which are unable to access broadband.


Energy Efficiency.

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

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): ThePower of One campaign aims to bring about more energy efficient behaviour by domesticconsumers and other energy using sectors to achieve energy and CO2 savings. The campaignhas been operating since August 2006 and has brought about a significant increase in awarenessof 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 tosee the campaign evolve in different directions, though the website will continue to be animportant information hub.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for theChange 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 behaviouralchange to reduce and avoid greenhouse gas emissions in how we live, work and travel. Theremit of the campaign covers the broad spectrum of transport, waste, water, energy, biodiversity

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and planning across the sectors agriculture, transport, construction, tourism, business, industryand the public sector. The campaign includes a significant advertising element as well as exten-sive stakeholder engagement to develop specific programmes and web-based tools tailored toachieve emission reductions at sectoral level.

Since the inception of the Change campaign, there has been a high degree of coordinationand cooperation between the two campaigns in relation to energy efficiency and carbonreduction. This has involved sharing of materials, co-funding of projects and many linkagesbetween the websites of the two campaigns. This approach has led to significant savings forthe Exchequer.

I believe this cooperative approach should continue. My Department and SEI are both rep-resented on the inter-Departmental steering committee for the Change campaign. In respectof Power of One, I have asked SEI to actively pursue the scope for continuing and enhancingcooperation between the campaigns as part of their management of Power of One.


126. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources when the warmer homes scheme will go nationwide; the number of homes that wereeligible for this scheme in 2008; the number that applied for this scheme in 2008; the amountspent 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): TheWarmer Homes Scheme (WHS) is targeted at households on low incomes, such as those inreceipt 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 pay-ment. 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’shome and not all fuel allowance recipients’ homes are in need of the WHS energy efficiencyimprovements.

To date, more than 20,000 homes have been substantially addressed by the WHS. In 2009there is \20 million available to the WHS with a further 15,000 homes expected to be com-pleted. The number of applicants on the WHS waiting list is 4,618 homes, which are registeredwith the 20 community based organisations currently delivering the WHS.

The 20 community based organisations represent coverage of just over two-thirds of thecountry. A number of additional community based organisations will be required to delivernationwide coverage. It is planned to commence the introduction of new organisations fromthe end of March this year.

A number of improvements to the WHS will be introduced over the coming weeks, includinga new free phone service designed to assist householders identify their nearest provider. Ifoutside of current coverage, their details will be recorded and notified as soon as the servicebecomes available in their area. In addition, a new website will be launched to allowhomeowners, neighbours or relatives find out more information about the WHS and othergrant schemes available in their area.

The total spend on the WHS in 2008 was \5.6M, which represented a doubling of the previousyears allocation.


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Proposed Legislation.

128. Deputy Jan O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources 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 Sean Power): As part of the overall rationalisation of State agencies that the Ministerfor 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 ambitioustarget for implementing the decision. A restructuring implementation group has been estab-lished and is developing the key features and structures of the new model. Primary legislationwill be required for this implementation.

Work on the draft Heads of the Bill to give effect to the new structures is at an advancedstage and I expect to be in a position to bring these to Government for approval in the comingweeks. It is my intention to publish details of the draft Bill once Government approval hasbeen secured.


129. Deputy Ruairı Quinn asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources if he will instruct ComReg to monitor mobile broadband speeds and coverage on amonthly 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 NaturalResources his policy to improve mobile telephone quality and coverage here in line with thebest standards throughout the European Union; if his attention has been drawn to the dramaticdifference in this regard at present; if he has issued directives or instructions to the serviceproviders or regulators to ensure the availability of a quality comparable product to consumershere; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4962/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I pro-pose to take Question Nos. 129 and 516 together.

The regulation of telecommunications operators, including regulatory issues surrounding thequality of services in the mobile phone market, including mobile broadband, is the responsi-bility of the independent Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) in accord-ance with the requirements of the Communications Regulation Act 2002 and the Regulationswhich transpose the EU Regulatory Framework for Electronic Communications. The relevantservice providers operate in a fully liberalised market.

Accordingly, I have not issued directives or instructions to ComReg or the mobile phoneoperators 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 describesIreland’s mobile market as diverse, competitive and advanced. In addition, recent surveys con-ducted by ComReg indicate that the majority of Irish people are content with existing broad-band speeds and the value for money of their Internet service.

ComReg sets out the obligations on mobile network operators with regard to populationcoverage. These obligations are set down in the licence conditions for each operator. Accordingto ComReg all four mobile network operators have complied with these targets to date. Inaddition they have invested significantly in their networks.

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130. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the progress made in relation to his announcement in 2008 of an additional categoryin the REFIT scheme to support offshore wind technology; the progress that he has made tooptimise the amount of indigenous, renewable energy which can be used safely and at a pricefair to consumers by increasing the opportunities for offshore wind and ocean and tidal energygeneration; 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 theelectricity market to 15% by 2010 and 40% by 2020.

In January 2008 I announced a tariff for a new offshore wind category within the REFITsupport programme for new renewable energy projects. The REFIT programme imposes quali-fying conditions and timelines for the completion of projects. In December last the Commissionfor Energy Regulation published a decision on Gate 3 connection requests which includes anumber of offshore wind-powered projects. I am now awaiting comments from key stake-holders on the appropriate timelines within the REFIT programme, to apply to the offshorewind energy category. These timelines must reflect the timelines for the delivery of connectionsto offshore projects notified to project developers in the first instance.

I also announced in 2008, an Ocean Energy Strategy to harness emerging wave and tidalpowered technologies, which are moving from the research phase to prototype deployment,within a three year cycle. The Ocean Energy Development Unit has been established withinSustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) to manage the ocean energy package. I am pleased to confirmthat all components of the package are now under way and are being progressed by SEI.


131. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the position regarding digital terrestrial television; his views on whether preparationswill be completed here for the switch-over in 2012; the cost of the switch-over; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4554/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): TheBroadcasting (Amendment) Act, 2007 provides for the development of digital terrestrial tele-vision (DTT) in Ireland. Under this Act, RTE is required to provide a DTT system withcapacity 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 com-mercial DTT services.

RTE has started to build a DTT network in Ireland and has indicated that services will belaunched on a phased basis starting in autumn 2009. It is expected that the first phase of DTTservices will provide coverage of about 85% of the country. Information on the developmentof 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 incontract 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 themeantime, TV services will be simulcast on both analogue and digital networks so that viewersmay choose to switch or to remain on analogue during that period.

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

Ministerial Travel.

132. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Taoiseach the amount spent on foreign travel in theperiod 1 January to 31 December 2008 in the office of the Attorney General, which figureswere 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 December2008 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 costof such storage; the details of the contract; his plans in this regard; and if he will make astatement 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 whichare no longer active but which are ineligible for transfer to the National Archives under the 30year rule. Their removal to off site storage facilities enabled my Department to reorganise it’scrowded file registry section to deliver an enhanced service and comply with current Healthand Safety regulations.

Departmental Transport.

134. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Taoiseach if his Department has a contract with a taxifirm; if so, the amount of money spent by officials in 2007 and 2008; the changes he will bringabout; 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 useof 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, usuallywhere other means of transport e.g. public transport, are not available or suitable for thepurposes required. The following table details the amount spent by my Department in 2007and 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


computers, mobile telephones, blackberries or other equipment has been lost or stolen fromhis Department or its agencies since 2007 to date in 2009; the circumstances surrounding theitems’ disappearance; if action has been taken to recover the item or items; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [4233/09]

The Taoiseach: 12 mobile phones have been either lost or stolen from my Department in theperiod January 2007 to date. Upon notification or such a loss the devices concerned areimmobilised to prevent any further use. No laptops or Blackberry devices were lost or stolenfrom my Department in this period. The Office of Public Works is responsible for all art worksand 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. Bothincidents were reported to the Gardaı. One laptop was stolen from an employee’s home andwas 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 coveredby the Deputy’s question have been lost or stolen from the CSO since 1 January 2007 to date.


136. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Taoiseach if a separate account is kept in the Office ofthe Chief State Solicitor of the outlays by way of counsel and otherwise and costs involved inthe fighting of major litigation on behalf of the State; if he will furnish the costs incurred; andif 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 counselrepresenting the State and other State legal expenses paid by the Office for the legal cases inwhich 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 whichinvolved 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 herein 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 followingtables 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 figuresare considered ‘broadly indicative’ as the large migration flows in recent years present a signifi-cant measurement challenge in a general purpose household survey such as the QNHS.

127


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

Nationality: b Other nationality Totala 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



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



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




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




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 estimatesof change.

128



138. Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Taoiseach the amount of money paid by the Office ofthe Attorney General in respect of official visits abroad and in respect of official businessabroad by the holders of the positions of attorney general, director general, including its formertitle of senior legal assistant and chief parliamentary counsel, including its former title ofparliamentary draftsman, for each year since 2000 to 2008 inclusive; and the amount of moneypaid by the Office of the Attorney General in respect of official business abroad by each lawyerat 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 AttorneyGeneral paid travel and subsistence costs for official business abroad in respect of the AttorneyGeneral, the Director General, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and staff at Assistant Sec-retary level. Although not specifically requested I also include, for completeness, details oftravel and subsistence costs in relation to the positions of First Parliamentary Counsel andDeputy Director General as they are at the same level. The official business included attend-ance at EU meetings, ECJ hearings, other official legal business meetings, legal conferencesand 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 cel-ebrations, 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


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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 in2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and if he willprovide the information in tabular readable form. [4821/09]

The Taoiseach: There has been no spend by my Department on private consultancy firms todate 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


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132



140. Deputy Damien English asked the Taoiseach the cost of bonus payments made to staffin his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonus payments in2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in2009. [4836/09]

The Taoiseach: No bonus payments have been made to staff in my Department in respect ofthe year 2008. Civil service posts at the levels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary arecovered by a scheme of performance related awards. Details of awards to individual officersunder the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidentialto the officer concerned. However, during 2008, awards totalling \62,400 were made to 6officers in my Department in respect of 2007. Details of the operation of the scheme areavailable in the report of the Committee for Performance Awards which can be accessed onthe website of the Department of Finance (www.finance.gov.ie).

Following the recent announcement by the Minister for Finance relating to the discontinu-ation 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 EmployeeRecognition Awards Scheme in respect of exceptional performance in 2007 (\6,816 in individ-ual awards to 6 staff and the remainder in team awards/cross divisional awards)

Qualifications Recognition.

141. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment if FAS will be seeking international recognition of Irish trade qualifications inorder for persons to get work in the US and other locations; and if she will make a statementon the matter. [4192/09]

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): TheNational Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) has responsibility for developing andmaintaining the National Framework of Qualifications. It is governed by the Qualifications(Education & Training) Act 1999, which stipulates that the NQAI will “promote recognitionoutside the State of awards made by bodies in the State and recognition in the State of awardsmade by bodies outside the State”.

In this context, the NQAI has established a qualifications recognition service, which is theIrish centre for the recognition of international qualifications. The NQAI represents Irelandin a European network of centres known as ENIC/NARIC (European National InformationCentre/National Academic Recognition Information Centre) and is a National ReferencePoint, which promotes the recognition of international vocational qualifications throughoutEurope and further a field, including the United States of America.

The role of FAS, as the National Training & Employment Authority is to enable the Stateto engage in and support human resource development of the labour force. Many coursesoffered by FAS including apprenticeships, lead to qualifications that are placed on the NationalFramework 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, itshould result in greater transparency and recognition across the EU for all Irish awards, includ-ing trade qualifications.

133


[Deputy Mary Coughlan.]

Prior to the transfer of its certification powers to FETAC, FAS negotiated mutual recognit-ion agreements with the UK and Germany for several Irish trades. FAS are committed toworking 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 Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment if, in view of recent research, she will ban the use of baby walkers in line with adecision taken by the Canadian Government; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4375/09]

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): TheGeneral 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 onlysafe products are placed on the market. If operators become aware that products on the marketpresent a potential hazard they must take appropriate measures up to and including recall ofthe items, to ensure that the risk is removed. Any action taken by an operator must be notifiedto the Market Surveillance Authority (National Consumer Agency in Ireland). The MarketSurveillance Authority notifies the European Commission of the action through the RapidAlert Notification System (RAPEX). The Commission transmits the information to all MemberStates, with a view to their taking appropriate action to protect the safety of consumers intheir 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 revisedStandard, which has been in place since May 2005, provides for stability tests and designrequirements geared to improving safety. The Commission indicated that the improved safetymeasures would increase the passive prevention of accidents arising from the use of babywalkers.

If operators comply with the safety measures built into the revised Standard, they would beregarded as meeting the safety requirements of the General Product Safety Directive. In thesecircumstances there would be no grounds for introducing a ban. However, if products are foundon the European Union market that do not comply with the new safety measures, appropriateaction will be taken through the RAPEX system to have these items removed. There havebeen 12 RAPEX notifications in Europe since 2005 ordering the removal of certain types ofbabywalkers from the market. The NCA have passed on the notifications to operators inIreland.

Media Mergers.

143. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment her views on the recommendations made in the recently published media mergersreport; if she will ensure that the recommendations of this report be implemented in a timelyfashion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4921/09]

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): TheReport 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 thepublic interest aspects of media mergers. The Report and the eleven recommendations con-tained therein are being considered in the context of the ongoing wider review of the operation

134


and implementation of the Competition Act 2002. It is my intention to bring forward legislationduring the course of 2009 to reform aspects of competition law, including provisions concerningmedia 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 StateAgencies as announced by my colleague the Minister for Finance during the course of theBudget speech.

Semi-State Bodies.

144. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment if she will ask board members of FAS who travelled first class by aeroplane, incontravention of guidelines, to refund the additional cost of these airfares to the agency; andif she will make a statement on the matter. [4183/09]

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Thearrangement and authorisation of foreign travel arrangements for Board members of FAS is aday to day matter for the agency. My understanding is that the travel arrangements referredto by the Deputy were arranged and authorised at an official level in FAS.

At my request, my Department has now received assurances from the Chairman of the Boardof FAS that the organisation is now fully compliant with Department of Finance Regulationsin the area of foreign travel.


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

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy BillyKelleher): Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed toprovide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an oppor-tunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helpsunemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemploy-ment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both theirtechnical and personal skills.

The aim of CE still remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis onprogression into employment. The programme is managed within this context, with consider-ation to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. FASmakes every effort to ensure that differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemesare equalised. FAS also operates the programme flexibly as far as possible to ensure the con-tinuation of community projects.

This Government will continue to support the positive role of CE in meeting the needs oflong-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communi-ties. I am keeping the operation of the Scheme under constant review in the context of thecurrent difficult unemployment situation.

Work Permits.

146. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment if she will review the system of work permits and working visas in view of thedeteriorating economic situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4185/09]

135


Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy BillyKelleher): Since 2004, Irish labour market policy has been to ensure that general labour andskills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Union. For strategicskills/labour shortages in designated occupations in key economic sectors such as healthcare,information technology and financial services, Government policy is to issue employment per-mits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response toemployer demand. The various schemes that give effect to such policies were introduced underthe 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 thelast six months have been showing a consistent downward trend.

I am currently having our employment permit arrangements reviewed to ensure theirongoing relevance to the needs of the Irish labour market.

Semi-State Bodies.

147. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment if a person (details supplied) has been re-instated as an employee of FAS; herviews on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4186/09]

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Iunderstand from FAS that the individual concerned has returned to work.

The management of human resource issues is a day-to-day matter for FAS.

National Minimum Wage.

148. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment 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 Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment if she has received a recommendation from the Labour Court on the minimumwage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4190/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy BillyKelleher): I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together.

I understand that in November 2008, ICTU requested the Labour Court to review thenational 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 helddiscussions with these parties. I understand that the matter is still under consideration by theCourt.

Job Protection.

149. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment her views on the introduction of a wage subsidy scheme to protect jobs; and ifshe will make a statement on the matter. [4188/09]

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

136


able to persons in receipt of welfare payments that are designed to assist and facilitate peopleon social welfare payments to return to the active labour force. Included in these measures isthe Back to Work Allowance (BTWA). The BTWA scheme is designed to assist the long-termunemployed, lone parents, people with disabilities and other social welfare recipients to returnto work. There are two strands to the scheme, the Back to Work Enterprise allowance for theself-employed and the Back to Work Allowance for employees. These allowances provide amonetary incentive for people who are dependant long-term on social welfare payments tomake the return to work financially attractive and viable.

Financial support is also available to those who are engaged in short-time employmentthrough the payment of Jobseeker’s Benefit and Jobseeker’s Allowance in respect of thosedays that the person is unemployed.

In addition to that outlined above, my Department, through FAS, funds and operates aWage Subsidy Scheme that provides financial incentives to employers, outside the public sector,to employ disabled people who work more than 20 hours per week.


Price Controls.

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

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): TheConsumer Protection Act 2007 permits the Government, where they are of the opinion thatabnormal circumstances exist in relation to the supply of a product, to make an order declaringthat a state of emergency exists affecting the supply of that product and to fix, by way of afurther order, the maximum price at which the product may be supplied to consumers.

Competition and consumer choice have been the preferred means of successive Governmentsin the area of tackling prices. Vigorous competition and strong consumer protection are essen-tial parts in maintaining a vibrant economy. In so far as current difficulties in the area of northsouth price differentials are concerned, I have actively engaged with the retail sector over thepast number of months to ensure that Irish consumers benefit by way of lower prices from theappreciation in the value of the Euro, particularly against sterling. I am determined to pursueall links in the retail chain including retailers, distributors, suppliers to ensure that there is thegreatest transparency in relation to the reasons for the substantial differentials in pricesbetween this jurisdiction and Northern Ireland and the UK. In this regard, I would wish toassure the Deputy that the Government are committed to exploring all options to ensure thatIrish consumers get a fair deal.

Companies Registration Office.

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

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

Filing Requirements

The Companies Acts require that an annual return be delivered by a company, whethertrading or not, to the CRO once at least in every calendar year. Companies are required toattach 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 theexpiry of the filing deadline, i.e. 28 days after the effective date of the return. A daily penaltyamount of \3 accrues thereafter up to a maximum penalty of \1,200 per return. This penaltyis 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 fineand/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 tofile annual returns and accounts on behalf of their companies. In addition he may also applyto the High Court for an order directing the filing of outstanding annual returns and accountswithin the period specified in the order and he may seek to have all the costs of and incidentalto 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 itsannual 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 limitedliability and so are personally responsible for any debts incurred so long as the companyremains dissolved.

Any person, who was a director of a company at the date of sending to that company of astrike off notice due to the non-filing of annual returns, may be disqualified from acting as adirector 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 ofCorporate Enforcement. Restoration — Administrative

Where a company has been struck off for a period not exceeding 12 months, an applicationfor restoration may be made by it to the Registrar of Companies. The company must file alloutstanding annual returns, fees and the relevant late filing penalties within 12 months of thedate of dissolution.

Restoration — High Court

A company that has been dissolved via strike-off, for a period in excess of 12 months andnot 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 SolicitorsOffice (on behalf of the Minister for Finance) and the Revenue Commissioners stating thereis no objection to the restoration of the company to the register.

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If the High Court grants the Order and all outstanding annual returns (including requiredaccounts) have been delivered to the CRO along with an official copy of the Order the companywill be restored to the register.

If the Order has been granted and all outstanding annual returns (including requiredaccounts) are delivered in final draft format only to the CRO the applicant must also providea personal undertaking to file signed returns and accounts in identical form. In this case anOrder for restoration will not have immediate effect unless the final signed returns (includingaccounts) are delivered to the CRO within one month from the date of the making of theOrder. If the final returns are not submitted within the one month period the company willremain dissolved.

A creditor may also apply to the Court for restoration of the company at any time from thedate of dissolution of the company until the expiry of 20 years from the date of dissolution ofthe company.

Retail Sector Development.

153. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Tanaiste 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 proposalsto address such profiteering; and the legislative proposals she has under consideration asreferred to in media reports. [4236/09]

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

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Ipropose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 164 together.

The issue of north south price differentials has been a matter of concern for some time. AsMinister with responsibilities in the areas of employment, trade and consumer protection, I amconscious that these price differentials are impacting on household budgets, businesses andindeed jobs. I am aware of the concerns expressed by some retailers regarding the effect thatcurrent supply/distribution arrangements are having in terms of the cost of sourcing certainproducts when compared with the relative costs of sourcing such products in Northern Irelandand the UK. I am strongly of the view that there must be greater transparency in all links inthe retail chain as to the reasons for these price differentials. I am determined to pursue allelements of the retail sector including, distributors, suppliers and retailers themselves to ensurethat all benefits of the sustained Euro’s appreciation in value, particularly against sterling arepassed on to consumers. I am strongly of the view that restoring consumers’ confidence thatthey 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 Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment if it is permissible for persons who are not legally qualified to represent, for afee, persons before the personal injuries tribunal and pursue a claim on their behalf; the regu-lations which control such a service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4270/09]

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Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Iassume that the Deputy is referring to the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), whichnow trades as InjuriesBoard.ie. The Board was established in April 2004, under the PersonalInjuries Assessment Board Act 2003, as part of the Government’s insurance reform prog-ramme, with the aim of allowing certain classes of personal injury claim, where liability wasuncontested, 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 inassessing 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 fairand prompt manner for the benefit of society. As such, personal injury claim assessments aremade on the basis of medical evidence.

All personal injury claims (with few exceptions such as medical negligence) must be submit-ted to InjuriesBoard.ie, unless settled directly between the parties. A claimant may submit anapplication directly to InjuriesBoard.ie or may chose to use an agent to submit a claim and tocorrespond with the Board on his/her behalf. Where a claimant uses an agent, the question ofthe fees charged is a matter between the parties involved.

The PIAB Act 2003 does not contain any provision which regulates the relationship betweena claimant and any agent appointed to act on his/her behalf.

Work Permits.

155. Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment the position of an application for a working visa from a person (detailssupplied). [4312/09]

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

Ministerial Appointments.

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

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy BillyKelleher): There is no separate Joint Labour Committee (JLC) for Bars, but terms and con-ditions 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 Dun 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

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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 theappointments. However, agreement in principle has been reached between the Social Partnerson the amalgamation of the two existing Catering JLCs, which will provide for a uniform setof terms and conditions covering the entire country. The Labour Court and the social partnershave been engaged for some time on work to give effect to this agreement.

Industrial Development.

157. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment the number of jobs created in new and existing Industrial Development AuthorityIreland sponsored companies in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary in 2008; and the nameand location of each company. [4518/09]

158. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment the number of jobs lost in new and existing Industrial Development AuthorityIreland sponsored companies in Limerick, Clare and north Tipperary in 2008; and the nameand location of each company. [4519/09]

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

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Ipropose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 159, inclusive, together.

The Forfas Annual Employment Survey reports on job gains and losses in companies thatare supported by the industrial development agencies. Data is compiled on an annualised basisand is aggregated at county level. It is therefore not possible to provide information for individ-ual locations throughout the country. The information is provided by companies on a confiden-tial basis for statistical purposes only. Information on individual companies is not disclosed forreasons of client confidentiality.

The survey shows that in 2008 the total number of new jobs created in IDA Ireland supportedcompanies in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary was 438 while the number of jobs lost was754. 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 potentialinvestors to Limerick and 5 to Clare. In 2008, there were 9 itineraries to Limerick and 2 toClare. The Agency has informed me there have been no such site visits to North Tipperaryduring 2007 or 2008.

While IDA Ireland can and does encourage clients to visit particular locations, the finaldecision 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 Tipperaryin IDA supported companies in 2008.

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County Limerick Clare North Tipperary Total

New Jobs 286 139 13 438

Job Losses 694 14 46 754

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

161. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment the number of jobs created in new and existing Shannon Development sponsoredcompanies in the Shannon free zone in 2008; and the name of each company. [4522/09]

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

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Ipropose 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 compan-ies during 2008, and 468 jobs were lost in Shannon Development sponsored companies dur-ing 2008.

For reasons of client confidentiality it is not possible at this stage to name the individualcompanies involved in either job creation or losses.

Job Losses.

163. Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment if her attention has been drawn to the human tragedy that has visited theemployees of a company (details supplied) in County Galway when the company announcedits decision to cease trading in a few months time and that nearly 200 workers will lose theirjobs, with many having no realistic hope of getting another job in the foreseeable future; if ahigh powered task force will be put in place to help attract new jobs into Loughrea in view ofthe 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 foreigninward investment will be targeted towards this town; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4649/09]

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Myfirst concern is for the workers who have lost their jobs and in that regard the role of FAS, theState training agency, is particularly important in assisting those who are being made redun-dant. FAS will provide advice and training opportunities for those losing their jobs. The localFAS Employment Services Manager has been in contact with executives in CIGNA in thisregard.

IDA Ireland is working with the management in Cigna to prepare a prospectus of the facilityand profile of the workforce, which can be used to market the facility internationally through

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the offices of IDA Ireland. Enterprise Ireland has a dedicated team for downsizing and closuresthat will work with the employees in Cigna in the coming months in order to explore potentialspin out export orientated enterprises.

The Galway County and City Enterprise Board and Galway Rural Development will alsoprovide supports to employees who wish to establish micro enterprises and move into selfemployment.

In recent years County Galway has had significant success in attracting investment frommultinational firms. IDA continues to work with new and existing overseas companies inGalway to encourage them to grow and expand. In 2008 significant announcements included:

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

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

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

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

A number of other companies in County Galway have announced investments in recent yearsincluding Nortel Networks, Smith and Nephew, Fidelity Investments, IBM and Cisco. All ofthese investments will provide a stream of job opportunities in the region.

The State development agencies under the remit of my Department have adopted a co-ordinated approach in response to recent job losses in County Galway. The practice of estab-lishing 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 isnow seen as the body that is best placed to oversee any additional response that is requiredover and above the work of the Industrial Development Agencies under the auspices of myDepartment.

I am confident that the strategies and policies being pursued by the State development agen-cies together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development will con-tinue to bear fruit in terms of investment and employment for County Galway.


County Enterprise Boards.

165. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Tanaiste 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 thematter. [4718/09]

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

143


[Deputy John McGuinness.]

micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at locallevel. The CEB deliver a series of Programmes to underpin this role and can provide bothfinancial and non-financial assistance to a project promoter.

The Board provides a single point of contact at local level for new and established smallbusinesses. All areas of the country are served by and benefit from, the full range of EnterpriseBoard grant supports and entrepreneurial development programmes. Subject to certain eligi-bility criteria enterprises may access assistance and support from the CEB. The forms of finan-cial assistance which are available, subject to certain restrictions, include Capital Grants,Employment Grants and Feasibility Study Grants. The provision of non-financial assistancecan take the form of a wide range of business advice such as Programmes covering BusinessManagement, Mentoring, E-commerce, Enterprise Education, and Women in Businessnetworks.

In 2009 the CEB will continue to be actively involved in the area of economic developmentand 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 alsothrough 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 enterprisecreation.

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 pro-gressed by the CEB Central Coordination Unit (CCU) within Enterprise Ireland. The precisestatistical information sought by the Deputy for 2006, 2006 and 2008 is set out in the attachedtable.

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 Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ-ment the number of State-aided jobs created in a county (details supplied) since 1998 to datein 2009; the per annum breakdown by job description and location; the moneys invested inthese 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]

Tanaiste 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 EnterpriseIreland 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 invarious other areas. In the same period, a total of 6,468 were lost. Employment data in respectof companies supported by these agencies is collated by Forfas on a County by County basis.A year by year breakdown between Manufacturing, International Services, Financial Servicesand other is set out in the attached tabular statement.

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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 isheld by my Department on an individual Board basis rather than by job description or specificlocations within the Board’s locality. My Department does not collect information on thenumber 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 attractindustrial 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 Total98 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 3 2 2 2 1 −3 38 44 13 103

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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 −4 0 0 0 −4

Other −52 −13 −17 −27 −13 −23 −1 −13 −10 −80 −3 −252


167. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Tradeand Employment the number of FAS community employment scheme workers placed in com-munity child care facilities in County Monaghan; if he will list these facilities; if it is intendedthat more CE places will be made available to community child care facilities in the comingmonths; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4802/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy BillyKelleher): Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed toprovide eligible long term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons with an oppor-tunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helpsunemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemploy-ment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both theirtechnical and personal skills.

I am advised by FAS that of the 340 people participating on 20 FAS funded CommunityEmployment Programmes in Co. Monaghan, 53 participants are currently engaged in com-munity childcare. In addition, FAS is in the process of filling 4 vacancies in the existing Co.Monaghan childcare projects.

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[Deputy Billy Kelleher.]

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


168. Deputy Damien English asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment the private consultancy firms her Department used during the periods 1 Januaryto 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the costto her Department for each project; and if she will provide the information in tabular readableform. [4814/09]

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Thefollowing is the information requested by the Deputy insofar as Consultants retained by myDepartment in 2008 and during the month of January 2009 is concerned. The figures quotedrefer 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 7,025Operational 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

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\

Tom Walsh To provide advice to the Department on the 63,422development of occupational health and safety policyand legislation

Arup Consulting Engineers To support the Department in its review of Review of 35,930Dangerous Substances legislation

Kilroy Solicitors Legal Advice 16,263

Version 1 To prepare a report on the Insolvency Payments 13,177Section 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 25,593Registration 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 26,965Mergers

Emily Gibson BL Legal Services for the Advisory Group on Media 5,596Mergers

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 2,226Legislation

Scannell Solutions Prioritising Health and Safety Obligations — 605Additional Review


Indecon Economic Consultants Value for Money Review of SFI 74,163

Tom Walsh To provide technical & research support to the 8,000Department in relation to certain aspects ofoccupational health and safety and chemicals policy

Arup Consulting Engineers To support the Department in its review of Review of 79,327Dangerous Substances legislation

Cawley Nea Advertising consultants 27,101

Keatings PR consultants 22,458

Achilles Procurement Services Ltd Consultancy on the National Employment Rights 602Authority (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 2,995Procedures & 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 100,672Department on the co-funded ESF EQUALCommunity Initiative.

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\

Ernst & Young Audit of “DAWN” under the ESF co-funded EQUAL 25,090Community Initiative

WRC Carry out work by providing Technical Support for the 38,514Department on the co-funded ESF EQUALCommunity 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 2,000Programme

PA Consulting Review and Assessment of the EFS co-funded 14,898EQUAL Community Initiative 2000-2006

Version 1 To prepare a report on the Insolvency Payments 23,958Section Business Process Re-engineering (BPR)

Gartner Ireland Access to international ICT analysts and research 41,352

RITS Ongoing security advice and specific investigations and 179,009reports, including Technical Reports on laptopencryption, the Department’s financials application,scans of on-line systems and forensics analysis of theESF website.

Trigraph Professional Services Review of ICT Unit Project Management 20,364Procedures & Practices, and Project ManagementConsultancy

Mason, Hayes & Curran Procurement Legal Advice 8,534

Computer Associates Review of ICT Backup Systems 13,310

Ex 15 October 2008


\

Corporate Risk Strategies Ltd Provision of Health and Safety Consultancy on staff 4,840occupational Health and Safety in the Department’sseven buildings

EPS Consulting To carry out work on measurement of administrative 17,133burdens contained in company law, employment lawand health and safety law

IPA To examine feedback from staff with a view to 18,000formulating an action plan to improve their workingenvironment and thus help them to contribute moreeffectively to achieving the Departments businessobjectives.

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 25,697following 3 years of membership.

CIRCA Consultants, SIA Group Evaluation of Discover Science and Engineering 105,082and International Panel of Experts Programme

Tom Walsh To provide technical & research support to the 28,115Department in relation to certain aspects ofoccupational health and safety and chemicals policy

Brendan Moran Development of T & S Database & Accounting 5,832Database

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\

Contractauditline (CAL) Productive Sector Operational Programme Managing 19,820 (excludingAuthority Lookback Audit VAT)

Productive Sector Operational Programme Managing 16,480 (excludingAuthority Lookback Audit VAT)

PA Consulting Review and Assessment of the EFS co-funded 30,713EQUAL 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 4,193Audits


Ernst & Young Verification of ESF Expenditure No payments todate

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 10,3362009


169. Deputy Damien English asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment the cost of bonus payments made to staff in her Department for 2008; the amountset aside in her Department for bonus payments in 2009; if she will make a statement on thecircumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4829/09]

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Thescheme of performance-related awards in the civil service applies to Deputy and AssistantSecretaries and equivalent grades. No awards have been made to officers of my Departmentunder the scheme in respect of 2008. The pool for performance awards is 10% of the pay billfor the group concerned.

The Deputy will be aware that my colleague the Minister for Finance recently announcedthe abolition of the performance-related award scheme. I am currently awaiting clarificationfrom the Minister on the matter.

Job Creation.

170. Deputy Aine Brady asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employ-ment if she will support the establishment of a FAS office in Celbridge, Maynooth, Naas orLeixlip to serve the needs of County Kildare in view of the increase in both population andunemployment in these areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4843/09]

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan):FAS through its Employment Services Offices in Newbridge and Maynooth, and its satelliteEmployment Services clinic in Athy, provides a comprehensive range of labour market servicesand information for all jobseekers and employers within Kildare.

The Kildare Local Employment Services Network (LESN) supports FAS in the delivery ofits services in Co. Kildare through its five regional public offices in Leixlip, Naas, Kildare,Newbridge and Athy. This is a service fully funded by FAS, which provides a local gateway,or access point, to the full range of services and facilities to help those who have becomedistanced from the labour market to enter or return to employment.

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

Work Permits.

171. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade andEmployment 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 BillyKelleher): An application in respect of the above named was received in the EmploymentPermits Section on the 7/1/2009. This application was refused on the grounds it is currentGovernment policy to issue new work permits for highly skilled, highly paid positions or fornon-EEA nationals who are already legally resident in the State on valid employment permitsor 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 werenot submitted in support of the application. Also, the information supplied with the applicationappeared to indicate that the prospective employee’s qualifications/experience did not corre-spond to the position on offer.

The applicant was notified of this decision in writing by letter dated 29/1/2009 and of theirright to appeal within 21 days. To-date no such appeal has been received in the EmploymentPermits Section.

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

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy BillyKelleher): Since 2004, Irish labour market policy has been to ensure that general labour andskills needs are met from within the workforce of the European Union. For strategicskills/labour shortages in designated occupations in key economic sectors such as healthcare,information technology and financial services, Government policy is to issue employment per-mits for the employment of non-EEA nationals for specific vacancies and in response toemployer demand. The various schemes that give effect to such policies were introduced underthe 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 thelast six months have been showing a consistent downward trend.

I am currently having our employment permit arrangements reviewed to ensure theirongoing relevance to the needs of the Irish labour market.

The numbers of work permits sought and granted or refused in 2008, and the total numbersof work permits that are in current use in the State, for all categories of employment, are setout in a number of tables.

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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 isappropriate that persons serving on the board of Anglo Irish Bank prior to its nationalisationshould continue to serve as board members of other State authorities to which they wereappointed 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 Bodyare generally made by the Minister with responsibility for the Body in question, usually subjectto the consent of the Minister for Finance. Renewals of appointments are handled on a similarbasis. The arrangements for such appointments are normally set out in the legislation estab-lishing the State Body.

The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies stipulates that all State Bodiesshould 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 aState Body’s directors and employees.

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National Parks.

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

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

Tax Code.

175. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Minister for Finance his views on changingthe criteria to allow bus owners for eight to 11 seat buses avail of the VRT category C rate ifthey can prove that they are providing a service in their communities, instead of the categoryA 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 VRTsystem for Category A vehicles was announced in Budget 2008 and came into effect on 1July 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 per-mission 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 NationalConference Centre (NCC) was procured by means of a Public Private Partnership (PPP). ThePPP 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 drugsincluding a breakdown of each drug type seized by customs officials at Shannon airport in 2007and 2008. [4517/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am advised by the Revenue Commissionersthat the breakdown of drug seizures by Revenue Customs officers at Shannon Airport in 2007and 2008 requested by the Deputy is:

In 2007 there were 45 seizures.

Drug Amount Street Value

\

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

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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 beenaccrued from renting masts to mobile phone operators; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [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 morethan 200 State Properties of which approximately 180 are Garda masts. The gross revenue fromthese licences is currently in the region of \4.3 million per annum, of which \3.7 million isgenerated by the Garda masts.

Departmental Agencies.

179. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Finance the number of quasi-governmentquangos 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 hasprecisely in mind. If it is non-commercial semi-state bodies there are 117 of these with spendingof Euro 6 billion, almost Euro 4 billion of which is accounted for by the Higher EducationAuthority, the National Roads Authority, and FAS.

There are also many other bodies that he may be referring to such as hospitals (there are 53in the HSE’s Hospital Network), commercial state bodies (35), universities and other thirdlevel institutions (31), to health related bodies (12), just over 300 local and regional bodies andvarious ad-hoc and advisory bodies. The estimate of the number of such bodies depends onthe 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 Freedomof Information requests; if Government Departments have been instructed accordingly; and ifhe 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 officialinformation to the greatest extent possible consistent with the public interest and the rightto privacy.

As Minister for Finance I am responsible under section 15(5) of the Freedom of InformationAct for ensuring that appropriate measures are taken by public bodies to facilitate compliance

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[Deputy Brian Lenihan.]

with the Act. I am also required under section 15(6) of the Act to prepare an annual report onthe operation of the Act.

I am satisfied that Freedom of Information is well embedded in our public administrationand 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 ofFreedom of Information requests which have been turned down by his Department but sub-sequently 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% oftotal received) were appealed to the Information Commissioner. In one case a settlement wasreached. My Department’s position on two other appeals was upheld and there are two casespending.

182. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if disciplinary action has beentaken by any Government Department against staff who have wrongfully refused a Freedomof 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 ofthe information is allowed under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1997, asamended in 2003. In view of this, it is not accurate to suggest that a decision maker can wrong-fully 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 wasaware of loans to bank directors when it undertook its review of the banks in 2008 on behalfof 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 andthe capital position of six of the covered institutions as at 30th September 2008. The terms ofreference did not specifically cover loans to directors.

PwC’s work concentrated on a review of the top exposures which did not specifically includeany loans to directors. As you are aware matters relating to loans to former directors are underinvestigation 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 givingmore favourable terms to clients such as a person (details supplied) than it gives to ordinarycustomers. [4199/09]

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

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Anglo Irish Bank is subject to regulation and supervision of its commercial activity by theFinancial Regulator.

The Deputy will be aware that the Financial Regulator and the Office of the Director ofCorporate Enforcement are currently conducting investigations into corporate governanceissues at Anglo Irish Bank, including the terms of individual loans to individual Directors. Itwould not be appropriate for me to comment on or prejudge the outcome of these inves-tigations.

Financial Institutions Support Scheme.

185. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he will confirm that all banksseeking State assistance, including Anglo Irish Bank, are required by him to treat all of theircustomers 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 sup-ported under the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008 (Scheme), are requiredto 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 withcustomers and within the context of its authorisation it, without prejudice to the pursuit of itslegitimate 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 relevantanti-money laundering guidance notes and the approval of the Money Laundering Steeringcommittee, and in particular any guidance in such notes on how to establish identity, in orderto ensure that a person is not denied access to financial services solely on the grounds that thisperson does not possess certain specified identification documentation.

I am in regular contact with the Financial Regulator on all matters relating to banking includ-ing access to credit and I am assured that all of the covered institutions are monitored forcompliance with the Code. You will also be aware that I am in the process of approving codesof conduct for business lending and for mortgage arrears which will issue shortly to all of thecredit 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 bankstreat customers.

Flood Relief.

186. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Finance if the flood relief scheme forClonmel, County Tipperary, will be expedited to prevent the flooding problems that have beenexperienced there in January 2009 with frequent flooding, damage and disturbance caused; ifthis 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 forFlood 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 thescheme is already well advanced.

The Steering Committee, which is overseeing the implementation of the scheme agreed atits meeting in January to examine the feasibility of bringing forward the construction of the

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[Deputy Martin Mansergh.]

Quay wall element of the scheme. That and the feasibility of expediting the design of the entirescheme are being examined.

I visited Clonmel on Saturday and saw for myself the devastation caused by the flooding inthe town. I fully understand the anxiety of people who are at risk from what has become veryfrequent 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 Schemeis completed as quickly as possible.


187. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if, following the bank guaranteescheme, the recapitalisation scheme and the nationalisation of Anglo Irish Bank, he has haddiscussions with each of the covered institutions in respect of salaries, bonuses other emolu-ments, pension contributions and entitlements of directors and staff in each of the coveredinstitutions; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of these discussions and thechanges he has agreed in respect of the pay bonuses pensions and compensation package fordirectors and staff of each institution. [4237/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): As I have mentioned in previous answers toparliamentary questions, under the terms of the Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme2008, I established the Covered Institutions Remuneration Oversight Committee (CIROC) tooversee the remuneration of senior executives of the covered institutions. The Scheme requireseach covered institution to prepare and submit a plan to structure the remuneration packagesof 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 linewith the timeframes set out in the Scheme, CIROC will report to me on or before 5th March2009, making a recommendation where appropriate, on the compliance by the institution withthe terms of the Scheme. The Scheme provides that if required, I may direct the institution toamend the remuneration plan to comply with the Scheme.

The Deputy will be aware that the Taoiseach announced to the House on the 4th of Februarythat in the context of recapitalisation of the banks, that he would expect director’s fees to becut by 25% and when they appoint their top executives there would be an upper limit onremuneration 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 annumbasis of the acting Financial Regulator including annual salary bonus and other emolumentson compensation including pension entitlement on retirement; if the pension entitlement isbased 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 salaryamounts to \285,341. This is the same salary as applied to the previous Chief Executive andalso covers the Acting Chief Executive’s continuing role as Consumer Director. The contractdoes 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 ofIreland Superannuation Scheme. Benefits are based on final salary. However, if any officer hashad a change in grade or has received a personal change in salary — other than a general or

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grade increase or normal increments — within 3 years of the retirement date, his/her salary isaveraged in calculating pensionable salary. Lump sum superannuation benefits are calculatedby reference to pensionable remuneration and reckonable service. The maximum lump sumpayable is 11

2 times final pensionable salary. Pension entitlements are also calculated by refer-ence to pensionable remuneration up to a maximum of 50% of salary.

189. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the compensation package onretirement 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 lumpsum, termination payments, and the length of time pension and other compensation; the salarybonus and other compensation of the Regulator prior to retirement; and if he will make astatement 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 employmentare agreed between the person and the other members of the Authority. I am informed thatthe 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 ofIreland Superannuation Scheme. This Scheme has terms and conditions which allow, in certaincircumstances, for the payment of full pension benefits in cases where less than 40 years serviceis accrued.

I am informed that the former Chief Executive had two years remaining on his contract. Iam also informed that, having regard to independent legal advice and his exclusive availabilityto the Authority for a period of three months, the Authority agreed to the payment of anadditional \151,500, equivalent to six months remuneration, plus an additional two monthssalary, to the former Chief Executive.

Pension Provisions.

190. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance the estimated expenditure onpublic 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 inaddition to existing pension contributions from public servants; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4487/09]

229. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Finance the means by which the pensionlevy will be collected; if it will apply to basic income, or total income earned in the publicservice; 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 theExchequer 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 servantswho 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]

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

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 228to 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 schemesand covers main scheme pensions, spouses pensions and retirement lump sums. As with allestimates of future pension payments there is a significant element of approximation about thefigure. Various demographic and socioeconomic factors will affect the final outcome.

Public servants will be subject to the pension related deduction announced on Tuesday 3February 2009, including those with less than two years service. It is an additional deductionand existing pension contributions made by public servants will continue unchanged. Thededuction will apply to all pay including allowances and overtime. Sums paid in respect oftravel and subsistence allowances will not be subject to the deduction. The deduction will bemade 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 thededuction as a percentage of overall income at different income levels. These rates are not tobe 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 inexcess of \100 million, which it was promised, as part of the deal in the sale of Governmentshares in Aer Lingus, would be put into the Aer Lingus pensioners’ fund, has in fact beenpassed into the Aer Lingus pensioners’ scheme as undertaken at the time of the sale of theseshares; 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 apayment of \104 million for pension fund purposes from the proceeds of the Initial PublicOffering. Details of this transaction are reported in the company’s published annual accountsfor 2007.


192. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he or the regulator was awareof the degree of concentration of Anglo Irish Bank’s loan book when he announced thedecision 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 andthe capital position of six of the covered institutions as at 30th September 2008. The summary

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PwC report which I received from the Governor of the Central Bank in November 2008 pro-vided 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 Regulatorhad been informed of recent changes to the terms of the security of loans issued by Anglo IrishBank prior to his announcement of the decision to nationalise the bank; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4295/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Financial Regulator and the Office of theDirector of Corporate Enforcement are currently conducting investigations into certain issuesat Anglo Irish Bank. These investigations were ongoing prior to the decision to nationaliseAnglo Irish Bank, and I was appraised of this.

A due diligence inquiry was conducted on my behalf, in December and early January, aspart of the then proposed recapitalisation of Anglo. This due diligence process, on which I waskept informed, also identified various issues which are now under investigation by the FinancialRegulator 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 inves-tigations.

194. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he or the Financial Regulatorhad investigated the circumstances surrounding loans issued by Anglo Irish Bank in the summerof 2008 for the purchase of shares in Anglo Irish Bank prior to his announcement of thedecision 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 ofthe Director of Corporate Enforcement are currently conducting investigations into corporategovernance issues at Anglo Irish Bank. These investigations were ongoing prior to the decisionto nationalise Anglo Irish Bank, and I was appraised of this.

A due diligence inquiry was conducted on my behalf, in December and early January, aspart of the then proposed recapitalisation of Anglo. This due diligence process also identifiedthe 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 inves-tigations.

Fiscal Policy.

195. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if, with regard to the recentBudgetary 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 areprojected 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 forecastsrecently published in the Addendum to the Stability Programme Update, account was takenof the macroeconomic and fiscal impact of a reduction in Government expenditure of up to \2billion. While the specific details of what the Government announced last week were not knownwhen the Department published the Addendum, the broad order of magnitude of the necessary

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expenditure reductions were taken account of in arriving at the overall forecasts of GDP growthof -41

2 per cent and a contraction of tax revenue of about -914 per cent for 2009.

196. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the way, with regard to tablesix 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 consolidationobjective between different components of revenue and expenditure. [4298/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Table 5 of the Addendum to the Irish StabilityProgramme Update sets out the likely evolution of the public finances and the necessaryamount of adjustment required the current budget to balance by 2013.

Table 6 sets out the budgetary prospects for the General Government for 2008-2013 bydetailing first, the breakdown of the GGB by sub-sector of government, and then the break-down of estimated levels of revenue and expenditures into its component parts. All data in thetable 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 requiredto achieve the overall fiscal adjustments over the period out to 2013, and are ultimately subjecttop future policy decisions by Government. The detailed breakdown between the revenue andexpenditure 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 expendi-ture. In the Addendum, the need for further adjustments in each of the years out to 2013 was setout. In this regard the work of the Special Group on Public Services Numbers and ExpenditureProgrammes and the work of the Commission on Taxation will be important factors in formingnext year’s budgetary parameters which will inform future adjustments. While no decisionshave been taken yet, all aspects of expenditure, both current and capital, as well as taxationwill play a part in securing the necessary adjustments.

In presenting the Addendum to the European Commission, it was necessary to distributethe adjustments in order to ensure the technical completion of the required tables. This distri-bution was broadly undertaken on a two-thirds to one-third basis of expenditure to revenuebut in no way pre-empts future decisions of Government which could result in a differentapportionment 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 latestBudgetary Provisions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009)published by his Department, the projections include expenditures for bank recapitalisationand 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 ofbanking institutions, the Government has made clear that any injection of capital into the bankswill be made with the expectation of a return on the investment. In this case, in line withEUROSTAT 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, toinclude the expenditures on recapitalisation in the latest fiscal projections.

The recently published Addendum to the Stability Programme Update outlines the latesteconomic 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 coveredinstitutions. The charge is being credited to a dedicated account maintained at the Central

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

198. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of the projectedcapital 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 byhis 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 inBudget 2009. We provide an aggregate estimate for 2010 and 2011 as determination of capitalA in A’s by Department will be part of future annual Estimates processes. The aggregate figurefor 2010 amounts to \481m and \479m for 2011. The aggregate 2012 and 2013 estimates pub-lished in the Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme in January 2009 were assumed toequate 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 fundprovision and certain other miscellaneous receipts. In 2008 \1,398 million was received in capi-tal resources of which, \113.5 million was received in ERDF receipts, \740 million in FEOGArepayments and \488 million for the sinking fund provision.

The forecast for capital resources is \1,579 million in 2009; \1,735 million in 2010; \1,868million 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 latestBudgetary Provisions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009)published by his Department, he will provide an updated reconciliation between the generalGovernment balance and the Exchequer balance for 2009 to 2013. [4301/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Exchequer Balance is the traditionaldomestic budgetary aggregate which measures Central Government’s net surplus or borrowingposition. It is the difference between total receipts into and total expenditure out of theExchequer Account of the Central Fund.

The projected Exchequer Balance for the year 2009 to 2013 is as follows.

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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 ofGovernment, i.e. Central Government, Local Authorities, Health Boards, Vocational Edu-cation Committees and non-commercial State sponsored bodies, as well as funds such as theSocial Insurance Fund and the National Pensions Reserve Fund. It thus provides an accurateassessment of the fiscal performance of a more complete government sector.

The main differences between the Exchequer Balance and the General Government Balanceare the impact of various funds, including Extra Budgetary Funds, non-commercial State spon-sored bodies, the Social Insurance Fund and the net borrowing of the Local GovernmentSector, 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 assumptionshe has made regarding public sector pay growth and the non-pay deflator for Governmentconsumption in forecasting gross voted current spending with regard to the latest BudgetaryProvisions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009) publishedby his Department. [4302/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The assumptions underlying the addendum tothe Irish Stability Programme Update 2009 in relation to public sector pay allow for the costassociated with the Review and Transitional pay agreement, agreed in September 2008, overall years of the forecast horizon. Last week the Government decided to defer this pay agree-ment until 2011, when further discussions will take place. As this decision post dates the publi-cation of the addendum to the Irish Stability Programme this deferment will lead to a savingin 2010. Allowance was also made for changes in the demographic structure which wouldimpact on employee numbers, notably in the case of education, which will impact on the paybill.

Budget 2009 did not allow for any explicit non-pay deflator in the years 2009 to 2011. InJanuary, however, the non-pay estimates were amended to allow for the costs associated withthe higher Live Register and the Pig meat crisis and other pressures. A non-pay deflator (inline 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 fundprovision and certain other miscellaneous receipts. In 2008 \1,398 million was received in capi-tal resources of which, \113.5 million was received in ERDF receipts, \740 million in FEOGArepayments and \488 million for the sinking fund provision.

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The forecast for capital resources is \1,579 million in 2009; \1,735 million in 2010; \1,868million 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 latestBudgetary 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 spendingtake account of the fiscal consolidation objective. [4303/09]

255. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the estimated reduction ingeneral Government borrowing in 2009 as a result of the expenditure control measuresannounced on 3 February 2009, taking into account the impact of these measures on taxreceipts. [4778/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and255 together.

The Addendum to the Stability Programme Update forecast an Exchequer BorrowingRequirement of \17,980 million for 2009. This took into account the requirement for a \2billion adjustment. The forecast for debt service costs in 2009, estimated at \4,500 million, takesinto account the fiscal consolidation objective.

The expenditure adjustments announced on 3rd February last will yield \1.8 billion in 2009and \2.1 billion in a full year. This is broadly in line with the indicative annual adjustment asset out in Table 4 of the Addendum to the Stability Programme Update. As such it is consistentwith the overall macro-economic and fiscal forecasts published in early January. Accordingly,a General Government deficit in the order of 91

2% of GDP is forecast in 2009.

202. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if, with regard to the latestBudgetary Provisions 2008 to 2013 (Addendum to the Irish Stability Programme January 2009)published by his Department, he will clarify the competitiveness assumptions underpinning hisupdated economic forecasts. [4304/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The exchange rate and price developmentsare the main variables used to assess competitiveness. With regard to exchange rates, the normis for my Department to use the Commission’s assumptions. These hold constant the averagesfrom 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 withinternational practice, the exchange rate was held constant at average levels for December2008. This implies a 14% appreciation of the euro against sterling for this year as a whole anda 9% depreciation against the dollar. The assumed price changes were broadly in line withthose of our major trading partners.

Heritage Sites.

203. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the Revenue generated in 2008by tourism receipts from visitor attractions and heritage sites operated by the Office of PublicWorks; 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 Worksreceives a specific budget for the operation and maintenance of visitor attractions; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4326/09]

205. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance the amount of the Office ofPublic Works budget in 2008, expended on salaries, administration and maintenance of visitorattractions and heritage sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4327/09]

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Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): I propose totake 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 manage-ment and maintenance of more than 20 Historic Properties. Over 60 of these sites are presentedto the public with a dedicated guide service. The OPW has a series of price bands for thedifferent sites, which reflect the relative popularity of individual sites. Some sites are presentedto the public free of charge.

In 2008 revenue generated amounted to \7.1 million and it is estimated the salaries attributedto these sites totalled \9.5 million. Works at these Heritage sites are carried out in the main aspart of the overall maintenance and conservation works programme of a directly employedworkforce. 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 ifthere was a 1% reduction on the standard rate of VAT. [4332/09]






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 theExchequer 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.

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Tax Code.

212. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance, further to Parliamentary QuestionNo. 215 of 30 September 2008, when in early 2009 the Revenue Commissioners will publishtheir study on the effectiveness of the restriction on the use of incentive tax reliefs and exemp-tions 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 Commissionersthat the data from the 2007 tax returns filed by the high earners in question are currently beingprocessed and analysed. They plan to have the results of a provisional study on the effect ofthis 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 shortlyafterwards.

Political Funding.

213. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance if, in respect to the payment of theparty’s annual allowance from the State, including the leader’s allowance, this money will con-tinue 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, whetheras Independents or as members of another political party, will receive payments in lieu of thepayment 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 parliamentaryleader of a qualifying party ceases with the dissolution of that party except where there is anamalgamation of the party or the acceptance of all of the members of that party into a specifiedother qualifying party. There is however, no provision for the transfer of an allowance payableon behalf of an elected member of Dail Eireann or Seanad Eireann who was elected as amember of a qualifying party and who is subsequently deemed independent as a result of thedissolution of that party.

Site Acquisitions.

214. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the position regarding site acquis-ition for a project (details supplied) in County Laois; the position of this project on the list ofpriorities; if approval has been given for this project to proceed; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4431/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): Negotiations areongoing with the HSE in regard to the procurement by the Office of Public Works of a site ofapproximately 2 acres for the construction of a new Garda Headquarters at Portlaoise.

The priority accorded to individual projects within the Garda Building Programme is amatter for An Garda Sıochana 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.


215. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if, in view of the nationalisationof Anglo Irish Bank, he has issued a direction in respect of salary scales to executives of thebank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4451/09]

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Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Deputy will be aware that the remuner-ation of directors and senior executive staff of Anglo Irish Bank Corporation is being con-sidered in the Covered Institution Remuneration Oversight Committee, established under theCredit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008. The Scheme provides for controls onexecutive remuneration in institutions covered by the Guarantee.

The Scheme requires each covered institution to prepare and submit a plan to structure theremuneration packages of directors and executives so as to take account of the objectives ofthe Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008. Remuneration is taken to include totalsalary, bonuses, pension payments and any other benefits received. In the context of theseplans, bonuses will be measurably linked to reductions in the guarantee charges, reduction inexcessive risk taking, and encouraging the long-term sustainability of the covered institution.

The relevant plans have been prepared and submitted by the covered institutions, includingAnglo Irish Bank, and in line with timeframes set out in the Scheme, the Committee will reportto me on or before the 5th March 2009, making a recommendation where appropriate, on thecompliance by the institution with the terms of the Scheme. The Scheme provides that ifrequired, I may direct the institution to amend the remuneration plan to comply with theScheme.

As with the other covered institutions, the terms and conditions of employment for lesssenior staff are a matter for the Board of Anglo.


216. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if members of the currentboard 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 thatit is examining certain issues that have arisen at Anglo Irish Bank including where loans havebeen made to Directors. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement is also con-ducting an investigation into issues at the bank. The new Board of the bank and I as shareholderwill ensure that any issues identified on foot of these investigations are properly addressedas appropriate.

Loans to Directors on commercial terms are permitted under company law and must bedisclosed in a company’s audited accounts. The question of loans to current Directors at AngloIrish Bank will be addressed in the bank’s annual report and accounts to be published in thecoming weeks.

217. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he has issued direction inrespect 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’slength commercial basis and I have issued no such direction. The Board of Anglo is preparinga comprehensive business plan which will be required to demonstrate how the Board willoversee the continued commercial operation of the bank in the best interests of the bank, thefinancial sector generally and the State. This business plan will provide an overview of the keyareas and sectors that the Board, after consultation with my Department, intends Anglo toconcentrate on.

218. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he has issued direction inrespect of corporate sponsorship, corporate entertainment or credit card expense entitlement

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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’slength commercial basis. Accordingly, normal commercial decisions, which include decisions oncorporate sponsorship, corporate entertainment or credit card expense entitlement in respect ofAnglo- Irish Bank executives, are matters for the Board of Anglo. Notwithstanding this I aminformed that there will be no corporate sponsorship this year.

The Board of Anglo is preparing a comprehensive business plan which will be required todemonstrate how the Board will oversee the continued commercial operation of the bank inthe best interests of the bank, its customers and the State.

219. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the number of Anglo IrishBank personnel on annual salary scales in excess of \250,000 \150,000 and \100,000; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4455/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arm’slength basis to allow the full potential of the bank’s business to be realised. Accordingly, thenormal ongoing business of the bank, which includes the pay and conditions of staff, is a matterfor the Board of Anglo. It would therefore not be appropriate for me to place such commer-cially sensitive information in the public domain.

As the Deputy will be aware, the remuneration of directors and senior executive staff ofAnglo 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 theremuneration packages of directors and executives so as to take account of the objectives ofthe Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Act 2008.

The relevant plans have been prepared and submitted by the covered institutions, includingAnglo, and in line with timeframes set out in the Scheme, the Committee will report to me onor before the 5th March 2009, making a recommendation where appropriate, on the complianceby 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 lesssenior staff are a matter for the Board of Anglo.

220. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance if he has issued an instructionto the board of Anglo Irish Bank in relation to the appointment of the new chief executiveofficer of the bank; his views on whether it is appropriate that such appointment shall be to aperson from outside the current pool of Anglo Irish Bank executives; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4456/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an arm’slength commercial basis. I have delegated the function of appointing a chief executive officerunder section 20 (b) of the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Act 2009, to the Chairman of AngloIrish Bank. I will continue to support the efforts of the Board in appointing a chief executiveofficer with a view to ensuring the continued commercial operation of the bank in the bestinterests of the bank, the financial sector generally and the State. I would note that a chiefexecutive officer can only be appointed after appropriate regulatory approvals.

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Tax Code.

221. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Finance his views on amending the provisionsof section 31 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2008; if, in view of the practical nature of establishinga limited company and the significant merit of the new provision, the exemption should applyto any company whose first period of trading either commences or concludes within 12 monthsof 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 represen-tations that the starting date set out in section 31 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2008 is toorestrictive in that many start-up companies would have formed a limited liability company priorto the date of 14 October 2008 even though they had not started trading; and if he will considerextending the relief to any company whose first period of trading commences or concludesduring December 2009. [4469/09]


The provisions of section 31 of the Finance (No 2) Act 2008 provide for relief from corpor-ation tax for their first 3 years of operation for companies incorporated on and from 14 October2008 that commence to carry on a new trade in 2009. The relief is granted by reducing thecorporation tax on the profits of the new trade and on the gains from disposal of assets usedfor the purpose of the new trade to nil. Full relief is available where the corporation taxotherwise payable by the company in respect of any of its first 3 years is \40,000 or less. Thereis 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. TheseRegulations set the level of de minimis aid available, generally, at \200,000 over any three yearperiod. In the case of the road transport sector, the figure is \100,000. Any tax relief under theprovisions of section 31 of Finance (No 2) Act 2008 will affect the amount of further State aidthat a company can receive. The requirement that the company be newly registered ensuresthat we are starting at the beginning as regards State aids. In addition, with the new companyrequirement, the new trade will be easily distinguishable from other businesses run by a pro-moter and/or other related companies which is important so as to ensure against any abuse ofthe measure.

For these reasons, I had to choose a date to define a “new company” under the legislationand incorporation from the date of Budget 2009 is a reasonable approach. I have receivedsome representations in this issue. However, I do not propose to amend this requirement ofthe legislation.


222. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance the nature of the investigationunder the direction of the Financial Regulator into certain matters at Anglo Irish Bank, inparticular the loans issued by the bank to its directors; the terms of reference of such investi-gation; 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 issuesthat 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 investigatethem fully. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement is also investigating this andrelated matters. In order to ensure that the investigations of these issues proceed in a seamless

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manner and that all relevant information is shared, the Financial Regulator is working closelywith the ODCE as appropriate.

As you will appreciate, some of the issues may lead to further action and in these circum-stances, it is not appropriate for me to comment in detail on specific issues without the risk ofprejudicing the outcome of the investigations.

Departmental Equipment.

223. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Finance when the new customs cutterand new X-ray container scanner will be purchased and in service; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4466/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am advised by the Revenue Commissionersthat construction of the second Revenue cutter is proceeding well. Delivery is expected inSeptember 2009 and, on that basis, plans are in place to have the cutter in service by the endof the year.

Revenue will be going to tender shortly for the purchase of the new scanner. Pending theoutcome of the tender process, it is not possible to be precise about timing. However theCommissioners have advised me that it is intended that the scanner will be purchased this yearand 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 beenintroduced is deductible before the calculation of income tax; if he has received legal adviceon 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 theincome levy which took effect from 1 January 2009. The position is that the income levy appliesto 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. Grossincome in the context of the income levy is income before any deductions for contributions tosuperannuation or capital allowances. Also included in the income base for the income levyare a number of income sources excluded from the income tax base. The income levy appliesgenerally to all taxpayers and is progressive. In these circumstances, the issue of whether theoverall system breaches the principle of natural justice does not arise.


226. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance the proposals to increase bettingtax in betting shops from 1% to 2%; when this will be introduced; the expected revenue to begenerated; the impact this will have on unemployment in the industry; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4474/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I announced in Budget 2009 that the bettingduty would be increased from 1 to 2%. Subsequently, I met a wide range of representativesfrom the betting industry where the problems faced by the sector, including those arising fromthe Budgetary changes, were discussed.

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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 businessexpenses, betting duty paid by a bookmaker on bets made on or after 1 January 2009 will beallowed as a deduction in computing the amount of profits or losses of the bookmaking businessfor Income Tax or Corporation Tax purposes.

As I stated during the Finance Bill process, I intend to look at an overhaul of the bettingtax regime for next year’s Budget and Finance Bill, possibly looking at the UK’s gross profitstax model. The estimated yield arising from the 1% increase in the betting duty on 1 May 2009is 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 pur-chase of a site (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4481/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): The position isthat terms have been agreed on the purchase of the site. The contracts for sale are beingprocessed 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 (detailssupplied) in County Tipperary; the timetable for seeking planning permission in respect of therevised visitor centre design; the timetable for re-pointing of the keep and completion ofinternal work outstanding within the keep; the completion of the legalities and consequenthandover to the town council of the castle field; the timetable for the design of the drawbridgeand other outstanding features of the castle gatehouse. [4583/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): The siting of theproposed Visitor Centre at Nenagh Castle has been re-examined, and Consultant Architectssubmitted a planning application in December 2008. Providing there are no objections andplanning 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 andmortar analysis. Scaffolding has been erected and the decking has been completed. Restorationwork of its nature is time-consuming and investigatory, and therefore incapable of a preciseschedule, but it is estimated that it will take approximately 12-18 months to complete. Worksto 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 ChiefState Solicitor has forwarded a draft lease in relation to the transfer of the Castle Field toNenagh Town Council, which is expected to be finalised, when works are completed. Thedesign and installation of the drawbridge and presentation of other outstanding features of theCastle 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

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seeking to lease a section or sections of his or her home to non-related tenants; the regulationscovering 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 Commissionersthat 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 healthlevy where it is below \10,000. Any amount received for meals, cleaning, laundry or othersimilar goods and services that are incidentally provided in connection with the residential useis 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 ancil-lary 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 obtainingthat income. Where the gross income exceeds the \10,000 exemption limit in a particular yearthe 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 soleor main residence during the particular tax year. The individual does not have to own theresidence and it could, for example, be occupied as rented accommodation. It is not possibleto let an entire residence because the room(s) that is let must form part of the residence andthe residence must be occupied by the individual receiving the rent as his/her sole or mainresidence. The relief does not apply where the part of the residence that is let is used forbusiness purposes.

The availability of certain other tax reliefs is not affected by the receipt of income that isexempted from tax under the rent-a-room relief scheme. These include an individual’s entitle-ment to mortgage interest relief on his/her principal private residence, the exemption fromCapital Gains Tax on gains arising from the disposal of an individual’s principal private resi-dence and owner-occupier relief where the residence is situated in a tax incentive area such asan urban renewal scheme area. Additionally, an individual who pays rent for private rentedaccommodation that he/she uses as his/her main residence is entitled to claim tax relief for therent paid where that individual sub-lets part of the accommodation. A tenant of an individualwho 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 thepurchase of a house/apartment. A clawback of the relief arises if rent is obtained from theletting of the house/apartment in the two-year period from the date of purchase. However, sucha clawback does not apply where rent is received for the letting of furnished accommodation inpart of the premises by an individual who owns and occupies the premises. The individual mustcontinue to occupy the premises as his/her only or main residence for the required two-yearperiod. Unlike rent-a-room relief for income tax, there is no upper limit on the amount of rentthat 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 (detailssupplied) and on whether the position adopted in this case will adversely affect first-time buy-ers; his plans to assist first-time buyers in such instances; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4659/09]

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Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Government believes that it is importantto 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 Bankof Ireland committed to, amongst other things, providing an additional 30% capacity for lend-ing to first time buyers in 2009. The banks also committed to actively promote mortgage lendingat 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 Codeof Practice on Mortgage Arrears, is under discussion and will shortly be introduced by theFinancial Regulator. The new Code is expected to apply to mortgage lending activities toconsumers in respect of their principal private residence in the State and to be mandatory forall mortgage lenders registered with the Financial Regulator.

The Government increased the rate of mortgage interest relief for first time buyers in Budget2009 from 20% to 25% in year 1 & 2 of their mortgage and to 22.5% in year 3 and 5. It willremain at 20% in year 6 and 7. This measure follows on from the significant improvementsmade in Budget 2007 & 2008. The ceiling for mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers wasdoubled 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 \10,000single/\20,000 married.

In addition, the Government announced the introduction of a new mortgage scheme in thecontext of Budget 2009. The Home Choice Loan has been introduced through the local auth-ority system, backed by loan finance raised by the Housing Finance Agency. HCL is availableto first time buyers of new houses (or self-builds), subject to a maximum loan of \285,000 ormax LTV of 92% (whichever is the lesser) and income thresholds. The Regulations to underpinthe scheme were signed in December and the scheme commenced on 1 January 2009.

Tax Collection.

236. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Finance when a tax rebate will be issuedto a person (details supplied) in County Laois from whom tax was deducted under section 246of 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 taxpayeron 22nd July 2008 requesting information to advance a claim but there is no record of a replyhaving been received.

Tax Code.

237. Deputy Roisın 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 deductionof the 1% income levy on the pay and pensions of people over 65 years who have a medical cardand others who have a medical card and when it is possible for the Revenue Commissioners toconfirm that the person would have an entitlement to an exemption from the levy for the fullyear. [4661/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Where the individual has an entitlement to afull medical card at any time during the year the individual should forward a copy of their fullmedical card to their employer/pension provider and the employer/pension provider will thencease to deduct the income levy. Where the income levy has been applied for particular payperiod(s) during the year and the individual has an entitlement to a full medical card, then

172


they will be due a refund of any income levy paid in the year. In this situation, theemployer/pension provider should make an adjustment at year’s end and refund all incomelevy deducted during the year.

Where the employee has not been in continuous employment with an employer or in receiptof 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 dueon a claim being made.

238. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Finance the input the proposed new pensionlevy on public sector incomes will have on the cost of buying back years of service for personswho will not have full service upon reaching the age of 65 years; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4663/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The scheme for the purchase of notionalservice allows officers who would have less than maximum pensionable service at age 60 or 65and 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 nowor in the future.

National Treasury Management Agency.

239. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance his views on the establishmentof a national loan scheme whereby members of the public would have the opportunity to makefunds available to the State for a defined period of time in return for a specified, guaranteedrate of return. [4664/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I would like to draw the Deputy’s attentionto the fact that savings bonds, savings certificates and national instalment savings, three of theGovernment’s personal savings products for which the National Treasury Management Agencyis responsible, allow individuals to invest in fixed-term, fixed-rate instruments which are partof 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 establishedin 1990. Between them, savings bonds, savings certificates and national instalment savingsbrought in some \600 million net in 2008, bringing the amount outstanding in respect of thoseproducts to \4.9 billion at the end of the year.


240. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Finance his plans to limit the pay andseverance 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 (FinancialSupport) Scheme 2008 (Scheme) requires each covered institution to prepare a plan to structurethe remuneration packages of directors and executives, including total salary, bonuses, pensionpayments 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 threemember, independent committee will oversee remuneration plans of senior executives of thecovered institutions. The relevant plans have been prepared and submitted by the covered

173



institutions, and in line with timeframes set out in the Scheme, CIROC will report to me on orbefore 5th March 2009, making a recommendation where appropriate, on the compliance bythe institution with the terms of the Scheme. The Scheme provides that if I consider, followingthe advice of CIROC, that the institution has not demonstrated how its remuneration policiesfor the year ahead will comply with Section 47, I may direct the covered institution to amendits 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 therequirement to orient a system of bonuses to create the appropriate incentives, incentives thatpoint toward reduction in excessive risk-taking and that promote long-term sustainability. Acovered institution may not enter into any contractual arrangement that provides for termin-ation compensation or equivalent to be payable to any director or executive for the durationof the Scheme.

The Taoiseach announced in the House last week that in the context of recapitalisation ofthe banks, that he would expect director’s fees to be cut by 25% and when they appoint theirtop executives there would be an upper limit on remuneration and that he would expect currentlevels 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 pensionlevy will apply to people already receiving a State pension; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4672/09]

242. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Finance if the new public sector pensionlevy will apply to public sector workers who are not receiving a public sector pension; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter. [4673/09]


The pension related deduction applies to public servants, that is those who are employed ina public service body. It will not apply to occupational or State pension income received byretired public servants. It is not being applied to the commercial semi state sector. Thededuction will apply to all remuneration including allowances and overtime. It is intended thatthe pension deduction will apply to employees in bodies where a public service pension schemeexists 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; thenumber of whom are not employed on a permanent basis; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4735/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Based on returns made to my Department forend September 2008 [the last date for which complete data are available] the number of servingnon industrial civil servants was estimated to be 37,000 full time equivalents (fte). It is estimatedthat 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 tasksand assignments and their number fluctuates depending on factors such as seasonal variations

174


(e.g. recruitment of temporary staff to cover term time vacancies, peak workloads such aspassports, examinations, etc).

Departmental Correspondence.

244. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if he will clarify a matter (detailssupplied). [4738/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): My officials will be in touch with the Deputysetting 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 respectof 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 Commissionersthat 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 developerlet a residential property, this would have resulted in a full claw-back of all the VAT incurredon 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 residentialproperty for sale but subsequently rent that property. In such circumstances, rather than suffer-ing the negative cash flow effect of a full claw-back of VAT deducted in respect of the develop-ment costs, the developer is obliged to pay back to Revenue 1/20th of the VAT deducted atthe end of each year that the property is rented. When the property is eventually sold VAT ischargeable on the sale price at the reduced rate of VAT, currently 13.5%. In most cases, if thesale price is reduced by the amount of rent paid, VAT will be chargeable on the reducedamount. 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 optionpayment 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 notexceeding 125 square metres is exempt from stamp duty where the house or apartment isoccupied as the main residence of the purchaser for a period of two years from the date of thepurchase. There is also a relief from stamp duty in the case of the purchase of a new house orapartment where the floor area exceeds 125 square metres and the house or apartment isoccupied as the main residence of the purchaser for a period of two years from the date of thepurchase. Under this relief the stamp duty is charged on the site value or one quarter of thetotal value of the property whichever is the greater. Where an intended purchaser occupies anewly built house under “a rent to purchase scheme” and the house is subsequently purchasedby that person as part of the scheme, the property is regarded as new for the purposes of thestamp duty reliefs described above.

Job Losses.

246. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the additional cost to the Statefor each person that loses his or her job in 2009; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4769/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Job losses have an impact on the Exchequerfinances in two ways — through additional social welfare costs and reduced tax revenue. Theexact additional cost depends on individual circumstances, for example; whether the individual

175



is married or single, whether he/she is signing on with the Department of Social and FamilyAffairs for full benefits or signing on due to reduced working hours, and, crucially, in terms oftax 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 andFamily Affairs that each 1,000 increase in the Live Register in 2008 added \11.55 million toexpenditure 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 andas such it is very difficult to disaggregate jobseekers from other social welfare recipients inreceipt of such benefits.

With regard to the loss of tax and PRSI revenue, a specific cost is not possible to computewithout knowing the specifics of each individual’s personal circumstance. However, based ona number of assumptions outlined below, an overall aggregate estimate of the likely tax forgonefor every 1,000 people losing employment is approximately \8 million in a full year, based on2008 figures.

The assumptions underlining this figure are:

• The 1,000 workers are made up of workers earning the minimum wage, the averageindustrial wage and twice the average industrial wage;

• There is a 30:55:15 distribution between those earning the minimum wage, average indus-trial wage and those earning twice the average industrial wage, broadly reflecting theeconomy 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, tradeunion 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 reducethe cost significantly in that year.

Live Register.

247. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the average and end year liveregister projection for 2009 underpinning budgetary forecasts in the updated stability prog-ramme. [4770/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The Addendum to the Stability ProgrammeUpdate was published on 9th January 2009 and the labour market projections are based oninformation up to the end of last year. In preparing the budgetary forecasts published in theAddendum, the average live register projection for 2009 is 340,000 persons and the correspond-ing year-end figure is for approximately 400,000 people.

176


Tax Code.

248. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if the new pension related pay-ment to be required of public servants announced on 3 February 2009 will benefit from taxrelief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4771/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The proposed pension-related deduction forpublic servants will operate under what is known as the “net pay” arrangement, whereby pen-sion contributions for PAYE taxpayers, including those in the public sector, are deducted fromgross 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 infull year payroll savings as a result of the measures announced on 3 February 2009 is calculatedbefore or after the impact on income tax receipts. [4772/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): As is the norm, the additional pension contri-bution to be made by public servants will attract tax relief. The actual amount of tax reliefdepends on an individual’s circumstances but as a broad rule of thumb it is estimated thatabout 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 therevenue side.

However, in terms of the economic and fiscal impact, a \2 billion adjustment was factoredin 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 aggregatetaxes falling by a further 91

4% this year after the contraction of 13”% last year, already takeaccount 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 billionsavings 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 anannual 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 andsubsistence rates, along with some other adjustments.


251. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of the \140million expenditure reduction through general administration efficiencies and savings.[4774/09]

252. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the breakdown of the \80 millionexpenditure reduction in professional fees. [4775/09]


Of the \140 million savings from general administrative efficiencies, \50 million is in respectof savings arising from the non-payment of the pay increase that had been scheduled for pay-

177



ment on 1 September 2009; \25 million is from further administrative efficiencies across allareas; \25 million from savings on procurement; and \25 million savings on advertising, publicrelations and consultancy expenditure. Savings of \15 million will also be found across a rangeof 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 ofindividual Vote allocations are currently being finalised in consultation with Departments andwill be included in the upcoming Revised Estimates Volume 2009.

Departmental Programmes.

253. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance the capital programmes andprojects 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 ofschool building and energy efficiency improvements. [4776/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The capital allocation for every Departmentannounced in Budget 2009 was reduced pro-rata by 1.8% to raise \150 million which has beenallocated 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 identifywhere the reductions can be made. However, we are achieving far more output for less moneythan was the case in the past as tender prices are falling. We therefore expect to maintain ahigh level of output on capital projects despite the lower cash allocations.


254. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an updatedmonthly profile of projected Exchequer receipts and expenditures consistent with the budgetaryprojections in the revised stability programme. [4777/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Monthly profiles of projected receipts andexpenditure 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 oftax revenue profiles has been delayed. I expect my Department to publish these tax profilesshortly.

In relation to projected Exchequer expenditures, the intention is to produce a monthly profileconsistent with the revised budgetary projections and with the allocations to be presented inthe 2009 Revised Estimates Volume, by the end of this month.


Tax Yield.

256. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Minister for Finance the annual return to theExchequer from stamp duty on cheques in each of the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; therates applying in each of these years; the dates on which increases came into effect; if a patternof 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 Commissionersthat the net receipt in the years 2005 to 2008 from stamp duty on cheques issued by financialinstitutions is as follows:

178


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 followingstatistics (derived from information from the European Central Bank) showing the numbersof cheques processed by financial institutions for payment transactions in Ireland during theyears 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 bein decline.

Tax Code.

257. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Finance the rate of capital gains taxunder a compulsory purchase order for road building or road widening, in which the compen-sation was received in 2008 for farmland acquired in 2007; the position in respect of compen-sation 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 Commissionersthat the rate of capital gains tax (CGT) payable for the disposal of an asset is the rate on thedate of disposal of that asset. For CGT purposes, the date of disposal of land acquired undera compulsory purchase order is the earlier of the date the authority enters on the land, and thedate on which the compensation is agreed.

This general rule does not apply, however, where the disposal is under a compulsory purchaseorder and is for the purposes of, or ancillary to, road construction, widening or extension, theperson making the disposal is engaged in farming, and immediately before the disposal, theland was used for the purposes of farming. In these circumstances, the date of disposal forCGT 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 myrecent Budget and Finance Act. These include changes to the payment dates and also anincrease in the rate of CGT from 20% to 22% for disposals made on or after 14 October 2008.

179



Therefore, in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, the rate of CGT on a disposal of landacquired under a compulsory purchase order, where the compensation was received between1 January and 13 October 2008, was 20%; and the rate of CGT for such a disposal, where thecompensation was received after 14 October 2008, is 22%.


258. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the private consultancy firmshis Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 todate in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and ifhe will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4816/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The following table sets out the private con-sultancy firms used by my Department and the offices under its aegis in the periods to whichthe Deputy refers.

In the time available to answer the question, the Office of Public Works was unable tocompile the information sought by the Deputy. However, the information will be compiled bythat Office and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

180


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187



259. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Finance the cost of bonus paymentsmade to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonuspayments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will bepaid in 2009. [4831/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I assume the Deputy is referring to perform-ance 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 HigherRemuneration in the Public Sector, schemes of performance-related awards were introducedfor the levels of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary in the civil service, as well as for theDeputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner ranks in the Garda Sıochana and the ranksof Brigadier General and Major General in the Defence Forces.

The schemes of awards are based on performance by reference to demanding targets. Thepool for performance awards is 10% of the pay bill for the group concerned. Within that overalllimit individuals can receive payments of up to 20% of pay.

Decisions on awards are made by the Committee for Performance Awards (CPA), whichincludes a majority of private sector members. The main roles of the committee are to monitorthe 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 approvingrecommendations for awards.

Details of the procedures, the numbers covered by the schemes, the range of awards and thetotal 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 amountpaid to individuals as this is regarded as personal information.

Following my announcement in the Dail on 5 February last relating to the discontinuationof the scheme for Assistant Secretaries, Deputy Secretary and related grades subject to consul-tation with the relevant Staff Associations, there is now no specific provision for payment underthis scheme. This scheme is the only full bonus scheme in operation in the civil service. Thefollowing arrangements which apply to other grades provide for reward for exceptional meritor effort in particular cases.

Special Service Payments

Principals and Assistant Principals have a separate scheme which arises as a result of therestructuring 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 ServicePayments, for which staff are invited to apply, based on the following criteria: contribution bythe individual to the work of the Department in his/her job, special demands of the job, experi-ence brought to the job.

Merit Awards

In 1993, the then Minister for Finance sanctioned expenditure in respect of Merit Awards toindividual staff members or groups of staff below Assistant Secretary level by way of recognit-ion for exceptional performance of duty which was based on 0.1% of the salary allocation (aspublished in the Revised Estimates) in any one calendar year. This percentage was revised to0.2% in 1998.

188


An independent committee administers the Merit Awards scheme up to AO/HEO level; anAssistant 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 moreof 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 anotable 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 theschemes 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 awardsschemes, 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 taxreliefs 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 inrespect 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’squestion, it is difficult to state what reliefs the person could claim. If the Deputy would like toprovide details of the specific case, the Revenue Commissioners will examine the matter andfurnish a report directly to the Deputy.


261. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Finance if senior staff at Anglo IrishBank received Christmas bonuses. [4868/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): Anglo Irish Bank is being run on an armslength commercial basis. Accordingly, the normal ongoing business of the bank, which includesthe 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 ofAnglo 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 atAnglo, performance related bonuses for the year ending September 2008, were paid to staff inDecember 2008. This was prior to the nationalisation of Anglo. Executive Directors receivedno bonuses.

Departmental Programmes.

262. Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Finance if construction on the Courthouseproject for Waterford is to commence in 2009; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4897/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Deputy Martin Mansergh): It is a matterfor the Courts Service to determine whether construction on this project will commence in 2009.

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Tax Yield.

263. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the yield for the Exchequer ifthe pension levy was increased from 2% to 3% for people earning above \200,000; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [5053/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I understand the Deputy is referring to theincome levy. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that an increase in the incomelevy from 2% to 3% on incomes above \200,000 would yield approximately \8 million in afull year.

The figures are estimates from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for theyear 2005 adjusted as necessary for income and employment growth for 2009. They are there-fore provisional and likely to be revised. The figures for income and employment growth usedare based on macro-economic indicators which have been recently revised in the light of thelatest economic outlook for 2009.

Tax Code.

264. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the yield for the Exchequer ifthe pension levy was increased from 2% to 3% for people earning above \100,000; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [5054/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I understand the Deputy is referring to theincome levy. I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that an increase in the incomelevy from 2% to 3% on incomes above \100,100 would yield approximately \45 million in afull year.

The figures are estimates from the Revenue tax-forecasting model using actual data for theyear 2005 adjusted as necessary for income and employment growth for 2009. They are there-fore provisional and likely to be revised. The figures for income and employment growth usedare based on macro-economic indicators which have been recently revised in the light of thelatest economic outlook for 2009.

Public Sector Pay.

265. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Finance the savings to the Exchequer ifthe pay pause was implemented for public sector workers who earn \80,000 or more; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [5055/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): It is estimated that the pension relateddeduction will yield in the region of \300 million in a full year from public service workers inthe pay band mentioned by the Deputy. It is further estimated that the non-payment of thepay 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 ifIrish 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 inline with that prevailing in other jurisdictions, that is to say — (a) individuals who are resident

190


in the State for tax purposes are taxable here on their worldwide income; and (b) individualswho 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 livingabroad resident here for tax purposes. Whether or not an individual chooses to live here orabroad — for whatever reason — is a matter for that individual and the State will not interferewith an individual’s choice of where he or she wishes to live. Indeed, many Irish citizens chooseto 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 Irishsourced income, it is impossible to quantify the potential tax yield if all Irish citizens livingabroad 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 therewould 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 ofa customs entry post at Killybegs, County Donegal; when it is intended to provide such afacility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5057/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): I am advised by the Revenue Commissionersthat 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 oftheir ongoing patrols.

Customs officers have assessed the risk at Killybegs and other ports or landing places overa number of years and this assessment is being continually updated. Attendance by Customsofficers is selective and targeted and is based on analysis and evaluation of national and inter-national seizure trends, traffic frequency, routes and other risk indicators. Attendance can alsobe as a result of specific intelligence. Patrols of the ports are kept under constant review totake 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 Roisın Shortall asked the Minister for Finance the savings expected in theprojected final pensions bill to be funded by the national pensions reserve fund as a result ofthe decision to increase the levy that public servants must make to their pension; and if thissaving allows for an adjustment to be made to the annual contribution to the fund by theState. [5059/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): The pension deduction element of the payrollsaving will be \1.35 billion in a full-year and \1.12 billion in 2009. These savings will be appliedto 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 annualcontribution by the State to the National Pensions Reserve Fund which was established for thepurpose of meeting as much as possible of the costs to the Exchequer of social welfare andpublic service pensions to be paid from the year 2025 to the year 2055 or such subsequent yearsas may be specified by Ministerial order.

191


Mortgage Payments.

269. Deputy Roisın Shortall asked the Minister for Finance his plans to support persons whoare having difficulties meeting their monthly mortgage payments. [5061/09]

Minister for Finance (Deputy Brian Lenihan): As I stated in this House on 27 January 2009measures are already in place to support households that experience difficulties in meetingtheir mortgage payments. For example, the Mortgage Interest Supplement, administered bythe Community Welfare Service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Departmentof Social and Family Affairs, provides assistance where the mortgage relates to their sole placeof 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 difficultiesin relation to mortgage arrears do not result in legal proceedings for home repossession. Homerepossession should be, and generally is, the last resort for the lender and the preferred methodof dealing with arrears cases should be early intervention.

A new code of conduct for Mortgage Arrears, based on the Irish Banking Federation Codeof Practice on Mortgage Arrears is under discussion and will shortly be introduced by theFinancial Regulator. The new code is expected to apply to mortgage lending activities to con-sumers in respect of their principal private residence in the State and to be mandatory for allmortgage lenders registered with the Financial Regulator.

Mental Health Services.

270. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health and Children if money raised fromthe 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): ’AVision for Change’ the Report of the Expert Group on Mental Health Policy recommendedthat a plan to bring about the closure of all psychiatric hospitals should be drawn up andimplemented, and that the resources released by these closures should be re-invested in the newmental health service infrastructure requirement. The Government has accepted the Report asthe basis for the future development of our mental health services.

Responsibility for the implementation of ‘A Vision for Change’ including the recom-mendations relating to the disposal of psychiatric hospital buildings and lands, is a matter forthe HSE. However, the arrangements for property disposal require Department of Financeapproval 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 befunded 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 comingmonths. It is envisaged that this submission will provide an opportunity to achieve overallagreement on the extent and timing of property disposals to facilitate the modernisation of themental health infrastructure.

Health Services.

271. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will supporta matter (details supplied). [4409/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it hasbeen referred to the HSE for direct reply.

192


Youth Services.

272. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensure thatthe necessary funding is provided for an extension to a scout hall (details supplied) in Dublin12 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): Asyou may be aware, in accordance with the Taoiseach’s announcement earlier this year, theYoung People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) has transferred to the Office of theMinister 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 areasinvolved 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 theScout Hall was submitted through the Dublin 12 Development Group.

All applications were provisionally assessed by the National Assessment Committee againstset criteria. The process was put on hold due to the impending transfer, at the time, of theFund to my Department.

As the Deputy is aware since the original decision to transfer the Fund the economic land-scape has changed dramatically. In light of the fiscal constraints now faced by Government allfunding streams are being examined with a view to ensuring compliance with the Government’sdesire to adjust spending commitments across all Departments. A decision in relation to theseapplications will be notified to all relevant Development Groups shortly.

Health Services.

273. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children when an appli-cation for a domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in CountyWexford 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 paidwithout 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 theDeputy’s question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred tothe Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Youth Services.

274. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Health and Children if funding has beenapproved for a youth project (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if so, the amount offunding approved. [4790/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews): TheDepartment of Education and Science received an application on behalf of the Fethard AreaYouth Project to be considered for funding in 2008 under the Special Projects for YouthScheme. 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 budgetaryconstraints and the high level of existing commitments in the sector.

As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for Youth Affairs transferred to my Departmentwith effect from 1 January 2009. In light of budgetary constraints in 2009 and in an effort to

193


[Deputy Barry Andrews.]

consolidate and preserve existing provision, the Youth Affairs Section of my Department willnot 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 measuresshe and the Health Service Executive will take to address the general practitioner manpowercrisis here and in particular to ensure that primary care continues to deliver a same day serviceinto 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 andChildren/Health Service Executive (HSE) working group on workforce planning was estab-lished in June 2006. It also includes representatives of the Departments of Finance and Edu-cation and Science, and the Higher Education Authority.

FAS undertook research on behalf of the joint working group which analysed the labourmarket for 12 healthcare grades and professions, including GPs. A report on the research isexpected to be finalised in the coming months. The issue of funding of medical school placesis a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Science.

The Health Service Executive is currently discussing GP training and manpower issues withthe Irish College of General Practitioners and other organisations with a view to addressingGP manpower shortfalls into the future.

The HSE is also responsible for implementing the Primary Care Strategy and the cooperationand availability of general practitioners is, of course, critical to this process. I will continue toliaise with the HSE, the training bodies and other relevant organisations to ensure that appro-priate measures are implemented to deal with any threat to the numbers of general prac-titioners available in the community.

Health Service Properties.

276. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the five propertiesthat developers have publically expressed an interest in purchasing according to reports (detailssupplied); the expected timing of the disposal of 22 properties listed in the national press asprobably up for sale by her Department or the Health Service Executive; the locations at whichthe proceeds of such sales will end up in the first instance; if the funds will be ringfenced forfurther investment in health facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4180/09]


The HSE has developed a strategy for the phased closure of the remaining hospitals and therelocation of patients to more appropriate community based accommodation, in line with therecommendations in ‘A Vision for Change’.

The arrangements for property disposal require Department of Finance approval in eachcase, the lodging of the proceeds as Exchequer Extra Receipts and the re-Voting of the fundsfor approved projects. A submission detailing the priority projects to be funded from the pro-ceeds of the disposal of psychiatric lands is expected to be made by the HSE, for consideration

194


by my Department and the Department of Finance, within the coming months. It is envisagedthat this submission will provide an opportunity to achieve overall agreement on the extent andtiming 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 discloseat this time, any details of expressions of interest made to me in relation to individualproperties.


277. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health and Children if a programme hasbeen agreed to ensure the accommodation of patients in psychiatric hospitals currently underreview for closure. [4205/09]


The HSE has developed a strategy for the phased closure of the remaining hospitals and therelocation of patients to more appropriate community based accommodation, in line with therecommendations in ‘A Vision for Change’.

EU Directives.

278. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the FoodSupplements Directive and whether this may limit the access to vitamins which have proveneffective in improving health and maintaining well being; and if she will make a statement onthe matter. [4211/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Mary Wallace): TheFood Supplements Directive, 2002/46/EC, has been transposed into Irish law by StatutoryInstrument 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). Thisensures that consumers in Ireland are protected by the harmonised EU rules on the sale offood supplements, in particular the labelling of food supplements and chemical form of vitaminsand 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 maximumand minimum levels of vitamins and minerals in food supplements. This matter remains underconsideration at European Commission level.

The European Commission published a Discussion Paper on determining maximum andminimum levels of vitamins and minerals in June 2006. The Irish response to this DiscussionPaper gave Ireland’s view that the Commission should proceed on a cautious basis, settingmaximum limits for as many vitamins and minerals as possible. It was considered vital that thesafety 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 accountin formulating the position on this issue. A working document on the setting of maximum andminimum levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements was drawn up as a result of theresponses 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 nutrientswhere studies have indicated there is evidence of no, or low, toxicity even at high level dosage,

195


[Deputy Mary Wallace.]

that it may be possible to waive the setting of maximum levels. The Commission consider thisa 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 willtake account of Irish consumers’ views and those of industry in adopting a position duringthose discussions. In this regard the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) ConsultativeCouncil hosted an open meeting on 27 January 2009 to discuss the issues relating to foodsupplements. This meeting was attended by a cross section of stakeholders and outlined detailsof new developments in European legislation, which regulates food supplements and foodfortification. The meeting outlined the rationale behind proposed EU regulations to safeguardconsumer health in relation to food supplements and an insight into why consumers take foodsupplements and their understanding of the perceived health benefits.

Officials from both my Department and the FSAI are involved in ongoing discussions atEuropean level on the development of a methodology under which maximum safe levels forvitamins 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 finalposition will be based on these discussions and on the scientific evidence presented to MemberStates during the discussions.

Vaccination Programme.

279. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children, further toParliamentary Question No. 78 of 4 December 2008, if she has received the final report of theVaccine Damage Compensation Group; the recommendations of the group; the action thatwill be taken to implement its recommendations; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4253/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): I have recently received the reportof 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 aperson (details supplied) was transferred from St. Doolagh’s Park Rehabilitation Centre inMalahide to Cherry Orchard Hospital, Dublin despite no assessment being carried out, as isthe 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

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made by her in respect of funding for Duchenne research in view of the success of the pilotprogramme using the exon skipping technology at the National University of Ireland Maynoothand further in view of the support the Joint Committee for Health and Children has given andthe fact that she has been receiving representations on this matter since 2006; and if she willmake a statement on the matter. [4317/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): TheHealth 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 newfunding scheme to improve patient health through research. Based on this, the HRB issued acall to charities for applications in 2006. Following international peer review, MRCG and theHRB issued co-funding for two projects with Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, one to the ImperialCollege in London — the exon skipping trial — and the other to the project referred to by theDeputy in NUI Maynooth.

I have been advised by the HRB that another MRCG/HRB funding call has opened to allresearch charities, including Muscular Dystrophy Ireland and Duchenne Ireland. However, itis up to each charity to solicit and pre-review applications for submission to the HRB. TheHRB is scheduled to receive the applications in June 2009. All applications received will beassessed on the basis of excellence and impact.

Medical Cards.

283. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children the position inrelation 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 hasbeen referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.


284. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of plansfor the development of the mental health day hospital in Roscommon town; the capital allo-cation 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): Asthis 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 resolvea matter (details supplied). [4342/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it hasbeen 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 (detailssupplied) in County Dublin will receive an appointment; and if she will make a statement onthe matter. [4350/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it hasbeen referred to the HSE for direct reply.

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Pharmacy Regulations.

287. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of a requestissued 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 thisregistration, whereas the charge in the UK is only £150; when this charge was introduced; andif she will make a statement on the matter. [4354/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Pharmacy 2007 requires thePharmaceutical Society of Ireland to maintain a register of retail pharmacy businesses. Eachretail pharmacy business has to meet certain minimum criteria regarding the facilities, storageand sale of medicinal products on their premises. Registration is required on an annual basisand inspections can be carried out by the Society.

The Society, has been, and continues to be, a self financing body. These new functions placeadditional costs on the Society. The Society engaged consultants to develop an evidence-basedmethodology for the determination of registration fees, on a viable and sustainable self-financ-ing basis. The process included a comparative analysis of comparable international pharmacyregulators. I am informed by the Society that the arrangements for registration in NorthernIreland 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 theirrole in public safety, is not as extensive as those required of the Society under the PharmacyAct 2007.

The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has undertaken to keep the fees for the registrationof retail pharmacy businesses under review throughout 2009, and update me as to their appro-priate level when submitting its 2010 fee submission.

Health Services.

288. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will ensurethat a capital project (details supplied) in County Cork is prioritised in the Health ServiceExecutive’s capital budget for 2009. [4356/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): In drawing up its capital prog-ramme, the Health Service Executive is required to prioritise the capital infrastructure projectsto be progressed within its overall capital funding allocation under the National DevelopmentPlan, taking account of the NDP targets for division of capital investment between the Acuteand Primary, Community & Continuing Care programmes.

The Executive is finalising its capital proposals and consultation is ongoing between the HSEand my Department. Details on individual projects will not be known until such time as thecapital plan for 2009 is approved.

Food Safety.

289. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will report on thepork and poultry products sourced by the Health Service Executive; if these products areproduced here; if, in view of the recent scare in the industry, her attention has been drawn tothe importance of supporting and promoting Irish products; and if she will make a statementon the matter. [4358/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Mary Wallace): Theinformation requested is being provided by the Health Service Executive and will be forwardedto the Deputy directly.

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Health Services.

290. Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a healthcentre (details supplied) in Dublin 15 did not proceed when planning permission was grantedby 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 newBalbriggan Health Centre, County Dublin will be operational in order that applicants do nothave to travel to Gardiner Street, Dublin; the reason for the delay; and if she will make astatement 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 fordirect reply.

Foster Care.

291. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of youngpeople who have left State care and foster care each year in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; and ifshe will make a statement on the matter. [4385/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews): Asthis is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Pharmacy Regulations.

292. Deputy Sean Ardagh asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will request thePharmaceutical Society of Ireland to implement its new registration regime for the pharmacysector as quickly as possible to progress the processing of non-EU/EEA applications of trainedpharmacists under the Pharmacy Act 2007 as in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin12; 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 Isigned 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 on29th November 2008. The PSI concentrated its efforts, in the first instance, on putting in placethe system for registration of retail pharmacy businesses. This process of ensuring that all retailpharmacy businesses were registered was successfully completed in January 2009.

In relation to the non-EU/EEA route of qualification recognition and registration, the PSIis committed to ensuring that the application system for recognition of a third country qualifi-cation, and the associated registration system, is fully operational as soon as time, legal adviceand resources permit. A considerable amount of preliminary work was carried out before thesigning of the rules and the Society has, since then, been working with its legal advisers todevelop an appropriate process in line with the legislation. The PSI anticipates that the relevantdocumentation 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 toensure that he/she will have the required documentation prepared for submission to the PSI assoon as the process is commenced. The PSI will shortly communicate the operational date forcommencement of the process to all potential applicants.

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293. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the amount offunding she plans to invest in mental health services in north Tipperary over the next fiveyears; her plans to improve the services in the area; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4405/09]


Health Services.


Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): Thesupport group 22q11 Ireland held their first conference at the Marino Institute of Education inSeptember 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. Lotteryfunding available to the Department in 2009 is limited and decisions in relation to the allocationof the funding will be made on the basis of priority.

295. Deputy Ciaran Lynch asked the Minister for Health and Children when a decision willbe made in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who has applied for treat-ment 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 themanagement and delivery of health and personal social services, including the treatment ofpatients 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 theDeputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive toarrange to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

296. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of patientswaiting for dental services in the Sligo region; the action she or the Health Service Executivewill take to deal with the ongoing retirement of dentists from the gms scheme; when she willengage with the dentists to solve this service problem; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4438/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The position regarding the numberof 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 arrangeto 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 Associationon the 15th November last to discuss a range of issues including the terms of the Agreementthat governs the Dental Treatment Services Scheme and the Government’s plans to amend theCompetition Act 2002. I am keeping these matters under review.

297. Deputy James Reilly asked the Minister for Health and Children when funding will beprovided to accommodate the placement of a person (details supplied) who is ready for dis-

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charge to a nursing home in their local area; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4439/09]


Nursing Home Closure.

298. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason a nursinghome (details supplied) is being closed down; the efforts or meetings she has had or proposedwith the Health Service Executive to discuss the matter and the problems attached to theclosure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4449/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Maire Hoctor): As theDeputy is aware Bethany House is a Welfare Home which opened in the 1970’s. It is currentlyoperating as a 30 bed unit, of which 28 beds are residential and 2 are respite. At present thereare 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 appropriatecare and the home’s inability to support high dependency patients. This inadequacy increasesdemands in terms of maintenance, standards and health and safety issues including infectioncontrol. Following this review the Executive decided that the 30 bed Bethany House WelfareHome 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 andtheir families, will be relocated to better and safer facilities that are purpose built to cater fortheir health and well-being. The immediate next steps for the Executive are to consult witheach resident, their families or representatives, to explain what options are available with aview 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 anorthopaedic problem; when this person will subsequently be offered an appointment for sur-gery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4470/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The management of out-patientwaiting 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 hasbeen drawn to the fact that a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 is waiting for a back injuryoperation in the Mater Hospital for some considerable time; and if she will make a statementon the matter. [4478/09]


301. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the number ofpersons 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 alterna-tive accommodation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4486/09]

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Nursing Home Subventions.

302. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Minister for Health and Children if nursinghome subventions for individuals have been affected by cutbacks; the position when the HealthService Executive informs an applicant that they qualify for subvention but it cannot be paiddue to funding shortfalls; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this position hasarisen; if she has addressed or will address the matter with the HSE; and if she will make astatement on the matter. [4497/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Maire Hoctor): Therewas no reduction in the level of funding available to the Health Service Executive for nursinghome subvention between 2008 and 2009. However, the provision of support by HSE towardsthe cost of maintenance in a private nursing home is subject to resources. In this regard, theavailability of enhanced subvention is limited by the amount of the resource allocated for thisscheme and applicants may need to join a waiting list for enhanced subvention contributions.

Nursing Home Closure.

303. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Minister for Health and Children if she hasreceived 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 hadpreviously been reported to her Department and the HSE in relation to health and safetyissues; if the building has obtained an annual fire safety certificate in recent years; the alterna-tive accommodation that will be provided; the type of inquiry that will be undertaken by herDepartment 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 Maire Hoctor): TheDeputy may be aware that the nursing home in question is a public Welfare Home, built inthe 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 concernsand difficulty meeting fire safety requirements. The Department has received briefing on thisdecision. 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 ofcompensation payments made by the Health Service Executive in Cork City and County forthe 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]



305. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health and Children the policy regardingthe payment of the subvention to a nursing home while the client is hospitalised; and if shewill make a statement on the matter. [4505/09]

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Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Maire Hoctor): TheNursing 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, theHSE’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 temporaryabsences or discharges of patients in receipt of subvention from their nursing home. The HSEcan continue to pay subvention to cover temporary absences. However if this period of absencecontinues for more than one month, the HSE should investigate the matter further to establishthe likelihood of the person returning to the nursing home.


306. Deputy James McDaid asked the Minister for Health and Children the status of theLetterkenny acute mental health unit, County Donegal; and when construction is expected tocommence. [4509/09]


Hospital Services.

307. Deputy James McDaid asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress inrelation to radiotherapy services in the north west. [4510/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Government decided in July2005 that the best option for improving geographic access for patients in the North West toradiation 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 basedon a satellite centre in the North West linked to Belfast City Hospital.

Cancer patients in the North West requiring radiation oncology treatment are referred toeither St. Luke’s Hospital Dublin or University College Hospital Galway. A Service LevelAgreement is also in place for the referral of radiation oncology patients from Donegal toBelfast City Hospital.

In April 2008, Minister Michael McGimpsey of the Department of Health, Social Servicesand 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 additionalradiotherapy capacity needed to meet an anticipated increase in cancer in Northern Ireland. Italso 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 Departmentand their counterparts in Northern Ireland continue to hold discussions in this regard. I under-stand 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 tofamilies under the health repayment scheme will be issued; and if there are tax implicationsfor 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 withthe appointed Scheme Administrator K.P.M.G. and McCann Fitzgerald.

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[Deputy Mary Harney.]

Since the scheme commenced over 19,500 offers have been issued and over 16,000 paymentshave 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 spouseor 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 TaxActs. A prescribed repayment made to the estate of a relevant person will be subject to thenormal arrangements for the purpose of tax assessment.

Health Services.

309. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number ofspeech therapists appointed to cover the Tipperary north region; the reason for the delay inspeech 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 demandfor, 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 ofwhich had been the supply of qualified personnel available to fill vacant posts. A particularpriority for my Department and the Department of Education and Science in recent years hasbeen the expansion of the supply of therapy graduates. The Government has also investedheavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply ofgraduates 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 increasedfrom 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 recentyears, the Government’s ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and main-tained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other health care pro-fessionals employed in the public health services. The numbers employed in speech and langu-age therapy has also grown significantly, from 282 whole time equivalents employed inDecember 1997 rising to 750 whole time equivalents employed in December 2008, which rep-resents an increase of 166%.

The Government is committed to ensuring continued adequate recruitment of professionalstaff across a range of community settings to ensure the continued development of communityservices. Additional funding of \20 million has been provided in 2009 for health and educationservices for children with special educational needs. This funding will provide a total of 125additional therapy posts in the HSE targeted at children of school-going age. 90 of these willbe in the disability services, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists,and physiotherapists. 35 additional posts will be provided for child and adolescent mental healthservices, including clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and languagetherapists for new and existing multi-disciplinary teams.

In addition, it is intended that certain key health and social care professional posts, includingspeech and language therapists, are to be protected by setting employment floors for thesegrades within the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2009. These posts are essential to thedevelopment of a number of services areas such as disability (including speech and languagetherapy), child adolescent mental health services and child protection services. In order toprotect these posts, it is envisaged that the HSE will establish minimum employment levels tobe maintained within each of these occupations in the health sector in 2009. The recruitment

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and retention of these key front line professional posts is vital to ensure continued progress inthe development of community settings.

With regard to the number of speech and language therapists appointed to the TipperaryNorth region, it is a matter for the HSE to manage and deploy its human resources to bestmeet the requirements of its Annual Service Plan for the delivery of health and personal socialservices 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 ofpeople in Tipperary north awaiting speech and language therapy services, including thoseawaiting assessment and those awaiting therapy; the number of speech and language therapistsin 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 forchildren seeking speech therapy in Tipperary north; if she will compare them with other areasnationally; 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): Ipropose to take Questions Nos. 310 and 311 together.

As the Deputy’s questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to bereferred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

312. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Health and Children the number ofchildren in north Tipperary awaiting orthodontic treatment including those awaiting assess-ment; the number of orthodontists in Tipperary north; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4581/09]


Hospital Services.

313. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of peopleon outpatient waiting lists for surgical procedures in Health Service Executive south; and if shewill make a statement on the matter. [4639/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter, it hasbeen referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Health Services.

314. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health and Children the involvement ofthe Health Service Executive with regard to a centre (details supplied) in County Cork forplacement of persons over 18 years who are diagnosed as autistic; the funding provided by theHSE to this centre; the admissions policy therein; if she is satisfied that the centre can caterfor the level of demand existing for its services; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4640/09]



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316. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health and Children when a medical cardappeals officer for Dublin north will be appointed; the reason for the delay; and if she willmake a statement on the matter. [4645/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): As this is a service matter it hasbeen 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 willtake to meet the shortage of speech therapists currently in the health service here; her plansto increase the number of speech therapists; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4655/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): There has been a growing demandfor, 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 ofwhich had been the supply of qualified personnel available to fill vacant posts. A particularpriority for my Department and the Department of Education and Science in recent years hasbeen the expansion of the supply of therapy graduates. The Government has also investedheavily in the education and training of such personnel in order to secure a good supply ofgraduates 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 increasedfrom 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 recentyears, the Government’s ongoing high level of investment in health has achieved and main-tained significant increases in the numbers of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionalsemployed in the public health services. The numbers employed in speech and language therapyhas also grown significantly, from 282 whole time equivalents employed in December 1997rising to 750 whole time equivalents employed in December 2008, which represents an increaseof 166%.

The Government is committed to ensuring continued adequate recruitment of professionalstaff across a range of community settings to ensure the continued development of communityservices. Additional funding of \20 million has been provided in 2009 for health and educationservices for children with special educational needs. This funding will provide a total of 125additional therapy posts in the HSE targeted at children of school-going age. 90 of these willbe in the disability services, including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists,and physiotherapists. 35 additional posts will be provided for child and adolescent mental healthservices, including clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, and speech and languagetherapists for new and existing multi-disciplinary teams.

In addition, it is intended that certain key health and social care professional posts, includingspeech and language therapists, are to be protected by setting employment floors for thesegrades within the Health Service Executive (HSE) in 2009. These posts are essential to thedevelopment of a number of services areas such as disability (including speech and languagetherapy), child adolescent mental health services and child protection services. In order toprotect these posts, it is envisaged that the HSE will establish minimum employment levels tobe maintained within each of these occupations in the health sector in 2009. The recruitmentand retention of these key front line professional posts is vital to ensure continued progress inthe development of community settings.

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318. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will considergranting 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 hasbeen 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 cancelledas there are no funds available. [4713/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Maire Hoctor): As thisis 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 theconcerns expressed by a council (details supplied) at the termination of a youth project, he willmake funding available to allow the project to continue; and if she will make a statement onthe matter. [4758/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews): Iunderstand 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 Projectto be considered for funding in 2008 under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. This wasone of 85 new applications received under this Scheme in 2008. The Department was not in aposition to approve funding for the project in 2008 owing to budgetary constraints and the highlevel of existing commitments in the sector.

As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for Youth Affairs transferred to my Departmentwith effect from 1 January 2009. In light of budgetary constraints in 2009 and in an effort toconsolidate and preserve existing provision, the Youth Affairs Section of my Department willnot 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 whetherit is justified for the Health Service Executive to expend \33,000 on artwork for a disabilitycentre (details supplied) in County Westmeath at a time when funding to disability serviceproviders 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 aggregatebudget that has been made available to fund day care places for persons with an intellectualdisability in 2009; the number of additional places that it is hoped to provide with this funding;

207


[Deputy Richard Bruton.]

the number of day places which she hopes to provide in centres (details supplied); the expectedintake of additional clients in these centres that it will facilitate; and if she will make a statementon the matter. [4781/09]



323. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health and Children the private con-sultancy firms her Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to her Department foreach 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 regard-ing consultancy expenditure for 2008 is currently being compiled and will shortly be forwardeddirectly to the Deputy.

Only one new consultancy has commenced since 14 October 2008. All other consultanciesentered into by my Department commenced prior to that date.


324. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Health and Children the cost of bonuspayments made to staff in her Department for 2008; the amount set aside in her Departmentfor bonus payments in 2009; if she will make a statement on the circumstances where a staffbonus will be paid in 2009. [4833/09]

Minister for Health and Children (Deputy Mary Harney): The Performance Related AwardsScheme (PRA) was introduced following a decision by the Government on the implementationof the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. The operation of the schemeis 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 paymentsmade in 2008 in respect of 2007 is available at:

http://www.finance.gov.ie/documents/publications/reports/2008/cpareport07final.pdf. No pay-ments have been made to eligible officers in my Department in respect of performance in 2008and 2009.

In addition an Exceptional Performance Award scheme is open to staff at Principal Officerlevel and below. No exceptional performance awards were made in 2008 and the scheme iscurrently under review.


325. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Minister for Health and Children the provisionbeing made for non-nursing staff at Heatherside Hospital, Buttevant, County Cork followingthe planned relocation of the care facility; the number who will be redeployed; the numberwho will be made redundant; the redundancy payment arrangements which will be made; ifshe has discussed with the Health Service Executive the reason for the relocation of the facility

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in view of the fact that there was substantial expenditure in 2008 for refurbishment of thebuilding; 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 hasbeen 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 withrespect to the application for domiciliary care allowance for persons (details supplied) inCounty Wicklow. [4854/09]


327. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if she will supportthe case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [4864/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Maire Hoctor): As thisis a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Foreign Adoptions.


Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Barry Andrews): TheAdoption Bill, 2009, which will give force of law to the Hague Convention on the Protectionof Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, was published on Friday23 January, 2009. Under the new legislation, prospective adoptive parents will be able to adoptfrom countries which have also ratified the Hague Convention, and countries with whichIreland has a bilateral agreement which meets Hague standards.

My Office is currently working on drafting a bilateral agreement with Vietnam and is alsoexamining the possibility of negotiating bilateral agreements with the Russian Federation andEthiopia. As regards the Russian Federation, there have been informal discussions throughnormal diplomatic channels regarding a bilateral agreement. My Office is also undertakingpreparatory work to consider the contents of such an agreement, including anticipating thelikely requirements of the Russian Federation.

