Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 May 2017

Vol. 951 No. 1

Ceisteanna - Questions

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Micheál Martin

Question:

1. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health last met; and when it is next due to meet. [23026/17]

Mick Barry

Question:

2. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Taoiseach when the next meeting of the Cabinet committee on health will be held. [23041/17]

Brendan Howlin

Question:

3. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on health last met; and when it next plans to meet. [23047/17]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on health last met on 27 April and is scheduled to meet again on 30 May.

It is about four years since the Taoiseach announced that he was taking personal charge of health service delivery-----

Somebody had to.

-----because, apparently, somebody had to. I note that a future leader has suggested the same, that when he gets in, he will take charge of it also. There are about 666,000 patients on inpatient and outpatient waiting lists. There are record high waiting lists. Children are waiting for more than a year for access to elective surgery. The Cabinet committee on health which the Taoiseach has chaired for many years failed on the compulsory health insurance plan. The Taoiseach spoke about removing the HSE, but he was not in a position to do so. It was a broken promise. He got rid of the board and made a mess of governance. The crisis in the health service is quite shocking. When the Taoiseach looks back on it, does he accept that the Cabinet committee on health has failed abysmally to tackle the issues arising in the health service, particularly in providing access to treatments for many patients? He has been unlucky with the Ministers he appointed. The former Minister, former Deputy James Reilly, ended up in trouble because of the absence of blueprints behind ideas that had been floated. The former Minister, Deputy Leo Varadkar, now Minister for Social Protection, ran out of the Department as quickly as he could get into it and was determined to be a commentator, rather than a doer. Apparently, if one looks at the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan's WhatsApp group, it seems the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, wants to do the same. He is also in a hurry to get out. I would appreciate it if the Taoiseach indicated to me what can be pulled from the wreckage in developing a coherent reality-based health policy and how the Cabinet committee can become far more effective than it has been for the past few years.

The role of the Cabinet committee is not to run services for the Department of Health or the HSE but to provide a basis for political oversight in the development and delivery of key health service reforms in line with the commitments in A Programme for a Partnership Government and to drive improvements in selected areas. It maintains oversight of the most significant areas of the health service. In the case of the winter initiative, it provided €40 million in additional funding for preparation for issues that would arise. A significant focus was placed on reducing the numbers of delayed discharges in acute hospitals through the funding and provision of additional home care packages, additional home help hours and additional transitional care beds. The number of delayed discharges was reduced from 638 in September 2016 to a low of 434 at the end of December 2016. It was maintained below 500 from mid-December through to the end of February. Obviously, there were staffing challenges. A significant issue last winter was the day-to-day maintenance of staffing levels and the ability to flex staffing levels to meet open surge capacity, in other words, at times when there was a spike in the numbers of patients coming through emergency departments. The figures released by the National Treatment Purchase Fund on Friday, 7 April confirmed that there were 84,838 patients on inpatient or day case procedure waiting lists; 18,000 waiting for a routine GI endoscopy procedure; and 466,000 waiting for a first outpatient appointment. In 2017 there are a range of initiatives designed to deal with the issue in a way that will ensure an improvement. These are the reports that come before the Cabinet committee to maintain political oversight of the key areas of responsibility.

When I was out and about in my constituency at the weekend, I saw a neighbour of mine limping a little more badly than usual. I asked him what the story was about his hip. He is a man who had a knee operation a few years ago privately, but his private insurance has lapsed. He was placed on the public list last June for a hip operation and told recently to expect to undergo an operation about 18 months from now. He is in fierce pain and thinking of giving up his job because he really cannot hack it at the moment. He is one of 658,677 health service patients who are in a queue of one kind or another. They will soon be talking about the Taoiseach's legacy. I do not think there is much of one. We have the longest health service waiting lists in all of Europe by some distance. In the city of Cork, between Cork Univeristy Hospital and the Mercy Hospital, there are four times as many waiting for 12 months or more for an outpatient appointment than three years ago. What will the Taoiseach do to address the scandal of the two tier health service and the longest waiting lists in Europe? Where does the Cabinet committee fit into that process?

The Cabinet committee does not deal with the detail of the running of day-to-day services, but it does have political oversight of what is happening. The net expenditure of the HSE to the end of February was €2.226 billion, which was under profile. The expenditure of acute hospitals was about €28 million above profile. We are providing more money than ever before for the health service, at €14.5 billion. I have outlined that the winter initiative was to deal with the increased numbers of cases coming through and the challenges in staffing and so on. I assume that in the case of Deputy Mick Barry's friend, because the condition of his hip is deteriorating, his doctor should be in contact with management in the hospital to say it has now deteriorated to a point where it needs urgent attention. As the Deputy knows, these things take a while to develop. If his friend's condition has worsened, the clinician might make a decision that it needs attention more urgently than thought.

