BROUGHAN DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH JUDGE MCCARTAN’S STARDUST DECISION

7 Nov 2017
Deputy Broughan has today expressed his disappointment with Judge Pat McCartan’s decision not to recommend a Commission of Investigation into the Stardust Tragedy of 1981. In January of this year, Deputy Broughan brought a motion to Dáil Éireann calling for the establishment a new Commission of Investigation into the inferno which took 48 young lives on St. Valentine’s Night almost 37 years ago. Deputy Broughan’s motion was supported by Independents4Change, People Before Profit, Solidarity, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats and other left Independents. Minister of State Finian McGrath, despite supporting the Stardust Relatives and Victims’ Committee during his political career, turned his back on the families who lost loved ones and instead supported the Government’s amendment to the motion which led to Judge McCartan reviewing evidence and making his recent recommendation that no new Commission is needed.

Deputy Broughan says “I am very disappointed to see that Judge McCartan has not recommended a new Commission of Investigation into the tragedy that has changed the history of our constituency since that fateful night in 1981. Had Finian McGrath supported my motion in January, the Stardust Relatives and Victims’ Committee would have had the opportunity for closure but instead they were subjected to a Coffey Part 2 type examination. I feel very sad for Antoinette Keegan and those other families who have fought so hard for justice for their loved ones. I have always hoped that we would have justice similar to what recently happened with the Hillsborough Disaster in Liverpool. Seeking justice for the relatives and victims of the Stardust disaster still remains unfinished business. It is a sad day for the constituency.”

Tags: Stardust, Stardust Fire, Stardust Tragedy

BROUGHAN CALLS FOR INCREASED COMMUNITY POLICING IN DUBLIN BAY NORTH

26 Oct 2017

During Leaders’ Questions today, Deputy Broughan took the opportunity to raise the recent renewed wave of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in parts of Dublin Bay North. Deputy Broughan has raised this important issue of serious public disorder and anti-social/criminal behaviours in districts of Dublin Bay North with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, several times since June yet problems persist. Deputy Broughan told the Dáil today that he has been sent photos and videos of cars being burnt out in broad daylight by distressed constituents. Constituents have reported appalling anti-social and criminal behaviour where up to five and six vehicles were recklessly driven around estates and then set on fire in nightly episodes often lasting up to 6am. Homes were effectively blockaded by abandoned and burning vehicles and the lives of families and local children were placed daily and nightly in jeopardy.

Deputy Broughan mentioned the initial slow response of An Garda Síochána but following urgent requests from community leaders, development bodies and local public representatives at community safety forums and the Joint Policing Committee, a Policing Plan was implemented which has resulted in a reduction in this crime. The problem is continuing however and constituents are nervous that the Hallow’een weekend and festivities will bring increased episodes of such dangerous and terrifying behaviour.

Of course, during his Leaders’ Question, Deputy Broughan said that this government plus the last two austerity governments bear a huge responsibility for this situation because they slashed Garda numbers which led to decreases also in Garda Community Policing Units. In the Garda Síochána R & J districts of Garda Division DMR North, which covers Dublin Bay North and most of Dublin Fingal constituencies, there were just 202 and 160 Gardaí respectively (for districts R & J last year). The J district alone lost nearly 60 Garda personnel since 2009/2010. In 2015, Minister Fitzgerald informed Deputy Broughan via replies to PQs that there were only 45 Community Gardaí available in Dublin Bay North Garda Stations and in 2016, this number was further reduced to 40.

Deputy Broughan says “Today I called on the Government to stop ignoring the plight of communities living in such dangerous and scary circumstances.   Young children are being kept awake at night, families and older people are being terrorised and when constituents call the Gardaí they are often told that there are no cars available. There also seems to be an upsurge in other anti-social and criminal behaviour such as widespread vandalism of public facilities including DART and Irish Rail stations, intimidation of citizens and households, dangerous use of quads and scramblers in public parks, burglaries and a plague of graffiti. So, the new Community Policing Teams need to be put in place quickly, they need to be properly resourced and they need to be visible across Dublin Bay North and other areas. All key stakeholders must come together to combat anti-social and criminal behaviour and community and development bodies who have been working so hard on this matter for years now must be given appropriate supports. The impacts of consistent cuts to An Garda Síochána and Local Authorities during the austerity years are now being felt very acutely across many parts of Ireland and the Minister must now take action to rectify this, in particular to protect all citizens on Hallow’een weekend and beyond.”

Tags: anti-social behaviour, Criminal behaviour, Dublin Bay North

NO INFORMATION CLINICS THIS BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND
24 Oct 2017

Please note, due to the October Bank Holiday weekend, my weekly information clinics will not be taking place on Saturday the 28th of October or Monday the 30th of October 2017.

My weekly information clinics will resume on Saturday, 4th of November 2017. For further details of the times and locations of these clinics, please see the Contact section of this website.

Tags: Dublin Bay North, Information clinics

ALMOST 7,000 UNDER 25’s ON DUBLIN’S LIVE REGISTER

23 Oct 2017
Deputy Broughan received replies to Parliamentary Questions today regarding young adults in receipt of Jobseeker’s payments for more than 12 months and also on the number of 18 – 24 year olds signing on at Dublin Intreo offices. At the end of September, there were 10,548 under 26’s in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than 12 months and 6,799 under 25’s are signing on at Intreo Offices around Dublin. 413 of these are in Coolock and 283 are in Kilbarrack which are both Intreo Offices in Deputy Broughan’s constituency of Dublin Bay North. The PQ reply stated that “It should be noted that the Live Register is not a definitive measure of unemployment as it includes part-time workers, and seasonal and casual workers entitled to Jobseeker’s Benefit or Allowance.”

