Written Answers Nos. 275-293
275. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of driving tests conducted at the Finglas and Raheny driving test centres, Dublin, for each of the years 2014 to 2016; the number of driving instructors based at each of those driving test centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3386/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.
I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
276. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the annual levels of commuter and commercial traffic non HGVs and HGVs that used the N25 Waterford City bypass toll bridge in 2015 and 2016; and the total revenue raised by these toll stations in each of these years. [3413/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Furthermore, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into agreements relating to tolls on national roads is vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 as amended.
As the Deputy's question relates to a matter directly within the responsibility of TII, I have referred the question to them for their direct reply. Please advise my Private Office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
277. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the money that will be allocated to the R312 for upgrade works in 2017; his Department's long-term plan for this vital road connecting Erris to Castlebar in which the county's main hospital is situated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3436/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Mayo is the statutory responsibility of Mayo County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
My Department received an application in 2015 in respect of the R312 under the Strategic Grant Programme. As a result of the substantial cutbacks in grant funding for roads during the financial crisis, the Strategic Grant Programme had to be curtailed in order to protect funding for road maintenance and repair and Mayo County Council was, therefore, notified in July 2015 that the Department was not in a position to provide an allocation for the proposed major upgrade scheme.
Further contacts between my Department and Mayo County Council officials last year resulted in a number of targeted measures to address issues with specific sections of the R312. These measures covered rehabilitation and resurfacing works together with a specific project to address the bottleneck at Glenisland Bridge. Provision is being made for the continuation of the Glenisland bridge project in 2017.
278. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her plans to protect general trade between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland especially in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Donegal under the possibility of a hard Border following the UK referendum to leave the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3328/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPromoting cross-border trade in light of the potential impacts of Brexit is a key priority for the Government as a whole.
It is, of course, hard to predict at this stage what the impact of Brexit will be for all of Ireland, including the border counties. Much will depend on the nature of the deal that will be negotiated between the UK and the EU. This Government will seek, during that process, to highlight our unique economic ties with Northern Ireland.
It is clear that the cross-border market on the island is a particularly important one for SMEs, with nearly two thirds of Northern Ireland small firm exports going South and one sixth of Ireland’s small firm exports going North.
Inter Trade Ireland has initiated a research project being undertaken by the ESRI to examine the impact of differing trade regimes which may emerge in the post-Brexit environment. This study will include an analysis of tariff rates to look at the range of possible impacts for products currently traded between both jurisdictions. It will also analyse data on the extent and concentration of Cross Border Trade as well as barriers to exporting.
Inter Trade Ireland has also undertaken a series of events for SMEs to raise awareness of Brexit issues, with more planned. They have published information material for their companies setting out key challenges posed by Brexit. Further initiatives by Inter Trade Ireland on this issue are also being developed for roll out later this year.
I am engaged strongly with Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to ensure that Irish jobs are maintained and created. I am in constant communication with these agencies, and chair a Brexit Coordination Group, which includes the senior management of my Department and the CEOs of the agencies. As part of the Government’s ongoing dialogue with interested parties, I have organised a stakeholder engagement event on the 30th of January, in Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim. This will be an important event to hear the views of stakeholders, both directly and through representative bodies.
Enterprise Ireland is working with its 1,500 clients who export to the UK, looking at the individual challenges faced by companies in every county in Ireland and also on a sectoral level, as some sectors are more exposed than others.
From a strategic perspective, Enterprise Ireland has a two pronged approach. It is working to assist companies to maintain and grow UK exports and extend their international reach. It is also supporting companies in enhancing their competitiveness to protect and grow Irish exports and jobs. In this regard, EI is assisting clients to improve their processes to drive efficiencies and cost reductions and undertake R&D and innovation with a view to improving existing products and processes or developing new ones.
279. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation when the Companies (Accounting) Bill 2016 will be enacted; when the sections dealing with accounting for micro companies will be enacted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3391/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Companies (Accounting) Bill 2016 completed Committee Stage in the Dáil on 22 November 2016. Enactment of the Bill remains a legislative priority for the Government. Accordingly, I hope Dáil Report Stage will be scheduled as soon as possible. Clearly, the timing of enactment thereafter will depend on the availability of parliamentary time.
The Bill introduces financial reporting provisions for a new category of micro company, which is a subset of the category of small company. It is intended to commence these provisions shortly after enactment of the Bill.
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which her Department has examined new markets both inside and outside the European Union for Irish products in order to compensate for the consequences of Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3522/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo drive the export led growth strategy, the Government through Enterprise Ireland is focused on a two key priorities to;
(1) intensify its work with clients to maintain and grow UK exports and extend their reach into international markets,
(2) reinforce the competitiveness of clients with ambition by strengthening their productivity, innovation and management capability to become more competitive in international markets.
I launched Enterprise Ireland’s new Strategy 2017 – 2020 on Monday 9th January 2017. This Strategy sets out very ambitious targets to grow the level of exports by €5bn to €26bn per annum with over two-thirds of those outside of the UK.
EI’s export strategy is twofold – it has a specific focus on consolidating exports in the UK and it will remain an important market for Ireland. EI will be implementing a UK Market Development plan which focuses on sustaining exports in key sectors such as construction, agritech, aerospace and engineering and also identifying new growth opportunities in financial services, infrastructure/public sector. EI’s trade mission programme, which will be launched in the coming weeks, outlines a number of trade missions to the UK focussing on some of these key sectors. EI is also working with companies heavily focussed on the UK, at a sector by sector and one to one basis, through its UK office, on improving their competitiveness and innovation capabilities to sustain and grow exports.
The second part of the strategy focuses on increasing exports to markets beyond the UK. EI’s plans have a specific emphasis on markets, including the Eurozone, where it plans to increase exports by 50% to 2020, the USA/Canada, Asia and the Middle East. EI’s international trade & events programme, which will be launched shortly, focusses on trade missions, market study visits and inwards buyer visits from markets with specific sectoral opportunities.
To drive this strategy, 39 posts will be created in a number of Enterprise Ireland’s overseas offices and in the Irish based team. On foot of 2015 export figures, there is immediate opportunity and potential for strengthening our foothold in existing established markets and for diversified export growth. In 2015, sales to North American grew by 27%, Northern Europe by 8% and Asia-PAC by 11%.
Extra staff will be placed in EI’s overseas offices with sectoral knowledge and expertise such as in engineering, food, life sciences and construction. This will drive export growth to other international markets where there are known opportunities and reduce reliance on the UK.
Nevertheless, the UK will continue to be a priority market due to Ireland’s size, geographic proximity and cultural ties. EI will focus on increasing international sales with existing buyers while also supporting companies to develop new strategic relationships and avail of emerging opportunities, particularly in the engineering and construction sectors.
In 2017, EI will also rollout the ‘Global Ambition Campaign’ which is a communications campaign to promote Irish companies and their products and services to international buyers.
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the progress in respect of any other transatlantic trade agreements with the EU; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3527/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU has successfully concluded a number of important trade agreements and is in the process of negotiating or upgrading agreements with many more trading partners. Free Trade Agreements are designed to create opportunities by opening new markets for goods and services thereby increasing export and investment opportunities.
On the 30th October 2016, the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement was signed at the EU-Canada Summit in Brussels by representatives from Canada, the EU and the Member States. After signature, the European Parliament must now give its consent to CETA for it to enter into force provisionally.
There have been 15 rounds to date in the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement negotiation. Following the recent US Presidential election and the change of administration there is now a natural pause in the negotiation rounds until the new US administration is appointed in 2017.