The Minister for Health has set out a whole range of issues with which he is dealing to improve the health situation and he will keep at that for the future.

I also sat on the Cabinet sub-committee on health for five years. The drive to abolish the HSE has left us in a completely invidious position. The health Vote rests with the Department of Health which is accountable for the money but the HSE is responsible for the spending of the money with no accountability. The Taoiseach has given various figures and made reference to them being on-profile or over-profile but in truth the tracking of expenditure has been extremely difficult in the last few years. In the last number of years, the HSE has been on target, more or less, until around November but some miraculous thing happens in the last few weeks of the year and the executive requires an additional €500 million, €600 million or €700 million to balance the books. That cannot be right and we need to look again at accountability and oversight in a real way.

There is enormous concern in the south east about the issue of cardiac care in University Hospital Waterford. An interim solution was announced by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health, namely, that a second mobile catheterisation laboratory would be provided. That was a solemn commitment made in January of this year but to date it has not happened. The south east is the only region in the country that does not have 24 hour cardiac catheterisation laboratory facilities. When will this happen? When will the interim solution of a mobile unit happen and when will the decision be made regarding a second permanent catheterisation laboratory should that be determined by the Government to be required?

I am aware of the commitment made to provide a mobile catheterisation laboratory but that is not something that we can just drive into position. There are elements that need to be put in place before it can happen but there is no resiling from the commitment. I am aware of the situation regarding the numbers in Waterford. I cannot give the Deputy a date for when it will happen but the commitment will be honoured.

Will it be this year?

I will advise Deputy Howlin as to the progress made since January for the provision of the catheterisation laboratory which I hope will help to relieve the backlog of cardiac cases in Waterford.

Recently, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, released figures showing that overcrowding levels for the first four months of this year were are their highest levels since records began, with 36,048 waiting on trolleys from the start of the year until the end of April. Last night in my own constituency, there were 26 patients on trolleys in Cork University Hospital and 16 in the Mercy University Hospital. Even well out from winter, the numbers on trolleys remain very high despite the best efforts of health care staff and overworked nurses and doctors. This is evidence of a system that is completely and utterly dysfunctional. Whatever action the Government has taken has failed to make a significant dent in the problem. The trolley crisis is a symptom of a health system in crisis, as is the shocking rise in public waiting lists for treatment. There is now a record of well in excess of 660,000 patients on waiting lists for some kind of hospital care. The €50 million sticking plaster that the Government is spending on initiatives to cut waiting lists is having no appreciable effect. In the days, weeks or months left to him in office, will the Taoiseach establish an emergency department task force on a permanent basis to deal with the crisis at hand? Will he also agree to increase the number of hospital beds, nursing home beds, home help hours and invest in community services? The under-resourcing of the latter services ultimately leads to more people ending up in hospital when they could and should be cared for in the community.

The Deputy makes a valid point about trolley numbers and the Minister for Health has made this a particular priority. Emergency department overcrowding and long patient waiting lists are of critical concern here. Last September the HSE's winter initiative was announced which provided €40 million of additional funding to deal with these matters. A range of practical measures to address emergency department overcrowding were implemented, including 90 newly-opened additional hospital beds and a reduction in delayed discharges nationally from 668 in September to 434 in December. Delayed discharges were maintained below 500 to the end of February. Aids and appliances were given to over 4,450 patients, 1,000 additional home care packages were provided and 615 additional transitional care bed approvals were also made. All these measures enabled patients to be discharged from hospital sooner. A key element of the winter initiative was for the HSE to work with hospitals to develop improvement actions and winter plans at each location. Learning from the most recent winter initiative will be important for the future.