“Number of persons under 25 years of age on the Live Register in Dublin City and County Intreo offices, September 2017

 

Intreo Office	Persons under 25 years
Balbriggan	301
Ballyfermot	350
Ballymun	384
Bishop Square	449
Blanchardstown	534
Clondalkin	624
Coolock	413
Cork Street	488
Dún Laoghaire	257
Finglas	588
Kilbarrack	283
Kings Inn Street (Parnell Street)	278
Navan Road	375
Nutgrove (Rathfarnham)	162
Swords	248
Tallaght	1,065
Dublin City and County	6,799

Source: CSO Live Register”

“The number of persons under 26 years of age in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance, jobseeker’s benefit and credits with a duration greater than 1 year at end of September 2017

Age	Jobseeker’s Allowance	Jobseeker’s Benefit	Credits Only
18
19	906
20	1,379		3
21	1,439		2
22	1,544	3	5
23	1,578	5	9
24	1,661	5	13
25	2,041	16	15
	10,548	29	47

 

Minister Doherty also confirmed that in Budget 2018 she “announced the introduction of the youth employment support scheme (YESS) which is targeted at young jobseekers who are long-term unemployed or who face barriers to employment. This new work experience programme aims to provide them with the opportunity to learn basic work and social skills in a supportive environment while on a work placement.   Participation in the scheme will be completely voluntary, and participants will receive the equivalent of a net minimum wage payment”. She confirmed that “the details of the new scheme are still being finalised” but that it is hoped to be launched during Quarter 2 2018.

Deputy Broughan says “A measure of generational solidarity in Budget 2018, which I’ve called for is the equalisation of Jobseeker’s payments for under 26’s. Increasing this payment by €30 per week would have cost just €24 million. It is unfair that under 26’s continue to be discriminated in this way because Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have an unrealistic image of what life is like for young people in Ireland. We have seen huge increases in the numbers of homelessness in this age group. I have also been asking the Government about plans to increase access to apprenticeships and will continue to advocate for varying options for training and education for young adults across Ireland”.

Tags: Dublin Bay North, Jobseekers, Social Protection, Youth Unemployment

HOW IRONIC THAT FIANNA FÁIL BRING FORWARD WOMEN’S PENSION MOTION

18 Oct 2017

This evening, Deputy Broughan has blasted Fianna Fáil for bringing forward a motion on ‘Correcting Pension Inequities’ just 10days since they signed off on Budget 2018 with their coalition partners Fine Gael. Where was Fianna Fáil’s concern when negotiations were ongoing for Budget 2018? One can’t help but wonder if this was an agreed publicity stunt between the two right wing parties prior to Budget Day last week – let the Finance Minister call the situation ‘bonkers’ on air and then Fianna Fáil can swoop in to the rescue with a motion that will surely pass in the Dáil. It is, of course, the second such budget that Fianna Fáil has facilitated in the 32nd Dáil and yet neither have addressed the PRSI contribution band changes introduced in Budget 2012.

Prior to 2012, there were four PRSI Contribution bands used to determine the level of State Pension you would qualify for and receive. The maximum payment was paid to those with 48 or more average yearly contributions, 98% of that was paid to those with 20 to 47 contributions, 75% to those with 15 to 19 contributions and 50% to those averaging 10 to 14 yearly contributions. Post 2012, despite announcements by then Fine Gael / Labour Government that there were no cuts to the State Pension, the PRSI Contribution bands were expanded from four to six for new applicants. Now, those with an average of 48 yearly contributions or more were still entitled to the maximum amount, those with an average of 40 – 47 are entitled to 98% of the maximum, those with average annual contributions of 30 – 39 are now entitled to 90% of the maximum, those with 20 – 29 average contributions are receiving just 85% of the maximum, those with average contributions of 15 – 19 are receiving 10% lower than pre-2012 and are down to 65% of the maximum and those in the bottom band of 10 – 14 average contributions also received a 10% reduction and are now just receiving 40% of the maximum amount. In monetary terms we are talking up to €30 less per week or around €20,000 per year (depending on the bands).

Deputy Broughan questioned where Fianna Fáil’s concern was on the 9th of February this year when Age Action published its report “Towards a Fair State Pension for Women Pensioners” by Maureen Bassett MSc. On the 21st of February this year Deputy Broughan raised the matter during Leaders’ Questions with Taoiseach Kenny and was told “I will have the issue referred to the Committee on Budgetary Oversight for consideration. Ministers will reflect on the preparation of the budget for 2018.” Deputy Broughan also raised the matter a number of times with Minister Donohoe at meetings of the Budgetary Oversight Committee and yet nothing was done and now Fianna Fáil come forward with a non-binding motion just a week after Budget 2018 – why not just submit amendments to the upcoming Social Welfare Bill?

Deputy Broughan says “This issue is of huge importance and I welcome reports that the motion will pass through the House. As I have mentioned I have been advocating for the Budget 2012 changes to the bands to be reversed for some time now. The Age Action report mentioned above was a study from September 2012 to June 2016 and found that of the almost 36,000 pensioners adversely affected by changing the PRSI contribution bands from 4 to 6, two-thirds of them were women. Given that the Marriage Bar was in place until 1973 and that the Homemakers Scheme was only backdated to 1994, these band changes are mainly targeting a cohort of women who reared their children in the 60s and 70s and are now retiring. It is of utmost importance and urgency that these band changes are reversed immediately.”

Tags: Budget 2018, Fianna Fáil, inequality, pensions

DONAGHMEDE LIBRARY MUST STAY

17 Oct 2017

In early September, Deputy Broughan was contacted by a number of constituents very concerned about the future of Donaghmede Library. Many local residents are concerned that the library will be moved out of the Donaghmede Shopping Centre. Deputy Broughan immediately contacted the CEO of Dublin City Council, Owen Keegan, and City Librarian, Ms Margaret Hayes, asking that DCC commit to renewing the library’s lease with Donaghmede Shopping Centre when it expires in June 2019.

The City Librarian replied on September 20th last that Dublin City Council was exploring “all opportunities to ensure there is continuity of service for the users of Donaghmede Library and the communities of Donaghmede, Clongriffin and Balgriffin. Such opportunities include the possibility of relocating the library to a Dublin City Council owned premises…” Ms Hayes also confirmed that DCC would “engage with local representatives and the wider community at the earliest appropriate opportunity should the situation regarding library service provision in the area change significantly.”