In 1997, Mexico was the first Latin American country to conclude an Economic Partnership, Political Coordination and Cooperation Agreement with the EU (‘the EU-Mexico Global Agreement’). The agreement included trade provisions that were developed into a Free Trade Agreement that entered into force in October 2000. On 25th May 2016, the EU and Mexico launched negotiations to modernise the EU-Mexico Global Agreement including the trade and investment pillar.
The EU has a comprehensive Trade Agreement with Colombia and Peru which has been provisionally applied since the 1st March 2013 with Peru and 1st August 2013 with Colombia. The EU together with Ecuador, Colombia and Peru, signed the Protocol of Accession of Ecuador to the Trade Agreement on the 11th November 2016.
The EU is also currently negotiating a trade agreement with Mercosur, encompassing Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, as part of the overall negotiation for a bi-regional Association Agreement which will also cover a political and a cooperation pillar.
282. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to the efforts being made by a company (details supplied) to establish a facility in Dublin; her views on whether the project is worth supporting; if so, her plans to advance the delivery of this project which already has been specifically highlighted in the Dublin Region Action Plan for Jobs; her further views on whether Dublin and Ireland will be disadvantaged as a result of the continuing absence of said facility from the manufacturing innovation ecosystem here at a time when there are myriad supports, facilities and investments all catering narrowly for the software sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3460/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has previously engaged with the promoters of this facility in connection with a request for financial support to facilitate its possible development in Dublin. There are, however, a number of significant financial, legal and logistical issues that remain to be addressed before further consideration can be given to the proposal.
More broadly, I very much recognise the importance of the manufacturing sector in Ireland. I also want to emphasise that the range of supports offered by my Department and its Agencies to enterprise extend far beyond the software sector.
283. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of adults and children in Tusla-funded domestic violence refuges and the number of adults and children in Tusla-funded domestic violence step-down accommodation on the first day of every month in 2016. [3443/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2016, Tusla provided €20.6 million in funding to support the provision of domestic, sexual and gender based violence services. This included funding for some 60 services throughout the country comprising:
- €12.0 m for emergency refuge and support services,
- €4.6m for community based domestic violence support services, and
- €4.0m for Rape Crisis Centres.
The provision of domestic violence refuge spaces nationally in 2016 was 155 family units, comprising 147 emergency refuge family units and 8 emergency non-refuge family units.
Tusla data indicates that in 2015, 1,736 women and 2,621 children were forced to leave their homes as a result of domestic violence and were accommodated in domestic violence accommodation. Data on the numbers of women and children who used these services in 2016 will be available later in the year. Tusla does not routinely collect information in respect of the numbers of women and children who use funded domestic violence refuges and step down accommodation on a month by month basis.
I have emphasised to Tusla the priority that I attach to the provision of services for those impacted by domestic violence. In 2017, Tusla is giving priority to implementing actions contained in the second National Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy, in preparation for ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), which includes improving access to services geographically, including the provision of additional short-term and safe, emergency accommodation for women and children.
284. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the facilities which will be provided to help adopted persons to trace their relatives under new legislation. [3286/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Adoption (Information and Tracing Bill) was published in November 2016. The Bill states that Tusla - the Child and Family Agency will provide an information and tracing service to persons affected by adoption that will incorporate support and guidance, facilitate contact, provide the information specifically referred to in Part 4 of the Bill and locate an individual if requested.
The Government recently published its Spring/Summer legislative programme and the Adoption (Information and Tracing) is on the Seanad order paper for Second Stage.
285. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has considered introducing a help line for survivors of institutional abuse. [3287/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans for my Department to introduce a helpline for survivors of institutional abuse. However, a range of supports are already available to survivors of institutional abuse.
Caranua, originally known as the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, was established in 2013 to improve the quality of life and well-being of Survivors of the Irish institutional care system and is an independent state body and aims to get Survivors access to the services they require to enhance their health and well-being. The Caranua fund comes from religious congregations who committed €110 million for Survivors of institutional abuse.