As part of the ongoing measures to relieve pressure in emergency departments, several major capital projects are under way or in the process of completion which will increase overall capacity in the hospital system. These include a new ward block and an adult mental health unit at University Hospital Galway, a new emergency department in Limerick and an extension at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda. The Department has also commenced a bed capacity review in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. That review will feed into the mid-term review of the capital programme which is under way at present. The Minister and the Department will continue to work intensively with the HSE to address the challenges and monitor the performance in the emergency departments. In Deputy Howlin's constituency in Wexford, for example, the design and construction of the new emergency department has eliminated a great deal of the pressure and stress in what was previously a very constrained and confined emergency department. A number of modular units will be put in place as extensions to existing emergency departments in some hospitals to relieve pressure. Members are aware that the population of this country is ageing. We must think in terms of 2020, 2030 and even 2040. By 2040 Ireland may have 1 million additional people and will need 0.5 million extra houses. We will also have to deal with our ageing population in the context of hospital locations, primary care centres, community homes and so forth. That is all part of a ten year capital programme in which everyone will have to be involved because Ireland's current health facilities will have to be radically different in ten years' time.

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Gerry Adams

Question:

4. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht last met; and when it is scheduled to meet again. [22964/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

5. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht is next meeting. [23042/17]

Brendan Howlin

Question:

6. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht last met. [23048/17]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together.

The Cabinet committee on Arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht last met on Monday, 27 February. The next meeting will take place on Thursday, 25 May.

Tá go leor imní ann faoi pholasaí an Rialtais i dtaobh na Gaolainne. Sa daonáireamh is déanaí, bhí go leor ábhar imní ann freisin. Don chéad uair ó 1947, bhí laghdú ar líon na ndaoine le cumas acu sa Ghaolainn. Tar éis 70 bliain de fás - fás measartha, b'fhéidir - tá sé tagtha chun deiridh leis an Rialtas seo. Is dóigh liomsa go bhfuil faillí á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas maidir leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge. Tá ocht mbliana de sin nach mór caite agus is beag dul chun cinn atá déanta. Fiú ó thaobh na Gaeltachta, agus is ábhar mór imní í sin, tá an méid daoine atá ag caint na Gaolainne go laethúil laghdaithe 11%.

Mar sin, tá gá le i bhfad níos mó infheistíochta. Nuair a bhíos ar bhord Fhoras na Gaeilge mé féin, chonac go raibh laghdú ar an mbuiséad a bhí ag Foras na Gaeilge fiú nuair a bhí méaduithe in eagraíocht eile. Tá brú suntasach fós ar an mbuiséad atá ansin. Cad faoin méid sa chlár Rialtais go mbeadh Aire sinsearach le freagracht lárnach do ghnóthaí Gaolainne agus Gaeltachta? Níl mórán dul chun cinn ansin. Tá gach freagracht á chur ar an Aire sóisearach. Cad atá an Taoiseach chun déanamh chun cinntiú go bhfuil an buiséad ceart agus leordhóthaineach ag na heagraíochtaí atá freagrach as an nGaolainn a chur chun cinn agus chun cinntiú go bhfuil an Ghaolainn ag lár straitéis agus polasaithe an Rialtais?

Tá a fhios ag an Teachta go maith go bhfuil an coiste seo ag breathnú ar na nithe seo. Maidir leis an mbuiséad, beidh na díospóireachtaí ar siúl go luath i dtreo is go mbeidh buiséad curtha os comhair na Dála i mí Dheireadh Fómhair.