Deputy Broughan said that if DCC is intending to construct a new Civic Centre for Donaghmede and environs which would include a library, that local constituents would need early consultation on this. The local TARGET resource centre in Donaghmede also lost its home in Scoil Colmcille earlier this year and is now located at Donaghmede House and two or three other venues in the district. Deputy Broughan said that there is a need for a major community facility for the large Donaghmede Parish and the nearby North Fringe but called for our Donaghmede library to be retained in a central location for the surrounding 3,000 plus Donaghmede household.

Deputy Broughan says “For over 30 years, Donaghmede Library has provided an essential resource to all those living in Donaghmede and in the wider community. From speaking with constituents, I know many would be very opposed to this potential relocation and would be a terrible loss to the community. It would be absolutely awful to lose this important local facility. The people of Donaghmede do not want the library to be relocated and are actively campaigning to have the lease extended past June 2019. I am fully behind them in their endeavours and have been in touch with the CEO of Dublin City Council.”

Tags: DCC, Donaghemede Library, Dublin Bay North, Library Services

BROUGHAN, PARC AND CLANCY FAMILY EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT AT TRANSPORT MINISTER’S INACTION

11 Oct 2017

This morning, during oral Parliamentary Questions with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, it was confirmed that the promised Section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 2016 which was signed into law 10 months ago, has not yet been commenced and it seems as if it will not be commenced despite promises to the contrary. Section 39 inserts new Section 35A into the 1961 Act making vehicle owners liable for allowing unaccompanied learner drivers to drive their vehicles and was inserted in to the Bill in response to calls from Mr Noel Clancy who tragically lost his wife and daughter in a road traffic collision with an unaccompanied learner driver in December 2015.

On the 20th of December last year in a Department press release Minister Ross said that he would “engage with the Office of the Attorney General as quickly as possible in the New Year to ensure that this provision is sufficiently robust for early commencement and enforcement”. Minister Ross also told RTE news on the 6th January “We have responded to the Clancy’s tragedy by amending the Bill in the Dáil to ensure that people who lend their cars to learner drivers are committing a criminal offence”. Today Deputy Broughan, representatives of PARC and Mr Noel Clancy himself have condemned this empty rhetoric which has only come to light because of Deputy Broughan raising the question as a priority.

Ms Susan Gray of PARC says “PARC road safety group yet again feel let down by a Minister. Every member of PARC has lost one or more members of their family in road traffic collisions. All we are trying to do is to make our roads safer so that other families do not have to endure the pain we endure on a daily basis. It is galling for us to see the uncaring and irresponsible attitude of some politicians to drink driving, penalty point offences etc and we add, due to his inactions on this issue and others Minister Ross to that list.”

Mr Noel Clancy said “I am bitterly disappointed at the response of Minister Shane Ross. I have no doubt that my wife Geraldine and my daughter Louise would be alive today had the car owner, in our case not given his car to his daughter to drive unaccompanied. This disregard for the law went unpunished as there is no offence under current law for a vehicle owner to be charged under. His actions made a widower of me and a criminal of his own daughter. The Gardaí and the DPP need the power to charge this type of car owner with a criminal offence”.

Deputy Broughan says “Yet again it is up to the work of volunteers, civic society groups and opposition Deputies to hold the Government to account. Why must we always be chasing up on life saving measures to ensure that they are implemented? Government Ministers love a good news story but then they fail to tell us when problems arise or when their promises were false. The Minister claims that there are legal issues around the matter but I do not see how. If a learner driver is unaccompanied, i.e. with no other experienced, fully licensed driver in the car, as per the legal definitions already outlined, then the vehicle owner should be held accountable. This was what the Minister accepted in his Bill and what he promised to Mr Noel Clancy. It is unacceptable for us to be told now that there are problems with this section. Gardaí must also immediately be given the power to seize the vehicles of learner drivers driving unaccompanied. It is laughable that they can stop someone, take their details and then have to allow them to continue driving.”

ENDS For more information contact Deputy Tommy Broughan at (01) 618 3557

Contact Susan Gray, PARC at 086-377 3784

Contact Noel Clancy at 087-237 8736

Tags: PARC, road safety, Road Traffic Bill 2016, Unaccompanied drivers

GOVERNMENT UNCLEAR ON FUTURE GARDA LEGISLATION

26 Sep 2017

Deputy Broughan has recently asked the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, whether he is considering legislation to restructure our policing services. On the 21st of September 2017, Deputy Broughan received a reply to his Parliamentary Question confirming that the Minister will bring forward legislation if recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. However, the Commission is not due to report to the Minister until September 2018.

The PQ reply states that “the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland was established by Government in April 2017 to undertake an independent, comprehensive examination of all aspects of policing including all functions currently carried out by An Garda Síochána (community safety, security and immigration). It is also to examine the full range of bodies that have a role in providing oversight and accountability for their activities; the Policing Authority, the Garda Inspectorate, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, my Department and the Government.” The Commission is expected to address five main themes within our policing service. These include the “structures and management arrangements required for the most effective delivery of policing (including all functions currently carried out by An Garda Síochána)”, personnel issues, “culture and ethos of policing”, oversight and accountability, and the “legislative framework for policing”. The establishment of the Commission also called for examination of sectoral issues, particular in the Irish context, international best practice, “previous reports concerning policing in Ireland”, as well as other challenges.

The Minister states that “the Commission is to report by September 2018 and it may, in accordance with its terms of reference, bring forward immediate proposals and rolling recommendations for implementation that it considers are required to be addressed in the short-term and in advance of its final report and my Department will progress any legislative changes, as appropriate”.

Deputy Broughan says “I welcome news that if legislative change is recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland that it will be brought forward but the overall September 2018 timeframe is far too long. Surely an interim report should be provided in coming months that would at least allow Department officials to carry out preparatory work on any prospective legislation. An Garda Síochána is in crisis and clearly needs change – not just for the effective policing in our state but also for the morale of ordinary, hardworking Garda members and to restore the trust and confidence of the public.”

