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Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 6 Dec 2017

Vol. 254 No. 13

Commencement Matters

Local and Community Development Programme

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire.

A Chathaoirligh, I thank you for selecting this item for the Commencement debate today. I welcome the Minister and thank him for coming to the House to address this matter. I welcome that the Minister has initiated a review of the local community and development committees, LCDCs. They are a very important aspect of local government. They are relatively new in that they have only been in existence for a few years, and it is timely, appropriate and right that the Minister should carry out a review. It is important that there be substantial input from the local elected members themselves, as well as the executive in all of the 31 local authorities. There are different views, perspectives and challenges, as well as different understandings of the function of the LCDCs and how they complement rather than duplicate services. There will always be a tension between non-elected members and elected members in every council. I hear from some councillors that they feel there is a certain conflict with those whom they see as non-elected people. They may be community leaders and pillars within their own community but they are not necessarily political people with the democratic mandate county councillors have. This is presenting a challenge. However, this is not a bad thing. I welcome the contributions of civic-minded and active people in the community. That is really important but we must get the balances right.

There are also issues around the funding of the LCDCs. I refer to the transitional period for people who have come in from being community activists and who ultimately may wish to go on to seek election for any political party or none. Some people have had to stand down and with that, one loses continuity, experience and knowledge. In addition, there is always the ongoing challenge of funding. I thank the Minister for coming here. It is great and timely that he has initiated this review. However, we need greater clarity on the terms of reference for the review and its particular focus. I am also calling for a timeline for its delivery.

I thank the Senator for raising the issue. I will put my statement on the record but will also respond to one or two of the issues Senator Boyhan raised. I do not disagree with him.

My Department provides funding to support the development of the new local and community development governance structures introduced as part of the local government reform process, namely, local community development committees and local economic and community plans. LCDCs have been established in all 31 local authority areas and have responsibility for bringing about a more joined-up approach to local and community development in their respective areas. A primary function of LCDCs is the development of the community elements of the local economic and community plans. The plans seek to promote the local and community development of the relevant local authority area. They are the primary means through which the LCDCs will develop, co-ordinate and implement a coherent approach to publicly funded local and community development.

My Department is carrying out a review of the LCDC framework covering the themes of governance and structure, strategic efficiencies, participation and engagement and administrative support and development. LCDCs have been operational for three years. They have been involved in programme management and in the creation, adoption and early implementation of local economic and community plans. As the term of office for members is three years, LCDCs are also currently going through the first round of rotation of membership.

In this context, a review of the structures is considered timely.

As stated in the terms of reference for the review, the purpose is threefold: to establish an understanding of the local community and development committee, LCDC, landscape nationwide, to identify opportunities for strengthening and enhancing LCDCs, and to make recommendations to build on existing strengths and to support the future development of LCDCs. The overall objective is to inform the ongoing development and strengthening of the existing structures.

A steering group, led by an external chair, was formed to oversee the review which commenced in October 2017. Members are drawn from my own Department, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, local authorities and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly.

The review will culminate in a report outlining the key findings and conclusions and setting out recommendations for future development of the structures. The work of the review group is scheduled to conclude in the first quarter of 2018 with the report to issue soon thereafter. Further detail on the review can be viewed on my Department's website at www.drcd.gov.ie/local-Communitydevelopment-Committees-lodics.

I was looking at the make-up of the review board this morning and the Senator is quite correct. The one thing missing is someone from the community. Maybe we should also put someone in from the local authority. I will consider putting someone in from the community and from the local authority, as the people who are on the ground. The idea is to bring local democracy down to the ground. I do not disagree with the Senator about elected representatives, but at the same time I want to see people from all sections of society having an input to see what they want to do for their own areas.

I thank the Minister for that very comprehensive reply and the great clarity with which he delivered his response. The initiative of taking someone from local government and from community development is really important and will be a very welcome move.

Hospitals Building Programme

I thank the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to discuss another excellent project for Roscommon County Hospital and the west. The medical rehabilitation unit is one of three major capital developments planned at Roscommon hospital. The other two are an endoscopy unit, which is open and extremely busy, and a hospice care centre for which plans are progressing well. These three projects were agreed in 2011 between the then Minister, former Deputy and now Senator James Reilly, and the hospital's management and consultants along with the air ambulance unit after the downgrading of the emergency department. I am delighted that the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire has supported the development of regional rehabilitation services, including this €7.85 million project proposed for Roscommon hospital. I understand that people from the National Rehabilitation Hospital have travelled to Roscommon hospital for meetings to progress the design aspect of the project.

