"In January, Minister Quinn, on foot of concerns that had been expressed to him by myself and other Labour TDs, directed his Department to prepare a report, examining the impact of the withdrawal of these posts from DEIS Band 1 & 2 primary schools. On foot of the analysis, the Government has now agreed to retain a total of 235 posts, on a concessionary basis, in DEIS Band 1 and DEIS Band 2 primary schools."
"Given the situation the economy is in, cuts do have to be made elsewhere in the primary school budget to make up for the costs incurred by the retention of these 235 posts in DEIS Band 1 and DEIS Band 2 schools. The budget measures announced in December included a reduction in overall capitation funding for primary schools of 2% in 2012 and a further overall reduction of 2% to be applied in 2013. The financial impact in 2012 of the retention of the 235 posts in primary schools will be met by bringing forward to this year part of the reduction in overall capitation funding originally scheduled for 2013."
This means that the reduction in overall capitation funding in 2012 will now be 3.5% and will occur through an additional reduction in the basic capitation grant rate. This rate was reduced to €183 per capita and will now be reduced by a further €5 to €178 applicable to all payments from January 2012.
"This is particularly welcome news for the DEIS schools in the Darndale, Priorswood and Bonnybrook areas in Dublin North East. If Labour were not in Government these changes would not have happened as Labour deputies would have had no say in the matter. The fact is that Minister Quinn stopped what he was planning to do and revised it. The changes implemented by Minster Quinn show that he is willing to listen to concerns expressed to him by parents, teachers and the community and to take these views on board."
]]>"I would also echo the concerns expressed this morning by John O'Gorman of Amnesty International regarding human rights in China."
"Since my election to the Dáil last year a number of constituents, who were former Chinese citizens, before they were granted asylum and Irish citizenship, have contacted me to raise their concerns with regard to the lack of human rights in China, particularly for Falun Gong followers."
"These constituents have specifically raised their concern that if they were to go to China to visit their families there they might be subjected to persecution. I would call on the Chinese ambassador in Ireland to respond to these fears."
"I strongly welcome the increase in trade between Ireland and China and I hope the visit by the Chinese Vice President will lead to Chinese investment in Irish jobs."
]]>"The power supply is essential to pump water from the apartments in the event of flooding caused by heavy rainfall. The basement car parks are already reported to be under 3 feet of water.
"I believe that action of this kind should not be taken by a public utility in advance of a ruling by the Supreme Court, which is shortly to consider the case of Dublin City Council versus the Priory Hall residents in relation to the continuation of the funding by Dublin City Council of resident's temporary accommodation costs."
]]>"Most other mortgage providers have granted a moratorium to the Priory Hall residents in their current crisis, Bank of Ireland appear to be the only Irish financial institution refusing to do so."
"One Priory Hall home owner told me that when she approached Bank of Ireland to alleviate her mortgage they hold her "the builder was an IRA terrorist."
"The Priory Hall Bank of Ireland mortgagees have been put in the financially onerous position of having to pay for both their current rented accommodation and their mortgages on their Priory Hall properties at the same time."
"I am calling on Michael Noonan TD, Finance Minister, to intervene with Bank of Ireland to resolve the matter."
]]>"This audit will play a vital role in overhauling the inconsistencies which exist between different counties and regions, and put an end to confusion among drivers. It will also crucially address signage of these limits."
"While initiatives like speed cameras, drink driving laws and road safety campaigns have played an important role in improving road safety, we need to ensure that the right speed limits are in operation across Ireland. This initiative will help to increase road safety and to reduce fatalities on our nations roads."
"I also welcome the news that the Department of Transport will engage with key stakeholders such as the National Roads Authority, the Local Authorities and the Gardaí on this audit. I support Minister Varadkar in his invitation to members of the public to highlight their concerns to their own local authority. Only through proper dialogue and consultation with all stakeholders, can this audit accurately portray not only the current state of our roads, but also make sensible suggestions on how they can be improved."
"I am very pleased that the Government today made these appointments. I have also been made aware that consequential vacancies at Inspector and Sergeant level, arising from these senior appointments, are to be filled by the Commissioner. This is a very positive development and these appointments reflect the commitment of the Government to maintain the supervisory and management ranks in An Garda Síochána at the highest level possible.
"It is essential that An Garda Síochána is able to operate at full capacity, and for that to happen, senior appointments need to be filled, and more junior officer ranks also need to be fully staffed. These ranks are all essential in order enable An Garda Síochána to detect and deter criminal activity in our communities. In particular, I welcome the confirmation of the appointment of a new Chief Superintendent for the North Dublin Region which has been vacant for some time.
"Garda strength at the end of February 2012 is expected to be 13,551 based on current projections. This is very close to the strength at the end of 2007, which was 13,755. I would like to compliment all members of An Garda Síochána for the significant reforms that have been introduced in recent times. I have the fullest confidence in the Commissioner and the members in continuing on the delivery of this reform and on the commitments in the Garda Síochána Policing plan for 2012."
]]>Legislation requires The Plan to outline the type and volume of services to be provided. What it also has to do is to manage the health services in a manner which will mitigate as best we can the impact which the budget and staff cuts would otherwise have on services, cuts that, as I said, were as a result from the economic situation that this country finds itself.