Tags: An Garda Siochana, Garda Reform, justice

8 COUNTIES WITH NO TEST PURCHASES SINCE 2014

22 Sep 2017

Deputy Broughan today received a reply to a Parliamentary Question that he raised back in July with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, on the number of test purchases carried out under the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 per county each year since 2014. Figures received today show that there have been 1,103 test purchases nationally since 2014 up to the 16th of July 2017 and that 116 of these were listed as ‘Crime’ and 987 were listed as ‘Non-Crime’. However, on further analysis of the data provided, there are 8 counties in which no test purchases were carried out over the three and a half years (Galway, Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois, Offaly, Roscommon, Longford and Wexford) and a further 6 that have had no test purchases since 2015 (Clare, DMR East, Sligo, Leitrim, Tipperary and Waterford).

Test Purchases came into effect on the 1st of October 2010 after the Intoxicating Liquor Act 2008 inserted a new Section 37C into the Intoxicating Liquor Act 1988. Section 37C allowed for the Gardaí to ‘test’ licence premises on whether they are selling alcohol to under 18s. There are guidelines around selecting the licensed premises, safeguards for the young person (the “test purchaser”) who must be aged between 15yrs and 18yrs and have parental/guardian consent.

The figures received by Deputy Broughan today show that nationwide in 2014 there were 294 test purchases, 264 of which were ‘Non-Crime’ and 30 were ‘Crime’; 304 in 2015 of which 269 were ‘Non-Crime’ and 35 were ‘Crime’; 329 in 2016 of which 298 were ‘Non-Crime’ and 31 were ‘Crime’ and up to the 16th of July 2017 there were 176 test purchases, 156 of which were ‘Non-Crime’ and 20 were ‘Crime’. However, it is only when Deputy Broughan was examining the figures by county that he noticed the huge disparity per county and by year. For example, there were just 3 test purchases carried out in Clare in the 3.5yrs, just one in the Dublin Metropolitan Region East in 2015 both ‘Non-Crime’, there was one ‘Crime’ test purchase in Mayo in 2016 and none in the other years of the data. Sligo/Leitrim only had 2 test purchases in 2015 and both were non-crime, meanwhile in Louth there were none in 2014, 2015 or up to the 16th of July 2017 but in 2016 there were 47, 46 of which were ‘Non-Crime’ and 1 which was ‘Crime’.

Deputy Broughan says “I’m not surprised at the disparity across counties here as we have seen inconsistencies in other areas of policing across the country also. I would be interested to know what reviews are taking place of the views of the young people acting as ‘test purchasers’, whether the safeguards need to be reviewed. I have submitted some follow up PQs on the matter and also regarding the conviction rates then for those who were found to be committing the crime of selling alcohol to an underage person.”

Tags: Alcohol, An Garda Siochana, justice, Test Purchases

MISGUIDED POLICING POLITICS OF FINE GAEL/LABOUR

10 Feb 2016
Tommy Broughan has today criticised the misguided policing politics of Fine Gael and Labour which has seen over-stretched Garda resources continuously reduced over the life-time of this Government with the moratorium on recruitment and the closure of Garda Stations. Tommy Broughan has long been a strong supporter of An Garda Síochána and the need for their adequate resourcing.

The recent re-emergence of gangland killings and apparent increased gangland activity is a clear indication that current policing policies are not only not working but are putting innocent people and children again in harm’s way. The attack on the Regency Hotel on Friday last was a shocking and well planned dangerous gangland attack.

Throughout his political career, Tommy Broughan has always been tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime and has previously introduced bills on joy-riding and has been active on Joint Policing Forums and local initiatives to address levels of crime in his home constituency of Dublin Bay North.

Broughan says “Friday’s dastardly attack at a public event in the Regency Hotel show these people’s blatant disregard for life, for our law enforcement and for any other innocent bystanders. Not to mention that the Regency Hotel is also one of the hotels used by Dublin City Council to house families with children experiencing homelessness. The timing of these attacks and the style with which they’ve been executed echo back to the time around the tragic murder of Veronica Guerin. Why must our politics always be so reactive? Frances Fitzgerald’s pledge to allocate a further €5million is a drop in the ocean of the investment that’s needed in our police force after 8 years of cutbacks by Fianna Fáil, the Greens, Fine Gael and Labour.”

Tags: An Garda Siochana, Gangs, Policing

INFORMATION CLINIC ARRANGEMENTS DURING ELECTION PERIOD

8 Feb 2016
Please note due to the dissolving of the Dáil and the calling of the General Election that I may be unable to attend all of my regular information clinics up to February 27th. My constituency office may also be unattended for periods but if you leave a message on 01-6183557 we will revert to you as soon as possible.

You can find copies of speeches, videos, press statements and more info on this website www.tommybroughan.com and I am also on facebook and twitter. I have also completed online profiles on whichcandidate.ie, smartvote.ie and am featured on most of the news outlet General Election 2016 pages. You can view my one minute RTE election video on the Election 2016 section of rte.ie. You can also read a copy of my election newsletter on the newsletter section of this website.

Should I be honoured with re-election to the 32nd Dáil to continue to represent Dublin Bay North, my weekly information clinics will fully resume as normal and will be listed in the Contact section of this website.

Tags: Dublin Bay North, Information clinics

22 SERIOUS INJURIES IN ROAD TRAFFIC COLLISIONS IN 21 DAYS OF 2016

3 Feb 2016
Tommy Broughan today, on the day the 31st Dáil has been dissolved, is again calling on candidates in the upcoming General Election to consider road safety for their priorities and manifestos for the next Dáil. Tommy Broughan has been supporting PARC road safety group in calling on strengthening of legislation around road safety, improved implementation of laws and more transparent and accurate reporting of issues pertaining to road safety as well as road traffic collisions (RTCs).