While every effort will be made to conclude a bilateral agreement in advance of any of theproposed changes in Irish law taking effect, it must be acknowledged that these matters will bedetermined 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 numberof other beds including rehabilitation and respite; her plans to increase or decrease thesenumbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4922/09]

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Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy Maire Hoctor): During2008, 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 servicematter 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 tothe submission from an association (details supplied) outlining their four major concerns forthe 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 submissionfrom an association (details supplied) to the Commission for Civil Aviation; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [4362/09]

335. Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Transport his views on the recent sub-mission from an association (details supplied) to the Commission for Civil Aviation; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4340/09]

342. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport when he plans to implement therequired reform of travel trade regulations to overhaul travel trade regulation and to enhanceprotection of the travelling consumer by introducing a system of universal protection for thetravelling public reform of the bonding requirements on agents, cutting red-tape and adminis-trative burdens and taking a harder line on illegal trading; and if he will make a statement onthe 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 forAviation Regulation. I have no function in this regard.

However, as the existing legislative framework for the regulation of the travel trade has beenin existence since 1982 in May last year I asked the Commission to undertake a comprehensivereview of the travel trade legislation. The purpose of the review was to assess the operation ofthe current regulatory arrangements and to recommend any reforms that may be warranted.

Following an extensive consultation process, the Commission submitted a report to me on30 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 alsoconsult with my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, on the report’sfindings in the context of consumer protection policy generally. I will also be meeting the IrishTravel Agents Association tomorrow where there will be a discussion on regulatory reform ofthe Travel Trade.

Regional Harbours.

331. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport the number of boards (detailssupplied) throughout the country which have been transferred to a local authority in tabularform; the boards in question; and the local authority in question to which it has been transferredif it has been transferred. [4280/09]

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Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The following regional harbours have beentransferred 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 toexist upon transfer.

332. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport if a board (details supplied) inCounty Mayo has been transferred to a local authority. [4282/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Noel Ahern): The process is atan advanced stage for the transfer of Westport Harbour to Mayo County Council.


Coast Guard Stations.

334. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Transport when construction work willcommence on a new marine station for the Doolin unit of the Coastguard, County Clare; andif he will make a statement on the matter. [4525/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Transport (Deputy Noel Ahern): The Office of PublicWorks have advised my Department that they are in the process of purchasing a suitable siteclose to Doolin Pier for a Coast Guard Station House. Survey work in connection with thisprocess is underway.

Subject to the successful conclusion of this process by OPW and in consultation with theCoast Guard, OPW architectural staff will produce plans for the Station House taking accountof operational and planning requirements prior to submission of a planning application to ClareCounty Council.


Road Network.

336. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport when the preferred selectedroute of the new Mullingar to Longford motorway will be decided on; if there will be furtherpublic consultation, following the selection of the emerging preferred route, to minimise theimpact on land owners and local people; when the project will be completed; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4373/09]

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Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): As Minister for Transport, I have responsi-bility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element ofTransport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for theNational Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the localauthorities concerned.

Industrial Relations.

337. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Transport the position of his Departmentin relation to the transfer of 2000 employees in 1990 from Aer Lingus to Team Aer Lingusresulting in a breach of an ICTU agreement and which was held by the Supreme Court in 2005to be in breach of an irrevocable guarantee of employment for those employees; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4464/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The arrangements agreed between AerLingus and those workers who were transferred to TEAM Aer Lingus in 1990 are a matter forthe company. I have no function in the matter.

Planning Issues.

338. Deputy Emmet Stagg asked the Minister for Transport if he has received correspon-dence from local residents in relation to concerns over the ownership, operation of, and exemp-tions from planning permission of a tower (details supplied) in County Mayo; and when he willdirect that an official from the Irish Aviation Authority meet with local residents to hear andaddress their concerns. [4527/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): My Department has no record of receivingany such correspondence.

I am advised by the Irish Aviation Authority that the Authority has a radar station onDooncarton Mountain, Glengad, Co Mayo. This is one of a number of such radar stationsaround the country. It was built in the mid 1990s in accordance with planning permissiongranted by Mayo County Council.

I am further advised by the Authority that it understands that a planning application hasrecently been lodged with Mayo County Council by another party on a site adjacent to theradar station. I am advised that this site and proposed lattice tower development is not associ-ated 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 localauthority (details supplied) to construct park and ride facilities; the amount of funding providedto 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 forpark and ride proposals for Local Authorities in the Greater Dublin Area. I have no currentproposals 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 Flexibusin an area (details supplied) under the rural transport programme in 2007 and 2008; the fundingallocated in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4716/09]

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341. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a commitmentto prioritising funding for Flexibus and other rural transport initiatives in view of their positivecontribution to the lives of many people living in rural areas; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4717/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and341 together.

Pobal administers the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) on behalf of my Department andis working with 37 individual rural transport groups around the country, including Flexibus, toexpand it on a phased basis in response to local public transport service needs and havingregard to the availability of resources.

Euro 10 million was allocated for the RTP in 2008, up from Euro 9 million in 2007. Euro 11million has been allocated for the Programme in 2009.

Pobal makes specific funding allocations to the individual RTP groups from funding providedby my Department. Neither I nor my Department have any role in relation to the day to daymanagement 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 Euro327,765 in 2008. The allocation for 2009 will be in the region of Euro 350,000.



343. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport the private consultancy firmshis Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 todate in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and ifhe will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4822/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The information requested by the Deputyis being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as possible.


344. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Transport the cost of bonus paymentsmade to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonuspayments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will bepaid in 2009. [4837/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): The scheme for performance-related awardsin the Civil Service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. Thetotal amount paid under this scheme to Officers in my Department for 2008 (in respect of2007) 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 availablein the annual reports of the Committee for Performance Awards which can be accessed on thewebsite of the Department of Finance www.finance.gov.ie. In approving awards the Committeeconsider 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

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[Deputy Damien English.]

to the State of road resurfacing works per kilometre of surface dressing and of restorationimprovement. [4842/09]

Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): Information available in my Departmenton the cost per kilometer of works on regional and local roads is in respect of the State fundedroad 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 worksunder those two categories in 2008 is set out in the following table.

Year Average Cost per km of Surface Average Cost per km of RestorationDressing Improvement

2008 \19,813 \84,767

Prison Building Programme.

346. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if hewill provide updated costings on Parliamentary Question No. 384 of 24 June 2008; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4254/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): As part of myreview of submissions received in relation to the Environmental Impact Assessment, I accededto requests to further screen the boundary wall for residents directly on the boundary. As partof this I have instructed that further landscaping be undertaken including the planting of maturetrees. The process of determining the exact numbers to be planted and the cost involved hasnot yet been completed.

Citizenship Applications.

347. Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whena person (details supplied) in County Wexford can expect to have their application for natural-isation 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 fora certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy’s Question was receivedin the Citizenship Division of my Department in July 2007. Officials in that section inform methat the application is at an advanced stage of processing and the file will be forwarded to mefor a decision in due course.

348. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reformthe 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 fora certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy’s Question was receivedin the Citizenship Division of my Department in December, 2008. The average processingtime from application to decision is now at 23 months. The Citizenship Division is currentlycommencing further processing of applications received in mid 2007. More complicated casescan at times take more than the current average while an element of straight forward cases arenow 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 applicationsfor naturalisation must be processed in a way which preserves the necessary checks and

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balances to ensure that it is not undervalued and is only given to persons who genuinely satisfythe necessary qualifying criteria.

349. Deputy Bernard Allen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform whena decision will be made on the application for naturalisation by a person (details supplied) inCounty Cork. [4398/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): An application fora certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to in the Deputy’s Question was receivedin the Citizenship Division of my Department in March 2006.

Officials in that section inform me that the application is at an advanced stage of processingand 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 hewill support a matter (details supplied). [4412/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I am informed bythe Garda authorities that the area referred to is in the Coolock Sub-District. The area issubject to regular patrols by uniform and plain clothes units, including the Community PolicingUnit. Patrols are supplemented by the Divisional Task Force and Divisional Traffic Units. TheCommunity Policing Unit has lead responsibility for policing in this area and has evolved apartnership approach to problem solving with the community. Members of the Unit maintaincontact 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 crimesof violence against persons and property, the prevention of public order offences and themaintenance of an environment conducive to the improvement of the quality of life of theresidents. This strategy is, and will continue to be, central to the delivery of the policing servicein this area.

Garda Operations.

351. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if hewill 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 therecords in my Department and in the Garda Sıochana has failed to locate any reference to acase under the Garda Sıochana (Compensation) Acts, 1941 to 1945, relating to the personconcerned. The records show that solicitors acting on behalf of the person were provided witha similar response in 2002. If the Deputy can provide any additional details the matter can bechecked further.

Prison Accommodation.

352. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform theweekly average cost of keeping a person in prison. [4424/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): Currently the aver-age annual cost of keeping a person in custody is calculated by the Irish Prison Service bydividing the annual running costs of the Irish Prison Service by the average daily number ofoffenders incarcerated during the year. These costs include certain items which are fixed regard-less of the number of offenders in custody, e.g. staffing numbers, utilities and maintenance

215


[Deputy Dermot Ahern.]

costs. In general, capital expenditure is excluded from the calculation in the interests of facilitat-ing comparison between individual institutions. However, certain building projects under theheading ‘small works and environmental projects’ are included.

On that basis the latest available figure of \97,700 relates to the average cost of keeping aprisoner in custody during the calendar year 2007. Using this figure, the weekly average costof 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 thenumber of persons committed to prison for non-payment of fines for each of the years 2004 to2008. [4425/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The number ofpersons committed to prison custody as a consequence of the non-payment of a court orderedfine during the years 2004 to 2007 is set out in the following table. It has not been possible toretrieve the required statistical information for 2008 in the timeframe available. This will beforwarded to the Deputy in due course.

Year Number of Persons

2004 1,599

2005 1,798

2006 1,089

2007 1,335

I can advise the Deputy that the number of such persons held in custody at any one time is atiny fraction of the overall prisoner population. To illustrate this point, figures relating to 9February, 2009 indicate that approximately 0.62 percent of the numbers in prison custody fellinto this category.

354. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform thenumber of persons committed to prison for non-payment of debts for each of the years 2004to 2008. [4426/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): Statistics on thenumber of committals to prison custody as a result of failure to comply with a court order inrelation to the non-payment of a civil debt are set out in the following table. The table coversthe 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 atiny fraction of the overall prisoner population. To illustrate this point, figures relating to 9February, 2009 indicate that less than 0.4 percent of the numbers in prison custody fell into

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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.


355. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform ifhis attention has been drawn to the situation that has developed at an organisation (detailssupplied) 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 paymoneys due to staff for work done and services rendered; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4463/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I am glad to saythat, following consultations with my Department, the organisation is putting in place new andnecessary structures that enable it to meet its liabilities and to support disability groups throughits 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 thebudgetary provisions for the tackling of drugs and crime by the gardaı, the national drugsstrategy, the local drugs task forces and the community projects; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4477/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The Garda NationalDrugs Unit is the primary unit within An Garda Sıochana charged with responsibility for drugsupply law enforcement. I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnelstrength of the Garda National Drugs Unit on 31 December 2008, the latest date for whichfigures are readily available, was 60.

Since the publication of the Government’s National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, Gardaresources in the fight against illicit drugs have increased. This is particularly evident with thecreation of additional Divisional Drug Units in areas of particular need. These Drugs Unitsoperate in Divisions throughout the country with a primary focus on local drugs activities. Thetotal 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 theirwork 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 GardaNational Drugs Unit (GNDU) in 2008 was approximately \5.3m. In addition, the resourcesused by the Divisional Drugs Units, Divisional Task Force Units and Community PolicingUnits towards fighting drug crime around the country are estimated at approximately \25mper annum. The overall Garda budget for this year is \1.589 billion. Priority will continue tobe given to frontline policing including targeting resources at serious and organised crimeincluding drug trafficking.

In relation to the budgetary provisions for the National Drugs Strategy, the local drugs taskforces and the community projects which they support, as the Deputy will appreciate, that is a

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matter which comes under the remit of the Department of Community, Rural and GaeltachtAffairs.

Visa Applications.

357. Deputy Sean O Fearghaıl asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform theposition regarding a visa application in respect of a person (details supplied); if he will allowthe 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 applicationreferred to by the Deputy was received in the Visa Office, Dublin on 5 January 2009. Followingconsideration by a Visa Officer it was refused on 2 February 2009 for a number of reasons: theevidence of finances submitted was deemed insufficient; the immigration history of the appli-cant; there were inconsistencies with regard to the application in that there were contradictionsin 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 websiteof 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 hisviews on the legitimacy of having an upper age limit of 35 years for entry into An GardaSıochana 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 Sıoch-ana (Admissions and Appointments)(Amendment) Regulations 2004 (SI No 749 of 2004) setthe maximum age for recruitment to An Garda Sıochana for all applicants, irrespective ofservice elsewhere, at 35 years. This maximum age was recommended by the Garda Com-missioner taking all relevant factors into account, including the training and operationalrequirements of the Force and applicable legislation. There are currently no proposals toincrease the age limit.


359. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the costto the State of providing security against possible incursions by anti-war activists and the protec-tion of US military equipment and personnel at Shannon airport in 2005, 2006, 2007 and2008. [4514/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): The informationsought in the Deputy’s Question is being collated at present. I will revert to the Deputy withthe details when they are completed.

Garda Deployment.

360. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform thenumber of gardaı in the Clare division at the end of 2006, 2007 and 2008; and the number ofgardaı employed at each station in the division at the end of 2006, 2007 and 2008. [4515/09]

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Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I have beeninformed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of each Garda Station in theClare 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 personnelstrengths of individual Divisions, Districts and Stations may fluctuate due, for example, topromotions, retirements and transfers.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Forcetaking all relevant factors into account. In that regard, the needs of the Garda Division referredto by the Deputy will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context ofthe needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.

Drug Seizures.

361. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform thenumber of drug seizures in Clare in 2006, 2007 and 2008; the quantity of drugs seized in each

219


[Deputy Paul Gogarty.]

year and the quantity of each type of drug; and the number employed in the Clare division’sdrug unit in 2006, 2007 and 2008. [4516/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): In the time avail-able it has not been possible to compile the detailed statistics requested. I will communicatefurther 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 Reformthe number of gardaı currently deployed to Maynooth Garda Station, County Kildare; theextent to which numbers have fluctuated in the past twelve months; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4529/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I have beeninformed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Maynooth Garda Stationon 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 mayfluctuate due, for example, to retirements, resignations etc. It is the responsibility of the GardaDivisional Officer to allocate personnel within his or her Division taking everything intoaccount. The situation will be kept under review and when additional personnel next becomeavailable the needs of Maynooth Garda Station will be fully considered within the overallcontext of policing requirements throughout the country.

Residency Permits.

363. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reformwhen 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 renewalrequirements; 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 replyto Parliamentary Question 148 of 5 February 2009. The person to whom the Deputy refers wasgranted permission to remain in the State in November of 2004.

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I am informed that this permission was subsequently renewed on 7 December 2007 andexpired on 7 December 2008. I am also informed that the person concerned subsequentlypresented 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 inquestion 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 hisDepartment 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 thetown. [4574/09]

365. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform thecurrent hours of garda presence in a town (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the stationthat covers the town in case of emergency in the event of no garda presence; the length of timeit 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 takeQuestions Nos. 364 and 365 together.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of NewportGarda Station on 31 December 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was6. At that date, Newport Garda Station formed part of Killaloe Garda District in Clare GardaDivision. However, since 1 January 2009 Newport Garda Station forms part of Nenagh GardaDistrict in Tipperary Garda Division.

Newport Garda Station is open to the public from 10am to 12.30pm Monday to Fridaydepending on the rostered tour of duty of members attached to the station and patrols arenormally carried out by personnel from that Garda Station. Outside of these times, or in theevent of an emergency, members of An Garda Sıochana from the District Headquarters inNenagh carry out patrols in the area referred to and provide an incident response. Additionalresources are also available from other units in the Tipperary Division and adjacent Districtsand Divisions.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Forcetaking everything into account. The situation will be kept under review and when additionalpersonnel next become available the needs of Newport Garda Station will be fully consideredwithin 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 focusof the Bill on multi-unit developments will be on ensuring good governance of property man-agement companies and similar bodies which comprise the owners of individual units withinmulti-unit developments and which exercise management functions in relation to such devel-opments. It is also intended to include provisions for the resolution of disputes arising inrelation to such matters. Responsibilities for various aspects of reform in this area extend

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principally to my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and theDepartment of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

Courts Service.

367. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if plansare in place to extend the Drug Treatment Courts to Dublin City and specifically the Dublin8 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, hasbeen placed on a permanent footing and extended to the Dublin 7 area. The Court uses amulti-disciplinary approach and involves a range of Government Departments and agenciescharged with dealing with various aspects of the problem of drug misuse. The Court operateswith 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 theExchequer position and officials are looking at best practice elsewhere to see how the Court’sthroughput levels might be increased. It is intended to conclude this examination as soon aspossible.


368. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform theprivate consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October2008 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 informationsought by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him shortly.


369. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform thecost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in hisDepartment for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstanceswhere a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4834/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I assume that theDeputy is referring to performance-related awards schemes for civil servants, which fall intotwo 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 wasbased 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 underthis scheme in respect of 2008 and, on 5 February last, the Minister for Finance announcedthat the Government has decided to abolish these bonuses subject to discussions on the imple-mentation 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

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from sanctioned subheads. However, this scheme was effectively suspended in my Departmentin 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 undereither scheme in 2009.

Garda Deployment.

370. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform thenumber of community police officers in Tallaght Garda Station, Dublin, in 2009 and in eachyear over the past three years. [4851/09]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I have beeninformed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Community Gardaı attached toTallaght Garda Station on 31 December 2005 to 2008, the latest date for which figures arereadily 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 andwhen they arise. It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnelthroughout the Force taking everything into account. The situation will be kept under reviewand when additional personnel next become available the allocation of Community Gardaı willbe 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 holdtalks with the new American administration regarding the undocumented Irish in America.[4235/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Micheal Martin): The Government is strongly commit-ted 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 andmaking progress will be challenging.

The members of the new Administration and Congress are currently taking up office inWashington, and the Government is in the process of establishing substantive contact withthem. In doing so, we are building on the extensive work on behalf of the undocumentedthat the Government has carried out over recent years with many of those now within theAdministration. The Taoiseach, I and other members of Government will use the uniqueopportunity 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.

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[Deputy Micheal Martin.]

Our Ambassador in Washington will continue to attach the highest priority to this issue inhis ongoing contacts with the Obama Administration. More broadly, the Government isactively seeking to reform our overall migration arrangements with the United States. Inaddition to our work on behalf of the undocumented, the Government recently concluded anew Working Holiday Agreement with the United States and is working to secure the passageof legislation which would enable Irish citizens to avail of the E3 working visa currently opento Australians.

Human Rights Issues.

372. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the situationin Tibet at present; his views on the fact that Tibetan citizens may continue to be oppressedby the state; the action, he and the European Union have taken on this issue; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4271/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Micheal Martin): I remain deeply concerned by thesituation in Tibet. Reports in recent weeks suggest that the Chinese authorities have beenengaged in a new security operation in the capital, Lhasa. Some reports indicate that checkson almost 6,000 people have taken place and that around 80 to date have been detained. Atthe 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 widerhuman rights situation in Tibet remain of concern.

The Government continues to convey its concerns about the situation in Tibet directly tothe Chinese authorities in our regular contacts with them in Dublin and Beijing and in thecontext of regular bilateral discussions on human rights issues. Through these contacts, wecontinue to underline the importance Ireland attaches to the development of a meaningfuldialogue between the Chinese authorities and the Dalai Lama, so that all issues of concern canbe fully addressed. We also strongly support, and engage actively in, EU action in relationto Tibet.

I continue to believe that dialogue between the Chinese Government and the Dalai Lamaor his representatives remains the most effective way to achieve the protection of Tibetanculture, identity, religion and human rights, and a greater measure of autonomy for Tibet withinChina. I am pleased that Tibetans in exile meeting in Dharmasala last November endorsed theprinciples 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 thatthe Dalai Lama has proposed.

However, the current pace and substance of the dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Chinahas been unsatisfactory to date. I call on the Chinese government to re-engage in an acceleratedand upgraded dialogue process with the Dalai Lama and his representatives and have consist-ently stressed this view in our dialogue with the Chinese Government. I would be firmly of theview that positive developments in this dialogue will benefit not only the Tibetan people, butalso 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 ofthe Dalai Lama, and could be both dangerous and counter-productive, particularly in the courseof this emotive year, which marks the fiftieth anniversary of the departure of the Dalai Lamafrom Tibet in 1949.

At EU level, the situation in Tibet is regularly raised in the context of the EU-Human Rightsdialogue, to which Ireland contributes. The most recent dialogue took place in Beijing on 28

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November 2008 and the situation in Tibet was among the issues discussed. The Governmentwill continue to monitor carefully the situation in Tibet and it will remain high on the agendain our contacts with China.

373. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has signed theagreement which will allow Belarussian children to continue travelling here for humanitarianrespite breaks. [4293/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Micheal Martin): The issue raised by the Deputy is ofgreat importance to me personally and to the large number of host families and organisationswho 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 August2008. I met with Adi Roche of Chernobyl Children’s Project International on 8 September toreview the situation, and also asked the Charge d’Affaires of the Belarusian Embassy inLondon to visit Dublin later that week to open discussions on an agreement to provide aframework 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 delegationcomprising officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Minister forChildren and Youth Affairs, to Minsk where they successfully concluded negotiations on abilateral Agreement on the conditions of rest and recuperation of children from the Republicof Belarus in Ireland.

The text of the Agreement was initialled by both parties, and it was agreed that the officialsigning ceremony would take place as soon as a Presidential Decree issued which would exemptIreland 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 confirmedthat children would be allowed to travel over the Christmas period. I was especially pleasedthat these visits were able to go ahead, as this was an issue that I had pressed strongly in mycontacts with Belarusian Foreign Minister Martynov. I have been gratified by the extremelypositive 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 theAgreement would be signed on 30 January 2009 in Minsk. However, my Department wasinformed last week that a Presidential Decree, which is required to be signed in advance of thesigning of the Agreement, has yet to issue. For this reason, it did not prove possible to proceedwith signature, and it has now been postponed. The Belarusian side also sought some textualchanges to the Agreement, and these are being examined at present.

My Department is maintaining regular contact with the Belarusian authorities, and we areprepared to sign the Agreement at the earliest opportunity. It is my intention to have theAgreement signed as soon as possible after the required Presidential Decree issues and well inadvance 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 thepeace process in Colombia and encourage inclusive negotiations following recent positiveevents. [4347/09]

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Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Micheal Martin): The events of the past week, whichsaw the release of six hostages, including the last politicians to be held by the Fuerzas ArmadasRevolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), are very welcome.

The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an endto 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 andreintegration of illegal armed groups into Colombian society. The Justice and Peace Law, whichwas adopted through a lengthy democratic political process, strikes a difficult balance betweenpeace and justice.

The process of peace negotiations between the Colombian Government and the right-wingparamilitary group, Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) began in 2003, with between30,000 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 deColombia (FARC), and the Government have not yet commenced.

The EU has expressed its total solidarity with the Colombian people, its full support for theColombian Government in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflictand underlined the importance the EU attaches to the ongoing implementation of the Justiceand Peace Law. The EU has further expressed its hope that progress would be made in takingforward negotiations in order to reach a humanitarian agreement, to secure the release of allhostages, 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 theobjective of promoting a successful peace process are welcome.

The Government will continue to monitor the situation in Colombia through our Embassyin Mexico City, which is accredited to Colombia, as well as in cooperation with our EU partnerswith resident diplomatic missions in that country. We are fully supportive of efforts to bring apeaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia, and will continue to support the Governmentof Colombia in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflict, includingthrough direct engagement. We very much welcome the mediation of third parties in the pursuitof 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 wemay, as appropriate, contribute to the peace process in Colombia.

375. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will work for anend 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 toput 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 Micheal Martin): I propose to take Questions Nos. 375and 385 together.

I am deeply concerned by the escalation in fighting which has taken place in recent monthsin the northern part of Sri Lanka and by the terrible effects this is having on the local popu-lation, including thousands of internally displaced persons. I am particularly shocked by reportsof the repeated shelling last week of the PTK hospital, which has resulted in the deaths of 12people. While I would wish to see an end to all fighting, I appeal in particular to both theGovernment of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) not to fire out

226


of, or into the no-fire zone established by the Government or in the vicinity of this or anyother hospital.

The parties must also allow food and medical assistance to reach those trapped by the fight-ing. There must be full cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross so asto facilitate the evacuation of urgent medical cases and to ensure the safety of aid and medicalworkers. Both the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka must respect international humani-tarian law. Both must recognise that further loss of life — of civilians and combatants — servesno cause.

Bilaterally, and with our EU partners, Ireland has consistently sought to impress on bothsides the importance of engaging in meaningful peace talks and stopping all violence and humanrights violations. We deeply regret the termination of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement betweenthe Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE last year. We continue to take the firm view thatthere 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 andDevelopment of Sri Lanka, the EU has been anxious to maintain an active role in assisting thecountry to resolve its internal conflicts, work on national reconciliation and move forward onthe 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 LTTEto declare a temporary cease-fire to allow for the evacuation of the sick and wounded and forthe provision of aid to civilians. I support also the call by the Co-Chairs on the LTTE to discusswith the Government of Sri Lanka the modalities for ending hostilities, including the layingdown of arms, the renunciation of violence, the acceptance of the Government of Sri Lanka’soffer of amnesty; and for its participation as a political party in a process to achieve a just andlasting political solution.

I will continue to make clear the Government’s very deep concerns about the situation inSri Lanka. We will seek compliance by all parties with international humanitarian law and urgethe resumption without delay of an inclusive political process. Such a process should addressthe legitimate concerns and interests of both the main communities on the island. Shouldthe relevant parties seek our advice in relation to a negotiated peace process, we would giveconsideration as to how we could best help.

Ireland will continue to support the efforts of the Co-Chairs, working in concert with theUN and the EU, to address the political and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. We hopethat an EU Troika visit to Sri Lanka at Ministerial level will take place shortly. Since 2005, theGovernment has provided, through Irish Aid, more than \5.3 million for humanitarian anddevelopment activities in Sri Lanka, including significant emergency assistance provided in theaftermath of the tsunami in 2004. In addition, over US$12 million was allocated from the UN’sCentral Emergency Response Fund to Sri Lanka during 2008. Ireland is currently the seventhlargest 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 thecurrent 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 tocut funding to the overseas aid package for 2009; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4353/09]

227


Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Peter Power): Most ofIreland’s expenditure on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) is provided under Vote 29,International Co-operation. The programme is administered by the Development Co-operationDivision of the Department of Foreign Affairs, also known as Irish Aid. Further contributionsto ODA are made by other Government Departments and through Ireland’s allocation to theEU 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 onthe poorest people in the least developed countries in Africa. We are taking a leadership roleinternationally on the global hunger crisis, and the aid programme will continue to reflect thispriority in 2009 and beyond.

Last October, under the Budget for 2009, the Government allocated a total of \891 millionfor ODA. Of this, \754 million was provided under Vote 29 with a further \137 million beingcontributed 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 reducethe total ODA budget for 2009 to \796 million. The decision was taken as part of the deter-mined effort to curb public expenditure in order to establish a platform for the resumption ofstrong economic growth, and further expansion of the Government’s development programmein years to come.

Visa Applications.

377. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will support thecase of a person (details supplied). [4408/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Micheal Martin): As noted in my response to theDeputy’s previous question about a visa for this individual (PQ 1008/09) I am not in a positionto support individual visa applications.

It is the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform rather than my own Departmentwhich has primary responsibility for visa and immigration policy and, in particular, for makingdecisions on individual visa applications where there is a previous history of an asylum appli-cation or deportation as would appear to be the case in this instance.


378. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount offunds allocated through Irish Aid for the provision of family planning, reproductive healthservices and commodities in the years 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008; and if he will make a state-ment on the matter. [4697/09]

379. Deputy Caoimhghın O Caolain asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he hastaken to achieve the new 2005 Millennium Development Goal target 5b of universal access toreproductive 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 totake Questions Nos. 378 and 379 together.

Universal access to reproductive health is one of the goals of the Programme of Actionagreed at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. In

228


addition, the fifth Millennium Development Goal is to (a) reduce by three-quarters thematernal mortality ratio and (b) achieve universal access to reproductive health, by 2015. TheGovernment is committed to action in support of this goal, which is also important in tacklingHIV and AIDS.

The Government’s 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid outlines our commitment to supporting thespecific health needs of women within our overall approach to health in developing countries. Itmakes clear that addressing women’s health needs, particularly in the areas of basic healthcareand maternal and reproductive health, must lie at the heart of an effective overall response toimproving health in developing countries.

Unfortunately, only limited progress has been made on this issue since the Cairo Conferencein 1994. Every year, some 500,000 women die and a further 10 million suffer from severeillnesses or disabilities as a result of complications in pregnancy and childbirth. Underlying thistragedy is the lack of access by women in developing countries to good quality maternal andreproductive health, including family planning.

The Government, through Irish Aid, works with several partner agencies in the UN systemto address maternal health issues. One of the main obstacles to the achievement of universalaccess 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 tothe core funding of UNFPA in recent years — \2.9 million in 2005, \3.1 million in 2006, \4.5million in 2007 and \4.5 million in 2008. In 2006 the Government also contributed \0.5 millionto the UNFPA Trust Fund for Global Reproductive Health Commodities Security, with furthercontributions of \1 million in 2007 and \1 million in 2008. In 2007, we also contributed \2million to the UNFPA Trust Fund on Maternal Health, \0.5 million to the Fistula ThematicTrust 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 toUNFPA.

In recognition of the importance of its work on gender, reproductive health, maternal mor-tality 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 predict-able funding for the years 2008-2011.


380. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the private consultancyfirms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October2008 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 Micheal Martin): The Department of Foreign Affairsis responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (InternationalCooperation). The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables forboth 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 skillsare not available within the Department and, particularly in the case of Irish Aid (Ireland’sofficial development assistance programme), where ongoing independent evaluation of prog-

229


[Deputy Micheal Martin.]

rammes and projects is required. Given the overall scale of the Irish Aid Programme, I amsatisfied 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 budgetaryprovision for consultancies in my Department has been reduced by 50% in 2009 over the2008 allocation.

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381. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the cost of bonus pay-ments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department forbonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonuswill be paid in 2009. [4832/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Micheal Martin): During 2008, the Department ofForeign Affairs implemented the following schemes involving awards to staff: the Scheme ofPerformance 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 andAssistant 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 theperformance of 48 officers during the preceding calendar year. These payments were subjectto tax and PRSI. The awards were made by the Committee for Performance Awards, chairedby the Secretary General for Public Service Management and Development in the Departmentof Finance, following recommendations by the Secretary General of the Department ofForeign Affairs.

Details of the operation of the Performance Related Pay Awards scheme are available inthe annual reports of the Committee for Performance Awards. The Committee’s April 2008report 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 pay-ments have been made in 2009 in respect of performance in 2008.

Exceptional Performance Awards

Under the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Administrative Budget Agreement with theDepartment of Finance, a fund amounting to 0.2% of the Department’s salaries budget hasbeen made available each year to the Secretary General in respect of ex-gratia payments orother awards to individual staff members or groups of staff, by way of recognition of excep-tional performance of duty.

In 2008, a total of \156,500 was paid to 309 staff under this scheme, which is administeredby a sub-group of the Department’s Partnership Committee. The sub-group assesses nomi-nations 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 byofficers in grades up to and including Counsellor/Principal Officer level.

The Exceptional Performance fund also provides for officers in the Department with at least25 years’ experience to receive an award in recognition of their long service. This award com-prises a gift of \250 along with a special commemorative coin. In 2008, a total of \18,840 wasspent in providing such Long Service Awards to 66 officers.

No decision has yet been taken on the payment of Exceptional Performance Awards or LongService Awards in 2009.

Passport Applications.

382. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if a citizen of the State,

239


[Deputy Damien English.]

who has an Irish birth certificate on which their name was recorded in English, can apply for anIrish 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 procedurethat a person aged 17 years must follow in order to attain their first passport under their Irishname when the birth certificate they possess has their name in English; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4839/09]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Deputy Micheal Martin): I propose to take Questions Nos. 382and 383 together.

Section 10 of the Passports Act 2008 provides that a passport issued under the Act “shall bein the name of the applicant as it appears in his or her certificate of birth (whether in theEnglish language or the Irish language) or, as may be appropriate, a certificate of naturalisationor 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 maybe issued in a new name following marriage. Section 10(4) permits the issuing of a passport ina name other than the name on the certificate of birth, where the applicant provides satisfactoryevidence of the use of the new name over a period of at least two years prior to the dateof 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 onthe certificate of birth or other evidence of citizenship is entered as an observation in thepassport 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 thatmay arise, for example, when a person is applying for visas or work permits abroad, due to thename on his or her passport differing from the name entered on a certificate of birth or previouspassport. Although its inclusion is optional in the case of applicants who have the required twoyears satisfactory evidence of usage of the new name, in accordance with Section 10(5), it is arequirement 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 Englishlanguage, he or she may apply for a passport in his or her name in the Irish language byproviding satisfactory evidence of usage of that form of the name. This provision also extendsto cases where a person seeks a passport in the English form of the name but the certificate ofbirth 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 savingsaccount details, school records and reports or a letter from the family doctor certifying that theapplicant 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, asindicated above, of applying for a new passport in the Irish version of his/her name. This canbe granted provided that the applicant can show proof of usage for two years. If this is notavailable, it will be necessary to include the English version of the name as an observation onthe passport for at least two years.


384. Deputy Enda Kenny asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a break-down of the countries which received overall funding of \914 million under a scheme (details

240


supplied) in 2008; the amount each country received; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4853/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Peter Power): Most ofIreland’s expenditure on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) is provided under Vote 29,International Co-operation. The programme is administered by the Development Co-operationDivision of the Department of Foreign Affairs, also known as Irish Aid. Further contributionsto ODA are made by other Government Departments and through Ireland’s allocation to theEU 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 expenditureallocations in July 2008. In the course of this review, the overall ODA allocation was revisedto \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 fullyutilised and, while the out-turn figure for other ODA has not yet been finalised, it is expectedthat it will be close to the \130 million estimate.

Through Irish Aid, the Government provides assistance to more than 90 countries in thedeveloping world, with a strong focus on the least developed countries and Africa. Nine coun-tries have been designated as Programme Countries, with a commitment to long term strategicassistance. They are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam,Zambia and Timor Leste. In 2008, the total funding allocated to programme assistance inthese nine countries amounted to \218.8 million. A breakdown of these allocations is set outas follows.

A detailed analysis of all expenditure in 2008 under Vote 29 is now being prepared. It willbe 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


Sports Funding.

386. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the fundingavailable for local tennis clubs to improve existing facilities. [4318/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): Under the Sports CapitalProgramme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated towards the pro-vision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. Over 7,400 projects providing a

241


[Deputy Martin Cullen.]

range of essential sports facilities have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998bringing the total allocation in that time to over \725 million. In 2008 over \50m was allocatedtowards 685 separate sports facility and equipment projects, including allocations of \1.778million to 25 tennis projects. These grants continue to play a pivotal role in ensuring the pro-vision of modern, high quality facilities around Ireland that attract more people to participatein sporting activities.

In the 2009 Estimates, \56m has been provided in my Department’s vote to cover paymentsto be made from the C-1 sub-head, out of which grants are paid for the provision of sports andrecreation facilities. As I announced in the House recently no decision has been taken aboutthe timing of future rounds of the Programme.

National Concert Hall.

387. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the nature ofthe planning permission for the National Concert Hall; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4419/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): I refer the Deputy to my replyto Question No. 2482/09 on Wednesday 28th January 2009. As I stated in that reply, the success-ful tenderer for the National Concert Hall PPP project, who should be selected by Autumn2009, 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 ofyears over which it is proposed to pay the private partner for the construction of the AbbeyTheatre, 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 Partnershipcontract for the proposed new National Theatre (Abbey) project has not been awarded yet. Iwould refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No 113 on Wednesday 28January 2009 for the current position.

Performing Arts.

389. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views onsupporting the Irish Team attending the World Championships of Performing Arts 2009; andif he will make a statement on the matter. [4422/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): Government support for theArts 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 ensurethat the necessary funding is provided for an extension to a scout hall (details supplied) inDublin 12 to cater for more than 300 scouts; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[4435/09]

Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Deputy Martin Cullen): Under the Sports CapitalProgramme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated towards the pro-vision of sports facilities at national, regional and local level. The Guidelines, Terms and Con-

242


dition of the Programme specify that only projects with a clear sporting aspect are consideredfor funding. I understand that funding is made available to the Scouting Ireland by my colleaguethe Minister for Education and Science.


391. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the privateconsultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department foreach 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 theDepartment used during the period 1 January to 14 October 2008 are set out below:

Consultancy Purpose Expenditure

\

Q4PR Communications/Public Relations services for Culture 72,000Ireland

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 114,000Consultants London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Raymond Burke Evaluation of Irish Sports Council Value for Money 3,267and Policy Review

Raymond Burke Independent evaluation of the Local Authority 3,354Swimming Pool Programme Expenditure Review aspart of a Value for Money Report conducted byDepartment

Mr. John Travers Chair of the Tourism Strategy Implementation Group, 15,660which produced its Report in June 2008.

Holohan Leisure To provide consultancy advice in relation to an 113,740analysis of sports facility provision in thedevelopment of a strategy for sports facilities

DKM Economic Consultants Update of the Cost Benefit Analysis for the National 3,146Museum 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 Traversand Holohan Leisure, which were engaged prior to 2008, where the contract continued intothat 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 priorto 15 October 2008, where the contract continued beyond that date. Accordingly that contractis on both lists.