Tá a fhios ag an Teachta freisin gur foilsíodh plean do scoileanna Gaeltachta le déanaí don chéad uair ó bunaíodh an Stát. Cuireadh fáilte mhór roimh an bplean sin. Tá na scoileanna Gaeltachta ag breathnú ar céard gur chóir dóibh a dhéanamh chun buntáistí an phlean a bhaint amach agus ar conas is féidir leo gabháil leis na coinníollacha faoin bplean. Sílim gur mhaith an rud é sin. I mí Eanáir na bliana 2014, foilsíodh trí fhógra faoi Acht na Gaeilge i leith na limistéar seo a leanas: Ciarraí thiar, Cois Fharraige, agus Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire agus Loch an Iúir. I mí an Mheithimh 2014, foilsíodh sé fhógra i leith na limistéar seo a leanas: Gaeltacht na nDéise, Ciarraí theas, An Cheathrú Rua, Ceantar na nOileán, Dún na nGall theas, agus Cloch Cheann Fhaola, Gort a' Choirce, An Fál Carrach agus Machaire Rabhartaigh. I mí Feabhra 2015, foilsíodh ceithre fhógra i leith na limistéar seo a leanas: Árainn Mhór, lár-Chonamara, Múscraí, agus Dúiche Sheoigheach agus Tuar Mhic Éadaigh. I mí Mheán Fómhair 2015, foilsíodh cúig fhógra i leith na limistéar seo a leanas: tuaisceart Dhún na nGall, Oileán Thoraí, Oileáin Árann, Maigh Eo thuaidh, agus Ráth Chairn agus Baile Ghib. I mí Iúil na bliana 2016, foilsíodh cheithre fhógra i leith na limistéar seo a leanas: Oileán Chléire, Maigh Eo thiar, na Rosa agus Maigh Cuilinn. I mí na Samhna na bliana 2016, foilsíodh fógra i leith Gaeltacht an Láir i gContae Dhún na nGall. Tá sé i gceist go gcuirfear tús le hullmhúcháin na bpleananna teanga idir seo agus deireadh na bliana sa trí limistéir Ghaeltachta eile atá fágtha ag an bpointe seo. Tá súil agam go bhfeicfidh an Teachta go bhfuil próiseas cuimsitheach i gceist anseo. Aithníodh sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge go mbeadh cur chuige céimneach i gceist chun bearta éagsúla na straitéise a chur i gcrích. Foilsíodh na critéir phleanála teanga i mí Mheán Fómhair na bliana 2013 agus foilsíodh na treoirlínte pleanála teanga i mí Eanáir na bliana 2014. Is léir mar sin go raibh obair leanúnach ar siúl ag an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta chun raon leathan gníomhachtaí faoin straitéis a chur i bhfeidhm. Más rud é go bhfuil an tréimhse de dhá bhliain nó mar sin a ceadaíodh i leith gach aon cheann de na limistéir úd chun plean a ullmhú caite nó ag teacht chun deiridh, ag brath ar an gcás tá pleananna teanga i leith na limistéir Cois Fharraige, Gaoth Dobhair agus mar sin-----

Is leor sin, a Thaoisigh. Go raibh maith agat.

Déanfaidh sé sin an beart.

Níl teorann ar bith i gceist nuair atá Teachtaí ag labhairt as Gaeilge.

Gabh mo leithscéal, a Thaoisigh, tá tú ar am breise anseo.

Tá Dún na nGall luaite anseo freisin.

Maith thú as an fhreagra.

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, bhí tú ag caint liom faoi Anagaire, Rann na Feirste, Gaoth Dobhair, Cloch Cheann Fhaola, Gort a' Choirce, An Fál Carrach agus Machaire Rabhartaigh.

Tá a fhios agam go raibh.

Is maith an rud é go gcloiseann siad thuas i nDún na nGall go bhfuil suim ag an Leas-Cheann Comhairle san háiteanna seo ag an bpointe seo.

An bhfuil níos mó ama de dhíth ort, a Thaoisigh?

I wonder whether the African saying, the lion roared but gave birth to a mouse, might apply to the Government's great plans for Creative Ireland. When the arts were debated here, we heard noble words and fine aspirations from Government speakers who trumpeted their commitment to the arts. What is actually happening? What has actually been discussed in delivering on Creative Ireland? It is difficult to see what might be delivered with the miserable €5 million dedicated to this initiative. What is actually happening with the commitment to community arts? We were told that every child would have an opportunity to express himself or herself creatively. What exactly is happening with the pilot scheme for self-employed artists in receipt of jobseeker's allowance? It has been talked about, but there is no sign of anything being rolled out. Artists face difficulties when they are expected to show that they have been looking for work, but the arts do not work like that. The Government recognised that some scheme was needed. Ministers spoke about establishing a pilot scheme to accommodate the needs of artists, but there is no sign of such a scheme. In the light of its verbal and rhetorical commitment to the arts, has the Government started to consider whether it will provide for a serious increase in the allocation for the arts in the forthcoming budget? I remind the House that this country is at the bottom of the league table for GDP expenditure on the arts. Has the Government discussed this? Are there plans to increase the allocation for the arts significantly in the forthcoming budget?

I will allow Deputies Brendan Howlin and Micheál Martin to ask supplementary questions also.

Do I get extra time if I speak as Gaeilge?

Tá Gaeilge mhaith ag an Teachta Howlin.

Déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall. I want to follow up on Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett's questions about the arts. Last week my colleague, Deputy Joan Burton, asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs about the row between Aosdána and the Arts Council about the cnuas stipend paid to members of Aosdána. It appears that a time and motion study is to be conducted by the Department to determine the productivity levels of artists. That will be an interesting little exercise.

It is a case of neoliberalism in the arts.

The Arts Council has conducted a value for money study in conjunction with Mr. John O'Hagan, a professor of economics at Trinity College Dublin.