Recently Deputy Broughan asked Parliamentary Questions of Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohue, on the numbers of persons who suffered serious injuries as a result of road traffic collisions over the last number of years. Today, Deputy Broughan received a reply from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) stating that in 2010 there were 561 serious injuries as reported by An Garda Síochána data, in 2011 there were 472, in 2012 there were 474, in 2013 there were 508, in 2014 there were 483 provisionally reported, 396 in 2015 and 22 as at the 21st of January 2016 which equates to just over 1 serious injury due to RTC in the first twenty-one days of 2016.

The RSA’s reply also states that “a collision is considered fatal, if there is at least one fatality within 30 days of the date of the collision” and that the figures provided for 2014, 2015 and 2016 are ‘provisional and subject to change.’ The RSA states that the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 has set a provisional target to reduce serious injuries by 30% “from 472 (2011) to 330 or fewer by 2020 or 61 per million” of the population.   This reply also states that the RSA is participating in the Europe-wide standard definition “of ‘serious injury’ (MAIS 3+) for use in EU road safety statistics”. This project is at an early stage and is addressing “challenges” around data protection and data matching.

Deputy Broughan says “It is shocking to see that up to the 21st of January 2016 22 people had suffered serious injury through road traffic collisions. I raised this issue as PARC have recently expressed concerns around the under-reporting of serious injuries. I welcome news that the RSA have signed up to an EU-wide, standardised reporting model to gauge where Ireland stands. I have long called for a move towards Sweden’s ‘Vision Zero’ model of Road Safety policy provision and indeed this would involve looking at the whole area of road safety and the impact of road traffic collisions on the lives of those involved. Should I be honoured with re-election to the 32nd Dáil this is certainly an area that I intend to continue to work very strenuously on to ensure that the numbers of those affected reduce drastically.”

Tags: PARC, road safety, RSA, serious injuries

335 FIREARMS LICENSES REVOKED BETWEEN 2013 AND 2015

29 Jan 2016
Deputy Broughan recently requested information from the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, regarding the number of firearm licences revoked in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Late last year there were a number of changes announced to legislation surrounding firearms licensing especially with regards to licensing of handguns.

The changes to the Firearms Acts 1925 to 2009 were announced following the November 2014 report of The Working Group for the Review of Firearms Licensing. This Working Group was established due to concerns around the number of criminal incidents involving firearms in Ireland. The report states that An Garda Síochána reported 2,198 reported incidents involving a firearm took place between 2009 and February 2014. The report also states that as of the 28th of March 2014, the number of non-restricted handgun licences stood at 1,076 and the number of restricted handgun licences at 590. It also reported that as of the 10th of February 2014 there were 178,191 firearms certificates across the state for all types of firearms.

According to the Firearms Acts 1925 to 2009, there are a number of reasons why a firearms licence can be revoked and some of these included that the person has ‘no good reason for requiring the firearm’ or for ‘public safety/peace’.

Figures released to Deputy Broughan following a Parliamentary Question on the issue show that 141 firearms licences were revoked in 2013, 92 of which were for shotgun licences; 112 firearms licences were revoked in 2014, 74 of which were for shotgun licences; and 82 were revoked in 2015, 51 of which were for shotgun licences.

 

YEAR	TYPE	NUMBER
2013	Pistol (Semi Automatic)	6
2013	Revolver	1
2013	Rifle	2
2013	Rifle (Bolt Action)	30
2013	Rifle (Lever Action)	1
2013	Rifle (Pump Action)	9
2013	Shotgun (Pump Action)	1
2013	Shotgun (Semi Automatic)	10
2013	Shotgun (Single Barrel)	25
2013	Shotgun (Under And Over)	56
TOTAL		141
YEAR	TYPE	NUMBER
2014	Pistol (Semi Automatic)	5
2014	Rifle	1
2014	Rifle (Bolt Action)	27
2014	Rifle (Pump Action)	5
2014	Shotgun (Pump Action)	4
2014	Shotgun (Semi Automatic)	2
2014	Shotgun (Single Barrel)	22
2014	Shotgun (Under And Over)	46
TOTAL		112

 

 

YEAR	TYPE	NUMBER
2015	Pistol (Semi Automatic)	1
2015	Rifle (Bolt Action)	21
2015	Rifle (Pump Action)	9
2015	Shotgun (Pump Action)	3
2015	Shotgun (Semi Automatic)	11
2015	Shotgun (Single Barrel)	10
2015	Shotgun (Under And Over)	27
TOTAL		82

Deputy Broughan said “While gun crime in Ireland seems to be down on previous years we still need to ensure that our legislation regarding firearms licencing is robust enough to ensure that firearms do not fall into the wrong hands. Minister Fitzgerald said last Autumn that changes to legislation would include the establishment of a Firearms Assessment and Appeals Authority, that there would be a centralised licensing system for restricted firearms and that the Garda Inspectorate would have the powers to review licences. The next Dáil will need to follow through on changes made, work with the Gardaí and consistently review legislation in this area to ensure that public safety is at the forefront.”

Tags: Firearms, Garda, Guns, justice, Licences

BROUGHAN WELCOMES NEWS THAT FLOOD FORECASTING WILL INCLUDE TIDAL FLOODING

27 Jan 2016
Following on from the catastrophic flooding of people’s homes and businesses since December 2015, Deputy Broughan raised a number of Parliamentary Questions on future Flood Defences and forecasting. Deputy Broughan’s constituency of Dublin Bay North has had a number of instances of flooding in the past and a point of contention with many constituents has been the building of the sea-wall at Clontarf / James Larkin Road. For these reasons Deputy Broughan requested information on whether tidal flooding will be included in the Government’s action plan on a flood forecasting and warning service.

The reply received by Deputy Broughan states that ‘the Report of the Strategic Review of Options for Flood Forecasting and Flood Warning in Ireland’ that was commissioned by The Office of Public Works (OPW) set out a number of approaches to develop ‘a National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service’. The OPW report ‘confirms international experience and indicates that the provision, operation and maintenance of forecasting and warning services are resource-intensive, complex and has a relatively long development timeline’.