243


[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 circum-stances where specialised knowledge or expertise, which is not available in the Department orelsewhere in the public service, is required for a temporary period or a specialist study/projectmust be completed within a very short time scale.


392. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the cost ofbonus 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 astaff 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 equivalentgrades.

On the basis that the awards are confidential to the officer concerned details of individualawards are not disclosed nor is the total amount awarded under the scheme made known inrespect of Departments where there are less than 5 officers covered by the scheme which wouldallow them to be identified, which is the case in the Department. Details of the operation ofthe scheme are available in the report of the Committee for Performance Awards which canbe 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 forbonuses in the Department’s budget for 2009.

Community Development.

393. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairsthe number of premises that were purchased either in part or in full using Exchequer financesduring the course of the LEADER Programme 2001 to 2006; the expenditure paid out by theExchequer in acquiring and maintaining premises during the course of that programme; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter. [4172/09]

394. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairsif premises purchased using Exchequer funds under the LEADER Programme 2001 to 2006will not be used for the LEADER Programme 2007 to 2013; if so, the number of premisesinvolved and their location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4173/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Eamon O Cuıv): I proposeto take Questions Nos. 393 and 394 together.

The rules of the LEADER programmes 2000-2006 did not allow for the use of Exchequeror EU funds for the purchase of premises.

I should point out to the Deputy that the LEADER “bottom-up approach” to rural develop-ment involves the delivery by local groups of rural development measures. However, myDepartment did not establish these Groups. These Groups would have been selected as partof 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 ofpublic funding. In the context of the changes now underway arising from the Cohesion process,

244


my Department is in contact with the companies concerned to ensure protection of the state’sinterest 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 Affairsif groups formed under the LEADER Programme 2001 to 2006 continued to receive fundingfrom his Department in respect of rent and administration in the interim period between theconclusion of the programme and the commencement of the LEADER Programme 2007 to2013; if so, the amount expended in such a way; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4174/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Eamon O Cuıv): In 2007 and2008 LEADER Groups continued work on the implementation and closure of the LEADER+and Area-Based Rural Development Initiatives. Accordingly, revised administration fundingarrangements 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. Projectactivity under the Programmes ended for the majority of Groups in March 2008, at which stagethe significant work required to close the Programmes commenced.

The funding provided did not meet the full administration costs of the Groups, but was acontribution to their core costs. The total amount provided under the revised arrangementsamounted to approx. to \17.7m, covering the period from January 2007 until the commence-ment of the new Rural Development Programme in 2009.

396. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairsthe 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 tocontinue operating outside of the LEADER programme; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4175/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Eamon O Cuıv): I have beeninformed that the number of enterprises assisted to end 2007 under the LEADER Programmes2000-2006 is approx. 5,120. I am not in a position to inform the Deputy, however, how manyof these enterprises are still in operation or how many are likely to continue in operation inthe coming years. The LEADER Programmes do not provide ongoing financial support tothese enterprises, rather support is generally granted towards the capital costs associated withthe start-up or expansion of such enterprises. The Deputy will be aware, however, that underRural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013 funding of \48m will be available under theBusiness Creation and Development measure of the Programme.

35 Local Action Groups and 3 collective bodies were selected, on the basis of a competitiveprocess, to deliver the LEADER Programmes 2000-2006.

For the delivery of Axis 3 & 4 of the Rural Development Programme 2007–2013, using theLEADER approach, 36 Local Action Groups have been selected. Twelve of these are inte-grated 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 GaeltachtAffairs if there is funding available from Pobal to fund managers of community centres in ruralareas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4178/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Eamon O Cuıv): One of thethree categories of projects funded under the Community Services Programme (CSP) operated

245


[Deputy Eamon O Cuıv.]

by my Department provides a funding contribution to the delivery of services from communitycentres. In general, a contribution to the cost of managers is not made unless a compelling casehas been advanced. The last call for proposals under the Community Halls and Facilities Strandof the Programme was made in mid-2008 and I have already announced decisions in relationto this strand. Some of these are outstanding. Given the current economic circumstances, Ihave previously stated that it is unlikely that a call for new proposals will be possible for theforeseeable 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 hallsand facilities; the delivery of services not otherwise provided locally, and support for com-munity enterprise opportunities. The number of people that will be employed by these projectsis estimated to reach 2,600 by the end of 2009. Further proposals under the 2008 Calls arebeing 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 Affairsif 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 Eamon O Cuıv): I understandthat there is no application for grant assistance within my Department for the road referred toby the Deputy.

In order for the road to be evaluated under my Department’s Sceim na mBoithre Aise, anapplication needs to be made and I have arranged that the appropriate form be sent to theDeputy’s office. The question of allocating funds for Gaeltacht roads in 2009 will fall to beconsidered in the context of funding available and outstanding commitments.


399. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs theamount spent in south Tipperary from the Dormant Accounts Fund in the past five years; theamount which will been spent in 2009 under this scheme; and the amount projected to be spentunder this scheme. [4221/09]

400. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs theanticipated expenditure from his Department on foot of various schemes operated and fundedfrom the proceeds of the Dormant Accounts Fund in South Tipperary in 2009; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4222/09]


Funding is provided from the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF), through the votes of relevantDepartments, to tackle disadvantage and to assist persons with a disability. My Departmentmanages 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 fordisadvantaged young people.

Details of the individual grants and organisations that have been approved for support fromthe Fund are available on the Department’s website www.pobail.ie and a county-by-countybreakdown is provided.

246


From an examination of the measures that my Department manages, the position in relationto 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 wasgiven for some \1.3 million in projects; in excess of \450,000 in funding was approved forprojects under Round 2 (2006); and Round 3 (2007) approvals totalled some \360,000.

The indicative allocations for funding under the RAPID additionality and substance misusemeasures were agreed by Government in March 2008. The actual beneficiaries of these allo-cations will be approved in the coming months.

During 2009, it is anticipated that funding of some \13 million will be provided through theVote of my Department in relation to the DAF measures that it manages. However, as projectswill 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 theanticipated expenditure on foot of applications received for grant aid under the CLAR prog-ramme for South Tipperary in 2009; the extent to which these applications are expected to bemet 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 thenumber and nature of applications from various groups in South Tipperary for grant aid underthe RAPID or CLAR programmes currently in hand; the degree to which it is intended to meetthese requirements in full in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4226/09]


The CLAR Programme was set up as an innovative programme to deal with the infrastruc-ture deficits in the most peripheral communities in Ireland, to qualify under the CLAR Prog-ramme, an area had to have lost since 1926 an average of 35% of population. The CLARprogramme is constantly addressing the new challenges faced by small rural communities andis being continuously refocused to deal with the most urgent infrastructural deficits especiallyin 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 CLAR Primary School Outdoor Play FacilitiesEnhancement Scheme. A decision will be made in the case as soon as possible and the Deputywill be informed of the outcome.

RAPID

The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatialconcentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 46 designated RAPID areas. Inaddition, the RAPID leverage schemes support small-scale projects identified locally by theArea Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas. These schemes are co-funded bythe relevant agencies and fund projects that focus on estate enhancement, graffiti removal,traffic calming, community closed-circuit television, health and sports facilities, and the pro-vision of playgrounds and multi-use games areas.

My Department is currently assessing three claims under the RAPID Leverage Schemesfor RAPID areas in South Tipperary: one claim under the Local Authority Housing EstateEnhancement Scheme for Clonmel; one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Clonmel and

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one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Carrick-on-Suir. It is expected that these will bepaid in 2009 if the claims are found to be in order.

Applications for funding under the Physical Environment Improvement Scheme closed onFriday last, January 30th. These applications are currently being assessed and an announcementwill follow when this process has been completed.

402. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs theprojected expenditure on foot of applications received for grant aid under the RAPID prog-ramme for South Tipperary in 2009; the extent to which these applications are expected to bemet 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 (DeputyJohn Curran): The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tack-ling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 46 designated RAPIDareas. In addition, the RAPID leverage schemes support small-scale projects identified locallyby the Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas. These schemes are co-fundedby 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 pro-vision of playgrounds and multi-use games areas.

As I have indicated to the House on a number of occasions, it is a matter for individualDepartments to report on the provision of funding and progress on delivery with respect toprojects under their responsibility in the RAPID areas. In support, Pobal collects data fromeach RAPID area in respect of funding allocations received by projects from GovernmentDepartments and local state agencies. The latest data in respect of the programme is availableon Pobal’s website under the RAPID section (http://www.pobal.ie/live/RAPID). The Deputymay find it helpful to access this information.

I wish to inform the Deputy that applications for funding under the Physical EnvironmentImprovement Scheme closed on Friday last, January 30th. These applications are currentlybeing assessed and an announcement will follow when this process has been completed.

My Department is currently assessing three claims under the RAPID Leverage Schemesfor RAPID areas in South Tipperary: one claim under the Local Authority Housing EstateEnhancement Scheme for Clonmel; one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Clonmel andone claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Carrick-on-Suir. If paid in 2009 these claims willamount to \147,750.

However, given that the RAPID Leverage Scheme is a demand-led, bottom-up funding prog-ramme, it is not possible to predict accurately the extent of claims that will be lodged by RAPIDareas in South Tipperary during 2009. However, I am satisfied that this year’s allocation willbe sufficient to enable further good progress to be made with small-scale co-funded projects inthe South Tipperary RAPID areas.


404. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and GaeltachtAffairs the progress made in securing a long-term replacement sponsor for the work carriedout 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 (DeputyJohn Curran): The Project to which the Deputy refers was funded under the Community

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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 advisorsto close the Project, which occurred early December 2008.

Department officials are investigating alternative mechanisms for delivering on the Project’sworkplan for 2009 and beyond. In this regard meetings have recently taken place with localProjects and Groups and the Department is awaiting proposals.

405. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and GaeltachtAffairs when a decision will be made by his Department in relation to the grant applicationsregarding a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4251/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Eamon O Cuıv): Under myDepartment’s 2008 call for proposals under the Community Services Programme (CSP), anapplication has been received in respect of this project under the Services Strand. The Deputywill be aware that I have already announced decisions in respect of Community FacilitiesStrand last November. I intend to announce decisions in respect of applications under theServices and Enterprise Strands of the CSP later this month. This will include a decision inrespect of the project in question.

At the end of 2008, some 423 projects have been approved for funding under the CSP at acost of some \48.5m. Projects fall within three broad categories, namely, the operation ofcommunity halls and facilities; the delivery of services not otherwise provided locally, andsupport for community enterprise opportunities. The number of people that will be employedby 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 Affairsif the CLAR top up for sports clubs in CLAR areas is available to qualifying clubs. [4320/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Eamon O Cuıv): Since thescheme commenced in 2002 the CLAR programme has provided top up funding (up to 20%subject to overall public funding not exceeding 80%) to projects selected under the SportsCapital Grants Scheme run by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and recommendedfor CLAR support by that Department. More than \6.7m has been paid to sports clubs inCLAR areas under the scheme to date and almost \2.8m approved to clubs still remains toclaimed.

Drug Treatment Programme.

407. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairsthe funding allocated to the North East Regional Drugs Task Force in 2005, 2006, 2007 and2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4714/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DeputyJohn 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;

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[Deputy John Curran.]

• 2008 — \1,082,902.

This funding covers a number of projects across the region in the areas of prevention, edu-cation, treatment, rehabilitation and family support. In addition to this funding, the Task Forcewas also approved \75,000 in 2008 under the Cocaine Initiative to employ a number of sessionalfacilitators to provide programmes to those affected by cocaine use. A further \20,000 was alsoallocated under this Initiative to run a locally-based cocaine awareness campaign to dovetailwith the HSE-led national campaign.

With regard to capital funding, the NERDTF has been approved funding of nearly \1.65mfor four projects under the Premises Initiative. This Fund aims to address the accommodationneeds of community based drugs projects in Task Force areas. Details of the approvals are inthe 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 thedevelopment of dedicated youth facilities in Regional Drugs Task Force areas not coveredunder the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF). Key to approvals was thelinking of projects into the overall drug prevention strategy for their particular area. Details ofthe approvals are in the table below. Overall, I am satisfied that the incremental funding allo-cated to the NERDTF has enabled the Task Force to develop key services in their area and Iam 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 67,177Duggan Industrial Estate, Athboy Road, at the Maudlins, Trim, Co. Meath for thisTrim, Co. Meath community drugs project

Crossroads, 82 Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co. Towards refurbishment and purchase of IT 68,939Louth equipment for training purposes for a new

residential premises at 1 Constitution Hill,Drogheda which will cater for six people inrecovery at any one time

Turas Aftercare Programme, Turas, 59 Towards fit-out of kitchen and offices 6,940Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth

St. James Camino Network Co. Meath Towards the purchase of the property where 1,500,000the project is currently located in ClonburryCross, Enfield, Co. Meath

Regional Youth Initiative Approvals

\

Bridge Street Resource Centre, Cavan Town, Towards the development of a dedicated 469,872Co. Cavan Youth Cafe

Cavan Community Project, Cavan Town, Co. Towards renovation of a premises for 97,000Cavan community drop-in centre/drug education &

information facility for youth activities/programmes that will serve young people ofCo. Cavan

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Social Inclusion Programme.

408. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairsthe 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 fundingallocated to the partnership to implement the programme in 2009; and if he will make a state-ment on the matter. [4715/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DeputyJohn Curran): The process of awarding the new LDSIP contract to the company mentionedby 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 processof awarding the contract and I am hopeful that this can be brought to a conclusion shortly.

Forbairt Tionscaıochta.

409. D’fhiafraigh Deputy Kathleen Lynch den Aire Gnothaı Pobail, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachtaan bhfuil dul chun cinn deanta maidir le hionaid tionscail a bhunu ar an bPairc Gno in Ard anRatha, Co. Dhun na nGall; agus an ndeanfaidh se raiteas ina thaobh. [4754/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Eamon O Cuıv): Tuigim oUdaras na Gaeltachta gur ceannaıodh suıomh 2.2 acra i Mın na Coilleadh in aice le Mın anBhealaigh, Ard an Ratha, Co. Dhun na nGall, le haghaidh tionscal a fhorbairt sa cheantar. Tacomhairleoir fostaithe ag Coiste Tionsclaıoch Ard an Ratha, le cunamh on Udaras, chun stai-dear a dheanamh ar na feidearthachtaı maidir le forbairt an tsuımh sin.


410. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairsthe private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October2008 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 Eamon O Cuıv): My Depart-ment is currently in the process of collating the information requested by the Deputy and I willarrange to have the details forwarded to him directly.


411. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairsthe cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside inhis Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstanceswhere a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4826/09]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Eamon O Cuıv): I assumethat the Deputy is referring to the scheme of performance-related awards for posts at the levelof Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary. Under this scheme, operated by the Departmentof Finance, the Central Committee for Performance Awards considers recommendations madeby Secretaries General. Awards of \41,000 were made in 2008 in respect of performance in2007, in accordance with the guidelines and rules governing the scheme. This total amountcovered three Assistant Secretaries in my Department.

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I can confirm that my Department has made no provision for bonus payments in 2009 andit 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 Awardscheme 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 inrecognition of exceptional contribution or performance by individuals or teams. In 2008, a totalof \12,950 (which was less than 43% of the available funds under the scheme) was awarded toteams across my Department in respect of performance during the year. No individual awardswere made.

No specific provision has been made for a Merit Award scheme in 2009 and I anticipate thatthe 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 aperson (details supplied) in County Westmeath has been denied a carer’s allowance; and if shewill make a statement on the matter. [4371/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The person concernedapplied for Carer’s Allowance on 17 June 2008. On 3 October 2008 her claim was refused onthe grounds that her means exceed the statutory limit for receipt of Carer’s Allowance. She isassessed with means of \251.71 per week derived from income from her spouse’s insurableemployment. She was notified of this decision, the reasons for it and of her right to appeal tothe Social Welfare Appeals Office.

On 1 December 2008 she appealed this decision and an appeal is open in this case. Her filewill be submitted to the Social Welfare Appeals Office this week.

Under Social Welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by DecidingOfficers and Appeals Officers. These Officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role inregard to making such decisions.

Employment Rights.

413. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs hers plans tointroduce compensation for people suffering health problems as a consequence of working inunderground 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 contractof service as a miner is insurable for occupational injuries benefit under the Social WelfareActs. Miners who are unable to work due to an accident arising from their employment maybe entitled to occupational injury benefit for the first 26 weeks of their claim. The occupationalinjuries scheme, operated by the Department, provides entitlement to benefit for persons suf-fering from certain prescribed diseases which are listed in the legislation and where that personhas contracted that disease in the course of their employment.

Where a person has contracted one of the diseases listed in the legislation, benefits arepayable if they were employed in an occupation which is specifically prescribed in relation tothat disease. In addition, benefits may be payable if the claimant can show that the disease wascontracted through an employment not specifically prescribed in relation to that disease.

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If the incapacity extends beyond the 26 week period, claimants may receive illness benefitor 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 ofphysical or mental faculty as a result of an accident at work or a disease prescribed in legislationthat they contracted at work. Medical assessments are undertaken in all such cases to determinethe degree of disablement which is calculated by comparison of the state of health of theapplicant 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 attentionhas been drawn to the existence of cross-border social welfare fraud; the mechanisms she hasestablished to address cross-border social welfare fraud; the length of time she has been awareof this issue; the approximate number of persons her Department believes are engaging in thisfraud; 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 andabuse 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 onwork 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 verifycontinued compliance with requirements such as, in the case of jobseekers payments, beingavailable for and genuinely seeking employment. Means tested payments are reviewed at cer-tain intervals or when there are indications that changes in circumstances have not beenreported 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 NorthernIreland to Ireland may have an entitlement to a social welfare payment. However, if there is anysuspicion of a fraud being perpetrated, this is investigated by local Social Welfare Inspectors.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ireland and the Governmentof the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland was signed in October 2000. Under the aegis ofthe MOU, the Cross- Border Operations Forum assists and directs activities relating to theinvestigation of social security benefit fraud with a cross border dimension. It undertakes indi-vidual fraud investigations and larger projects and shares best practice in counter fraudoperations.

Due to operational sensitivities the Department cannot release information regarding thespecifics of control activities that target cross border fraud.

Where overpayments occur the Department seeks to recover the overpayments and in casesof serious fraud, the Department will use all legal avenues open to it to recover the moneydefrauded and seek redress.

In 2008 almost \476 million in social welfare payments was saved through fraud and errorcontrol 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 SolicitorsOffice for the initiation of prosecution proceedings.

The Department is committed to ensuring that social welfare payments are available to thosewho are entitled to them but also determined to ensure that abuse of the system is preventedand is dealt with effectively when detected. In this regard the control programme of the Depart-

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[Deputy Mary Hanafin.]

ment is carefully monitored and the various measures are continuously refined to ensure thatthey remain effective.

Social Welfare Code.

415. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she willreview the rules that currently apply to social welfare disallowance for persons on jobseeker’sbenefit which require the sacrifice of a day’s benefit even for a tiny number of hours workedon an individual day and which disqualify applicants if they have some work on three or moredays; 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 toassist persons claiming unemployment assistance or benefit, she will consider an option (detailssupplied); 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 QuestionsNos. 415 and 419 together.

The Jobseeker’s Benefit scheme provides income support for people who have lost work andare unable to find alternative employment. A fundamental qualifying condition for the benefitis 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 notconsidered part of the working week and any work done on Sunday is not reckoned whendeciding entitlement.

The benefit is only payable in respect of days of unemployment, therefore it is not payablein respect of any day during which the person is engaged in insurable employment irrespectiveof 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 Benefitin 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 matterfor 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 notemployed on a full-time basis is being kept under review.


416. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attentionhas been drawn to the length of delay involved in processing applications to switch to invaliditypensions; if there are plans to review this process; and if she will make a statement on thematter. [4305/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Department is commit-ted to providing a quality service to all its customers. This includes ensuring that applicationsare processed and that decisions on entitlement are made as expeditiously as possible. The staffand other resources available to the Department are regularly reviewed having regard to theworkload arising and other competing demands.

Applicants for invalidity pension do not automatically switch from another social welfarepayment. The processing of these applications involves medical assessment, verification ofdomestic and EU social insurance contributions and other criteria, all of which add to theprocessing time required to ensure that the terms of the scheme are correctly administered. In

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addition, time can elapse where applicants do not attend for medical assessments or do notsupply all the necessary information in support of their claim.

The Department received 7,757 invalidity pension applications in 2008 and 7,596 weredecided in the year. The average time to decide an invalidity pension award was 11 weeks. Areview of existing processes and procedures for invalidity pension is currently underway withthe explicit objective of improving efficiency in claim processing.

Employment Support Services.

417. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the allowancesavailable 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 recentlylost their jobs, not through redundancy, and who wish to pursue courses through FAS; and ifshe will make a statement on the matter. [4306/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Department of Socialand Family Affairs offers a range of education and employment supports designed to assistand 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 theDepartment. It is designed to encourage people on certain social welfare payments to improvetheir skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to work. An applicantmust be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period, to qualify forthe back to education allowance. This requirement has always been a feature of the BTEAscheme and is considered necessary to ensure that limited resources are directed at those mostin need. The allowance essentially replaces a person’s existing social welfare income and, inaddition, 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 monthsif pursuing a second level course or 12 months if pursuing a third level course. In addition, thequalifying period for access to the third level option is further reduced to 9 months for personswho are participating in the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) process and peoplewho are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided anentitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing anapproved course of study.

FAS 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 fromthe labour market are provided with appropriate and intensive professional vocational guidancewhich results in an action plan setting out specific actions and measures to be implementedwith a view to helping them integrate into the labour force.

FAS provides various financial supports in the form of allowances to assist participants oftraining courses and grants or subventions to encourage employers to support training prog-rammes. Participants on the majority of FAS training courses are eligible for various allow-ances. The main allowances given for the course participants are training, travel, accom-modation, meals and child care.

FAS operates a National Contact Centre which may be contacted, by job-seekers, using afree-phone number to obtain information on jobs available and on FAS training and employ-ment programmes. For information on the full range of allowances and grants and advice ontheir personal options a person should contact their local FAS office.

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Departmental Staff.

418. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number ofpersonnel, their grades and the budget of the new division responsible for addressing issues ofpoverty and exclusion. [4423/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Government’s decisionto 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 Agencyundertaken on foot of a Government Decision on the 6th June 2007. The legislative provisionto give effect to the Government’s decision is contained in the Social Welfare (MiscellaneousProvisions) Act, 2008. An implementation plan for the smooth integration of the two bodies isunderway 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, officialsand the wider community in addressing issues of poverty and social exclusion. It will play acentral role in co-ordinating the ongoing development and implementation of the NationalAction Plan for Social Inclusion in collaboration with the Senior Officials Group on SocialInclusion, government departments, local authorities and agencies. Key functions will includepolicy advice, research, data availability, communications, poverty impact assessment and thestrengthening of social inclusion strategies.

In the meantime both organisations continue to operate separately, but are in the process ofintegrating their operations. There are currently 20 permanent staff employed in the CombatPoverty Agency (17.6 full time equivalent posts) in grades analogous to Civil Service grades asfollows — 6 Assistant Principals, 8 Higher Executive Officers, 2 Executive Officers and 4Clerical Officers. In addition, there are seven people on either fixed term or temporary con-tracts 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 attributableto the Board and staff costs and the administration costs. The remainder relates mainly toprogramme 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 Officersand 1 Clerical Officer. The costs associated with the Office mainly relate to staff costs and areaccounted 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 forthe year and a strategic plan for the new division for the next 3 years. These plans will deter-mine the deployment of staff and the budget for the new division in the second half of thisyear and in future years. It is expected that the new arrangements will yield savings, especiallyin areas such as accommodation and efficiencies that can be gained through combined payrolland ancillary support services.


Social Welfare Appeals.

420. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position ofa 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 allow-ance, by the person concerned, was refused by a Deciding Officer of the Department on 3October 2008 as she did not satisfy the medical conditions or the means test. An appeal wasopened on 14 October 2008 and I am advised by the Social Welfare Appeals Office, that in

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accordance with the statutory requirements, the Department was asked for the documentationin the case and the Deciding Officers comments on the grounds of appeal. The relevant docu-mentation 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 independentlyresponsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

421. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the outcome ofthe 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 inreceipt of a farm assist payment since 23 April 2007. He requested a review of his meansassessment on 3 October 2008. A review of his entitlement has now been completed. His weeklymeans have been assessed at \157.00 by a Deciding Officer from 3 October 2008. His newweekly rate of payment is \182.90, which includes an increase in respect of his spouse. Apayment of \1,525.60, including arrears, will issue to him shortly. If he is unhappy with thisassessment it is open to him to appeal this decision to the independent Social WelfareAppeals Office.

Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by DecidingOfficers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role inregard to making such decisions.

422. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an appealwill 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 concernedapplied for a jobseeker’s allowance payment on 15 October 2008. A Deciding Officer disal-lowed his claim from that date on the grounds that he failed to show that his means did notexceed the maximum rate payable to a person in his circumstances. Following an appeal hisclaim was forwarded to a Social Welfare Inspector for re-examination. The inspector will exam-ine his case as soon as possible.

Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by DecidingOfficers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role inregard to making such decisions.

Money Advice and Budgeting Service.

423. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number ofclients 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 forJanuary 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 andBudgeting Service (MABS) is the main Government funded service which provides assistanceto 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 localservices throughout the country. In 2009 almost \18 million has been provided to fund theservice. Additional full and part time staff have been allocated to 6 MABS offices bringing to252 the number of money advice staff employed in the MABS. This will ensure that people indebt seeking advice on their personal finances can access that advice promptly.

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There are three ways that members of the public can receive the assistance, support andadvice they need from MABS — through the MABS Telephone Helpline lo-call number 1890283 438 available from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, the 52 MABS companies nationwideoperating in 65 locations delivering the locally based face to face service and the MABS websitewww.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 theMABS National Helpline dealt with approx 2,030 calls. The detailed statistical breakdown ofclients per centre for the months January 2009, January 2008, and January 2007 requested bythe Deputy is not available. However nationally in January 2007 1,817 new clients approachedthe MABS. The corresponding figure for January 2008 was 1,210 new clients. In addition 906callers 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 soughtinformation about budgeting and money management from the local services and the MABSNational Helpline received almost 11,000 calls.

Social Welfare Code.

424. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a personwho applies for unemployment assistance following a period of working as a taxi driver can beobliged by her Department to dispose of the plate as a condition of their approval; and the waysuch applicants who can no longer make a living at the taxis can demonstrate their eligibility forunemployment assistance as they undertake their search for alternative employment, as in thecase of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [4782/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The person concernedclaimed 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 satisfyqualifying 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 SocialWelfare Inspector in December 2008 that he was off sick for 3 months during 2008 and heclaims 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 aself-employed taxi driver whenever he wishes. There has been no suggestion made that he hasto 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 toadvise him that his weekly means have been assessed at \300. As his weekly means weregreater than the weekly rate of payment due for JA at that time, that is, \197.80, he was advisedthat he is not entitled to a JA payment. He was advised that he could appeal this decision tothe independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. He has now submitted an appeal and this isbeing processed at present.

It is open to the person concerned to claim Supplementary Welfare Allowance if he feelsthat his income is insufficient for his needs.


425. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason aperson (details supplied) in County Longford has been disallowed a carer’s allowance; and ifshe will make a statement on the matter. [4798/09]

258


Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The person concernedapplied for carer’s allowance on 22 February 2008. When the care recipient is under 16 yearsof age it is a condition that domiciliary care allowance be in payment in order to qualify forcarer’s allowance. On 23 December 2008 the person’s claim was refused on the grounds thatdomiciliary care allowance was not in payment. She was notified of this decision, the reasonsfor 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 DecidingOfficers and Appeals Officers. These Officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role inregard to making such decisions.

426. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason aperson (details supplied) in County Longford has been disallowed a disability allowance; andif she will make a statement on the matter. [4799/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): Disability Allowance is aweekly allowance paid to people with a specified disability who are aged over 16 and under66. The disability must be expected to last for at least one year and the allowance is subject toboth medical assessment and a means test.

The person concerned applied for disability allowance on 21 November 2008. Following amedical examination on 26 January 2009 by this Department’s Medical Assessor, he wasdeemed to be not medically suitable for disability allowance. His application for disabilityallowance was refused on 29 January 2009. A letter issued to the person concerned on 29January 2009 notifying him of this decision and giving him the option of sending in furthermedical evidence to this Department within 21 days. It is also open to him to appeal directlyto the Independent Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.

427. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason aperson (details supplied) in County Longford has been denied a jobseekers allowance or anysocial 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 norecord of receiving an application for Jobseekers Allowance from the person concerned. If shewishes to submit an application, she should contact her local Social Welfare Office.


428. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the privateconsultancy firms her Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to her Department foreach 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 majorprogramme of business, organisational and technological change underway to enable it to mod-ernise the services which it provides to its customers. Ensuring that we maximise the potentialof Information Technology is a significant aspect of this and external consultancy firms areused to assist the Department with this work.

Consultancy is defined in the Department of Finance guidelines as where a person or organis-ation provides intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice)through delivering reports, studies, assessments, recommendations, proposals, etc. that contrib-ute to decision making or policy making. For example, the Department has used external

259



consultancy expertise to support it in undertaking the review of the Social Insurance Fund andthe Equality Review of the Social Welfare Code.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table and includes allprivate consultancy firms used by the Department during the periods 1 January to 14 October2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009.

It should be noted that in the case of the larger projects the actual expenditure may beincurred 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 1,084,864organisational change)

Hewlett Packard Implementation of Office Systems Infrastructure 723,446

PM Centrix Website Redesign 394,242

Accenture General Register Office System — Support and 1,724,240Maintenance

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 425,920Object Model (Service Delivery ModernisationProgramme)

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 96,751Consultants

Millward Brown Family Income Supplement — Uptake Research 65,606

ERSI National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) 104,000Evaluation

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



\

Conal Devine Associates CORE Functions — Organisational Design/ 10,905Development and Configuration & TransitionManagement

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


\

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 81,266System


429. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost ofbonus 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 wherea staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4835/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): Civil service posts at thelevels of Assistant Secretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performancerelated awards. Recommendations in relation to awards are made by the Secretary General ofeach 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 bythe 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 thetotal 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 amountpaid 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 schemefor 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 awardsfor sustained exceptional performance to staff. Awards may be made in respect of performanceabove the level which would reasonably be expected in the normal course from the grade ofstaff involved. All staff in the Department, irrespective of grade, can nominate another staffmember 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 Fiuntasscheme, was \176,780 in 2008. Total gross expenditure on the scheme in 2009 will depend onthe decisions made during the year in relation to nominations for recognition of exceptional

261



performance but in any event, as in previous years, the total expenditure on the scheme in2009 may not exceed 0.2% of payroll costs.

Departmental Staff.

430. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there arephysical building constraints preventing the allocation of additional staff at the Trim, Kells andNavan social welfare offices to help alleviate the waiting times facing newly unemployedpeople’s applications for unemployment claims to be processed; and if she will make a state-ment on the matter. [4840/09]

431. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she hasplans to secure additional office space for the Trim, Kells and Navan social welfare officeslocally; 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 QuestionsNos. 430 and 431 together.

With the increase in the number of people applying for unemployment payments in part-icular, staff in social welfare offices have been working extremely hard to process claims asquickly as possible.

I know that processing times in some areas are still too long and I assure the Deputy thatwe are doing our best to reduce them. I appreciate that becoming unemployed is a very difficulttime in a persons life and that they need to get access to financial and other supports as quicklyas possible.

The Navan Social Welfare Local Office is staffed by employees of the Department. It is arelatively new office and there are no specific physical building constraints that have or thatwill prevent the allocation of additional staff resources there.

Additionally, internal renovations within that office are due to be undertaken shortly whichwill provide additional working space. Having regard to the increased live register and servicedemands, an additional four staff have been allocated to Navan Local Office, with a further 2to 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 con-tract basis. Within the terms of their contracts, branch managers are required to provideadequate staffing and suitable accommodation to allow the efficient performance of the workof the office. The Department reviews the provision of accommodation and staffing in branchoffices 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 Roisın Shortall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the amount offunding allocated to each Social Welfare Branch office in each of the past three years; how thisamount is determined; how staffing levels are determined and funded; how often and on whatbasis contracts are renewed; how performance is appraised; and on what basis extra staff willbe 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 net-work of Social Welfare Local Offices my Department delivers a front-line service to the publicthrough 62 Branch Offices. Each Branch Office is operated, under a contract for services, bya Branch Manager who acts as an agent for the Department in the district served by theBranch Office.

262


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 theBranch 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 andTiered Services Allowances payable are dependent on claim load and as such can differ fromOffice 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 inall contracts for the review of arrangements for delivery of services.

Under the conditions of their contract, each Branch Manager is required to provide sufficientstaffing 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 andthe 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 WelfareBranch 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



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


Marine Accidents.

433. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for Defence the reason for delay inhaving the Asgard II raised from the seabed; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4693/09]

434. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Defence the reason for the delay in raisingthe 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 beraised; 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.


436. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Defence the private consultancy firmshis Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 todate in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for each project; and ifhe will provide the information in tabular readable form. [4812/09]

Minister for Defence (Deputy Willie O’Dea): The information sought by the Deputy inrelation to consultancy firms used by my Department during the period 1 January 2008 to 14October 2008 is set out in the following table. No new contracts have been entered into by myDepartment in the period from 15 October 2008 to date.

265


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266


There is an ongoing capital building programme in my Department designed to modernise theliving, training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces, bothPermanent and Reserve. Consultants with appropriate expertise are engaged by my Depart-ment as necessary to provide technical services in connection with building and engineeringprojects. It should be noted that (as per Comptroller and Auditor General, Report on Valuefor Money ‘Consultancies in the Civil Service’ 1998) such design and engineering consultanciesfor capital projects are better examined in association with the construction projects to whichthey relate. My Department spends approximately \2m annually on Construction Consult-ants’ fees.


437. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Defence the cost of bonus paymentsmade to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Department for bonuspayments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staff bonus will bepaid in 2009. [4827/09]

Minister for Defence (Deputy Willie O’Dea): Civil Service posts at the levels of AssistantSecretary and Deputy Secretary are covered by a scheme of performance related awards. Theoperation of the scheme is overseen by the Committee for Performance Awards (CPA). Detailsof awards to individual officers under the scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they areconfidential 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 PermanentDefence 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 andto groups of staff under a scheme for Recognition of Exceptional Performance of duty. Inassessing eligibility for awards, regard is given to the nature and quality of the activitiesinvolved and to the circumstances under which they were carried out. Attention is also paid tothe grade level of the staff members concerned and to what would be regarded as high qualityperformance from staff in such grades. In 2008, two individual awards of \700 each, one individ-ual award of \400 and 7 individual awards of \200 each have been made. In 2008 there were419 members of staff across all grades up to and including Principal Officer level eligible forconsideration for an award under the scheme. No amount has been set aside in 2009 under thescheme 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 regenerationprogramme at a local authority housing estate (details supplied) in County Kildare; when theapplication was submitted; when a decision will be made in relation to the application; and ifhe 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 estatein question was received on 3 November 2008 and, following the initial evaluation of all pro-posals received from local authorities, my Department has informed Kildare County Councilthat it is favourably disposed towards the proposal and would like to have it progress under

267


[Deputy Michael Finneran.]

the Remedial Works Scheme Programme for 2009. The progression of this and similar pro-posals will be contingent on certain details of design, costing and phasing being reviewed andagreed 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 toadvance the project in 2009.

National Monuments.

439. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment the cost to the taxpayer of the cases in the High Court and the Supreme Courtarising out of the decision to refuse to grant a licence in relation to the Lusitania under section3, subsection 5 of the National Monument (Amendment) Act 1987; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4441/09]

458. Deputy Jim O’Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment the cost to the tax payer of the High Court and Supreme Court decisions arisingout of the refusal to grant a licence in relation to the Lusitania under section 3 subsection 5 ofthe National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4442/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Ipropose to take Questions Nos. 439 and 458 together.

Following refusal of an application under the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987for a licence to dive survey the wreck of the RMS Lusitania, the applicant sought judicialreview of the Minister’s decision in the High Court. In a complex judgment delivered in June2005, the Court deemed that the refusal was ultra vires the powers of the Minister. Followinglegal advice, it was decided to appeal the High Court decision to the Supreme Court whichheld that the State’s appeal should be dismissed.

Costs of the Judicial Review and Supreme Court challenge were awarded to the licenceapplicant. 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 onthe cost of the State’s legal representation in the cases is a matter for the Chief State SolicitorsOffice, and is not available in my Department.

Animal Welfare.

440. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment if the proposed dog breeding establishment regulations will be incorporated orsuperseded by the soon to be published Animal Welfare Bill which is to include dogs andhorses 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 forstatutory regulation of dog breeding establishments within the dog control legislative regime.The issues involved are complex and required detailed consideration. This process has includeddiscussions with a number of organisations, bodies, public agencies and interests active in thisarea. As indicated in the reply to question No.1045 of 27 January 2009, it is my intention tointroduce amending legislation in this area which will address a number of issues relating todog breeding establishments. My proposals in this regard will be published as soon as possible

268


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 LocalGovernment his plans to increase the duration of planning permission to ten years in respectof applications in respect of wind farms and associated wind and green energy structures; ifthis 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 authoritymay, having regard to the nature and extent of the relevant development and any other materialconsiderations, specify a longer period during which a permission is to have effect. Where aplanning permission expires, the developer may seek an extension of the relevant period. Sub-ject to compliance with certain requirements, including the requirement that substantial workswere carried out pursuant to the permission during that period, a planning authority mayextend the duration of a permission by such additional period as it considers necessary toenable the relevant development to be completed. This period may be further extended wherethe planning authority is satisfied that the relevant development had not been completed dueto circumstances beyond the control of the developer.