Successive Governments have been happy to embrace the arts when Ireland is being presented for branding purposes. That was certainly the case when the arts invariably formed the centrepiece of last year's commemorative events, but it now appears that supports for artists do not feature in the Government's plans. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett referred to the Creative Ireland document which was published by the Government last December. It includes a proposal that was included in the Labour Party's manifesto in last year's general election. I am glad that the Government has embraced this good idea which involves the establishment of a scheme to help self-employed artists. This is a parallel scheme to the farm assist scheme, but we have not learned much more about it since last December. When will we see this practical manifestation of support for artists? I have referred to the ludicrous notion that some assessment of productivity should be made.

Will the number of words written, the number of square inches painted or the number of plays produced be counted? How can this be done in the arts?

James Joyce would have been banjaxed on that principle.

Would it not be good to look at a practical support base for some of the people who are least paid in communities and who often produce enormous good?

An bhfuil aon mhachnamh déanta ag an Rialtas ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla? D'éirigh an t-iarChoimisinéir Teanga as oifig agus tá Coimisinéir Teanga nua againn anois. Bheadh sé úsáideach dá mbeadh deis ag an gcoimisinéir reatha a chuid tuairimí i dtaobh roinnt ceisteanna áirithe a nochtadh. Conas a bhfuil an tAcht ag dul ar aghaidh? An bhfuil sé éifeachtach? Mar is eol don Taoiseach, táthar ag caint faoi Acht Teanga sa Tuaisceart. B'fhéidir go mbeimid in ann ár dtuairimí a roinnt leis na húdaráis ó Thuaidh de dheasca an taithí atá againn lenár reachtaíocht. D'fhéadfaimid cur síos a dhéanamh ar cé chomh éifeachtach is atá an tAcht, ar na deacrachtaí a bhaineann leis an Acht agus ar conas a bhfuil ag éirí linn maidir leis na dualgaisí atá laistigh den Acht sin. Is léir go bhfuil dul chun cinn mór le fheiceáil maidir le cúrsaí labhartha de, go háirithe ós rud é go bhfuil béim faoi leith ar an nGaeilge labhartha san ardteist. I mo thuairim, tá feabhas mór tagtha ar chumas na Gaeilge labhartha atá ag formhór na mic léinn i measc aos óg na tíre seo.

The €5 million assigned to Creative Ireland which gives the impression that it is a branding exercise lacking in substance will have to be spread around thinly. Many short-term contracts are being given to artists, which means that they have a lack of security in their livelihoods.

That chronic lack of security within the arts sector needs to be addressed because there is a continued reliance on low-cost short-term contracts and limited programmes. The Taoiseach might indicate whether any work is under way on the preparation of a multi-annual strategy for the arts. I agree with Deputy Howlin that the row between Aosdána and the Arts Council is regrettable. We cannot apply utilitarian economic maxims to the work of the artist, much and all as we might like to do so.

Never mind the quality, feel the width.

Somebody might like to put a handle on it because as we know-----

Níl mórán ama fágtha.

-----from history those who were rejected in previous times became celebrated artists in later times in terms of quality of outputs and so on. I put that to the Taoiseach.

Ba chóir go mbeadh seans ag an Choimisinéir Teanga teacht os comhair Choiste na Gaeilge, na Gaeltachta agus na nOileán agus a thuairimí a nochtadh faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla. Sílim gur mhaith an tuairim atá ag an Teachta Martin ansin.

As part of the 2017 budget the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs retains the majority of the €18 million current funding for 2017. That is now part of the base line for the arts division of the Department meaning that it will be available for future years also. This included a €5 million increase for the Arts Council; an 8% increase in its annual budget; a boost in funding for all the national cultural institutions; €2 million to allow for the opening of the newly restored wings of the National Gallery of Ireland, which is due to open in the next few weeks; the opening of Killarney House on foot of significant capital investment by the State - €5 million or €6 million was invested in it; an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board; €1 million for Culture Ireland; and funding of €5 million for the implementation of the Creative Ireland programme, which was mentioned.

Aosdána is a unique initiative established by the Arts Council in 1981 to honour creative artists who made a significant contribution to the arts in Ireland. There are currently 250 members in Aosdána: seven new members came into its membership last week. The scheme is the responsibility of the Arts Council and not of the Department. It should be noted that under section 24(2) of the Arts Act 2003, the council is independent of the Minister in its funding decisions.

Members of Aosdána can quality for a means tested payment known as the cnuas, to which Deputy Howlin referred, if they are resident in Ireland and are full-time practising artists.