The reply also confirms that the ‘Flood Forecasting and Warning Service would be a new operational unit within Met Éireann with guidance for standards and performance independently overseen by the OPW’ and that a Steering Group was to be set-up and would include ‘representatives from the OPW, the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, Met Éireann, Local Authorities’. It is planned that this new (and long-awaited) National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service will be nationwide “and it is expected that flooding from tidal (coastal) sources will form part of the early discussions of this Steering Group”.

Deputy Broughan said “How an island such as Ireland is only coming around to setting up a National Flood Forecasting and Warning Service now is beyond me. This is yet another example of reactive policy-making by Government after the devastating impact of the storms we have had this winter. Many of the homes and businesses affected were previously flooded in 2009 and therefore left without insurance incase of further instances of flooding. Only now, when there is an election looming will the powers that be make an attempt to take some sort of action. My own constituency has been impacted by flooding in the past and it is unacceptable that governments and Local Authorities have not prioritised quick and effective measures to mitigate flood risk. While some progress has been made in some areas, others are severely lacking which we have clearly seen in the piecemeal efforts to erect Flood Defences along the Coast Road without any real thought for visual impact and without any real consultation with community and stakeholder groups. The inclusion of tidal flooding in any flood forecasting service is absolutely imperative, as is proper consultation and communication with any communities which may be impacted by flood defence work and risk.”

Tags: Flood Defences, Flooding, Tidal Flooding

67% OF ALL RENT SUPPLEMENT UPLIFTS IN DUBLIN

26 Jan 2016
Deputy Broughan today received information from the Department of Social Protection regarding the number of Rent Supplement Uplift Payments and Active HAP (Housing Assistance Payment) Tenancies by county up to the 22nd of January 2016. Unsurprisingly Dublin has the largest number of uplifts (increased payments) at 4,075 of the 6,113 uplifts nationwide being made for Dublin tenancies.

Threshold, a national housing charity, has been working with the Department of Social Protection to assist in providing increased Rent Supplement payments to tenants in Dublin and Cork in cases where landlords have increased rents. Threshold has awarded 71 uplifts in Cork and 1,707 in Dublin. The National Tenancy Sustainment Framework is another attempt to stem the flow of very large numbers of families and persons entering homelessness due to being priced out of the spiralling and poorly regulated rental market. In Dublin 2,368 increased payments have been made, 261 in Meath, 256 in Kildare, 246 in Cork, 165 in Tipperary, 123 in Galway.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is another measure introduced by the Government to keep people accommodated in the private rented market (rather than providing secure, permanent, social housing). There are 1,107 active HAP in Cork, 1,085 in Limerick, 672 in Dublin, 666 in Waterford, 657 in Louth, 557 in Donegal, 512 in Kilkenny.

Deputy Broughan said “The current housing, rental and homeless crisis will be, and should be, a huge issue for the electorate coming up to General Election 2016. The figures provided by the Department of Social Protection clearly show the localisation of the issue with some counties showing very low numbers of increased Rent Supplement payments or HAP tenancies yet each of the 26 counties are affected. If the rental market remains poorly regulated and those in mortgage arrears continue to be disregarded then the ‘economic homeless’ numbers will continue to rise throughout 2016. Taoiseach Kenny, Minister Kelly and their cronies have taken no responsibility for allowing this housing crisis to happen and worsen and their pathetic attempts to spin their solutions comes nowhere near what is needed to properly address the issue before a generation of ‘hotel children’ are lost. Make this an election issue – #askabouthousing.”

Tags: HAP, housing crisis, rent supplement

GARDA EXPENDITURE ON IT MORE THAN DOUBLED SINCE 2012 BUT WHERE’S THE IMPROVEMENT?

21 Jan 2016
Earlier this week, PARC Road Safety Group launched their General Election Manifesto asking for candidates to commit to ten main issues surrounding road safety. One of these is the more efficient usage (and investment) in fit-for-purpose Information Technology Infrastructure which would aid all agencies involved in implementing Road Safety legislation. Deputy Broughan is a long-standing supporter of PARC’s work and has worked with them to ensure that Road Safety improvements are firmly on the agenda in Dáil Éireann and with the respective Ministers responsible for road safety.

Deputy Broughan requested information from the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, regarding the amount of monies spent by An Garda Síochána on IT in the years 2012 to 2015 and the linkages with the Court Service and the Road Safety Authority. The reply received by Deputy Broughan shows that expenditure on IT has more than doubled in four years from €18,074,943 in 2012 to €37,251,075 in 2015.

The reply from Minister Fitzgerald confirms that “Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 the Garda Commissioner is responsible for controlling the general management and administration of the Service within the context of agreed annual policing plans” which “includes the procurement and maintenance of various technologies utilised to manage the Service, and support front-line Gardaí and intelligence-led operations against organised crime”.

Minister Fitzgerald states that “the total expenditure incurred under the Information Technology Subhead of the Garda Vote” from 2012 to 2015 inclusive is as follows:

Year     Expenditure €

2012   18,074,943

2013   19,451,075

2014   24,532,483

2015   37,251,075

The reply states that “the Criminal Justice Integration Project (CJIP) provides for the electronic exchange of records via secure data link between the District Courts and An Garda Síochána. There are approximately 2.5 million electronic records exchanged annually using CJIP which include summons applications, District Court outcomes, warrants and bail”. The Minister goes on to say that that Gardaí “receive regular electronic updates via a secure data link with the National Vehicle File and National Driver File from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Road Safety Authority. In turn An Garda Síochána electronically provide details of paid fixed charge offences to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Road Safety Authority in respect of the application of penalty points to driver licence records”. Finally, the reply states that the Gardaí also “provide road collision data electronically via secure data link to the Road Safety Authority to assist with road safety research and analysis”.