It is essential, therefore, that the focus should now switch to implementing the many reforms which are outlined in the Plan and to managing the risks facing the health services. In doing this, I call on the HSE and the Minister together with his Department to work collaboratively on this challenging agenda.
In terms of staff numbers and pay savings, HSE target numbers were, I am told, at 105,300 at the end of 2011 and the HSE estimates that the numbers employed at the end of 2011 end were actually about 104,500, some 800 under the ceiling. The end-2012 ceiling is about 102,100 - a reduction of 3,200 compared to the 2011 target and 2,400 relative to the forecast outturn. These figures are still being finalised and are subject to revision.
The scale of the financial challenges facing the HSE, and the resulting staffing challenges facing the HSE means there will be an inevitable and unavoidable reduction in services but it will not be a "straight line reduction". The Plan commits the HSE to minimising this impact by fast tracking new, innovative and more efficient ways of using the reducing resources. It reflects the need to move to models of care across all services/care groups which treat patients at the lowest level of complexity and provide services at the least possible unit cost. It also includes a commitment to addressing staffing levels, skill mix and staff attendance patterns/rosters within the context of the Public Service Agreement.
In 2012, hospital budgets will drop on average by 4% on last year's allocation but will face an expenditure reduction of 7.8% when account is taken of incoming deficits. The further roll-out of the clinical care programmes and other measures to improve the efficiency of clinical care delivery will limit the reduction in patient activity to an average 3% against 2011 outturn. Activity reductions will vary from hospital to hospital depending on incoming deficits. The need for emergency admissions will be reduced as a result of the Clinical Programmes, as will ED wait times which are a critical priority. Decreased hospital activity will impact particularly on non-urgent elective care but hospitals will work closely with the Special Delivery Unit to ensure that, notwithstanding this reduction, nobody waits longer than 9 months for an elective procedure, thus ensuring equitable access for all. All of this is what the HSE tell me. I certainly hope that their projections are accurate - I do not want to hear a repeat of the A&E trolley disaster reported to me by constituents late last year, where old people lay on trolleys in Beaumont A&E for several days before being moved.
In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to a significant strengthening of primary care services, additional funding of €20m is being allocated to fill as many vacancies as possible. This will be increased to €25m if it can be established that there is scope for further savings of €5m in demand-led schemes. Funds have also been prioritised for the HPV vaccine programme and the catch up measles vaccination campaign. GP Visit Cards will be issued to Long Term Illness claimants in line with the Programme for Government. It is also intended to roll out a national chronic disease management programme for diabetes during 2012. Preparations will also be progressed for the roll out of similar initiatives for other chronic diseases including stroke, asthma and heart failure. Based on the projected 2012 outturn, a growth of 105,000 medical cards is anticipated.
In terms of older Persons, outside of the Fair Deal scheme, home care packages which support the most dependent to remain in their own homes will not be reduced in 2012. A reduction of 4.5% will be applied to home help hours but service efficiencies in this area will mean that despite this reduction, the number of people in receipt of home help services will only be reduced by 1.2%.
An additional estimated 1,270 clients (above the closing position for 2011) will be supported under the Fair Deal scheme. The HSE will also work with the Department increase intermediate care capacity by reallocating funding from long-term residential care and potential other sources such as acute hospitals.
In the context of mental health an additional €35m will be allocated to mental health services in 2012 targeted at improving child, adolescent and adult community mental health teams as well as suicide prevention and counselling services. In addition, a number of in-patient child and adolescent units will open during 2012. However, like all care areas, the budget allocation will be reduced as a result of general efficiency, procurement and moratorium savings. When offset by the additional allocation, the overall average cost reduction is just less than 1%.
This country faces stark choices. We can either make savings or see our deficit increase to even bigger size than it is at present. Those guiding our economic destiny do not wish to see this, and would take negative steps if they did see it. And so this government must face up to that, in the knowledge that it was the actions of the previous administration that led us to this point. Despite all of that, this government is investing as much as it can, where it can. Adjustments made are not straight cuts down the middle. They are adjustments in some areas, lined with investments in other areas, in order to improve on services and increase provision of services. This government is, I believe, trying its very best in trying to weather this very difficult storm.
]]>"Minister for Public & Commuter Transport Minister, Alan Kelly T.D. has done a lot of hard work on the report in order to address the numerous issues that face the taxi industry.
"The complete de-regulation of the taxi industry led to a situation which totally undermined the ability of full-time drivers to earn a decent living. The report proposes ways of dealing with this.
"I particularly welcome the focus on the removal of certain types of criminals from the sector, allowing the Gardaí to issue fixed-charge penalties. I also welcome the focus the report places on safety, with initiatives to ensure that taxis are road worthy and the proposed new Smartphone app which will allow consumers to check if their driver is licensed and operating within the regulations.
"The vast majority of taxi drivers and operators provide a fantastic service but have unfortunately been tarnished by the actions of a minority. New actions as outlined in this report, will help combat this and introduce a new industry standard.