Following recent internal audits of Aosdána and a value for money policy review of the Arts Council, which was undertaken under the guidance of an expert steering committee chaired by Dr. John O'Hagan, the Arts Council is reviewing all aspects of the administration and procedures of Aosdána to ensure that the most appropriate governance and oversight arrangements are in place. In regard to any issues which arise from the review, these are a matter for the Arts Council and Aosdána. I do not like to see such rows-----

Fumbling in a greasy till.

-----but I understand a process of engagement is planned now and I encourage both sides to engage in it thoroughly. There is plenty of experience there, as the Deputy is well aware.

In respect of Creative Ireland, the amount involved was a small amount of money-----

-----but there has been a fabulous response to it. People have been very enthusiastic. I attended one of the workshops and I met people I had not seen before who are artists in various sectors. They turned up and gave of their views. I will give a brief run-down of some of the items covered by the Arts Council, if I can find it.

The Taoiseach can circulate it.

I will circulate it.

Programme for Government Implementation

Gerry Adams

Question:

7. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the recently published progress report on the programme for a partnership Government. [22966/17]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

8. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the progress report of the partnership for Government. [23043/17]

Brendan Howlin

Question:

9. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the publication of the progress report on the programme for a partnership Government. [23049/17]

Micheál Martin

Question:

10. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on the first annual report on the implementation of the programme for a partnership Government. [23332/17]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together.

A Programme for a Partnership Government, published last May, set out an ambitious programme of work to protect our growing economy and ensure that the results of the recovery are felt by all citizens. The programme for Government annual report was published last week on 10 May and sets out the progress made on more than 300 commitments across all of Government over the past 12 months. It reflects the hard work across all Government Departments to deliver a wide range of issues over the lifetime of this Government. Prior to this, two interim progress reports on the programme were also published during the Government's first year in office.

The annual report provides a comprehensive update on the progress of the commitments in its first year, which highlights very specific plans which have been put in place to address, in the short and longer term, key areas of housing, homelessness, education, rural and regional development, job creation, broadband, agriculture and climate change. The report also highlights the ambition and steps to improve services for families, children, people with disabilities and mental health problems and older people, including key reforms necessary in the health and justice sectors.

Significant work has also been undertaken in advance of and following the UK's referendum on EU membership to ensure an effective whole of government approach to the Brexit negotiations that takes full account of the Government's negotiating priorities.

The Government will continue to implement its programme, striking a balance between addressing urgent priorities and engaging in long-term planning so that lasting solutions are implemented to secure a strong economy and a fair society.

Question No. 7 in the name of Deputy Gerry Adams is being taken by Deputy Ó Laoghaire.

As the Taoiseach will know, there was much in the programme for Government, to which Sinn Féin objected from the outset, but, even by this Government's standards and its own brand of politics, its first year has been a failure. Policing and justice are in crisis. The health service is in crisis. Homelessness and housing are an ongoing crisis. Níl an réiteach ar an ghéarchéim i dtaobh an Ospidéal Náisiúnta Máithreachais go fóill.

The Government's strategy for dealing with the challenges of Brexit, which is the greatest threat to the economies of this island in generations, is deeply flawed. I also have my own view on the confidence and supply agreement with the Government's loyal opposition. The reality is that this so-called new politics is not new. It is the same old, same old. Consequently, there is a deep paralysis in the body politic. Whether that is due to the Taoiseach deciding when or where he is going, and perhaps we will learn more of that later on, or the desire of Fianna Fáil to keep the minority Government weak and not to allow it any real successes, the result is that this Government is staggering from one crisis to another.

I dealt earlier with the Government's failure to provide social supports for children at risk and with respect to the health service. I want to touch briefly on the issues of housing and homelessness. There are now 15 vacant properties for every homeless person in Cork. A total of 295 people accessed a shelter in Cork in one week in March. The incidence of homelessness is up 20% since the Minister took office. His 1 July deadline that no homeless families will be living in hotels or bed and breakfast accommodation is looming and we have yet to see any detail of how he intends to achieve that. Social housing delivery is being exaggerated and is moving at a snail's pace.

Consequently, the Government's first year has been a failure. If the Taoiseach is honest with himself, he will accept that the first year of his Government has not been marked by success but by crisis, particularly in the areas of health and housing.

While Simon and Leo battle it out to succeed the Taoiseach-----

There might be another one.