The HSE also provides counselling services for survivors of institutional abuse. Its National Counselling Service (NCS) is a professional, confidential counselling and psychotherapy service available free of charge in all regions of the country. The service provides professional, confidential counselling and psychotherapy services free of charge in all regions of the HSE for adults who have experienced trauma and abuse in childhood with priority given to adult survivors of institutional abuse.
In relation to the Deputy's specific question regarding a helpline, survivors of institutional abuse seeking information may telephone the HSE National Information line: Lo Call 1850 241850 Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm and they will be connected to a local support service.
286. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 to come before Dáil Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3296/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Adoption (Information and Tracing Bill) was published in November 2016. The Government recently published its Spring/Summer legislative programme and the Adoption (Information and Tracing) is on the Seanad order paper for Second Stage.
287. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of childminders that have registered with Tusla since 1 September 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3297/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials form my Department have made enquiries with Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, on this matter. I can confirm that since the 1st September 2016 Tusla have received two childminder registrations.
288. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she expects to publish the heads of a Bill for the Child Care (Amendment) Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3299/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you the Deputy will be aware, my Department has been working to develop proposals for the reform of Guardian ad litem arrangements in child care proceedings under the Child Care Act, 1991. The public consultation carried out by my Department with a wide range of stakeholders has informed the development of policy proposals in this regard.
I am pleased to advise you that on 17 January, Government approved the draft Heads and General Scheme of a Bill to bring about significant reforms in this important area and that this is now available on my Department’s website. I intend to submit the General Scheme immediately to the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs for pre-legislative scrutiny.
289. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the loophole in the ECCE scheme which is discriminating against children when it comes to the provision of child care; her plans to close this loophole and rectify this situation for thousands of parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3301/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the initial Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme had one entry point (September) from when children could begin pre-school and children had to be aged between 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 7 months by the September to avail of the free pre-school year (i.e. 38 weeks). The programme was then expanded by reducing the age of eligibility to 3 years and by increasing the number of entry points to three throughout the programme year (September, January and April). This means that children can begin to avail of their free place on the pre-school programme as soon as possible after they reach the age of 3. Eligibility for the ECCE programme is bounded at the upper end by the requirement that children begin primary education from the age of 6. Providing free pre-school for children from the age of 3 was a key recommendation of the Expert Advisory Group on the Early Years Strategy.
We must also be cognisant of children's levels of development, as the scheme contains both a care and education component. Participation in ECCE provides children with their first formal experience of early learning, the starting-point of their educational and social development outside the home. Children who avail of pre-school are more likely to be ready for school and a formal learning and social environment.
I would also note to the Deputy that plans are currently in train to provide for a new national scheme of financial support for parents towards the cost of their childcare entitled the Affordable Childcare Scheme, which will replace the existing targeted childcare subsidisation schemes with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme. The new scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. In the case of targeted subsidies, these will be payable for children from 6 months of age up to 15 years of age. The level of subsidy will depend on the investment available and on a family’s income. The new Affordable Childcare Scheme does not replace ECCE as it is intended to provide “wraparound care for pre-school and school-age children.
290. Deputy Jan O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of plans for the single affordable child care scheme announced in budget 2017; the way in which it is intended to allocate the funding provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3310/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the decision in Budget 2017, a new Affordable Childcare Scheme will be introduced later this year which will provide financial support for parents towards the cost of childcare. The new Scheme will provide a system from which both universal and targeted subsidies can be provided towards the cost of childcare. This new Scheme will replace the existing targeted childcare programmes with a single, streamlined and more user-friendly scheme and will include “wraparound care for pre-school and school-age children.
The universal element of the Scheme will be available to all families with children between the age of 6 months and 36 months (or until the child qualifies for the free pre-school programme if later than 36 months). The targeted element of the scheme will involve a progressive system of income-related subsidies for parents with children between 6 months and 15 years, with eligibility based on net parental income. The Scheme will be available in childcare providers who are registered with Tusla, including both centre-based childcare providers (e.g. crèches, preschools and daycare centres) and child-minders.