There is a clear demand for such as facility in the west. Almost a quarter of patients treated in the National Rehabilitation Hospital normally reside in the HSE west region which currently lacks a dedicated rehabilitation unit. The National Rehabilitation Hospital is the only comprehensive rehabilitation facility in the Republic of Ireland for patients with physical and cognitive impairments. The unit planned for Roscommon will operate as a satellite centre under the auspices of the National Rehabilitation Hospital and relieve pressure on existing services. It will also allow patients to be treated in their own communities.

The project will initially develop a ten-bed inpatient ward accommodation on a greenfield site on the Roscommon hospice campus. It is expected that another ten beds will be introduced on a phased basis. Geographically, Roscommon hospital is ideally located for this development as it is so central between the west and Dublin. I was delighted that the project took a significant step forward more than a year ago when the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, confirmed approval for €1.5 million funding for planning at the official opening of the €6 million endoscopy unit at Roscommon hospital. I seek an update on this project. Once the rehabilitation unit becomes fully operational, it will create an initial 25 jobs and up to 50 jobs when all phases are complete. These jobs are in addition to those created during the construction phase. I look forward to the Minister of State's reply.

It is as though Santa Claus is coming to Roscommon hospital.

After the National Rehabilitation Hospital.

A Programme for a Partnership Government places a particular focus on a number of key programmes and strategies, including publishing a plan for advancing neurorehabilitation services in the community. The national policy and strategy for the provision of neurorehabilitation services in Ireland for 2011 to 2015 made a number of recommendations for services for people with rehabilitation needs. The strategy also covered a range of supports, including clinical, therapeutic, social, vocational and community supports for these people.

The redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, which is under way, will be a major enhancement to rehabilitation services in the country and will have a direct and significant impact on patient recovery by providing an optimal ward and therapeutic environment for patient treatment. This will enable staff to deliver optimal quality care and treatment in a facility which affords dignity, respect and privacy to all.

Roscommon County Hospital is a model 2 hospital within the Saolta University Health Care Group. It provides a significant range of hospital services to patients in the region, including extended day surgery, certain acute medicine services and local injuries services. It also provides a wide array of diagnostic services, including endoscopy, laboratory medicine, point of care testing and radiology, as well as specialist rehabilitation medicine and palliative care. Roscommon hospital plays an essential role as part of the Saolta Health Care Group of hospitals and will continue to do so in the future. We know that the future growth in health care will be in the areas of chronic disease management and day surgery, diagnostics and rehabilitation. The activity levels of model 2 hospitals, such as Roscommon County Hospital, will continue to increase over the coming years as these hospitals specialise in providing these services to meet the needs of their local populations.

The spatial plan for Roscommon hospital was approved in the first quarter of 2016, and the project team comprised personnel from both the hospital-clinical side and from estates. In September 2016, the Minister, Deputy Harris, announced approval for funding to progress the development of a specialist rehabilitation unit at Roscommon hospital to design-planning stage, in association with the National Rehabilitation Hospital. The project will deliver 20 beds and therapy suite accommodation.

The HSE has advised that the procurement process for the design team is ongoing and it is expected that the team will be appointed in the first quarter of 2018. The HSE also advises that the hospital is experiencing traffic congestion and parking difficulties, for which solutions will need to be addressed as part of the planning application process for the rehabilitation unit.

I am delighted that the procurement process for the design team is ongoing and that it is expected it will be appointed in the first quarter of 2018. This cannot happen quickly enough. I worry that sometimes when the HSE is involved there can be blockages. We must ensure that there are no blockages and that this progresses as quickly as possible.

The HSE has also advised that the hospital is experiencing traffic congestion and parking difficulties and that solutions will be addressed as part of the planning application for the rehabilitation unit. All the doomsayers over the years said Roscommon hospital would be closed. Now we have a problem with parking because the hospital is so busy. It has become a major employer. It provides employment for up to 400 people in a town of about 6,000 or 7,000. Roscommon hospital is busier and safer than ever. More than 400 people work there. My job as a public representative is about safeguarding the hospital's future and protecting local jobs and, most importantly, patient safety. Hundreds of people are alive today because of the air ambulance and what has happened in Roscommon over the past six years.

I am sure that Senator Feighan will get Senator Leyden to turn the sod.

Minor Works Scheme Applications

I thank the Minister of State for coming before the House to take this Commencement matter. I did receive notification that the payment was in process in the case of the particular school on which I submitted a query regarding the minor works grant.