On the particular issue of Wind Farm development, my Department also issued the WindEnergy Development Guidelines in June 2006. A copy of the Guidelines is available on myDepartment’s website www.environ.ie. The Guidelines offer advice to planning authorities onplanning for wind energy through the development plan process and in determining appli-cations for planning permission, including the duration of the planning permission itself. Therelevant provisions of these guidelines were restated in Circular Letter PD3/08 issued on 16July 2008. While I consider that these provisions are adequate they will be reviewed in thecontext of the forthcoming Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill.

Energy Ratings.

442. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment if he will introduce a standard cost for building energy ratings assessments; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter. [4243/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Irefer 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 LocalGovernment the action he will take to address fire safety concerns in apartment complexeswhich are controlled by unregulated management companies; his views on recent inspectionswhich have shown many apartment complexes containing no fire fighting equipment; and if hewill 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


[Deputy Michael P. Kitt.]

apartment complexes is a matter in the first instance for the Department of Justice, Equalityand Law Reform.

Section 22 of the Fire Services Act 1981 empowers fire authorities to inspect any land orbuilding, including apartment complexes, for the purpose of the Act. Under the Fire ServicesActs 1981 and 2003, fire authorities can pursue enforcement of fire safety matters, includingthe management of fire safety.

In addition, Section 18 of the Fire Services Act 1981 places a duty on persons having controlover premises, such as apartment complexes, to take all reasonable measures to guard againstthe outbreak of fire and to ensure the safety of persons on the premises in the event of anoutbreak 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 LocalGovernment if he will provide details of the new equity support scheme which is to replaceexisting 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. Theposition is unchanged.

Housing Grants.

445. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment the amount of funding allocated by his Department to Dublin City Council forthe housing adaptation grant for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statementon 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 CityCouncil towards the operation of the schemes in question are set out in the table below. TheSchemes are funded by 80% recoupment available from my Department together with 20%contribution from the resources of the local authority. The Housing Adaptation Grant forPeople with a Disability, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the Housing Aid for OlderPeople Scheme came into operation in November 2007, replacing the previous Disabled Per-sons and Essential Repairs Grant Schemes, which were funded by 67% recoupment availablefrom 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



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Dublin City Council 2006 2007 2008

\ \ \

Housing Aid for Older People scheme

Total amount recouped 478,126



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


446. Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment 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): MyDepartment has provided a total of \3,866,356 to An Taisce in the period 2000 to 2007. Thetable below sets out the detail of amounts provided for each year.

271


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5,46

31,

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3,65

93,

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2,49

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6,01

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4,53

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1,85

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6165

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228,

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324,

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340,

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726

605

1,21

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54,2

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63,4

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272


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 thematter. [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 Programme2007-2009. Further consideration will be given to Clare County Council’s Preliminary Reportfor the scheme, which was received in my Department in November 2008, on receipt ofadditional information requested from the Council in December 2008.

448. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment when funding will be provided for the Mullingar main drainage scheme, CountyWestmeath which requires and outlay of \16 million; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [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 ServicesInvestment 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 andconstruction of the main interceptor sewer commenced last Summer. Following completion ofthese works, it is proposed to carry out further works, involving the rehabilitation and upgrad-ing of existing sewers and minor pumping stations, as Phase 2 of the scheme.


449. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government the number of affordable homes acquired by local authorities under PartV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 for each of the years 2006 and 2007; the averagecost price of an affordable home acquired by the local authority; the number of affordablehomes sold by local authorities during 2006 and 2007; the number of affordable homes thatremained unsold at the end of the years 2006 and 2007; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [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 June2008, is available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie. Information is also publishedin my Department’s Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the OireachtasLibrary. Data for the third quarter of 2008 will be published shortly.

Comprehensive information on the average cost price of affordable homes acquired by localauthorities 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 ofunits on hands at that time was of the order of 2,200. Such data were not collected in 2006. Itis a feature of the operation of the affordable housing schemes that individual authoritiesordinarily 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, theinformation available from local authorities would suggest that the strong level of affordablehousing delivery in 2008 and wider housing and mortgage market considerations are combining

273


[Deputy Michael Finneran.]

to increase the stock of homes on hands. The indications to date are that the number ofaffordable 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 andLocal Government his views on local authorities acquiring fewer affordable housing units thanthey are entitled to under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and then havingto sell the units acquired at below cost price due to inability to sell them at a higher pricecharged 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 andLocal Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Waterford City Council isacquiring fewer affordable housing units than they are entitled to under Part V of the Planningand Development Act 2000 due to the high costs of the units; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4382/09]

452. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government if his attention has been that Waterford City Council has acquired feweraffordable housing units than they are entitled to in an estate (details supplied) as a result ofprohibitively high prices charged by the developer; if he will examine the contract betweenWaterford 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): Ipropose to take Questions Nos. 450 to 452, inclusive, together.

Statutory responsibility for the making of agreements under Part V of the Planning andDevelopment 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 houseswill be specified in the agreement and the homes will be transferred at a price determined onthe basis of the site cost of the units, calculated at existing use value together with the buildingand 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, costsubsidisation — so long as it achieves the equivalent monetary value which would have accruedhad the agreement provided solely for the transfer of land. The housing yield under each PartV agreement is a matter for individual authorities to negotiate, having regard to the variousconsiderations set out in legislation.

In the case referred to, the local authority has advised that the required equivalent monetaryvalue due to it under Part V was secured. It is open to local authorities to further reduce thepurchase 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 andLocal Government the steps he will take to ensure that Dublin City Council’s water supplyfrom the Vartry reservoir is not threatened by works at a quarry in Roundwood, CountyWicklow. [4389/09]

274


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 localauthority. Under planning legislation, the enforcement of planning control is a matter for theplanning authority. The Minister has no role in the matter and is specifically precluded undersection 30 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, from exercising any power or controlin relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Bord Pleanala is, ormay be, concerned.

Election Management System.

454. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government when a decision will be made regarding the use of posters during electionor 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): Ihave 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 areasduring the upcoming local and European elections.

These pilot schemes will investigate how four options identified through the consultationprocess would work in practice. The pilot schemes will test the use of biodegradable and/orcolour coded plastic ties; the display of posters in designated areas only; restricting the totalnumber of posters per candidate; restricting the number of posters per candidate to 2 (back toback) per pole.

Details on participating local authorities will shortly be finalised and the specific detail of thepilot schemes will be agreed on an individual basis with each of the local authorities involved. Itis my intention to ask all candidates, local and European, in each of the participating areas toparticipate 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 posterscannot be erected before an election has been called, and I will bring forward an amendmentif necessary.

455. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government when a decision will be made regarding the revision of spending limits forcandidates 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 anadvanced stage, and I expect to publish a Bill shortly. I intend to have the limits in place forthe local elections to be held in June 2009.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to examine spending limits at localelections as part of the Green Paper on Local Government. Submissions made in the courseof preparing the Green Paper, published in April 2008, were generally supportive of some kindof expenditure limit.

In October 2008, I consulted the Joint Committee on the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment on the issue of spending limits. A policy research document prepared on behalfof the Committee and presented at that meeting offered useful practical guidance. There are anumber of complexities that need to be considered. I discussed these with members of theCommittee, and I have taken them into account in the preparation of the scheme of spendinglimits.

275


Electronic Voting.

456. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government when a decision will be made to scrap, sell-off, donate to university orother, the electronic voting machines for which he is paying storage. [4392/09]

457. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government the amount paid for the electronic voting machines purchased by hisDepartment a number of years ago; the amount paid in training staff to use them; the amountpaid each year since their purchase for storage; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4393/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Ipropose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together.

The total expenditure on the development and roll-out of the electronic voting system todate is \51.3 million, the bulk of which has been incurred in purchasing the voting machinesand ancillary equipment. Of this, training costs amount to \272,500. Responsibility for thesecurity and safe storage of manual voting electoral materials, such as ballot boxes, stampinginstruments and stationery, has been a matter for the Returning Officers, who are statutorilyresponsible for conducting the polls. Accordingly, similar responsibility was assigned to themfor the storage of the electronic voting machines and equipment. Based on figures received inmy Department from Returning Officers, the total annual costs for storage of the electronicvoting 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, respec-tively. In 2007, over 60% of the electronic voting machines, some 4,762 in total, were movedto a central storage facility located at Gormanston Army Camp. Costs incurred to date inrespect 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 theacquisition of storage containers.

I am considering the next steps to be taken on the electronic voting and counting project. Inthis regard, I am taking into account the work of the Commission on Electronic Voting, whichhas examined the system, relevant experiences and developments internationally, the need tomaintain public confidence in the electoral process, as well as the provisions in the programmefor Government relating to electoral reform generally. Given the scale of investment in thesystem to date, and the importance of the issues involved for our electoral system, it is essentialthat the future of the project be examined objectively and in a thorough and comprehensivemanner. It is important that we come to the best possible decision. It is not possible to makemore 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.



459. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment when funding will be allocated to South Dublin County Council for an infillhousing scheme (details supplied) in Dublin 14; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [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 theCouncil to proceed to tender with this proposal.

276


Waste Management.

460. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment the position in regard to reduction of payment for recycling bins for persons over70 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 individualarrangements being locally determined and tailored to local circumstances. The present legalframework, as determined by the Oireachtas, reflects this. In accordance with section 52 of theProtection of the Environment Act 2003, the determination of waste management charges andany associated waiver scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority, where it acts as theservice provider. Similarly, where a private operator provides the collection service, it is amatter for that operator to determine charges. I have no statutory function in the determinationof charges or waivers. Significant regulatory issues have emerged as waste management serviceshave rapidly evolved in recent years. These issues, which have been the subject of formal publicconsultation, include the need for appropriate reflection of necessary public service criteria inrelation to the provision of services in particular areas or in respect of specific households.The existing regulatory framework requires modernisation. The identification of the changesnecessary will be greatly assisted by the OECD review of the public service, which included aspecific case study on waste management, and will be implemented in the context of the overallreview of national waste management policy provided for in the Programme for Governmentand now under way. My Department has also recently received the report by the Ombudsmanof waste waiver schemes administered by local authorities. It is giving the report, particularlythe recommendations contained in it, full consideration. The revised approach to the collectionof household waste being taken by the Dublin local authorities will further inform whatmeasures may be necessary to underpin sustainable waste collection services, whether deliveredby the private or public sectors. In these contexts, the appropriate policy responses will bedeveloped and elaborated.

Turbary Rights.

461. Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive payment for thesale 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): Iunderstand that the contracts are being examined in the Office of the Chief State Solicitor, thenecessary legal searches are being completed, and the contracts will be ready for signature inthe near future.

Water and Sewerage Schemes.

462. Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment his views on raising the level of funding for the group sewerage schemes perhousehold to the same level as group water schemes; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [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 theNational Rural Water Monitoring Committee, to test a range of new, small-scale waste watercollection and treatment systems under Irish conditions. The objective of the pilot programme

277


[Deputy Michael P. Kitt.]

is to evaluate new approaches to meeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs ofrural communities and to examine the potential role for group sewerage schemes in extendingcollection systems to households outside the catchment of new or existing public seweragenetworks. The performance of new infrastructure provided under the pilot programme is beingmonitored and evaluated. The National Rural Water Services Committee has been asked toreport to me on the results as they become available. The grants for group sewerage schemeswill be reviewed in light of the outcome.

463. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment the progress on an issue (details supplied) between his Department and a localauthority 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 myDepartment’s Water Services Investment Programme 2007-09. Further payments to the Councilare being processed. My Department will continue to process all valid claims from the councilas speedily as possible.

Natural Heritage Areas.

464. Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment 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 thematter. [4524/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): AsI indicated in the reply to Question No. 1428 of 24 September 2008, a key initiative of myDepartment’s UNESCO world heritage programme is the preparation of a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site nomination for the Burren. Significant work, including the development of amanagement plan, will have to be undertaken as part of the preparation of the nomination forthe Burren. Consultation with all relevant stakeholders and interested parties will be an integralpart 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 theconstituent elements of my Department’s UNESCO world heritage programme.


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 projectsis 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 theaffordable schemes will be subject to any terms and conditions that the local authority specifiesincluding, inter alia, the occupation of the house by the purchaser. Furthermore, affordablehousing sold at a discount from market value contain a clawback provision. The amount pay-able under the clawback is reduced by 10% in respect of each complete year after the tenthyear of owner occupation, so long as the person who purchased the property has been inoccupation of the property as his or her normal place of residence.

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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 inthis case will have an adverse effect on one off housing in rural areas and the right for a personto build a house in their own locality; his plans to address such a situation; and if he will makea 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 dependenton wider sentiment in the economy, the Government’s approach is focused on the broadereconomic fundamentals and on ensuring, ultimately, that the housing market is underpinnedby these. While the Government has been careful to ensure that the process of correction inthe housing market is not artificially interfered with, a number of steps have been taken toensure that in so far as possible mortgage finance is available to households who want to buyor build houses at this time.

In this regard the Government announced the introduction of a new mortgage scheme in thecontext of Budget 2009. The Home Choice Loan has been introduced through the local auth-ority system, backed by loan finance raised by the Housing Finance Agency. Home ChoiceLoan is now available to first time buyers of new houses or self-builds, subject to a maximumloan of \285,000 or max LTV of 92% (whichever is the lesser) and income thresholds. TheRegulations to underpin the scheme were signed in December and the scheme commenced on1 January 2009.

In addition, the Government’s plan to recapitalise Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Irelandincludes 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 havecommitted to actively promote mortgage lending at competitive rates with increased trans-parency on the criteria to be met.

A statutory code of conduct on mortgage arrears which will apply to all banks is expectedto be published shortly.

To provide further support, the Government also increased the rate of mortgage interestrelief for first time buyers in Budget 2009 from 20% to 25% in year 1 and 2 of their mortgageand to 22.5% in year 3 to 5. It will remain at 20% in year 6 and 7. This measure follows onfrom the significant improvements made in Budget 2007 & 2008. The ceiling for mortgageinterest relief for first-time buyers was doubled in Budget 2007 from \4,000 single/\8,000 mar-ried to \8,000 single/\16,000 married. The ceiling for first-time buyers was further increased inBudget 2008 to \10,000 single/\20,000 married. Moreover, the majority of lending institutionshave also now passed on in full the cumulative interest rate decreases of 2.25% announced bythe European Central Bank since October 2008.


467. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment if public land management supported through widespread compulsory purchasehas been introduced here since the report of the National Economic and Social Council in2004; 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 socialand affordable housing; if there are plans to introduce such a scheme in the future; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4670/09]

279


Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley):The National Economic and Social Council Report Housing in Ireland: Performance andPolicy, published in late 2004, highlighted the importance of active land management as one ofthe key elements of the policy framework required to respond to the challenges arising in thehousing area, while indicating that a significant element of active land management alreadyexisted in practice.

Active land management strategies have since been put in place by local authorities to man-age their own land banks. It is intended that these strategies will be rolled forward on an annualbasis to ensure that local authorities continue to pursue a planned and strategic approachtowards meeting the land requirements for their social and affordable housing programmes. Inaddition, where appropriate, it is open to individual local authorities to acquire land by compul-sory 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, indicatedthat there was 15,100 hectares of zoned serviced land nationally, with an estimated yield of469,937 housing units.

In the context of the forthcoming Planning and Development (Amendment) Bill, theGovernment also proposes to introduce, as a possible alternative to compulsory acquisition,the possibility for planning authorities to impose an annual development incentive levy ondesignated land.

Community Facilities Audit.

468. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment if he has received a copy of the audit by a council (details supplied) of the auditof community facilities as recommended by the Task Force on Active Citizenship; if he willprovide 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): Inkeeping with the recommendation in the Task Force Report on Active Citizenship, an audit ofcommunity, sports and arts facilities at local level was commenced in the second half of 2008by each county and city council, under the auspices of the relevant County/City DevelopmentBoard and in line with guidelines issued by my Department. These guidelines were developedin consultation with the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Department of theTaoiseach and local authorities. A Steering Group representative of these bodies, as well asthe Department of Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, is overseeing the audits. A numberof the audits have recently been completed and submitted to the Department, including inrespect of the council referred to in the question. The remainder are in the process of beingfinalised at present. Further consideration of the matter will be carried out in the context ofthe public services expenditure estimates.

Arrangements have been made with the council to have a copy of its audit forwarded tothe Deputy.

Community Warden Scheme.

469. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment 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

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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 regardto 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 LocalGovernment if he is satisfied with the number of litter wardens employed by a council (detailssupplied); if he will provide extra resources the council in order that they can employ additionalwardens 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 imple-menting responses to litter lies with local authorities. The appointment of litter wardens is amatter for individual local authorities within each authority’s current authorised staffing level.

Statistics on local authority enforcement action on litter, including the numbers of litterwardens employed, are submitted by local authorities to my Department every six months; thelatest figures available relate to the period January — June 2008 and are obtainable from theOireachtas 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 localauthority to determine the level of expenditure on individual local services, including thedeployment of litter wardens, as part of its annual estimates process.

Estates Management.

471. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment if he has received a copy of the revised policy for the taking in charge of estatesby a county council (details supplied); if he will provide a copy of same; and if he will make astatement 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 withmy Department’s Circular Letter PD 1/08 and the revised policy statement is available on theCouncil’s website, www.meath.ie.

Local Authority Revenue.

472. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment the amount of local authority rent due per annum to a county council (detailssupplied) in the years 2004 to 2008; the amount of local authority rent collected per annum bythe 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 rentsschemes in accordance with guidance issued by my Department. The amount of rent due to anylocal 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 2004to 2007 are available in the Housing/Housing Statistics section of my Department’s website,www.environ.ie. Data for 2008 are not yet available.

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473. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment the amount of moneys due from local authority housing loans per annum to acounty council (details supplied) in the years 2004 to 2008; the amount collected from localauthority house loans per annum by the county council in the years 2004 to 2008; and if he willmake 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 inthe 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 LocalGovernment the amount of moneys due from rates per annum to a county council (detailssupplied) in the years 2004 to 2008; the amount of moneys collected from rates per annum bythe 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 LocalGovernment 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 collectedfrom 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): Ipropose to take Question Nos. 474 and 475 together.

The information requested in the questions is set out in the table under, and has been com-piled from the Annual Financial Statements of Meath County Council. Data for 2008 are notavailable at this time.

Meath County Council

Commercial Rates Non-Domestic Water Charges

Year Amount Due for Collected Amount Due for CollectedCollection* 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.

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476. Deputy Aengus O Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government his views on whether it is possible to provide a sufficient level of emergencyaccommodation here when there is no definitive statistical evidence on the number of peoplewho are in need of emergency accommodation being collected; his plans to request local auth-orities to record the number of people seeking emergency accommodation from now on andreport back to his Department; if he plans to request voluntary agencies in that sector to recordthe number of people seeking emergency accommodation from now on and submit a reporton 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 accom-modation needs of homeless people. It is, accordingly, the responsibility of the individual hous-ing authorities to determine the level of emergency accommodation to be provided, havingregard to the need for such accommodation within their areas.

My Department is currently working in partnership with the Homeless Agency and theNational Homeless Consultative Committee on the development of an integrated nationalhomelessness data system which is intended to provide comprehensive information on the useof homeless services. Use of this system will be a condition for receipt of State funding for allhomeless 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 previousparliamentary question reply where he stated that he was increasing the funding to local auth-orities by 8% over 2008 figures for the grant system, this decision will be reviewed; and if hewill 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 mostvulnerable households, the total financial provision secured for housing in 2009 will allow forthe level of funding allocated towards housing supports for older people and people with adisability to be increased by 8% over the initial estimate for 2008. In the context of an overallreduction in the Exchequer provision for housing in 2009 of 4%, this is a very good outcomeand it will enable local authorities to continue to effectively respond to the housing needs ofthese target groups through the payment of increased numbers of grants.


478. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment, further to Parliamentary Question No. 352 of 9 December 2008, the discussionssince that date with the local authority and landowners; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [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 betweenmy Department and the Office of Public Works, prior to further contact with RoscommonCounty Council.

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479. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 Januaryto 14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the costto his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readableform. [4815/09]

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley): Theinformation requested in respect of my Department is being compiled and will be forwarded tothe Deputy as soon as possible.


480. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amountset aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on thecircumstances 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 ascheme 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 thetotal amounts paid in Departments are outlined in the annual reports of the Committee forPerformance Awards (available on the website www.finance.gov.ie). The Committee does notidentify 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 Departmentin 2008. No specific funding has been set aside in 2009 in respect of performance in 2008.


481. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and LocalGovernment if he will confirm having received an application from Westmeath County Councilin respect of a voluntary community association (details supplied) to provide voluntary andcommunity housing; if he will take steps to have same processed as quickly as possible; and ifhe 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 atSpringfield, Mullingar in May, 2005. Following my Department’s response and subsequent dis-cussions on the matter, the Council sought Departmental approval for the scheme inNovember, 2008. My Department wrote to the Council on 21 January 2009 seeking additionalinformation. On receipt of this information, the application will be considered further, in thelight of available resources and competing demands.

Grant Payments.

482. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the grant aid available to disabled persons to insulate their homes; the fundingavailable towards carrying out the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[4702/09]

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Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Forhouseholds on low incomes, such as those in receipt of fuel allowance, invalidity or disabilitybenefit, the Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) managed by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI)will install cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, a boiler lagging jacket, draught proofingmeasures and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Advice is also provided to householderson 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 previousyears allocation. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the WHS and this is expected tosupport energy efficiency interventions in up to 15,000 low income homes this year and shouldsubstantially reduce the time spent waiting for energy efficiency interventions under thescheme.

There are 20 community based organisations currently delivering the WHS, and representcoverage of just over two thirds of the country. It is a priority of the scheme that full nationalcoverage is provided by community based organisations in 2009. It is planned to commencethe introduction of new organisations from the end of March this year.


Energy Resources.

483. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources his timeframe for providing natural gas to Nenagh, County Tipperary; the reasonfor the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4202/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Thedevelopment and expansion of the natural gas network is in the first instance a commercialmatter for Bord Gais Eireann (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 econ-omical and efficient.

The Deputy will be aware that BGE has been examining many areas of the State not yetconnected 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, wherebytowns can now be evaluated in clusters rather than individually, thus giving new towns a betterchance of meeting the economic criteria, BGE completed the first and second phases of itsNew Towns Analysis. Several new towns along the Mayo-Galway Pipeline, two towns alongthe 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 islooking at several areas, including Nenagh, to see if the economic criteria that would allowconnection can be met. I am awaiting completion of this analysis, which will be published byBGE on completion.

Grant Payments.

484. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources when the new grant scheme for improving home insulation will be available; the

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[Deputy Terence Flanagan.]

eligibility criteria for persons wishing to avail of the grant; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4249/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Theimprovement of energy efficiency in the housing stock is internationally recognised as one ofthe most cost effective ways of reducing emissions and energy bills. Energy efficiency measuresto tackle deficiencies in households also support and strengthen employment in the construc-tion and energy services sectors.

I launched the national Home Energy Savings Scheme on Sunday last with a budget of \50million in 2009. This is expected to support the upgrade of at least 27,500 homes, and withother 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 demon-strated 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 manu-facturers, installers and other market players. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) estimates thatdemand among householders across the country could well exceed 100,000 homes over thelifetime of the scheme. Homeowners can expect to save up to \700 on their energy bills if theyimplement 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 upgrademeasures, varying depending on the measure concerned. Owners of homes built prior to 2006can now contact SEI on 1850 927000 or [email protected] to register their interest in this scheme. Alist of eligible measures and fixed grant rates is set out in the following table.

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


485. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the amount of funding allocated by his Department to Energy Action Ireland forthe 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 forthe delivery of energy efficiency measures to assist low income householders and for mentoringservices under the Warmer Homes Scheme. The mentoring role undertaken by Energy Actioninvolved providing assistance to potential and new community based organisations in theadministration and delivery of the Warmer Homes Scheme service.

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From 2006 to 2008 Energy Action addressed 1,661 homes with substantial energy efficiencyimprovements. The funding provided by SEI to Energy Action from 2006 to 2008 is outlinedin 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 NaturalResources the amount of funding allocated by his Department to Sustainable Energy Irelandfor 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 EnergyAgency. Its mission is to promote and assist the development of sustainable energy. Thisincludes implementing significant aspects of the Energy White Paper and the National ClimateChange 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 NaturalResources his views on reports from the UK that deregulation of the postal market had deliv-ered no benefits to most customers and put the finances of the State owned postal companyunder strain; if there are lessons to be learned from the UK experience; if so, the steps he willtake 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 NaturalResources the plans that have been agreed to transpose the third directive on postal liberalis-ation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4377/09]

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The Irish postal market is due to be liberalised from 1 January 2011 as set out in the thirdEU Postal Directive. My Department is currently developing a framework dealing with thekey 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 informthe 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 pricedpostal services whilst ensuring the protection of the universal service in a liberalised market sothat all postal consumers will have access to a basic, high quality suite of services.


Grant Payments.

490. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there is a waiting list of one and ahalf years, in Drogheda, County Louth, for senior citizens who qualify to have their homesinsulated under grant aided funding; the steps he is taking to rectify this situation; and if hewill 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 Dublinbased provider. Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) has received an expression of interest froma Louth based community group interested in delivering this service and it is anticipated thatadditional 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 are20 community based organisations currently delivering the WHS, and represent coverage ofjust over two thirds of the country. It is a priority of the scheme that full national coverage isprovided by community based organisations in 2009. It is planned to commence the introduc-tion 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, includinga new free phone service designed to assist householders identify their nearest provider. Ifoutside of current coverage, their details will be recorded and notified as soon as the servicebecomes available in their area. In addition, a new website will be launched to allowhomeowners, neighbours or relatives find out more information about the WHS and othergrant schemes available in their area. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the WHS. This isexpected 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 NaturalResources 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 ifhe will make a statement on the matter. [4457/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): TheWarmer Homes Scheme (WHS) is overseen by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI), and is tar-geted at households on low incomes, such as those in receipt of fuel allowance, invalidity ordisability benefit. The WHS will install cavity wall insulation, attic insulation, a boiler laggingjacket, draught proofing measures and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Advice is also

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provided to householders on minimising energy use. These measures are provided free or at anominal cost.

The total spend on the WHS in 2008 was \5.6M, which represented a doubling of the previousyears allocation. In 2009 there is \20 million available to the WHS. This increased level offunding is expected to support energy efficiency interventions in up to 15,000 low income homesthis year alone and should substantially reduce the time spent waiting for energy efficiencyinterventions under the scheme. There are 20 community based organisations currentlydelivering the WHS, and this represents just over two-thirds of the country. It is a priority ofthe 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.



492. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the steps which he is taking to address the regional differences in broadband per-formance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4471/09]

511. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the extent, if any, to which he proposes or intends to encourage state of the artinvestment in the telecommunications sector, with particular reference to the need todramatically improve the State’s capability in this sector and the need to become leader in thissector 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 NaturalResources when he expects Ireland to again join the leading EU countries in the telecom-munications sector in respect of both cable, wire and wireless; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4958/09]

515. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources when he expects broadband availability and speeds to become as available here asin leading competing economies throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4961/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I pro-pose 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 gapsin broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of themarket 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 connec-tion in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs hada 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.

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There are still some parts of the country where the private sector cannot justify the commer-cial provision of broadband services. Accordingly, my Department has undertaken toimplement the National Broadband Scheme (NBS) and has entered into a contract with 3, aHutchison Whampoa company, for the delivery of the NBS. 3 will be required to provideservices 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 bySeptember 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 forpublic consultation earlier this year, considered the optimum role for Government in facilitatingthe roll out of high speed broadband networks and sets out the Government’s commitments inthat regard. A central commitment is that there will be universal access to broadband by 2010and 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 thewritten submissions received and the contributions made at a one day consultation forum thatI hosted on 30th September 2008. I intend to publish a finalised report shortly having regardto the contributions we have received.

493. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the steps which he is taking to enhance demand side initiatives for business; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter. [4472/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Thewidespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. Inthat regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broad-band coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market andstimulate demand to the point where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadbandconnection. ComReg’s quarterly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households havea connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps. It is also encouraging that, at the end ofQ1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadband connection. Over 70% of those SMEs, accordingto ComReg’s report for Q3 2008, had a connection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps.


Businesses located within the NBS area and currently without any broadband service willbenefit by being able to send and receive emails and files, surf the web, and update their ownwebsites. Under the NBS, 3 is committed to a comprehensive demand side programme whichincludes 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 todemand stimulation through the use of broadband for internal State business and for the pro-vision of electronic services to citizens.

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494. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the steps which he is taking to address the expensive cost of broadband, the relativelower speeds and the capacity issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4473/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Thewidespread provision of broadband services continues to be a priority for the Government. Inthat regard my Department has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address the gaps in broad-band coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of the market to thepoint where over 60% of Irish households now have a broadband connection. ComReg’s quar-terly report for Q3 2008 states that 61.1% of those households have a connection in the speedcategory of 2mbps-10mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs had a broadbandconnection. Most of those SMEs, 72.6%, according to ComReg’s report for Q3 2008, have aconnection in the speed category of 2mbps-10mbps.

As regards the cost of broadband, it is not the case that broadband is expensive in Ireland.In fact, in ComReg’s last quarterly report (issued for Q3 2008) Ireland ranked in 8th place inthe “DSL and Cable basket” used for international comparison purposes and compared favour-ably with the EU24 average.

Mine Rehabilitation.

495. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources if the rehabilitation works at a site (details supplied) in County Tipperary is runningaccording 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 Sean Power): The rehabilitation works at the Gortmore Tailings Management Facilityare being carried out in phases. The first phase was commenced in July 2008 and successfullycompleted 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 twoare currently in progress and advertisements have been issued by North Tipperary CountyCouncil inviting expressions of interest from contractors. It is anticipated that the phase twoconstruction works will commence in the summer of 2009, for completion before the end ofthe year.


496. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the position regarding Project Kelvin in terms of an account of project status; if hewill provide a progress report on money approved and spent; if there have been changes in thestatus of the project since July 2008; the person who changed the status of the project in theevent 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): Thecontract for the Kelvin project was awarded in late December 2008 and it is now beingimplemented by Hibernia Atlantic, the winning bidder for the contract. \12m of IrishExchequer funding has been approved for the project, of which \9m will be refunded to theIrish Exchequer from EU funds. This is because it is a joint North-South project approvedfor 75% EU funding under the INTERREG IV Cross Border Cooperation Programme. TheDepartment of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland, our joint partners in theKelvin 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 inDecember 2008 after the award of the contract.

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In July the Kelvin project was at the tendering stage, whereas the contract has now beenawarded to implement the project. The evaluation of the tenders submitted for the implemen-tation 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 tothe 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 busi-ness and for foreign direct investment and will improve Ireland’s overall international con-nectivity. We are fortunate that funding was made available for the Kelvin project in view ofcurrent pressures on public funding; this reflects the strategic benefits of the project for theNorth West of Ireland and for Ireland as a whole.

Energy Market.

497. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the efforts he is making to increase competition in the energy market; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4591/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Theintroduction of the all-island Single Electricity Market (SEM) in November 2007 marked animportant milestone in the development of competition in the Irish electricity sector. Thismarket has already attracted new entrants to the Irish electricity generation market.

Our ambitious renewable generation targets will also attract new generators to the Irishmarket. However, the all island market is relatively small and accordingly only a certain levelof generation capacity can be adequately accommodated.

This is mirrored by developments in the retail electricity market. Airtricity has decided tooffer a new tariff to domestic electricity users to compete with ESB and I understand thatother companies are currently considering entering sections of the market. This progress rep-resents the dawning of real choice for electricity consumers, which will help to keep energycosts competitive.

The Government will continue to promote the development of competition as a cornerstoneof our energy policy. We will ensure the completion of the reduction of ESB’s market sharein line with the CER-ESB Asset Strategy Agreement, the completion of the transfer of theTransmission System Assets from ESB to EirGrid, the successful development of the East WestInterconnector by 2012 and the implementation of the grid development strategy set out inEirGrid’s Grid 25 programme.

On a European level, the Government will continue to implement reform of the electricityand gas markets in line with EU Internal Energy Market Directives.


498. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources when quality broadband will be available to a person (details supplied) in CountyMonaghan; his views on whether it is difficult for a person to operate an on-line service torelevant departments without such broadband availability; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4786/09]

499. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources when quality broadband will be available to business personnel in a village (details

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supplied) in County Cavan; his views on whether it is difficult for a company to operate anon-line service without such broadband availability; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4787/09]


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 gapsin broadband coverage. These initiatives have helped to facilitate the development of themarket 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 connec-tion in the speed category of 2 Mbps–10 Mbps. At the end of Q1 2008, 83% of Irish SMEs hada 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.


The areas of Tyholland, County Monaghan and Mountnugent, Kells, County Cavan will becovered by the NBS. Details of the areas to be covered by 3 under the NBS are availableat www.three.ie/nbs.



501. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the private consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to14 October 2008 and 15 October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the costto his Department for each project; and if he will provide the information in tabular readableform. [4810/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): In thetime 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 willrevert to the Deputy as soon as possible.


502. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the cost of bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amountset aside in his Department for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on thecircumstances where a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4825/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): MyDepartment operates a Merit Award Scheme for grades up to and including Assistant PrincipalOfficer. Last year my Department’s Management Committee made a decision to restrict meritpayments under this scheme to Service Officers/Attendants and grades represented by the Civil

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Public and Services Union (CPSU). Awards totalling \3,910 were made in December last underthat scheme.

A total of \41,100 was paid to 3 Assistant Secretaries in my Department in early 2008 inrespect of 2007. Details of the operation of the scheme are available in the report of theCommittee for Performance Awards, which can be accessed on the website of the Departmentof 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 bonuspayments.

Commission for Energy Regulation.

503. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources 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 inhousing estates when such supply is specified in the planning conditions; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4859/09]

505. Deputy Liz McManus asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources his views on whether suppliers of bulk LPG gas for domestic use are to be withinthe remit of CER; whether he is aware of concerns over the price charged by suppliers of bulkLPG gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4919/09]


The transportation and supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is not licensed under theEnergy 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 trans-portation of LPG by sea is a matter for the Maritime Safety Directorate under maritime safetylegislation. Transportation overland and the safety regulation of storage facilities are coveredby regulations governing the transportation and storage of dangerous substances, and by theHealth, Safety and Welfare Act 2005.

Section 14 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 enables the CER’s responsibil-ities to be extended to cover the activities of LPG undertakings and installers with respect tosafety. My Department is liaising with the CER in regard to the commencement of this pro-vision. I understand that the CER expects to publish final proposals on the safety regulationof the LPG industry in the near future. These proposals will inform a decision on the com-mencement of Section 14. I have no plans to extend the role of the CER beyond the regulatoryrole as envisaged under Section 14.

While the regulation of Bord Gais Eireann natural gas tariffs is the responsibility of theCommission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is statutorily independent in the performanceof its functions, the Commission has no function in regard to the setting of the retail price ofLPG, which is a by-product of oil. The Irish oil industry is fully privatised, liberalised andderegulated and there is no price control on petroleum products in Ireland. The NationalConsumer 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

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Resources the position in relation to the provision of electricity interconnectors, north-southand east-west; if he has a specific timeframe in this regard; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4917/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): Thebuilding 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 notone in which I have a function.

The East-West and North-South Interconnector projects are of strategic national importanceto Ireland and are key Government priorities. The Meath-Cavan and North-South transmissionlines are part of a major upgrade to supplies in the North East region and will bring criticalinfrastructure to the North East region, ensuring the delivery of high quality and highly reliableservices 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 Pleanala to submit full detailsof its proposed route and technology selection. Consultations on the route selection areongoing. As part of these consultations EirGrid has opened information centres in Navan andMonaghan and has met with stakeholders including individuals, local interest groups and publicinterest 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 viewto progressing a shared understanding in relation to the projects. I understand that EirGrid hasalso agreed to facilitate a meeting between NEPP’s consultants (Askon) and EirGrid’s owntechnical experts, and will fund the costs of Askon attending the meeting. EirGrid will shortlypublish a detailed study on undergrounding issues relating to the entire route, the preparationof which is one of a number of requirements for its application for planning consent to AnBord Pleanala. EirGrid expects to submit a planning application for the North/South intercon-nector to the planning authority, the Strategic Infrastructure Board of An Bord Pleanala, in2009 which will include a full Environmental Impact Statement. The target completion dateis 2012.

The East-West Interconnector is a 500 MW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) intercon-nector, which will link the electricity grids of Ireland and Great Britain. The advantages thatthe development of the East West interconnector will bring include improved security of supplyand increased competition in the single electricity market as well as significant environmentalbenefits such as assisting in achieving our ambitious renewable targets and reducing carboncredit payments.