-----and there might be a dark horse or two - God knows - the programme for Government commitments in the area that is most urgent for the citizens of this country are failing disastrously. The Taoiseach might say to Simon and Leo that they are to keep the campaign short and deal with this housing crisis, which the Taoiseach has helped create.

I want to ask a number of specific questions about the Taoiseach's programme for Government commitments. First, the very first line of the programme's chapter on housing refers to "affordable". There is no affordable scheme. There is no affordable rental scheme mentioned in the programme and no affordable housing scheme mentioned in Rebuilding Ireland. Even though these form centre pieces of Rebuilding Ireland, there is not a sign of these schemes.

Second, the programme refers in great detail to the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme and its central role in delivering. Deputy Simon Coveney confirmed something yesterday, which every TD in this Dáil knows, that the figures are shocking and revealing. In Dublin, average rents for a two-bedroom house are now €2,600 a month whereas the HAP rent support is €1,250 a month for the same sized accommodation. In other words, average rents are more than twice what the Government is willing to give people in HAP support to find accommodation. Needless to say, they cannot find it and they end up homeless. What will the Taoiseach do to bridge that gap? Currently, it is simply a recipe for spiralling homelessness, which is shocking and obscene.

I do not pretend to be objective in doing an analysis of the Government's first year but many people, even the most objective of them, would not say it has been a productive year either for this Dáil or the Government because of the nature of this Dáil. Bluntly, the Taoiseach knows and I am sure he would admit it privately that senior officials in Departments are not bringing matters to Ministers or the Cabinet, unless they are absolutely essential. This is not only because of a fear they will not get through the Oireachtas without amendments they do not want but because they are not even sure they will get them through the Cabinet. We can survive on that for a while but it cannot go on for too long. There are too many extraordinarily big issues to be addressed, including some of the social issues referenced by other Deputies, such as housing, health, etc. We must also consider the fundamental external threats to our well-being, such as Brexit and the economic policies of the US President.

I will ask a question of one aspect of the Government's agenda and trumpeted in its progress report, which is the reform agenda. Despite what is in the agreement with Fianna Fáil, not a single piece of Opposition legislation has been enacted from 140 pieces of legislation. There is a pretence that all Deputies in the House can bring forward legislation and advance it. We had the difficulty with the money messages which I think has been resolved, certainly with regard to a number of Bills of which I am aware. Is there a commitment to genuinely progress proposals which are fit for purpose, are crafted well and might need minor amendment? I heard what the Taoiseach said to Deputy O'Dea earlier. Will such Bills be allowed to proceed to enactment?

I will put some perspective on what has just been said. For over six months there has been a steady series of claims that the Government's objectively appalling legislative record is somehow the fault of this Dáil. That is what is presented by the Government side and Government and Fine Gael sources have been actively promoting the idea that legislation is being held back because of uncertainty about how it would be dealt with once it got to the Dáil.

It is a shocking idea in itself that the Dáil might amend it.

Public servants did not want to progress legislation because, lo and behold, it might be changed. One obvious response in finding out whether a proposal can make it through the Dáil is to undertake some consultation with people. That has not happened. One cannot blame the Dáil for the fact that legislation has not come forward. We asked yesterday about the Technological Universities Bill, which has not come near the Dáil. There have been external discussions with trade unions but it has not come near the Dáil. There is not much in it and there may be some disagreement - the word "shall" might become "may" in one section - but there is no reason for that to hang around for 12 months. The schools admissions Bill has been hanging around and a range of Bills could be dealt with if Ministers became more proactive. The bulk of the legislative programme is non-contentious but some of the commentariat have only been too willing to fall for the camouflage. The Dáil is not stopping Ministers from coming forward with legislation. They can do it if they wish and be more proactive. I do not know if the Taoiseach has sought from Ministers a list of legislation that could be published or which might be published if they knew what the reaction would be. What Bills are they holding back?

There is another key matter. Today we have learned the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has apparently had no meetings with any of his EU colleagues about Brexit.

Trade is the number one issue in Brexit, as the Taoiseach knows. It all boils down to the trade agreement between the UK and the European Union with regard to its economic and social impact on Ireland. We can strip everything else back but the trade agreement is it. Shipping and transport is central to trade. People are now talking about new routes but 80% of our trade goes through the UK before ending up outside of it.

There are also aircraft.

The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is not engaged in this. Will the Taoiseach find out what he is doing?

He is opening Stepaside Garda station.

Apparently, no boards are being appointed because it is beyond his capacity to make a judgment on whether he can appoint somebody.

The Taoiseach will only have two minutes to respond.