I very much welcome it, but it raises the wider question of the desperate financial dire straits in which many small rural schools find themselves. Bangor Erris, the school that is the subject of the notice we submitted, is typical of most rural schools. There is little point in issuing IT grants, for example, if the school cannot be kept running day-to-day. The minor works grant should be mandatory and not dependent on the money left over at the end of the calendar year. This principal, like many others, was depending on the grant arriving in November. She feared that the school would not survive financially until January, when the first money of the capitation grant is due to arrive, unless the school went into an overdraft position. She feels that she could not do this as she relies on fundraising as it stands.

Bangor Erris is typical of many small rural schools. It is parents and the people of the area who are effectively keeping the school solvent. The capital review 2016 to 2020 states in relation to minor works grants to primary schools that it is not possible to maintain school infrastructure without the payment of the minor works grant and an annual summer works scheme grant.

This principal, like others, is heading into December waiting for this payment, but the school still has to pay the cleaner, the secretary, the electricity, the fire alarm service bill, the oil, the refuse bins, the photocopier, the security alarm service and monitoring, and the rising cost of school insurance without basic financial support. This principal also cites France where the local council looks after all of these basic commodities and services for smaller schools. Forcing a small school principal to source and maintain these services is effectively asking him or her to be a teacher, a principal and an accountant, and to be a contractor. There is a feeling among principals of smaller rural schools that the larger the school, the more money that is available to support it. I know the larger schools have their financial challenges as well, but how does it make sense to give a teaching principal, with 26 pupils of four different class levels in the one classroom, 15 administrative days to do his or her work but give a principal with over seven colleagues and support posts a total of 183 administrative days? It does not tally up. Does the Government have a strategy for helping smaller schools, often with teaching principals, who are currently facing severe financial pressure and rising administrative burdens?

There is a feeling that the smaller the school and the more isolated it is in the area, the more financial constraints it is under. More and more of these schools are trying to teach multiple classes across multiple disciplines. Primary school is hugely important for the education cycle of a child. If the schools continue to be starved of resources, it puts families under because they cannot afford to continually pay into what is supposed to be a free education system. It also puts teachers under pressure as they try to do their jobs and maintain everything that goes on in a school, dealing with home challenges and everything else, and try to teach children of different abilities. Having to worry about whether they can pay the bills or not is not acceptable.

I thank the Senator for raising what is a very real issue for many schools and one that I understand very well. In a former life, I was a principal of a small school. I understand first-hand the difficulties in trying to manage the finances, keep a school afloat, the vagaries of the various funding models and the reliance on them. I heard a good line once when I heard somebody - I think from the INTO - say that we do not see the local gardaí having to do cake sales to run the local Garda station. There are challenges there.

On the minor works grant, I am glad to confirm that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, announced yesterday minor works grants totalling €28.8 million. Schools have been notified and they will get the money in the next week. That will be welcome. I, too, like I am sure most politicians in the House, had a number of emails from principals in the past couple of days and weeks fretting about whether this money was going to come at all. When he announced the minor works grants in 2017, the Minister did confirm that he would be announcing them again late in 2018. From the Minister's perspective, it was flagged that it would be late in the year before they would be announced. That is how it has happened.

The importance of the minor works grant to schools, including smaller schools, is fully understood, notwithstanding the other significant demands on resources at this time. The rates payable under the minor works grant are €5,500 per school plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil attending a special school or a special class. Schools can use the grant for a variety of school works, including improvements to school buildings and grounds, improvement or replacement of mechanical and electrical services, the purchase of standard furniture and physical education equipment, the purchase of floor coverings and window blinds, and the purchase of IT-related equipment.

I am aware that primary schools, including smaller schools, would wish to have certainty with regard to the availability of the minor works grant on an annual basis. This is an issue that will be reviewed in the context of the Department of Education and Skills long-term infrastructural planning and the level of resources available under the Government’s ten-year public capital investment plan, which is currently under development. The demographic pressures at both primary and post-primary level mean that the Department’s school building programme must continue to focus on delivering additional school places. In 2017, that building programme has successfully delivered almost 19,000 permanent school places, of which more than 13,000 are additional places, with the completion of 46 major school building projects.

I again thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to outline the current position regarding the minor works grant 2017-18.