"I think that consultation needs to take place with taxi drivers concerning the practise of renting taxi licences but not renting the vehicle and also on the issue of renting both licence and vehicle with roof signs and taxi meters.
"Problems with the taxi industry have needed to be addressed for a number of years and I believe that Minister Kelly and the Government have wasted no time in delivering on the commitment made in the Programme for Government. This action-orientated report is another example of the Government delivering on its promise of reform.
"Finally, I would call for an end to be put to the purchasing of taxi plates that was engaged in by Ryanair's Michael O'Leary so that he could have the personal privilege of being able travel in bus lanes. Purchasing a taxi licence for this purpose is absurd and the practise should be ended."
]]>"The Clonshaugh Road has been in need of further work for some time now, and I am delighted to hear that funding that was sought in order to commence this additional work has now been released.
"Dublin City Council carried out improvement works on Clonshaugh Road in recent years. The works were carried out on the upper and lower sections of the road as these were in very poor condition. It is now proposed to upgrade the central portion to the same standards as the other 2 sections. Work will include footpath and carriageway construction. The estimated cost of the work is €670,000 and the grant in the current year will allow work to commence on this during the summer."
"On Budget day last December it was announced that essential maintenance of public roads would be the priority and this is why the funding has been sought and released."
]]>"Thursday morning is particularly busy day when many shoppers are in the shopping including customers receiving benefits in the post office.
"It is not the first time that Donaghmede Shopping Centre has been targeted in this way and the use of weapons by the raiders is very serious. I would encourage anybody who witnessed the robbery or who has any information to contact the Gardaí.
"There is a long held view by local residents that the wider Donaghmede area, with a population the size of Limerick city, should have its own Garda Station and I would ask the Justice Minister to have this proposal reconsidered again in light of the recent raid."
]]>"As a member of the Dail's Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport, I am delighted to hear this news. The spending of this fund will be driven by common sense, and rather than trying to tackle expensive large projects, it will instead prioritise maintaining roads and improving road safety across Ireland."
"Hundreds of small-scale projects will start this year involving new road surfaces, minor safety works and improved signage. Some €18 million has been allocated to small-scale safety schemes, with another €18 million allocated for remedial works on bridges. This funding will also be used to remove bottlenecks and tackle congestion problems, which will no doubt come as great news to commuters."
"This work will be conducted under the NRA's Work Programme for 2012 and is set to support work levels equivalent to around 1,200 jobs."
"I am pleased that even during these difficult economic times, the NRA will be able to carry out important local improvements. As recent as this weekend, we have seen the number of our road fatalities grow. By improving safety at major black-spots around the country, lives could be saved."
"As a Labour Councillor for Donaghmede in 2006 I strongly criticised the then planning decision by Dublin City Council to grant permission for a multi-storey car park as part a Shopping Centre refurbishment as a gross intrusion on the privacy of residents living adjacent to the shopping centre. The shopping centre development would also have greatly exacerbated the traffic gridlock problem in the vicinity of the Shopping Centre."
"I warned at the time that the scale and location of the multi-storey car park was such that it would result in overshadowing, and in an overpowering / overbearing impact on adjoining houses, particularly those on Newbrook Road. The provision of a basement level car park as well as three storeys above ground level would result in evening shadows extending towards the front boundaries of properties on Newbrook Road."
"I would warn residents that it may still be open to the Donaghmede Shopping Centre developer Lindat Limited to submit a new planning application."
]]>"I am pleased that Minister Hogan has said that he would provide a roadmap for the introduction of climate change legislation and I also welcome his pledge to introduce the Heads of the Climate change Bill by the end of 2012. The Minister's commitment is a major step in Ireland's efforts to formulate a policy and legislation to combat climate change."
"The roadmap will provide clear and measurable goals to achieve climate change targets which will enable Ireland to meet its 2020 targets. This timetable will provide the required certainty in relation to the targets and will also influence the overall climate change policy. All of this will lead to publication of the Heads of a Bill by the end of 2012."
"I am looking forward to working with the Minister and his department in the development of Ireland's climate change policy. Both myself and the Oireachtas Environment Committee are very interested in hearing from parties who wish to contribute to the debate on the issue of formulating climate change legislation."
]]>"I welcome the announcement by Minister Noonan in his Budget speech that the citizenship requirement was being removed from the Domicile Levy scheme."
"By removing this requirement, the base for the levy will be broadened and it will make it more difficult for tax exiles to avoid paying the levy. It applies to those who have Irish assets worth over €5m, and whose worldwide income exceeds €1m."
"Labour in Government will be keeping the issue of the tax treatment of tax exiles under constant review. I understand that the Department of Finance will be bringing forward proposed amendments to the scheme early next year, and a public consultation process on the treatment of tax exiles will be undertaken in 2013."
"I want to also welcome the increase in the rates of Capital Acquisitions Tax and Capital Gains Tax both of which increase from 25% to 30%. The tax-free threshold in respect of Capital Acquisitions Tax will be reduced as part of this, down from over €300,000 to €250,000.
"The reality is that individuals with wealth are being asked to pay more in this budget, and I welcome that. It is true that this Government has had to make hard choices that affect public services, but it is also true that those with wealth will pay more."