EirGrid has been entrusted with the development and ownership of this interconnector bythe Government. Working closely with the CER and with my Department, EirGrid is pro-gressing the project to schedule. The Electricity Regulation (Amendment) (EirGrid) Act 2008provides 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 interconnectorto be completed shortly, when the successful bidder will be announced. EirGrid has securedWoodland in County Meath as the connection point for the interconnector on the Irish trans-mission system and Deeside in Wales on the UK side. Furthermore, EirGrid has undertaken amarine survey to determine the most suitable route for the undersea cable. A planning appli-cation in respect of the project was submitted to An Bord Pleanala in November 2008 andpublic 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 oper-ations is 2012. The project remains on track to meet these target completion dates, subject tothe outcome of the planning processes.

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Financing options for this project are being pursued by EirGrid with the objective of achiev-ing the most cost-effective and efficient financial package. The European Commission hasincluded the Interconnector on the list of energy projects under the European EconomicRecovery Package which is currently being negotiated in Brussels. I welcome the Commission’srecognition of the strategic importance of the project and will continue to work intensively inthe negotiations with Member States and the European Parliament to secure the funding.


Digital Hub.

506. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the degree to which targets set in respect of the development of the digital hub havebeen 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): TheDigital 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 demandfor additional space for digital media companies continues to increase. There are now 870employees working in 101 companies located in the Digital Hub. A further 290 approximatelycontract employees are engaged on a regular basis by Hub companies. Approximately one insix digital media companies currently operating in Ireland is based in the Digital Hub. Thework of these companies encompasses computer gaming, animation, on-line bookings, Internetsecurity, website development, mobile technologies, broadcasting, design and Internet services.Such highly-skilled knowledge economy companies are key to maintaining and developingeconomic success.

The DHDA has been successful in developing and promoting the identity and brand of theHub. Late last year, GOA Games Services, a subsidiary of France Telecom, which alreadyemploys 200 people in the Digital Hub, announced an expansion to 400 employees in the next12 months. Gala Games, a Japanese employer also located in the Hub, recently announced 50new jobs. Havok, an Irish world leader in computer graphics technologies, was recognised withan Emmy Award in the United States last year. It is also notable that two Digital Hub compan-ies, Lincor and Zamano, took first and second place in the Deloitte Fast 50 rankings of Ireland’sfastest growing enterprises.

The DHDA also has remits relating to education, community and urban regeneration. TheDHDA delivers a very successful learning programme, which provides state-of-the-art digitalmedia education to schools and the wider community in Dublin’s south-west inner city, witha view to improving learning, employment and leisure opportunities for local residents. Theprogramme is very successful with over 3,300 participants in 2008. To date, in excess of 10,000individuals have participated in these programmes.

The growing demand for commercial property for digital media companies at the Digital Hubis further evidence of success. The DHDA has leased office space to meet the requirements ofits tenant companies and has reached the point where all of its own available space has beenoccupied — approximately 80,000 square feet in State ownership by the DHDA or OPW. Afurther 80,000 square feet is occupied by Digital Hub tenants under interim lease arrangementswith third parties. An additional 20,000 square feet is likely to be delivered during 2009 undera proposal to redevelop another State owned building. In order to rationalise its propertyportfolio and continue to cater for expansion, the DHDA has entered into an agreement with

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two private developers for an additional 140,000 square feet of office space. Planning per-mission was granted for this last year.


507. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the extent to which alternative energy now supplies the national electricity grid; andif he will make a statement on the matter. [4947/09]

509. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the degree to which the wind energy sector has grown and contributed to thenational electricity grid in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4949/09]


The year on year increase in the contribution from renewable energy technologies to theelectricity market is set out in the table below. The table records the combined contributionfrom all renewable energy technologies. The vast majority of the growth achieved in each yearis attributable to wind-powered technologies, which now exceeds 1,000 megawatts of installedcapacity connected to the electricity grid. The data for 2004-2007 is published data. The contri-bution 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 NaturalResources the number of exploration licences granted in each of the past five years; the numberof commercial fines arising therefrom, if any; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4948/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources(Deputy Sean Power): Details of the number of Mineral Prospecting Licences (PLs) issued inthe 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 metalmine at Navan, County Meath (Boliden Tara Mines Limited), discovered additional reserveswith the potential to extend the life of that mine. Diamond drilling in north-east County

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[Deputy Sean Power.]

Limerick by Minco and Xstrata Zinc, has encountered high grade intersections of zinc andlead. Conroy Diamonds and Gold plc recently announced that it had increased its estimate ofgold resources at its Clontibret prospect. Although these results are encouraging, it is too earlyto say whether economic mineral deposits occur in the areas in question.

25 Petroleum Exploration Licences were also issued by my Department during the sameperiod.

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 whetherany of these finds can be progressed to commercial developments.



Questions Nos. 511 and 512 answered with Question No. 492.

Energy Costs.

513. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the plans he has to reduce energy costs to consumers, domestic, industrial and com-mercial; 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 NaturalResources his plans, if any, to bring energy prices for consumers here into line with thoseprevailing in other EU countries, with particular reference to those without access to nuclearpower; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4960/09]


The regulation of ESB customer supply electricity tariffs and BGE gas tariffs is the statutoryresponsibility 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 CERannounced on 1 December 2008 that there would be no further increase in the price of gasfrom January 2009 and that there would be a small average decrease from that month of justless than 1% in the price of electricity supplied by ESB Customer Supply. This decision isreflective of recent easing in international fossil fuel prices, which follows a period ofexponential increases in global oil, gas and coal prices. I also welcome the substantial rebatebeing provided by ESB to all electricity customers, irrespective of supplier, which has helpedto stabilise electricity prices for 2009.

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The CER is required to examine the costs underlying the regulated tariffs to ensure they arecost 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 theenergy regulator to undertake an immediate review of options to bring forward a reduction inelectricity prices. As I stated in this House last week if current trends in energy prices, partic-ularly gas continue, I would expect a double-digit cut in electricity and gas prices to become areality 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. Itis a major concern for the European Union and globally. In this context, I welcome the NationalCompetitiveness Council’s investigation into electricity prices. This report, along with otherrecently published research, such as Sustainable Energy Ireland’s report on UnderstandingElectricity and Gas Prices in Ireland, provide a valuable insight into the drivers of higher energycosts in our market. In particular, they underline the imperative to reduce Ireland’s dependenceon imported fossil fuels and our exposure to volatile international market prices for these com-modities.

The Government’s Energy Policy Framework and the Programme for Government set outthe 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 pro-gress vital strategic energy infrastructure such as the East West Electricity Interconnector.Initiatives in all these areas are being progressed.



Corrib Gas Field.

517. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources when he expects gas supplies from the Corrib gasfield to become available to theIrish 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 Sean Power): The developers of the Corrib Gas Project, Shell E&P Ireland Ltd, havestated their expectation that first gas will be available in the last quarter of 2010. Completionof the development works by the developers is the principal factor that will ultimately deter-mine the date for first gas.

Postal Services.

518. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources his views on the future of An Post; the extent to which he has had discussions withmanagement 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 isGovernment policy that An Post remains a strong and viable company, in a position to competein a liberalised market, provide a high quality, nationwide postal service and maintain a nation-wide, customer-focused network of post offices.

In the past twelve months, I and officials from my Department have met a number of timeswith An Post management to discuss issues of importance to An Post, including the future ofthe company. However, it is the responsibility of the board and management of the company

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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 andthat management and trade unions in An Post work together to transform the company intoan efficient, innovative and modern service provider by implementing the agreed restructuringprogramme and providing innovative new service arrangements for the public.

Energy Policy.

519. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and NaturalResources the extent to which he has had discussions with the ESB, EirGrid and other energyproducing companies, bodies or groups in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4965/09]

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (Deputy Eamon Ryan): I andmy Department are in regular contact with the energy commercial semi state bodies and alsomeet the Independent energy companies frequently.

Discussions are held on a regular basis and are integral to the Government’s energy policyobjectives. This engagement has been particularly strong in the past twelve months, given theGovernment’s policy objectives for energy and the challenges in the energy sector both globallyin the EU and nationally.

Foreshore Licences.

520. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reasona location (details supplied) in County Clare does not require a foreshore licence; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4212/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): My Department’sEngineering 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 thesite requires access via the Foreshore, or if activity affects the Foreshore, a Foreshore licencewill be required.

Rural Environment Protection Scheme.

521. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when aperson (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 measureunder the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulationswhich require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before thefirst payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last weekof January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrativechecks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared.

Queries have arisen during the administrative checks on the plan of the person named andit is currently under further examination.

522. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the numberof applications made for a payment (details supplied) in County Mayo; the number paid todate; and the number currently being dealt with. [4214/09]

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Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The number of REPS4 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 applicationsrequired no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to bemade as applications are cleared. In total 51 REPS 4 payments have either issued or are sched-uled for payment to farmers in County Mayo. Queries that have arisen during the administra-tive 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 orderthat 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 appli-cations made under the Farm Waste Management Scheme, arrangements are being made inmy Department’s local offices for the return to farmers of original invoices as soon as possibleto facilitate any such farmers who require those invoices to claim VAT refunds from the Officeof the Revenue Commissioners.

Food Labelling.

524. Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when it isproposed 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 viewson the fact that pigmeat and poultry products being labelled as Irish are being produced inother countries; the steps he will take to regularise this situation to ensure that the country oforigin 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 dis-cussions he has had with the European Commission and the EU Council to ensure the conceptof substantial transformation is altered in order that pigmeat and poultry products with rawmaterials originating outside Ireland is labelled as such; the results of such discussions; whenany 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 hashad discussions with the Department of Health and Children on drafting new regulations torequire operators in the retail and catering sectors to provide country of origin information onpigmeat, poultry meat and sheepmeat, as is the case with beef; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4257/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): I propose to takeQuestions Nos. 524 and 526 to 528, inclusive, together.

The Minister for Health & Children has overall responsibility for the general food labellinglegislation. 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. TheEuropean 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

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[Deputy Brendan Smith.]

being discussed at Council Working Party level in Brussels. These draft regulations will besubmitted to the EU Council of Health ministers during 2009.

Notwithstanding the outcome of the current review on origin labelling my Department hastaken steps to try to introduce origin labelling for meats other than beef, which is alreadysubject to specific legislation since September 2000.

Regarding the labelling of poultry meat, there are EU Regulations, which provide for thelabelling of unprocessed poultry meat at retail level. The Regulations require such poultrymeat to be labelled with the information regarding class, price, condition, registered numberof slaughterhouse or cutting plant and, where imported from a Third Country, an indication ofcountry of origin.

My Department, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Children, drafted regu-lations that would require the country of origin to be indicated on pigmeat, poultry and sheep-meat. 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 onthe grounds that the proposed legislation is not in compliance with EU food labelling regu-lations. The Commission’s main contention is that only harmonised rules with EU-wide applica-bility may be applied to food labelling other than in exceptional circumstances.

In March, the EU Commission delivered a negative opinion on the regulations but affordedIreland an opportunity to provide further information in support of them. In the meantime,the Department provided additional details including the current misleading labelling practicesand evidence of consumers’ desire for country of origin labelling. However the EU StandingCommittee on the Food Chain and Animal Health formally adopted the negative opinion inDecember 2008.

There is also the issue where a primary product can enter Ireland and be processed insome way thereby allowing it to be branded, as an Irish product, this is known as “substantialtransformation” This terminology originates in WTO, CODEX and EU Legislation governingthe EU Custom Code and therefore can only be amended at EU level. I have been concernedthat this arrangement could, in certain circumstances, be used to mislead the consumers as tothe origin of the raw materials used in certain products. This was one of the principal pointsmade to the European Commission in the context of our request for their approval of ourproposed 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 BordBia 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 whena person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive their payment; if checks will bemade on the application; when these will be made; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4246/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): REPS 4 is a measureunder the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulationswhich require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before thefirst payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last weekof January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrativechecks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared. Queries have arisen

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during the administrative checks on the plan of the person named and it is currently underfurther 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 whena payment will be made under REP scheme four to a person (details supplied) in County Mayowhich was approved for payment in November 2008; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4259/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): REPS 4 is a measureunder the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulationswhich require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before thefirst payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last weekof January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrativechecks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared. Queries have arisenduring the administrative checks on the plan of the person named and it is currently underfurther examination.

Farm Retirement Scheme.

530. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the numberof people awaiting approval under a scheme (details supplied). [4276/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): My Department iscurrently processing 145 Early Retirement Scheme applications received before 14 October2008 and these will be paid subject to approval.

531. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the lengthof time it will take, once an applicant is approved under a scheme (details supplied), for theperson to be paid. [4279/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): When an applicationunder the Early Retirement Scheme is approved and provided there are no other outstandingissues, the application is scheduled for the next available payment date. Payments under thescheme 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 whena person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be awarded their farm waste managementgrant, which was sanctioned on 17 December 2008; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4287/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person named isan applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A decision will bemade in respect of the application as soon as possible.

533. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food thenumber of farmers sanctioned for grant aid under the farm waste management scheme incounties of Cavan and Monaghan; the number who have been paid to date again in each ofthe counties; the number awaiting payment having completed their jobs on time; if he is satis-

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fied that payments will be made according to the agreed Charter of Farmers’ Rights; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4288/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The informationrequested by the Deputy will be forwarded to him as soon as possible.

534. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whena person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive payment; the reason for thedelay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4338/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person named isan applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. My Department iscurrently 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 ofan 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 concernedis an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. My Department is currently exam-ining 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 paymentwill issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement onthe matter. [4361/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person concernedis an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A decision will bemade in respect of the application as soon as possible.

Pigmeat Sector.

537. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the actionhe will take to ensure the payment of money from the pigmeat recall scheme is for Irishproduced pigmeat products only; and the action he will take to ensure that pork products soldhere can be identified by their country of production. [4386/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The product recallscheme provides assistance in respect of eligible product manufactured from pigs slaughteredin Ireland between 1 September and 6 December 2008. However, a case has been made forother products manufactured in Ireland and that were affected by the product recall to beconsidered for assistance. These would include products containing both Irish and importedpigmeat 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 con-sidering the position of such products.

As regards identification of country of production, in December 2007 my Department sub-mitted to the European Commission draft national legislation that would require the countryof origin to be indicated on pigmeat, poultrymeat and sheepmeat and on food products contain-ing over 70% of these meats. Over the last year the Department has been in extensive com-munication with the Commission with a view to justifying and pressing the case for the pro-posed legislation. The Commission, however, adopted a negative opinion in relation to our

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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 beapplied to food labelling other than in exceptional circumstances. This negative opinion wasformally adopted at a meeting of the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and AnimalHealth in December 2008.

My Department will continue to press for compulsory country of origin labelling in thecontext 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 Departmentwill continue to liase with it on this issue.

Grant Payments.

538. Deputy Brendan Kenneally asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whenthe REP scheme four payments will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in CountyWaterford; 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 statusof the application for REP scheme four in respect of a person (details supplied); when adecision 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 whena farmer (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment under REP Scheme four; andif he will make a statement on the matter. [4407/09]



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541. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whenfarmers in County Mayo will receive their payments under REP scheme four; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4415/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): REPS 4 is a measureunder the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulationswhich require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before thefirst payments issue. The first REPS 4 payments to farmers in Mayo issued in the last week ofJanuary 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 paymentshave 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 thenumber of farmers in County Mayo who have been approved for REP scheme four and arewaiting 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 REPS4 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 applicationsrequired no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to bemade as applications are cleared. In total 51 REPS 4 payments have either issued or are sched-uled for payment to farmers in County Mayo.

Queries that have arisen during the administrative checks are currently under furtherexamination.

543. Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when aperson (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive their forestry grant in view of the factthat land was planted in June 2008 and no payment has been received to date; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4447/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): I understand thatfollowing receipt of application for payment in August of last year it was discovered followinga field inspection that remedial work was required on the plantation. This work has now beencompleted 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 thetransferee status of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can be approved in order thatrelevant payments can be paid. [4460/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): As outlined in replyto a previous question from the Deputy, an application was received on 15 May 2008 requestingthe 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 itpossible to proceed with the processing of this application.

Several documents relevant to this transfer were issued to the person named, most of whichhave since been completed and returned to my Department. However, the signature of theperson named on the Deed of Transfer had not been witnessed and this was also returned tothe person named for correction. To date, this completed document has not been returned tomy Department.

Upon receipt of this latter document, the application will be processed without delay.

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Installation Aid Scheme.

545. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whenpersons (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be awarded their installation aid; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4465/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The persons con-cerned are applicants under the Installation Aid Scheme and their application is currently beingexamined within my Department.

Grant Payments.

546. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whena person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be awarded their farm waste manage-ment grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4499/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person concernedis an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A decision will be made in respectof the application as soon as possible.

Foreshore Licences.

547. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the posi-tion 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 approvalwas granted to Mayo County Council in 2005 to facilitate the construction of an outfall forKillala Sewerage Scheme.

The Council subsequently revised its proposal to allow for the connection of the seweragescheme to an existing outfall in the vicinity.

The new proposal has been assessed and approved by my Department’s technical advisorsand 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 thereason payment has not issued to a to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who hasmade an application under the farm waste management scheme; the total amount to be paidto the applicant; when payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4571/09]


549. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food thereason for the delay in payments in respect of the rural environment protection scheme to aperson (details supplied) in County Tipperary; when payment will be made; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [4572/09]

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550. Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whena 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 aperson (details supplied) in County Cork, who is awaiting payment under the farm waste man-agement scheme, will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[4637/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person concernedis an applicant under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. My Department is currently exam-ining the application and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

552. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whenpersons (details supplied) in County Cork, who is awaiting payment of grants under both thefarm waste management scheme and the farm investment scheme, will receive payment; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter. [4638/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The persons con-cerned are applicants under both the Farm Waste Management and Farm ImprovementSchemes. 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 whena person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be awarded their farm waste manage-ment 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

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will release the \5 million that was set aside for aquaculture in the national developmentplan. [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 isplanned to roll out a number of actions to assist the development of aquaculture and drawdown the available funds in the near future.

Grant Payments.

555. Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whena person (details supplied) in County Cavan will be awarded their farm waste managementgrant; 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 aREP scheme payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if hewill confirm that an administrative check has to be carried out on this and other applicationsprior to presenting approval for payment; and when he expects payment in this particular caseto issue. [4712/09



557. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when aperson (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive their REP scheme three pay-ment. [4759/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): An amended REPS3 plan has been requested from the person named. Processing of the payment claim cannot beresumed until the amended plan has been received.

558. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whena payment under the REP scheme will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in CountyCork. [4760/09]


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Departmental Staff.

559. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the numberof 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 daysand over ten days; the number of uncertified sick days taken on Fridays and Mondays; thenumber of persistent offenders with regard to uncertified sick days who have been sent for anindependent 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 tablesets 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 hewill arrange to return documents submitted with an application for a grant under the farmwaste management scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who requiresthese documents for a VAT refund. [4791/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): In respect of appli-cations made under the Farm Waste Management Scheme, arrangements are being made inmy Department’s local offices for the return to farmers of original invoices as soon as possibleto facilitate any such farmers who require those invoices to claim VAT refunds from the Officeof the Revenue Commissioners.

Grant Payments.

561. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food thereason for the delay in having REP Scheme four awarded to a person (details supplied) inCounty Kilkenny whose documentation is in order for payment. [4792/09]



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562. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food theprivate consultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October2008 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 informationrequested 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 Octof the Rural Development Plan 2000-2006 Completed 22 Dec

Cost \74,084.25

Deloitte & Touche Independent certification of the 2007 EAGF & EAFRD 2008 EAFG & EAFRDEAGF/EAFRD annual accounts as required under (payment 3) \101,563.30 (Payment 2) \222,073.10EU 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 47,894.22Freshwater Pearl Mussel areas

Espion Quarterly IT Security review Reports 15,125.00 605.00

Morehampton Consultancy Services: Work on 2008- 950.002011 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 5,929.00Study (phase 2)

RPS Consulting Engineers: Coastal Protection Strategy 180,266.33 80,928.20Study (phase 3)

RPS Consulting Engineers: Coastal Protection Strategy 4,894.98Study (Storm Surge)

Philip Lee Solicitors: Procurement advice 1,658.31

Moore Stephens Caplin Meehan Accountants: Audit 2,100.00of PRISM system

Marine Modelling Centre — NUIG — PRISM 25,000.00Computer System

RPS Consulting Engineers (Dingle dredging study) 53,603.00

Aquafact International: (Doonloughan Marine Study) 5,747.50

Keville & O’Sullivan Associates (Doonloughan Marine 2,678.94Study)

Aquatic Services Unit — Environmental Research 19,915.39Institute: Sediment sampling & analysis of DunmoreEast Fishery Harbour

MERC Consultants Ltd: Sediment sampling and 20,920.90analysis report of Howth Fishery Harbour

REPS Consulting Engineers: Dunmore East 18,634.00sedimentation 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


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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 theinflow of funds”


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 14,749.90Harbour Centres

Ray Burke Consulting: Border inspection Post at 7,292.67Killybegs

Poseidon Aquatic Resources Ltd: Cost benefit analysis 17,968.50of Dunmore Fishery Centre

Dr Noel Cawley: Chairperson of the Seafood Strategy 56,305.00implementation group overseeing theimplementation of the Seafood industry report“Steering a new course”

Achilles Procurement Services Ltd: Human Resources 847.00Management System

Achilles Procurement Services Ltd: Procurement 317.63advise — HRD


563. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the costof bonus payments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in hisDepartment for bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstanceswhere a staff bonus will be paid in 2009. [4823/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): There are two bonusschemes operating in my Department. The first is a scheme of performance-related awards thatapplies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to theSecretary General. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance relatedscheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. In2008 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 Committeefor Performance Awards which can be accessed on the website of the Department of Financewww.finance.gov.ie.

Following the announcement in the Dail on 5 February last relating to the discontinuationof the scheme for Assistant Secretaries, Deputy Secretary and related grades, there is now nospecific provision for payment under this scheme.

The Minister for Finance, in 1998, sanctioned payment of not more than 0.2% of SubheadA.1 (Salaries), to individual staff members or groups of staff in recognition of exceptionalperformance of duty. Awards under this provision can be made in the case of all grades belowAssistant Secretary level. In 2008 \405,595 was paid out to staff in recognition of exceptionalperformance carried out in 2007. No funds have been allocated for the payment of awardsin 2009.

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Grant Payments.

564. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when anapplication will be finalised for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [4845/09]


565. Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when asingle farm payment will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4892/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): An application underthe Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person namedon 30 April 2008. This application was selected for a satellite eligibility inspection, whichrequired 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 andA11812102. 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, penaltieswill be applied as per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. In this case the number ofentitlements held by the person named is 47.04. As the difference between the area declaredand the area found is more than 3%, under EU Regulations, the difference between the areafound and the area claimed is doubled and deducted from the area found. As a result the areaput forward for payment under the Single Payment Scheme was 41.01 hectares. Notification ofthese results will be forwarded to the person named in writing as a matter of priority. If theperson named is not satisfied with the results of the inspection, he may seek a review bycontacting his Local Office. He also has the right to appeal the outcome of any such review tothe Agriculture Appeals Office.

566. Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whenpayment of installation aid will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, as all hisdocumentation is now in order. [4920/09]

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Deputy Brendan Smith): The person concernedis an applicant under the Installation Aid Scheme. His application has been approved andpayment will issue shortly.

567. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when aperson (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment under the farm waste manage-ment 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 aperson (details supplied) in County Cork, who is an applicant under the REP Scheme four willreceive their first REP scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.[5052/09]

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Employment Support Services.

569. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science the allowancesavailable for people who have recently lost their jobs, not through redundancy, and who wishto pursue courses through the Vocational Education Committee; and if he will make a state-ment on the matter. [4306/09]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The Department of Socialand Family Affairs offers a range of education and employment supports designed to assistand 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 theDepartment. It is designed to encourage people on certain social welfare payments to improvetheir skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to work. An applicantmust be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period, to qualify forthe back to education allowance. This requirement has always been a feature of the BTEAscheme and is considered necessary to ensure that limited resources are directed at those mostin need. The allowance essentially replaces a person’s existing social welfare income and, inaddition, 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 monthsif pursuing a second level course or 12 months if pursuing a third level course. In addition, thequalifying period for access to the third level option is further reduced to 9 months for personswho are participating in the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) process and peoplewho are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided anentitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing anapproved course of study.

FAS 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 fromthe labour market are provided with appropriate and intensive professional vocational guidancewhich results in an action plan setting out specific actions and measures to be implementedwith a view to helping them integrate into the labour force.

FAS provides various financial supports in the form of allowances to assist participants oftraining c FAS provides various financial supports in the form of allowances to assist partici-pants of training courses and grants or subventions to encourage employers to support trainingprogrammes. Participants on the majority of FAS training courses are eligible for various allow-ances. The main allowances given for the course participants are training, travel, accom-modation, meals and childcare.

FAS operates a National Contact Centre which may be contacted, by job-seekers, using afree-phone number to obtain information on jobs available and on FAS training and employ-ment programmes. For information on the full range of allowances and grants and advice ontheir personal options a person should contact their local FAS office.

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School Enrolments.

570. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he is satisfiedwith guidelines in relation to school enrolment and the requirement of parental consent in thematter of guardianship of infants; if provision is made for both guardians to be consulted incases 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 ofpupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. Under section15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolmentpolicy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right ofparents 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 edu-cation they provide or to have provided to their children. Primary legislation gives effect tothis 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 con-cert and those who disagree and are separated, divorced or unmarried. However each providesthat “parent” shall be interpreted to include — “a foster parent, a guardian appointed underthe Guardianship of Children Acts, 1964 to 1997, or other person acting in loco parentis whohas a child in his or her care subject to any statutory power or order of a court and, in the caseof a child who has been adopted under the Adoption Acts, 1952 to 1998, or, where the childhas 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 thanmy Department and Boards must address the circumstances of each case while respecting anyorder 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 aquery 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 diffi-cult choices to be made across all areas of public expenditure. These decisions were made tocontrol 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 andgrant levels were included in the Budget day announcements. Even with the budget measuresin 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 beenpublished on my Department’s website at www.education.ie and my officials have written toall schools to notify them in this regard. The schedule is a transparent and clear way of ensuringthat schools are treated consistently and fairly and know where they stand.

Within the terms of the staffing arrangements for primary schools there is provision foradditional posts, referred to as developing school posts, to be assigned to schools on the basisof projected enrolments for the next school year. Under these arrangements, a developingschool post may be sanctioned provisionally where the projected enrolment at 30th Septemberof the school year in question equals or exceeds a specified figure. If the specified figure is notachieved on 30th September, sanction for the post is withdrawn.

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[Deputy Batt O’Keeffe.]

It is open to the school referred to by the Deputy to submit an application for an additionalpost(s) to the Primary Payments Section of my Department if it considers that it meets thecriteria for developing status.

The allocation process includes appellate mechanisms under which schools can appeal againstthe allocation due to them under the staffing schedules. The final allocation to a school is alsoa function of the operation of the redeployment panels which provide for the retention of ateacher in an existing school if a new post is not available within the agreed terms of thescheme.

School Transport.

572. Deputy Phil Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will extend theschool transport service for children (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [4217/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sean Haughey):Under the terms of the primary school transport scheme pupils are eligible for transport if theyreside 3.2 kilometres or more from and are attending their nearest national school as deter-mined by my Department.

The families referred to by the Deputy, in the details supplied, should apply, in the firstinstance, to their local Bus Eireann office. Their eligibility for school transport and the avail-ability 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 assista school (details supplied) in County Louth in the provision of first year places in view of thelarge 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 towhich the Deputy refers made an application for an extension in 2006.

An assessment of projected enrolments, demographic trends and housing developments inthe area will need to be carried out to ensure that any capital funding provided will deliveraccommodation appropriate to the school’s future needs. When the long-term projected enrol-ment has been finalised and agreed with the school authorities, my Department will draw upschedules of accommodation for the project which will be notified to the school managementauthority. 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 myDepartment with regard to any immediate shortage of accommodation to cater for its needs. Todate, no requests have been made to my Department from the school authorities for additionalaccommodation 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 describeand list the forms and nature of assistance provided in State examinations to students withspecial needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4266/09]

316


Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The State Examinations Com-mission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examin-ations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in placeswhere 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 submittedby schools on behalf of their students.

A range of accommodations are provided to enable students with special needs to access theCertificate 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 beallowed depending on needs. The scheme was introduced following the report of an expertadvisory group, and the introduction enabled opportunities to be provided for exemptionswhere a candidate was not in a position to demonstrate achievement in a core area ofassessment.

I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission who will give you amore comprehensive reply.

Schools Building Projects.

575. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approvalto a school (details supplied) to move their extension and refurbishment project to tender stagein 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 theDeputy 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 designstage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department’smulti-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of currentcompeting demands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give anindicative 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 approvalto a school (details supplied) to move its development project to the next stage in his forth-coming 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 intentionto provide the school to which the Deputy refers with a new building on a greenfield site.


577. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approvalto a school (details supplied) to move its project to the next stage in his forthcoming announce-ments; 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 Deputyrefers has applied to my Department for an extension project.

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578. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approvalto a school (details supplied) to move its project to the next stage in his forthcoming announce-ments; 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 Deputyrefers has applied to my Department for an extension project.


579. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approvalto a school (details supplied) to move its extension and refurbishment project to the next stagein 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 theschool to which the Deputy refers is awaiting the appointment of a Design Team.


580. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approvalto a school (details supplied) in County Clare to move its project to the next stage in hisforthcoming 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 Deputyrefers has applied for an extension/refurbishment project. The progression of all large scalebuilding projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phasewill 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 budgetof the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of theproject at this time.

581. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approvalto a school (details supplied) in County Clare to move its extension and refurbishment projectto the next stage in his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4277/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The school to which the Deputyrefers has applied for an extension/refurbishment project. The progression of all large scalebuilding projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construction phase

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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 budgetof the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of theproject at this time.

582. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approvalto a school (details supplied) to move its extension and refurbishment project to the next stagein his forthcoming announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4278/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The school to which the Deputyrefers has applied to my Department for an extension project. The progression of all largescale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to constructionphase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building andModernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capitalbudget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progressionof the project at this time.

583. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will give approvalto a school (details supplied) in County Clare to move their project to the next stage in hisforthcoming 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 acquis-ition and initial design stage through to the construction phase will be considered in the contextof 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 notpossible 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 acategory of people (details supplied) to be awarded the arrears which are due to them; theposition 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 theDeputy that my Department has been very aware of the issues raised in relation to the adjust-ments to pay due to certain part-time teachers under the Protection of Employees (Part-TimeWork) Act, 2001 and has worked closely with the school management bodies and teacherunions to ensure that the legislation is implemented and applied to teachers in a fair andconsistent manner.

My Department has already made the pay adjustments and paid arrears for the majority ofpart-time teachers, including substitute teachers, that are on the payrolls that it directlyadministers.

The group of part-time teachers that have still to receive adjusted pay and arrears are thoseemployed 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, thefunding required to pay these teachers. The Boards of Management pay the part-timeteachers directly.

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Under the terms of the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act, 2001, qualified eli-gible part-time teachers are entitled to be paid salary appropriate to their qualifications and toreceive 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 paiddirectly by school boards, my Department took the view that the best approach was to extendthe single payroll process which is in place for all other teachers in primary, secondary andcommunity and comprehensive schools rather than persist with the practice of having boardspay them directly. This approach would ensure that the teachers concerned could get full creditfor their overall service where they served part-time in more than one school. The new payrollis being developed and will be introduced from 1 September 2009 and arrears will be paid byNovember 2009.

It is not possible to assess the exact cost of the arrears until the new payroll is introduced.


585. Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost ofproviding in-service courses for primary and secondary school teachers in 2008 including thecost of providing supervision of classes and substitution for those involved; and if he will makea 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 Primaryand Post Primary Curriculum. The cost of providing substitution cover for in service in 2008was \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 studentsduring periods that are not assigned to any teacher may be used to provide substitution coverfor classes as determined by the Board of Management of a school in accordance with theterms of Circular PPT 01/03. Teachers are made an annual payment of \1,862 to participate inthe supervision/substitution scheme. It is not possible to determine the cost of associated coverfor teachers on in-service training provided under this scheme.


586. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason forthe delay in a school building project (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will allow thebuilding work to proceed; the timetable for same; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4307/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The proposed building projectfor the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. Theprogression of all large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stagethrough 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 competingdemands on the capital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicativetimeframe for the progression of the project at this time.

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Special Educational Needs.

587. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the reasonthree 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 needschildren 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 localSpecial Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and SpecialNeeds Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. Applications forSNAs may be considered by the NCSE where a pupil has a significant medical need for suchassistance and where there are identified care needs arising from a diagnosed disability. Apupil’s level of care may diminish over time as the child matures. Pupils may move to a differentschool or on to post-primary school. In such situations, the NCSE will review and adjust theSNA support required in the school. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria inallocating such support.

The NCSE has confirmed that the level of SNA support allocated to the school in questionis sufficient to meet the care needs of the children with special educational needs. The NCSEhas advised my Department that the local SENO has met with the parents concerned and hasclarified the position regarding their child’s special educational needs. It is open to the parentsto contact the SENO directly to discuss any matter relating to their child’s special edu-cational needs.


588. Deputy Noel J. Coonan asked the Minister for Education and Science the funding aschool (details supplied) in County Tipperary has received for works; the timeframe for whenthe works will commence and be completed; the works which will be carried out as a result ofthe 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 Deputyrefers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension and refur-bishment project. The project is at the early stages of architectural planning. The progressionof all major building projects, including this project, from initial design through to constructionphase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Building andModernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capitalbudget of the Department and with the level of activity in the School Building Programme, itis not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the further progression of the project at thistime. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently approved funding forworks 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 aschool (details supplied) in County Tipperary has received for works; the timeframe for whenthe works will commence and be completed; the works which will be carried out as a result ofthe 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 theDeputy applied for funding from my Department to carry out works to the roof of the schoolbuilding. Funding for the project was approved by letter issued to the school on 16 January

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2009. The Deputy will understand that it would not be appropriate for me to give details ofthe 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 fundinghas been drawn down within 6 months of the date of the letter and that the remaining 30% ofthe funding is drawn down within 9 months of the date of this letter. If there are valid reasonswhy the above timetable cannot be met a case can be made to my Department for an extensionof the deadlines.

School Curriculum.

590. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirmthat 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 hisDepartment collects this information; his views on the introduction of standardised testing todate; 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 Mathematicsat two stages, at the end of first class/beginning of second class, AND at the end of fourthclass/beginning of fifth class since 2007. The results of these tests are held at school level andare available for inspection. Standardised testing is used as one of a range of modes of assess-ment 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 assistin 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 leaguetables. 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 programmehave already been sampled by the Educational Research Centre for this purpose, and thesample of non-DEIS English medium schools is planned for 2009, with the sample of Irishmedium schools planed for 2010. These programme will establish trends over time for particularcategories of school. No individual school results will be identifiable in this process.

The introduction of standardised testing was supported by a national programme of teacherprofessional development in assessment for learning. Grants of \1.65m, \1.7m and \1.76m haveissued to schools in December 2006, December 2007 and December 2008 for the cost of testmaterials, teachers’ manuals, test scoring services or test-related software. Guidelines on assess-ment developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment were published inOctober 2007 and issued to all teachers to assist schools in developing and implementing apolicy 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 educationgrants available to a person (details supplied). [4324/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): Under the terms of the mainten-ance grants scheme grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions

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of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, means and previousacademic 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 ImmigrationAct 1999); or

• be a person in respect of whom the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform hasgranted permission to remain following a determination not to make a deportation orderunder section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999; or

• have permission to remain in the State by virtue of marriage to an Irish national residingin 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 EUMember 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 part-icular clause in the relevant scheme is required. If an individual applicant considers that she/hehas been unjustly refused a maintenance grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not thecorrect 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 assessingauthority, and remains of the view that the body has not interpreted the schemes correctlyin his/her case, an appeal form outlining the position may be submitted by the applicant tomy Department.

Teachers’ Remuneration.

592. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number ofteachers entitled to salary arrears from his Department under the Protection of EmployeesPart-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 outby his Department to date in salary arrears under the Protection of Employees Part-time WorkAct 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 finan-cial liability to his Department in the payment of arrears under the Protection of EmployeesPart-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 QuestionsNos. 592 to 594, inclusive, together.

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I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department has been very aware of the issuesraised 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 manage-ment bodies and teacher unions to ensure that the legislation is implemented and applied toteachers in a fair and consistent manner. My Department has already made the pay adjustmentsand 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 inprimary 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 thoseemployed 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, thefunding required to pay these teachers. The Boards of Management pay the part-time teachersdirectly. Under the terms of the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act, 2001, qualifiedeligible part-time teachers are entitled to be paid salary appropriate to their qualifications andto 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 paiddirectly by school boards, my Department took the view that the best approach was to extendthe central payroll process which is in place for all other teachers in primary, secondary andcommunity and comprehensive schools rather than persist with the practice of having boardspay them directly. This approach would ensure that the teachers concerned could get full creditfor their overall service where they served part-time in more than one school. My Departmentcollected the data necessary to place the part-time resource teachers on the centralised pay-roll recently.

The new payroll is being developed and will be introduced from 1 September 2009 andarrears will be paid by November 2009. It is expected that approximately one thousandadditional part-time resource teachers will be paid on the new payroll when it is introduced. Itis not possible to determine the exact cost of the arrears payable to this group of part-timeteachers 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 thecommon basic scale all affect the amount of the arrears payable.


595. Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of aschool (details supplied) in Dublin regarding its application for a new school building; and ifhe 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 thecity centre location of the school, there has been considerable difficulty in acquiring a suitablesite or an alternative building as a long term location for the school. The progression of allapplications for large scale capital investment, including the application in question ,will beconsidered 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 maximumsupport will be given to the National College of Ireland in 2009. [4343/09]

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597. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will end thecap on student recruitment at the National College of Ireland in view of the fact that it is theonly college here with a cap. [4344/09]

598. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will use theNational College of Ireland in tackling the problem of unemployment and vulnerable lowskilled workers. [4346/09]


An amount of \6.8 million which includes the estimated cost of free tuition fees has beenprovided in the 2009 estimates for the National College of Ireland (NCI). This provision is inline with the 2008 outturn when the expected additional income to the NCI from the increasein the third level student services charge is taken into account. This allocation must also beviewed in the context of overall increases to NCI in recent years where the current allocationrepresents a doubling of the provision allocated to the College in 2001 (\3.36m) and an increaseof some 27% over the funding provided in 2004 (\5.669m).

The Government has taken decisions to control public expenditure in light of the currenteconomic climate and as the Deputy will appreciate it will be necessary for NCI to achieveappropriate savings in line with the requirement for all other third level institutions to dolikewise.

The Deputy may be aware that the cap on student numbers relates to funding under myDepartments Free Fees Initiative for up to 925 students in the NCI. The College cannot expandon this limit without the approval of my Department and the Department of Finance. The NCIare 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 placesso as to increase places in IT and business and financial related courses. My Department hasexamined the College’s request for an increase in places on IT related courses, however theview is that there is no need for additional IT related courses at this time due to generaldemand being less than places available.

The Deputy may be aware that the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs published a reporton the Future Skills and Research Needs of the International Financial Services Industry. Theresponsibility for managing the implementation of a number of recommendations in this reporthas been assigned to Skillnets, which is the enterprise-led support body whose mission is toenhance the skills of people in employment in Irish industry.

In relation to the issue of using NCI to tackle unemployment and low skilled workers, pro-posals to activate greater numbers of unemployed people, through education, training, employ-ment and community programmes are currently being examined, having regard to existingresources, by Government.

School Staffing.

599. Deputy Deirdre Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsiderhis decision not to provide substitute cover for the first day of uncertified sick leave in respectof special needs teachers in view of the particular difficulties that this is causing; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4349/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): As a result of the 2009 Budgetprovisions for Education, arising from current economic challenges, and following subsequent

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proposals from the management bodies of primary schools, new arrangements were put inplace 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 placefor the remainder of the 2008/2009 school year.

Under these arrangements the general rule is that substitute cover is not provided for thefirst 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 providedfor the first day of an absence of a teacher on uncertified sick leave in schools with two or lessclassroom teachers.

The second is that in the event that two or more teachers in a school are absent from teachingduty on the first day of uncertified sick leave, substitute cover is provided for the second andsubsequent teachers that are absent.

The existing arrangements for substitute cover for other absences of teachers from teachingduty continue to apply.

In the period until the end of the school year, there will be a full review of the substitutionand supervision scheme and related matters in conjunction with the school management bodiesand teacher unions with a view to making up the additional expenditure and thereby ensuringthat the budgetary parameters are met.


600. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the standarddimensions 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 achievedusing the traditional competitive procurement route. GRD buildings facilitate speedier deliveryof projects, save on design fees and are designed to allow for easy extension if required at alater stage. In relation to a GP room an area of 195 sq. m is provided plus servery, store andW/C areas.

Details of various facilities provided in a new 16-classroom school building are given inTechnical Guidance Document-022 available on my Department’s website and also in infor-mation 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 ofteachers employed under the vocational educational committee system; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4363/09]

602. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of ancil-lary 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 staffemployed in the vocational educational committee system; the breakdown of the number of

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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 staffemployed by vocational educational committees involved in delivering front-line services; thenumber of staff employed in an administrative capacity; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4366/09]


There are 33 vocational education committees (VECs) established under the VocationalEducation Acts, 1930 to 2001. Each VEC is a statutory body with its own corporate status. Thefunctions 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-primaryeducation, further and adult education, they also have responsibilities in areas such as com-munity education, training for early school leavers, basic literacy courses, traveller educationand the provision of youth services. My Department provides the majority of the fundingrequired by VECs for the delivery of these programmes.

As of January 2009 approximately 9,069 whole time equivalent (wte) teaching posts and 709SNA (wte) posts are allocated to VEC post primary schools. A breakdown of the allocation ofteaching and SNA posts to post primary schools in each VEC is attached for the Deputy’sinformation.

The information sought by the Deputy in relation to non-teaching and ancillary staff is notreadily available. I have asked my officials to compile this information and to forward it to theDeputy as soon as it is available.

605. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the budget forvocational educational committees in 2009; the budget allocated in 2008; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4367/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): This Government’s continuedprioritisation 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 inthe current economic climate. Education is one of only three Government Departments tohave increased funding in 2009.

The provision for funding to Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) for 2009 shows anincrease of more than 5% over the 2008 level. Funding to VECs for 2008 totalled \887.5m andthis will rise to \936m in 2009.

VECs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of theirbudgets. This allows each VEC to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and percep-tions of need.

The provision that I have made, in the context of the 2009 estimates, for this significantincrease in the funding of VECs is a clear demonstration of my commitment to prioritiseavailable resources in order to best address the needs of learners availing of services providedthrough the network of VECs.

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The Deputy will appreciate that the figure for 2009 is based on the Budget announcementmade in October 2008. Accordingly, in the light of the Government’s recent announcementregarding further necessary economic and spending measures, the VEC budget figure for 2009may yet be subject to some adjustment.

606. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the proportion ofthe vocational educational committee 2008 budget spent on administrative services; the pro-portion of the VEC 2008 budget spent on teachers’ salaries; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [4368/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): Financial allocations are madeto the Vocational Education Committees (VECs) as part of a block grant. VECs are given ahigh level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of their budgets and each VECis 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 offunds by VECs across their schools and head offices. However, I can inform the Deputy thatin 2008 VECs spent approximately \629m on what is termed instruction pay (teachers andspecial needs assistants) in post primary schools and approximately \58.5 million on what istermed 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 desig-nated liaison persons at primary level and second level; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4369/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The primary statutory responsi-bility for child protection lies with the Health Services Executive. The role of my Departmentis to provide guidance and support to schools in implementing child protection policy and torefer any allegations received to the appropriate authorities for investigation.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has issued child protection guidelines andprocedures to all schools. The guidelines are based on Children First — the Department ofHealth & 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 fol-lowed 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 memberof staff, normally the principal, as the Designated Liaison Person (DLP) for the school. TheDLP acts as a liaison person with the health authorities and other agencies on child protectionissues and as a resource person to any staff member who has concerns in this regard. MyDepartment does not keep a register of Designated Liaison Persons. The appointment of DLP’sis 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 withand were required to complete a questionnaire which sought to ascertain the level of com-pliance with the guidelines. The indications from that survey were that the vast majority ofschools had DLP’s in place at that time. My Department does not have current information inrelation to all schools. As part of Whole School Evaluation the Department’s Inspectoratechecks that Child Protection Policies are in place and that a Designated Liaison Person hasbeen appointed.

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The Department has provided and continues to provide in-service training for DesignatedLiaison Persons and Deputy Designated Liaison Persons to assist them in dealing with childprotection 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 thecolleges of education.

608. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of staffat primary level and second level who have received in-service training for dealing with childprotection issues and in particular reporting procedures, other than training for the stay safeprogramme 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 ProtectionGuidelines 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 teachersin the event of a disclosure in the classroom.

The data sets out the provision since January 2008 when the latest round of training beganfor 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) (usuallythe 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 includedDLPs 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 withchild 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

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• Total Projected Number of Participants: 570

School Inspections.

609. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of wholeschool evaluations and subject inspections carried out at primary and second level each yearsince 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





Whole-school evaluations (WSE) and subject inspections form just part of the Inspectorate’sbusiness plan in any given year. Inspectors are involved in a wide range of other work such asprogramme evaluations, the preparation of composite and thematic evaluation reports onaspects of educational provision in schools, inspection of primary teachers on probation andparticipation in appeal boards established under Section 29 of the Education Act. Inspectorsalso provide advice on an on-going basis to various sections within the Department on policyissues including teacher education, special education, and qualifications, curriculum and assess-ment policy.

With regard to 2009, as part of the wider programme of work outlined above, it is intended toconduct 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 expendi-ture which has been allocated by his Department to whole school evaluations and subjectinspections at primary level and second level each year since the introduction of such inspec-tions; 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 Deputythat information in relation to overall inspectorate costs is currently being compiled and willbe incorporated in a reply to the Deputy shortly.

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611. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the proportion ofhis budget which has been allocated to accommodation and other expenses for inspectors carry-ing out whole school evaluations and subject inspections each year since the introduction ofsuch 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 referenceto accommodation and other expenses as being the travel and subsistence costs incurred byinspectors while carrying out whole-school evaluations and subject inspections.

The travel and subsistence costs associated with conducting whole-school evaluations andsubject inspections are not recorded separately from the total travel and subsistence costsassociated with the entire work programme of the Inspectorate division of my Department. Inthat context it should be noted that, in addition to whole-school evaluations and subject inspec-tions, Inspectors are involved in a wide range of other work such as programme evaluations, thepreparation of composite and thematic evaluation reports on aspects of educational provision inschools, inspection of primary teachers on probation and participation in appeal boards estab-lished under Section 29 of the Education Act. Inspectors also provide advice on an on-goingbasis 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 inrespect of whole-school evaluations and subject inspections, I can provide details of the totaltravel 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 andsubsistence expenses for the Inspectorate in 2008 amounted to \1,558,952. Therefore, the pro-portion of the Department’s total budget which was allocated to cover the travel and subsist-ence expenses incurred in respect of the entire work programme of the Inspectorate in 2008was 0.0168%.


612. Deputy Brian O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if the extension toa school (details supplied) in County Waterford will commence construction in 2009; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [4414/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The proposed building projectfor the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning.


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School Enrolments.

613. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will investigatethe situation of a child (details supplied) who is enrolled in a primary school without theirparent’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 ofpupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. Under section15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolmentpolicy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right ofparents 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 edu-cation they provide or to have provided to their children. Primary legislation gives effect tothis 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 con-cert and those who disagree and are separated, divorced or unmarried. However each providesthat “parent” shall be interpreted to include- “a foster parent, a guardian appointed under theGuardianship of Children Acts, 1964 to 1997, or other person acting in loco parentis who hasa child in his or her care subject to any statutory power or order of a court and, in the case ofa child who has been adopted under the Adoption Acts, 1952 to 1998, or, where the child hasbeen 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 thanmy Department and Boards must address the circumstances of each case while respecting anyorder 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 whichhe has taken to implement the recommendation outlined in the future requirement for highlevel information and communication technology skills in the ICT sector report; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4433/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): Work on implementing therecommendations 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 HigherEducation Authority (HEA) is funding a number of awareness initiatives to promote ICTcourses to prospective students and the HEA continues to provide funding to third level insti-tutions, both to improve the attractiveness of existing ICT courses and to set up new ones. Anencouraging 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, designedto encourage better understanding of maths, to reinforce the practical relevance of maths toeveryday life, and to ensure better continuity between primary and second level, and juniorand senior cycle. The initiative started in 2008 and is being piloted in 24 schools. The curriculumchanges will be phased in over three years and mainstreaming will begin in 2010, prefaced bya national programme of professional development for teachers beginning in 2009. ProjectMaths will be supported by intensive investment in professional development for teachers andby investment in materials and exemplars for teachers. Some \3m has been provided for theprogramme in 2009 and the investment will continue over a number of years, to at least 2013,in a rolling programme of reform.

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I am aware of the calls for the introduction of bonus points for Higher Level Mathematicsin the Leaving Certificate. Decisions on the award of points and admission criteria for entry tohigher education programmes are, under legislation, a matter for the higher education insti-tutions. 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 desir-ability or otherwise of awarding bonus points. The overall view emerging was that theintroduction of bonus points was unlikely to dramatically increase uptake of Higher LevelMaths 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 consideredthe issue of bonus points and recommended against such an approach on the grounds that itwould lead to a narrowing of the range of subjects taken by students, create pressure onstudents to make early career choices, give rise to equity issues where the subject was notavailable and lead to distortions in the third level access and provision. Providing bonus pointscould reinforce the perception that Maths is a difficult subject. It should be noted that whenbonus points were removed in 1994 on foot of curricular reform, participation in Higher LevelMaths increased. We can therefore conclude that curriculum reform has more impact thanpoints in this area. Introducing bonus points would inevitably lead to similar demands in othersubjects such as science. The education sector must cater for all students, and placing somesubjects 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 thecost 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 makea statement on the matter. [4434/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): Funding in respect of the pro-vision of facilities at the school in question was approved in August of last year. In the eventof 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 thatthe school, granted discretion and funding, must equally accept responsibility for prioritisation,adherence to statutory regulations, control of costs and ensuring value for money. The schemeis not intended to leave schools with significant fundraising needs but for the school to tailorthe scope of capital works commissioned to the funding available. The decision on whether tocontinue participating in scheme or to drop out, if the scope of building is more than thefunding 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 insupport of the application for a special needs assistant for a person (details supplied) in CountyKildare; 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 out-lined for the Deputy on 27 January last. The SENO is awaiting further information from theschool in support of the application and as soon as this is received, the application will receivefurther consideration.

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School Inspections.

617. Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost of carry-ing out whole-school evaluations in 2006, 2007 and 2008 at primary and post primary schoolsin 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 carryout a whole school-evaluation in a post-primary school; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4480/09]



619. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Education and Science the implications forschool building projects in County Clare of the reprioritisation of \150 million in the schoolsbuilding 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 \581mfor 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 currentlybeing considered.

Psychological Service.

620. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if matters concerninga person (details supplied) have been brought to the attention of the National EducationalPsychological Service in respect of complaints made by parents and other professionals regard-ing the competence of this person to remain on his Department’s scheme for commissioningprivate assessments; if so, the determination by the service of such information; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4485/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The Deputy will be aware thatall primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directlythrough my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through theScheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered byNEPS.

I can inform the Deputy that NEPS maintains the SCPA panel of eligible practitioners underthe scheme on the basis that applicants have satisfied it: that they are graduate members of anappropriate professional body (e.g. the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) or the BritishPsychological Society (BPS)) and that they have at least two years supervised experience ofadministering and interpreting psychological tests for children that they are registered or char-tered or certified by an appropriate professional body and receiving on-going supervision orthat they are receiving on-going supervision that could confer registered status within threeyears with PSI that they adhere to the PSI Code of Ethics and to the ‘Policy on the use of

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Psychometric Tests in Ireland’ (adapted by PSI in November 2007) that they have obtainedGarda clearance.

A complaints procedure exists under the scheme within which issues or difficulties arisingfrom the operation of the SCPA, which cannot be resolved between school and/or parents andthe psychologist, are subject to examination and determination by NEPS. This procedure hasbeen formalised within the past year.

I can confirm that complaints were raised by two parents in relation to the psychologistreferred to by the Deputy but within the limits of the detail supplied NEPS was satisfied thatthere were no grounds for further action in either instance. The individual fulfils all the aboverequirements for involvement in the panel and remains on the current panel. In addition I haverecently referred another matter for consideration to the State Examinations Commissions inregard to this psychologist although not in direct connection with the SCPA. My Departmenthas 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 thathe submit it to my Department for examination. Of course, officials from my Department’sNEPS service are available to meet with and discuss the concerns of any parent or schoolauthority 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 servicethroughout the education system, I should add that neither my Department nor NEPS is adisciplinary body for psychologists. Such matters fall within the province of the particular psy-chologist’s professional body and formal complaints in regard to professional conduct shouldproperly 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 psycho-logical assessments for children from psychologists working in a private capacity, pending theexpansion of the service provided by the Department of Education and Science (DES)/NationalEducational 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 providedby NEPS. It is an interim measure intended to meet current urgent needs for psychologicalassessment of children and young people. The DES will review the operation of the schemeon an ongoing basis.

Terms and Conditions of the Scheme

Schools are responsible for commissioning psychologists to carry out assessments under thescheme. 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 bythe number of pupils enrolled in that school.

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The number of assessments that may be conducted by a psychologist under the scheme cannotexceed 180 in any school year.

An individual psychological assessment, in its entirety, must be wholly and exclusively carriedout by a psychologist whose name appears on the SCPA panel.

Payment for assessments carried out under the scheme must be made from SCPA funds andfrom such funds alone. Psychologists who accept commissions under the scheme may not seekor accept payment from any other source in respect of such commissions and will be requiredto certify that they have not done so as a condition of receiving payment. Seeking or acceptingpayment from any other source in respect of an assessment under the scheme will constitutegrounds for removal from the SCPA panel.

Schools and psychologists are required to adhere to the recommended procedures, as laid downby the DES/NEPS.

SCPA psychologists must work within their areas of competence, keep abreast of relevantdevelopments 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 isavailable in the NEPS section of the DES website — www.education.ie. A web link is pro-vided 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 theyhave at least two years supervised experience of administering and interpreting psycho-logical tests for children

• that they are registered or chartered or certified by an appropriate professional body andreceiving on-going supervision

or

that they are receiving on-going supervision that could confer registered status withinthree years with PSI

• that they adhere to the PSI Code of Ethics and to the ‘Policy on the use of PsychometricTests 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 assessmentsunder the scheme and (provided the requisite terms and conditions are satisfied) to receivepayment for such assessments.

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The 2008 panel will expire on 31st December, 2008. Persons who are admitted to the 2009panel are eligible to conduct assessments under the scheme from 1st January, 2009 until 30thJune, 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 termsand conditions.

As the 2009 panel will expire on 30th June, 2009 psychologists on that panel wishing to beadmitted to the 2009/2010 scheme will be required to complete a Renewal of MembershipForm in June, 2009. Others wishing to be placed on the 2009/2010 panel will be required tofollow the standard procedure for admission to the scheme.

Psychologists may be suspended or removed from the panel at any time if it is determined thattheir 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 specialeducational needs which are produced, from time to time, by the DES/NEPS and bythe National Council for Special Education (NCSE). (These are available on the DESwebsite – 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 expensesout of the fee for the assessment.

5. Have some form of identification (e.g. driving licence, passport) in their possessionwhen conducting assessments under the scheme.

6. Personally carry out every component of any assessment for which they are individuallycommissioned 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, arequest may be made to the local NEPS Regional Director to carry out an assessmentoff the school premises).

10. Administer individual tests of cognitive potential and of attainments and appropriatebehavioural check-lists as necessary. Engage in classroom or playground observationas required.

11. Meet with the child’s parents/guardians and teachers to provide verbal feedback on theassessment outcome, explaining findings and their implications.

12. Provide, within one calendar month, a psychological report with recommendations forthe parents/guardians and the school, bearing in mind that the style, content and format

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of the report should be appropriate for the recipients and in line with NEPS require-ments in this area.

Guidelines on report writing will be provided. These may be amended from time totime in the context of regular reviews of the scheme.

NEPS intends to review a sample of all reports received from school principals (withForm 3) as it has a responsibility to ensure that assessments meet acceptable standardsand that public funds are being appropriately discharged.

13. Inform NEPS when no longer accepting commissions under the scheme so that arrange-ments 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 thescheme.

A fee, subject to withholding tax, of \330 per assessment to include all expenses (includingtravel and subsistence) incurred by the psychologist, will be paid by NEPS. This will result ina net fee of \264. The psychologist will be responsible for the payment of any additionaltax due.

Psychologists seeking extra payment for SCPA assessments from parents/guardians or fromschools may be removed from the panel.

Where it is determined that a psychologist has accepted an additional payment, from aparent/guardian or from a school, for work carried out under the scheme the DES/NEPSreserves 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 Completionof 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 theoriginal (not a copy) submitted to NEPS, by the principal, within three calendar months of thedate 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 theschool 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 conditionsof the scheme

Payment may be withheld or refused until the DES/NEPS is satisfied that the terms and con-ditions of the scheme have been complied with. Without prejudice to the generality of theabove, payment may be withheld or refused:

• where the assessment has not been properly conducted

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• where the assessment has been wholly or partly completed by a psychologist who is noton 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 thescheme

When satisfied that the terms and conditions of the scheme have been fully complied withNEPS 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 pro-fessional psychologist

• seeking or accepting payment from a source other than the scheme in respect of anassessment 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 insuspension from the panel pending investigation of the allegation and the outcome of anysuch investigation.

Further Information

Queries should be submitted to NEPS in writing, either by fax 01-2833181, [email protected] or by conventional mail to: SCPA, National Educational PsychologicalService, 3rd Floor, Trident House, Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Every effort will be made to respondto queries as soon as possible.

Complaints should be dealt with at point of service. Where informal efforts to resolve diffi-culties have failed, complainants may invoke a formal Complaints Procedure, details of whichare 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 orupdated 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 beconfused with eligibility for statutory registration of psychologists.

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In accepting a psychologist as a member of the panel, the DES is not entering into any contrac-tual arrangement with the psychologist. SCPA psychologists are not employees of theDES/NEPS.

Membership of the SCPA panel confers no particular rights on psychologists and does notprovide 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 validfrom 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 properlythe remit of the particular psychologist’s professional body.

Schools Refurbishment.

621. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Science when details of thesummer 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 beenmade 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 QuestionsNos. 621 and 622 together.

I intend to have a Summer Works Scheme this year. The details of the operation of thescheme and the level of funding to be made available under the scheme in 2009 are currentlybeing considered. The Professional and Technical Reports provided by schools for 2008 can beused 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 attentionhas been drawn to the issue between parents and the school management at a school (detailssupplied) in County Louth concerning pupil safety; the steps he is taking to resolve the matterin 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 specificcase referred to by the Deputy.

Under the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management has responsibility for the day-to-day management of the school. Issues in relation to the supervision of pupils are thereforematters for each Board of Management. While my Department does not issue specific guide-lines on requirements for supervision of pupils, it acknowledges that the degree of supervisionrequired of school authorities varies with the circumstances, including the age of the pupil. Itis the responsibility of each individual managerial authority to arrange for appropriate super-vision for its pupils.

At a wider level, there will be a full review of the substitution and supervision scheme inconjunction with the school management bodies and teacher unions during this school year.

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Third Level Fees.

624. Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Education and Science further toParliamentary Question No. 1441 of 27 January 2009, if he or the National QualificationsAuthority of Ireland have directed local authorities and vocational education committeesregarding the placement of the postgraduate diploma in education as a level nine diplomaenabling the applicant access to college grants and fees; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4528/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The progression route at post-graduate 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 thesame level for grants purposes. A candidate who already holds a Higher Diploma/PostgraduateDiploma is only eligible for grant aid under the student maintenance grant schemes whenprogressing to either a masters or a doctorate qualification. The grant awarding authorities areaware that this is the progression route at postgraduate level for grants purposes.

The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland is the agency with responsibility fordeveloping and maintaining the National Framework of Qualifications. I understand that thepostgraduate diploma in education is not currently aligned to the framework but that consul-tations are on-going in relation to the issue.

Higher Education Grants.

625. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when aneducation grant refund will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter. [4531/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The Third Level MaintenanceGrant 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 thegrant schemes are a matter for the administering authorities.

Officials of my Department contacted Kildare County Council the awarding body in thiscase who confirmed that the candidate referred to by the Deputy has received two instalmentsof the maintenance grant in respect of the 2008/2009 academic year and the refund in respectof the student service charge is being processed.

School Placement.

626. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science when com-pliance is expected with the directive of the appeals committee formed under the terms ofsection 29 of the Education Act 1998 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildarein 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 theAppeal 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 schoolrequested that they contact the family to arrange enrolment.

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On 17th December, 2008, the school advised my Department that they intended to take legaladvice on the matter. Following on from this, my Department wrote to the school on 23rdDecember, 2008, to advise them that determinations issued by Appeal Committees underSection 29 of the Education Act are binding by statute, subject to the right of either of theparties to seek Judicial Review of this decision and to seek a stay on the implementation ofthe determination, pending the outcome of Judicial Review. Officials from my Department andfrom the National Educational Welfare Board have had ongoing contact with the family andschool in order to seek a resolution to this matter. In the meantime, the child concerned hasbeen receiving home tuition support.

Third Level Education.

627. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science his proposals forreform of the university sector here; if in this context he will clarify the purpose of his requestfor an analysis of teaching hours by university staff; his views on the importance of researchand publication of articles by which university performance can be measured; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [4636/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I announced the launch of aprocess to develop a new national strategy for higher education last Friday. The process willbe overseen by a high level steering group, chaired by economist Dr Colin Hunt and comprisingnational and international expertise including academic, business, community and studentinterests, as well as senior government officials. It is expected that the group will complete itswork before the end of the year.

The higher education system is a cornerstone of national infrastructure for generating theskills, knowledge and innovation on which Ireland’s future competitive advantage relies. Thestrategy will be framed in the context of the Government’s drive towards sustainable economicrenewal and will provide a critical examination of the current environment of Irish highereducation and develop a vision and national policy objectives for the next 20 years. This willinclude an analysis of the current system in terms of its student numbers, funding, fundingmodels, organisational arrangements and the roles of the different public and private entitiesinvolved in the higher education and research domain.

The strategy will also take account of research activity, which is now an integral part of ourhigher education system. Growing research capability is a core component of the EuropeanUnion’s drive under the Lisbon Agenda to become the most competitive and dynamic, know-ledge-driven economy in the world. The Government’s Strategy for Science, Technology andInnovation (SSTI) is a crucial building block in this effort and is based on a shared vision ofplacing 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 SustainableEconomic Renewal “Building Ireland’s Smart Economy” which aims to develop Ireland intothe innovation and commercial capital of Europe. The Government has reiterated its commit-ment to implementing the SSTI despite fiscal pressures and has emphasised “the need for highlevels of investment in research and innovation, both for economic competitiveness, and toyield innovations in areas such as ICT, healthcare and environmental technologies, which createemployment opportunities, increase economic progress and make tangible improvements toour quality of life.”

The number of academic publications and the frequency with which these are cited in futurepublications are key measures of research activity. Forfas and the HEA are currently under-

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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 numberof publications and citations from Irish research which will provide an overview of researchactivity and impact.

Disadvantaged Status.

628. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsiderhis decision to remove the disadvantaged status of a school (details supplied) in view of thefact that 16 of the school’s 21 feeder primary schools are disadvantaged; and if he will make astatement on the matter. [4650/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sean Haughey): Theschool to which the Deputy refers is among a number of schools that were judged by anindependent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage amongtheir 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 beheld at the end of the current DEIS programme which runs from 2005-2010. There will not bean 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 notqualify for inclusion in DEIS but regarded themselves as having a level of disadvantage whichwas of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the programme. The review processoperated under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevantidentification 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 schoolin question applied for a review at that time but regrettably the school was unsuccessful inqualifying 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-existingschemes, that they would retain a level of support in line with their size and disadvantage levelsfor the duration of the DEIS Initiative.

Given the current volatile and challenging economic climate, difficult decisions had to bemade in Budget 2009 in order to contain public sector spending. One of these decisions was toadvance the withdrawal of such supports from non DEIS schools to the beginning of the nextschool 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 isin line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor Generalwhich are set out in his report on Primary Disadvantage of 2006, which recommended that myDepartment should focus its educational disadvantage measures on those schools serving themost disadvantaged communities.


629. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will confirmreceipt of requests from the board of management of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16seeking approval for the building of a sports hall; when the school will receive a reply from hisDepartment; 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 Deputythat the school to which he refers has made a proposal to my Department in relation to the

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provision of sports facilities. The Planning and Building Unit of my Department will be incontact 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 permanentbuilding; 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 theDeputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of alllarge scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construc-tion phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Buildingand Modernisation Programme. However, in light of current competing demands on the capitalbudget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progressionof the project at this time.

Youthreach Programme.

631. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of youngpeople on the Youthreach programme in a county (details supplied); the number of centreswhere the youth reach programme is run; if he will provide additional places on youth reachin this county in view of the increasing number of young people who are unemployed; and ifhe will make a statement on the matter. [4731/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sean Haughey):Youthreach provides two years integrated education, training and work experience to youngpeople aged 15-20 years who have left school early without any qualifications or vocationaltraining. 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 byVocational Education Committees (VECs). 2,800 are funded by the Department of Enterprise,Trade and Employment and delivered in Community Training Centres by FAS.

My Department currently funds 185 Youthreach places in the county referred to by theDeputy, delivered in seven centres. Due to the difficult budgetary position it is not possiblefor my Department to provide further funding for the creation of additional places on theYouthreach programme.

Education Initiatives.

632. Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of peoplein a county (details supplied) currently back in education with the support of the back toeducation initiative, the back to education allowance and the vocational training opportunitiesscheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4732/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sean Haughey): TheBack 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 leveleducation, including unemployed adults. It aims to give adults who wish to return to educationan 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 entitledto free tuition. Originally only people with a social welfare entitlement or medical card were

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entitled to free tuition. In 2008, in the county referred to by the Deputy, there were just over800 participants in the BTEI.

The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a full-time second chance edu-cation and training initiative for unemployed people delivered and managed locally by theVECs. Its primary target groups are the longer-term unemployed, the low-skilled and disadvan-taged. 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. Achildcare grant and meal and travel allowances are also available to students and they canaccess the adult guidance service. In 2008, in the county referred to by the Deputy, there were70 VTOS places available and these places were fully subscribed.

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) administered by the Department of Social andFamily Affairs is a second chance educational opportunities scheme payable to people onwelfare payments who wish to participate in full time education. To qualify for the BTEA anapplicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period. Theallowance is paid at a standard weekly rate equivalent to the maximum rate of the relevantsocial welfare payment that qualifies the applicant for participation in the scheme. It essentiallyreplaces their existing social welfare income and, in addition, an annual \500 cost of educationallowance is payable.

The statistics on participation on the BTEA scheme are collated at the end of April in orderto get an overview for the full academic year. The figure for 2007/2008 academic year for thecounty referred to by the Deputy was just under 80. The figures for the 2008/2009 academicyear are not yet available but it is expected that they will show a significant increase.


633. Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science when it is pro-posed to allow tendering for the erection of a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; andif he will make a statement on the matter. [4755/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The project to which theDeputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression ofall large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through toconstruction 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 thecapital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for theprogression of the project at this time.

634. Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science the position inregard to the provision of a sports hall in a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; andif he will make a statement on the matter. [4756/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The project to which theDeputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression of all largescale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to constructionwill 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 budgetof the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for the progression of theproject at this time.

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635. Deputy Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Science the position inregard to the proposed extension and improvement works at a school (details supplied) inCounty Donegal; if work is expected to begin in 2009; and if he will make a statement on thematter. [4757/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The project to which theDeputy refers is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The progression ofall large scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through toconstruction 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 thecapital budget of the Department, it is not possible to give an indicative timeframe for theprogression of the project at this time.


636. Deputy Michael D. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view ofthe representations which have been made to his Department, giving details of a wide rangeof activities that are to the advantage of disadvantaged pupils, he will consider the applicationfrom the chairman and principal teacher of a school (details supplied) in County Galway, forreconsideration and inclusion in the DEIS scheme. [4789/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sean Haughey): Theschool to which the Deputy refers is among a number of schools that were judged by anindependent identification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage amongtheir 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 beheld at the end of the current DEIS programme which runs from 2005-2010. There will not bean 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 notqualify for inclusion in DEIS but regarded themselves as having a level of disadvantage whichwas of a scale sufficient to warrant their inclusion in the programme. The review processoperated under the direction of an independent person, charged with ensuring that all relevantidentification 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 schoolin question applied for a review at that time but regrettably the school was unsuccessful inqualifying for inclusion in DEIS.

This school retained resources, including financial and a shared Rural Co-ordinator postunder pre-existing schemes and programmes for addressing educational disadvantage. WhenDEIS was introduced, a commitment was given as a concessionary measure to this, and anumber of other schools in similar circumstances, that they would retain a level of support forthe duration of the DEIS Initiative.

Given the current volatile and challenging economic climate, difficult decisions had to bemade in Budget 2009 in order to contain public sector spending. One of these decisions was toadvance the withdrawal of such supports from non DEIS schools to the beginning of the nextschool 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 isin line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor Generalwhich are set out in his report on Primary Disadvantage of 2006, which recommended that my

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Department should focus its educational disadvantage measures on those schools serving themost disadvantaged communities.


637. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Science the private con-sultancy firms his Department used during the periods 1 January to 14 October 2008 and 15October 2008 to date in 2009; the projects each worked on; the cost to his Department for eachproject; 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 inrelation to consultancy firms used during 2008 is currently being compiled and will be for-warded as soon as possible. As consultancy data is compiled in my Department on a quarterlybasis, it will not be possible to provide details of consultancy firms engaged in early 2009 untildata relating to the first quarter has been compiled. The relevant details in relation to the firstquarter of 2009 will be forwarded as soon as it is available.


638. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Education and Science the cost of bonuspayments made to staff in his Department for 2008; the amount set aside in his Departmentfor bonus payments in 2009; if he will make a statement on the circumstances where a staffbonus will be paid in 2009. [4828/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I assume the Deputy is referringto the scheme of performance related remuneration that applies to the grades ofDeputy/Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. Awards are made on the basis of recom-mendations 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 andmembers of the private sector. There have been no payments in respect of this scheme at myDepartment for the year 2008.

School Staffing.

639. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if the budget changeshe announced in 2008 in connection with the reorganisation of primary and post-primaryschools allow schools to provide job sharing and career break opportunities for permanentstaff; 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 breakand job sharing schemes for teachers remain unchanged. The decision to approve an applicationunder 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 todate to regulate the foreign student education sector here as provided for in the now withdrawnEducation 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 anInternationalisation Register which sets out programmes approved for the purpose of accessto work by students who are citizens from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland. Under the

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immigration regime, such students will only be given access to work if they are attending fulltime programmes on the Register. The criteria for inclusion require that the programme befull-time, at least 15 hours per week for a minimum of 25 weeks, and lead to a nationallyrecognised award, or its international equivalent. Language programmes which meet the dur-ation criteria and are approved under the ACELS quality assurance and inspection scheme arealso eligible for inclusion on the Register, provided they offer assessment for students at theend 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 amonthly basis.

The English language sector is currently regulated on a voluntary basis by the AdvisoryCouncil for English Language Schools (ACELS), a company limited by guarantee whichoperates under the aegis of my Department. It provides a voluntary quality assurance andinspection scheme for private sector English language schools. ACELS also approves teachertraining qualifications for the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) private sector, and hasdeveloped English language proficiency test instruments. Schools which comply with theACELS quality assurance and inspection scheme are approved by my Department for thepurpose of providing English language programmes in the private sector. The conditions forrecognition 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 onoverall responsibility for the regulation of the international education sector. My Departmentwill hold discussions with the NQAI about taking on these responsibilities in the context ofthe planned amalgamation of the NQAI, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council(HETAC) and the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC).


641. Deputy Alan Shatter asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of theincreasing 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 thematter. [4852/09]

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The project to which theDeputy refers is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The progression of alllarge scale building projects, including this project, from initial design stage through to construc-tion phase will be considered in the context of my Department’s multi-annual School Buildingand 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 delivery of the project at this time.With regard to the schools needs for September 2009, an application has been received fortemporary accommodation and the Department will be in contact with the school authoritywhen a decision has been taken in this matter.

Pre-school Services.

642. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has taken adecision to withdraw funding from preschool early intervention centres (details supplied); andif he will make a statement on the matter. [4862/09]

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643. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of pre-school centres (details supplied) funded by his Department in the past ten years; the level offunding 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 QuestionsNos. 642 and 643 together.

The Deputy will be aware that the home tuition scheme provides a grant to parents tofacilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such aschronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facili-tate tuition for children awaiting an educational placement and provide early education inter-vention for pre-school children with autism. Home tuition grants are paid to the parents, whoin turn make payment to the home tuition provider.

An arrangement to directly pay the service provider referred to by the Deputy has beenagreed until the end of the current school year. This is the only service provider being paiddirectly in the context of the home tuition scheme. Up until this current school year, grantswere paid to parents in respect of tuition providers who were non-serving primary teachers.


644. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science to reconsider adecision on the removal of a person’s services from a school (details supplied) in CountyMayo. [4888/09]

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sean Haughey):The school to which the Deputy refers is among schools that were judged by an independentidentification process in 2005 not to have a sufficient level of disadvantage among their pupilsto warrant their inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), theAction Plan for educational inclusion. The next identification process is scheduled to be heldat the end of the current DEIS programme which runs from 2005-2010. There will not be anopportunity before this to be included in the current DEIS programme of supports.

The school referred to retained resources, including financial and a shared Rural Coordinatorpost, under pre-existing schemes and programmes for addressing educational disadvantage.When DEIS was introduced, a commitment was given as a concessionary measure to theseschools 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 madein order to contain public sector spending. One of these decisions was to advance the with-drawal 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 isin line with the broad thrust of the recommendations of the Comptroller and Auditor Generalwhich are set out in his report on Primary Disadvantage of 2006, which recommended that myDepartment should focus its educational disadvantage measures on those schools serving themost disadvantaged communities.

Home-School Liaison Scheme.

645. Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science to identify the 20primary and 73 post-primary schools that will have withdrawn a home liaison officer fromSeptember 2009 under announcements made in the budget. [4896/09]

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Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science (Deputy Sean Haughey): MyDepartment is currently in the process of advising the schools concerned of the impendingwithdrawal of these posts. The information requested by the Deputy will be forwarded to himdirectly, when the schools concerned have been notified.

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