I thank the Minister of State for his response. I am pleased that the announcement was made. I ask that the payments be expedited so that they get into the bank accounts of the schools as quickly as possibly. Could it be considered for next year that the grant would be brought forward? Even if it was brought forward a month, everything would not be brought into the last couple of weeks when teachers are so busy with things like school plays, rounding off the school year with tests and everything else that needs to be done at this time. If the grant was made available a bit earlier, it would ease that pressure. I also think that the funding of national schools needs to be really examined in terms of the resources put in and the value we get back. It is expenditure that we will get back a hundred times over if we provide a proper education for our children and take the pressure off parents as well who find this a very expensive time of the year.

I take on board the Senator's point. It probably will be late next year and there is no point in pretending otherwise. It will be November or December before the minor works grants are paid next year. However, €77 million in capitation funding will be made available to all primary schools in January of next year. That should help considerably toward alleviating funding pressures on schools.

Road Safety

I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, back to his alma mater. He is very welcome as usual. I call on Senator Robbie Gallagher. He has four minutes.

I welcome the Minister to the House this morning. I acknowledge he is very good when it comes to attending Commencement debates that relate to his portfolio and I thank him for that.

Today, I would like to talk about road safety. I am conscious of the most recent horrible fatality that occurred a few days back. Our thoughts and prayers are with that family and all connected to them at this very difficult time.

In 2016, some 188 people lost their lives on Irish roads. In 2015, some 166 people lost their lives and of that figure, 45 were aged between 16 and 25 and 130 of them were male. We can only imagine the grief, the pain and the sense of loss that all those families continue to suffer. What is often forgotten is that for every road fatality, eight people are left with serious life-changing injuries. With this in mind, I compliment the gardaí in the Cavan-Monaghan division, and in particular Sergeant Tony Campbell and his team, for an initiative that they have undertaken for the third or fourth year in succession with transition year students in counties Monaghan and Cavan.

I was present at an event there last week which was attended by over 400 young people. The aim of this roadshow initiative was to appeal to young drivers to slow down and be more conscious of the rules of the road. It involved young people being presented with the stark realities of what happens from the moment a crash occurs until the road is cleared. Presentations were made on the day by Monaghan County Council's road safety officer, local gardaí, a paramedic, a consultant from Cavan General Hospital's accident and emergency department, an undertaker and a coroner. In addition, a mother who had lost her child made a striking testimony that clearly left a lasting impression on all the students. Those who were in attendance were struck by the real stories and experiences related to them on the day. This template, to which no cost is attached, should be rolled out across every one of the Twenty-six Counties. It would be beneficial for all young people. I firmly believe it should be rolled out. I would like the Minister to consult his Cabinet colleagues with a view to doing this. I do not doubt that we will see the benefits of it. This fantastic initiative would help to educate people and reduce the number of fatalities on our roads and all the heartbreak and misery that goes with them.

I thank Senator Gallagher for raising this matter, which unfortunately is quite topical. I applaud his concern for road safety, which is one of my primary concerns in this portfolio. As he has pointed out, the death toll in this country is still horrific. I do not intend to use any clichés when I say that even though the numbers are coming down, all road deaths are completely unacceptable, unnecessary and absolutely tragic. I applaud the Senator for consistently raising issues of this sort in this House. I do not in any way want to discourage the splendid initiative to which he has referred. The question of whether the Government could fund it is a somewhat different one. I should say that the people of Cavan-Monaghan, the gardaí and everybody else should be encouraged in every possible way to pursue this initiative.

We should not always look to central government for everything. In other words, we have a strong Road Safety Authority, RSA, and - I hope - a strong unified message coming from all the political parties. Sometimes we favour different methods, and that is fair enough, but we are all part of the drive to reduce road deaths and to promote road safety. If there is a spontaneous voluntary effort in Cavan-Monaghan, Kerry or Donegal - it does not matter to me - we should encourage it. I am aware that the area Senator Gallagher is talking about is particularly dangerous. It is understandable that people in the area are deeply concerned about what is happening there. We should not stand in the way of local communities coming together and doing things spontaneously. This should not be done in a disorganised fashion, but in a way that raises the consciousness of people in local areas regarding the difficulties, danger spots and tragedies in those areas.

Part of the impetus from central government and the RSA, which is running a huge national campaign on an ongoing basis, is to raise national awareness of the tragedies that can and should be avoided and reversed, while also taking particular and specific measures. I believe the initiative mentioned by the Senator fits perfectly logically with that approach. Obviously, I will have to consult the RSA in this regard. Maybe it would be right for any issues or initiatives of this sort to be pursued in conjunction with the unstinting and relentless efforts of central government. The road figures to which the Senator has referred are not acceptable. No road death is acceptable. However, we should acknowledge that the numbers at the moment are down on last year. The reduction is not enough - nothing is enough - but it can be partly attributed to the increase in public awareness of the tragedy of road deaths and the prevention measures that are being taken by central government and local communities.