Deputy Broughan said “In a reply received on December 15th 2015 to another question I raised with the Minister for Justice she stated that the “Courts Service has advised that there is no project underway to electronically record the non-production of a licence in court” yet we know that manually recording of licence numbers is not happening 100% of the time (indeed in the case of drink-driving convictions between January 2013 and March 2015 just 20% of licence numbers were recorded) so a more efficient method is required. Surely in this age of technological advances it is possible to have a fit-for-purpose integrated database/information sharing programme for road traffic offences. €37 million is not an unsubstantial sum and the next Government must ensure to work with the Garda Commissioner to ensure that taxpayers money is being used to fund the best possible IT infrastructure necessary for our law enforcement, Courts System and Road Safety Authority.”

Tags: Gardaí, PARC, road safety, transport

BROUGHAN COMMENDS PARC’S ELECTION MANIFESTO ‘CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES FOR ROAD SAFETY’

19 Jan 2016
Deputy Broughan has today commended the voluntary organisation PARC Road Safety Group (Promoting Awareness Responsibility and Care on our Roads) on their election manifesto ‘Campaign Priorities for Road Safety’. Ms Susan Gray, Chairperson of PARC, and her colleagues are calling upon candidates for the 32nd Dáil to commit to reducing road deaths and injuries by implementing the necessary legislation and system improvements which would make this a reality.

PARC’s election manifesto is calling for the following ten strategic initiatives to be adopted and implemented by the next government:

●      Equip all Relevant State Bodies with New Technologies Linked to a Central Database;

●      Provide Effective Recording of Licences and Precise Reporting Systems;

●      Eliminate Barriers to Successful Prosecutions for drink driving;

●      Provide Effective IT Systems for all Relevant Agencies;

●      Improve knowledge and understanding of road traffic collisions and casualties;

●      Enact legislation, inform Gardaí and insist on correct procedures in court;

●      Consolidate the Road Traffic Acts;

●      Think and Plan Sustainably;

●      Independent Driving in Training and On-Road Assessment on a Pilot Scheme Basis;

●      Government publication of “Finding Your Way”.

Deputy Broughan says “As a long-time supporter of PARC and their advocacy work, I am delighted to attend the launch of their election manifesto ‘Campaign Priorities for Road Safety’ today. The amount of work done by this group is astounding and while I assist in as much as is possible by way of Parliamentary Questions, Topical Issues and challenging the Ministers responsible directly in Dáil Éireann, it is the tireless work of Susan Gray and her colleagues that ensures this important issue is often in the media spotlight. I am very proud to have supported their work and uncovered many discrepancies and loopholes in the implementation of our road safety laws. It can be very difficult to get a straight answer and true data from the Ministers and agencies responsible for road safety and if the incoming Government sign up to PARC’s manifesto here today perhaps the next Dáil can make some real progress in reducing road deaths and injuries on Irish roads. Full and honest collaborative working and reporting is what is required to make this a reality and I hope to be lucky enough to be re-elected to the 32nd Dáil to continue to assist PARC and other organisations in the promotion of road safety going forward”.

Tags: PARC, penalty points, road safety, transport

MINISTER QUESTIONED TODAY BY UN COMMITTEE ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD

14 Jan 2016
On this exact date last year, 14 January 2015, Deputy Tommy Broughan released a press statement urging all interest groups working with children and young people in Ireland to participate in the UN Review of Ireland’s children’s rights. At that time, the Children’s Rights Alliance was co-ordinating submissions from groups working with children and young people and young people themselves and engaging them in the process to ensure that it was inclusive as possible. Today, 14 January 2016, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. James Reilly and 15 officials will be questioned by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva on Ireland’s children’s rights record.

The last time Ireland has such an examination was in 2006 and it is widely accepted that reviews which took place then and also prior to 2006, in 1998, did lead to improvements for children and young people in Ireland. The Children’s Rights Alliance expect a large delegation from Ireland at the examination with over 20 members expected to travel and says that this delegation of members “will work hard to ensure that the State commits to addressing outstanding children’s rights violations”. Also expected to attend today’s examination are delegates “from the Oireachtas, the Ombudsman for Children Office and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission”. The Children’s Rights Alliance reports that recommendations of the Committee will be issued on 4 February and Deputy Broughan is hoping that there will be considerable attention given to the treatment of children experiencing homelessness and being unsuitably accommodated in hotel rooms, guest houses and b&bs.

Due to significant frustration throughout 2015 at the inaction of the Government to address the spiralling numbers of families with young children entering emergency homeless accommodation, Deputy Broughan lodged an official complaint with the Ombudsman for Children and also contacted the CEO of the Children’s Rights Alliance, Tanya Ward. Tanya subsequently contacted Deputy Broughan to confirm that his concerns about the practice of placing children in unsuitable emergency accommodation for months on end was included in their final report sent to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in preparation for the 2016 examination of the Government.

In his statement of 14 January 2015, Deputy Broughan reported that a Parliamentary Question to Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly, requesting the current number of children in emergency homeless accommodation showed that at the end of October 2014, there were 680 children in emergency accommodation. We know today, one year later, that this number continued to spiral out of control to more than double this shocking figure. Over 1,500 children woke up in a hotel room on Christmas morning and Deputy Broughan feels that this is a despicable failure of the Government and that they should be held to account by the UN for this.

Deputy Broughan said “I cannot understand how the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, the Tánaiste, Joan Burton, Minister Alan Kelly and Minister James Reilly sat back for over a year and allowed the number of children living in hotel rooms to double to more than 1,500. They have completely ignored the scandal that is the Magdalene Laundries of our time as we have no idea yet what longer term damage this is doing, not only to the mental health of these children, but also to their development. I have reports of public health nurses not being able to treat mothers and babies due to access issues in hotels, children not being able to eat regular meals as families have no cooking facilities available to them, babies and toddlers who have no room to crawl and children who have no space to play and be children. There is no doubt in my mind that this Government has let these children down horribly and I certainly hope that they are held to account by the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child today. The new Government in the 32nd Dáil will need to prioritise whatever recommendations are made by the Committee and begin to try and undo the damage done by Kenny & Co – the landlord’s party”.