I do not know if the Taoiseach is aware he has not been engaging on the Brexit matters. If he is aware, what has the Taoiseach done about this? Will he please check this as shipping and transport of all persuasions are critical?

The Taoiseach will only have two minutes. Does the Deputy want answers?

I apologise but it is a fair point that deserves some clarification.

One would need to be like Speedy Gonzales. The Government has created 1,300 new jobs every week since June 2016.

No, it did not. The economy did that.

Unemployment is down 9 percentage points to 6.2% and the number of unemployed fell by 47,300 in the past year. The 2016 action plan has delivered 93% of 555 measures. Deputy Boyd Barrett should read the programme report in respect of housing and he will see what is going on. Despite all the talk and cynicism, there is more work going on than ever before in the housing sector between local authorities, private enterprise and initiatives from the Department.

The Taoiseach should respond to my specific question.

IDA Ireland client companies recorded 18,600 new jobs in 2016, which is an increase of 11,900. Enterprise Ireland companies created 19,200 jobs, an increase of 9,000. Local enterprise office client companies created 7,800 jobs. The value of goods exported totalled almost €117 billion, the highest annual total on record. There are 12,500 small and medium enterprises that have benefited from €544 million in Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland loans. The credit guarantee scheme has sanctioned 437 loans of €70 million to date, supporting 2,500 jobs. Microfinance Ireland approved 1,249 applications, totalling €8.2 million. The list goes on for people if they want to read it.

The Minister, Deputy Ross, has engaged extensively at official level with other Departments and agencies and he has been fully briefed in these engagements. He has met directly with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and engaged in all-island sectoral dialogues in both transport and tourism held in Dundalk this year.

The Minister of State is in the Irish Government.

He has had bilateral discussions with his own Minister of State.

He attended the European Union Transport Council meeting last June, which arose immediately prior to the Brexit vote.

On a point of order-----

The Taoiseach, without interruption.

He met EU counterparts.

Could we establish that the "O'Donovan" he met is the Minister of State at his own Department? Did they bump into each other in the corridor?

There is no point of order.

He was unable to attend the December meeting, which was the only EU Transport Council meeting since Brexit.

The Taoiseach cannot be serious.

That was due to a road safety event scheduled for the same day. Officials attended in his place and reported back on all proceedings. Pending the formal triggering by the UK of Article 50-----

Has he stepped aside from his European Union duties?

-----there was regular and ongoing engagement and contact at all levels involving the Department. This included meetings, conferences and seminars in Brussels and elsewhere.

Meetings with his own Minister of State.

The Minister met his Northern Irish counterpart at the North-South Ministerial Council transport sectoral meeting on 12 December 2016 in Armagh, when Brexit was on the agenda. There is regular contact with Northern Ireland counterparts at official level. Senior management in the Department, including the Secretary General, had a four-hour meeting with their UK counterparts on 19 January and the Minister, Deputy Ross, will of course attend the June meeting.

If only he was so loyal to the Taoiseach.

People judge Governments by the extent of legislation that is put through. The previous Government had a big majority and there were guillotines about which Deputy Martin complained every week. There was no real pre-legislative scrutiny. That has all been changed and half the agenda is determined by the Business Committee. There are 140 Private Members' Bills backed up and there are no guillotines. There is full and comprehensive pre-legislative scrutiny. Last year there was the Electoral (Amendment) Act 2016, the Health (Amendment) Act 2016, the Water Services (Amendment) Act 2016, the Proceeds of Crime Act (Amendment) 2016, the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act 2016-----

Not one Opposition Bill.

-----the Commission of Investigation (Irish Bank Resolution Corporation) Act 2016, the Paternity Leave and Benefit Act 2016, the Energy Act 2016, the Finance (Certain European and Intergovernmental Obligations) Act 2016, the National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Act 2016, the Social Welfare Act 2016, the Appropriation Act 2016, the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Act 2016, the Finance Act 2016, the Health Insurance (Amendment) Act 2016, the Statute Law Revision Act 2016, the Road Traffic Act 2016, the Courts Act 2016 and the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2016. There has also been the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 and so on.

We are obliged to move on.

The Government has published quite an extensive list of Bills since coming to office on 6 May last year. It is wrong to judge any Government on the extent of legislation and it is much better to judge it on the quality.

It is even worse when judged like that.

This Dáil is very different from the previous one, as Deputy Martin is well aware, and because of the different sectors that are represented, the nature of the business has changed. A great deal of work has gone on, is going on and will go on.

Top
Share