The Scheme is designed to be flexible, with the ability to adjust income-thresholds and subsidy rates over time as additional state investment becomes available. The policy paper on the Scheme was approved by Government in October 2016. A report on the national public consultation on the scheme, which was carried out in November 2016 and yielded 4,000 responses, will be completed in February 2017. The Heads of Bill and General Scheme were approved by Government on 24th January 2017. Work will now commence on the drafting of legislation in line with the Heads of Bill and General Scheme.
291. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the delay from her Department regarding the issuing of transitional funding to support the impact to community child care services regarding the exclusion of community employment trainees, without level 5 qualification, from adult-child ratios; if her attention has been drawn to the impact this has on the sustainability of the community child care sector; and if her Department will be focusing on such issues when tackling potential sustainability challenges in the development of the single affordable childcare programme. [3353/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing receipt of a status report in late December, my Department is currently finalising a package of support for services who have engaged with Childcare Committees Ireland and established through this process that their sustainability is impacted by the full implementation of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016. This is the final stage of a process that has been ongoing since early 2016 focused on sustainability issues directly related to the impact of the childcare regulations, whereby Community Employment workers without FETAC Level 5 qualifications in childcare are no longer counted towards staff-child ratios in services.
Good-faith engagement of services with this project, including completion of all project documents, is an absolute requirement in order for funding to be considered, and my Department cannot assess incomplete applications, or applications for funding, falling outside these criteria.
The Affordable Childcare Scheme sets out to provide for a childcare subsidy to parents that will support an affordable childcare cost at different income thresholds. It is envisaged that the scheme will make a significant positive contribution towards the sustainability of many community childcare services, particularly because the proposed maximum subsidy under the scheme will be significantly greater than the current maximum subsidy under the Community Childcare Subvention. It is estimated that 77% of beneficiaries of current targeted schemes will receive the maximum subsidy rate under the new scheme.
Given the importance of financial sustainability for the provision of quality childcare, the Irish Programme for Government commits to conducting and publishing an independent review of the cost of providing quality childcare in Ireland. This commitment aligns closely with work on the design and development of the Affordable Childcare Scheme and is currently being progressed in that context.
Department officials are reviewing previous published research and analysis on the cost of childcare provision, are assessing available data sources and are scoping the precise requirements for the independent review. Issues that the review may consider include (1) the total average cost of quality childcare provision, (2) variation in cost and the reasons for same, (3) the link between cost and quality, (4) the cost of providing childcare services in disadvantaged communities and (5) the likely impact of future cost pressures, including the ongoing professionalisation of the sector.
292. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the status of the provision of a much needed dedicated youth officer for County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3444/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2016, funding of €51m was provided to my Department for these schemes. As the Deputy is aware, Budget 2017 has provided an additional €5.5m in current funding to my Department to support the provision of youth services. This will bring the total youth funding in 2017 to €57.4m. This additional funding will be used for programmes that target disadvantaged young people and to assist national youth organisations in their work to support local voluntary youth services. My Department is working with national organisations and local services to identify service development needs for 2017 and to agree the 2017 allocations. Every effort will be made to complete this process as soon as possible.
In 2016, an amount of €500,405 was allocated for the projects and services under Kildare Youth Services, which operates under Youth Work Ireland. My Department provides funding to Kildare Youth Services under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme in respect of six local youth projects in Athy, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge, the Curragh and Kildare town and a Youth Information Centre in Naas.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department is currently engaging with Kildare Wicklow ETB with regard to the provision of a full time youth officer for County Kildare. In the interim, the county shares a youth officer with Wicklow, who is very active in both counties.
293. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the details of and terms of reference for the cross-Border early childhood care and education consortia; and the way in which a person can apply for access to them. [3458/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is unclear to what programme the Deputy refers. If the Deputy wishes to provide further information in relation to the cross border early childhood care and education consortia, this matter can be investigated further.