In delivering on its commitment to bringing road safety into all communities, the RSA has established a nationwide road safety education service. A team of dedicated road safety educators is available to travel to preschools, schools, colleges, communities and places of work to deliver established and effective programmes to everyone. The programmes tackle all elements of road safety including walking, cycling, travelling by public transport and being a passenger. They also deal with urban and rural transport issues and with safe road behaviour in general. As part of this service, the RSA has developed a range of materials that teachers can use to educate schoolchildren about road safety as it applies to all road users.

The Senator referred specifically to educating transition year students. The RSA has made several road safety education programmes available. All of these sustained programmes have been developed using a cumulative and evidence-based approach to learning and with the assistance of education psychologists and the RSA education team. This year, the RSA piloted a new programme on road safety, known as Road Safety Matters, which is aimed at transition year students under the junior cycle short course. Another specific transition year programme, known as Your Road to Safety, promotes awareness, knowledge, skills and values which create a foundation for the development of safe road users. This programme is being substantially redesigned to reflect changes in the way young people learn. It will be available through a virtual learning environment in 2018.

The two main elements of the RSA's mobile roadshow are the shuttle and the roll-over simulator. The overall theme of the shuttle focuses on the main causal factors for road collisions and injuries, including drink-driving, non-wearing of safety belts, speeding and driver fatigue. Advertising and visuals that are placed inside and outside the shuttle communicate the core messages of road safety and invite visitors to learn more about their vulnerabilities as road users. This interactive unit is accompanied by a roll-over simulator, which continues to be highly effective in encouraging people to use safety belts. The simulator is a car body fitted to a rotating hydraulic platform. Participants sit into the simulator and experience a half or full rotation demonstrating how it feels to be in a car when it turns over in a collision and emphasising the lifesaving benefits of seat belt use in such circumstances. The main aim of the road safety interactive units is to give the general public and target audiences a chance to interact with various road safety campaigns and to spread the message about the importance of road safety.

Teams of fully qualified teachers deliver road safety education to all visitors to RSA roadshows. These teams are on the road throughout the year visiting schools, festivals and community groups, etc. The RSA's efforts in educating and communicating a road safety message are supplemented by local initiatives, often organised by local authority road safety officers and the Garda Síochána. The roadshow mentioned by Senator Gallagher is an example of a local initiative that the RSA supports through its attendance when it is invited to do so. While local roadshows perform a highly valuable service in terms of road safety education and awareness, I do not have any plans to provide funding supports to them at this time. There is no reason for anything other than full co-operation between those involved in such efforts and the RSA. However, we do not want to see some sort of competitive tension between them. We are all on the same side. Obviously, the RSA is doing a great deal of work in this regard. The initiative referred to by the Senator is extraordinarily valuable. I imagine those involved can co-ordinate with the RSA to get a visit from the simulator. In my supplementary remarks, I can give the House some figures with regard to how many schools have applied for such a visit, if the Senator wishes.

We are running behind time as a result of the Minister's comprehensive response.

The Minister referred to the cost of this initiative. I assure him that little or no cost is involved in it. I acknowledge the Minister's contribution to road safety. I know he takes the issue seriously. Perhaps the Minister and the RSA could take a lead role in this regard. I cannot emphasise enough the impact of this event on the 400 students who attended it. I believe this worthwhile exercise deserves to be extended across the country. When the Minister came to this House in July for a debate on road fatalities, we discussed the N2 between Ardee, County Louth, and Castleblayney, County Monaghan. As the Minister may recall, there were three fatalities on this stretch of road the following day. Those who died were members of a family group returning home from holiday.

Last week, on the same stretch of road there was another fatality where an elderly priest lost his life. These examples highlight the dangers on that road. I know that the Minister is conscious of the dangers. I appeal to him to provide funding to address the matter in the interest of road safety.

The Minister has already given a comprehensive reply. I am sure there is a lot of food for thought in what Senator Gallagher has said and in what the students in Cavan-Monaghan are doing. I ask the Minister to consider what can be done for them. I wish him and every road user a safe Christmas because at this time of the year there seems to be a spike in terrible accidents. I wish to express my condolences to the family in Wexford who suffered an appalling tragedy. I thank the Minister and Senators for their comments.

Sitting suspended at 11.11 a.m. and resumed at 11.30 a.m.
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