Tags: Childrens Rights Alliance, Homeless Children, housing crisis, Ombudsman for Children, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

BROUGHAN WARMLY WELCOMES EXTENSION OF GARDA YOUTH DIVERSION PROJECTS IN DUBLIN BAY NORTH

8 Jan 2016
In May 2015, Deputy Tommy Broughan welcomed the announcement that Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, was to provide €2.8 million in funding to extend the very important Garda Youth Diversion Projects. Today, Deputy Tommy Broughan has warmly welcomed the confirmation that €1.7 million of this funding will be in place for 7 new projects in 2016.   2 of the 7 locations will be in his constituency of Dublin Bay North with new projects operating in Donnycarney/Fairview/Clontarf and in Kilbarrack/Killester/Raheny.

The allocations to the Raheny/Kilbarrack area are especially welcome and important given serious concerns expressed by Deputy Broughan’s Edenmore constituents during the summer. These concerns related to alleged serious anti-social and criminal behaviour at night around Edenmore Park and Edenmore Shopping Centre.

Deputy Broughan says “I warmly welcome news of this funding allocation to expand the Garda Youth Diversion Projects in my constituency of Dublin Bay North as the Coolock project has been very successful over the years. This is such an important programme as is the new mentoring pilot project. Investment in our young people is of the utmost importance and early intervention and prevention is the preferred route of engagement if a young person is at risk of criminal or anti-social behaviour. Best of luck to everyone involved in the projects.”

Tags: Dublin Bay North, Garda Youth Diversion Projects

VARADKAR STILL NOT DELIVERING ON BEAUMONT WAITING LIST PROMISES

4 Jan 2016
In early November 2015, Deputy Tommy Broughan asked the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, to detail the number of persons on waiting lists for procedures at Beaumont Hospital. At the time, Deputy Broughan received a reply from the RCSI stating that 10,597 persons were on waiting lists, 3,280 of these up to three months, 2,203 from 3 months plus to 6 months, 991 from 6 months plus to 8 months, 1,771 from 8 months plus to 12 months, 1,080 from 12 months plus to 15 months, 773 from 15 months plus to 18 months and 499 for 18 months plus and at the time just 1,030 of these had dates for treatment.

In a reply to a follow-up question regarding further breakdown of these numbers per specialty, Deputy Broughan received a more detailed reply from the RCSI. This reply states that the HSE “are currently managing our patients waiting greater than 15 months through local initiatives and outsourcing to the private sector. We are aiming that by the end of 2015 that we will have reduced the number of patients waiting > than 15 months will have reduced to 170 patients”. The reply was sent to Deputy Broughan on the 23rd of December 2015 and seems very ambitious given that there were 397 people waiting for more than 15 months at the time of the reply.

The total number of persons on waiting lists for all specialties was 8,086, with 2,580 waiting for less than 3 months, 1,879 waiting for between 3-6 months, 1,095 waiting for 6-8 months, 1,665 waiting for 8-12 months, 470 waiting for 12-15 months, 172 waiting for 15-18 months and 225 waiting for more than 18 months.

The specialties with the largest waiting lists are Gastro-Enterology with 1,975 people waiting for procedures, General Surgery with 1,309 people waiting, Neurosurgery with 574 people waiting (with 200 of these waiting between 8-15 months), Otolaryngology with 678 on waiting lists, 712 waiting for Plastic Surgery and 880 persons on waiting lists for Urology procedures.

Deputy Broughan said “I requested further breakdown of the figures initially supplied to me by the RCSI as I think it is important to identify where the demand is for specialties. I have recently been contacted by representatives from the Disability Federation of Ireland and Arthritis Ireland both separately launching their pre-General Election campaigns and highlighting lack of funding and resources in the areas. I expect to liaise with many other organisations and concerned constituents over the coming weeks regarding the shortfall in availability of services at the extremely busy Beaumont Hospital. Another reply I received stated that they are not considering a minor injury unit at the site but that they are proceeding with planning and designing of a new A&E. It remains to be seen however, whether such capital expenditure will be made available to an already overwrought and under-resourced hospital. I wonder will Taoiseach Kenny’s and Minister Varadkar’s empty election promises include tackling the ‘scandal’ of over 8,000 patients waiting for procedures with almost half of them waiting for six months or more.”

Tags: Beaumont Hospital, health service, waiting lists

WHAT IRELAND NEEDS NEXT

18 Dec 2015
As 2015 draws to a close, it is a time to reflect on this past year and also to look forward to changes for the better in the coming year, the centennial celebration of the 1916 Easter Rising. The coming General Election offers a clear choice between more of the same from Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil & their allies or a real break with the austerity-laden and questionable fiscal policies of governments past.

The 31st Dáil was supposed to bring reform and transparency but it seems that ‘old habits die hard’ and real reform was not on the agenda.

Ireland needs a new type of Government. Party political manifestos are no good if they are thrown aside the moment a party comes in to power. Irish citizens need a Government who will listen to them, who can identify with them and who put their best interests first. The most vulnerable in society have been hardest hit during this downturn. Health, education and disability services have all suffered draconian cuts. As we prepare for our 32nd Dáil we need to ensure that those who have been cast aside during the Fianna Fail-Green / Fine Gael-Labour days are put back at the heart of policy making.

Deputy Broughan is a Right2Change Independent candidate who believes that alternatives and change are necessary and practical.

Deputy Broughan welcomes submissions from people and organisations working with vulnerable and marginalised groups to assist in forming core policies for the next Dáil. For further information on Deputy Broughan’s work check out tommybroughan.com.

Tags: Dublin Bay North, Election 2016, General Election, Right2Change

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR ARRANGEMENTS FOR INFORMATION CLINICS AND OFFICE TIMES

14 Dec 2015
Just a note to say that I will not be holding information clinics over Christmas and the New Year including this weekend (Saturday the 19th of December and Monday the 21st of December) and the following weekend. My weekly information clinics will resume on Saturday, 2nd January 2016. For further details of the times and locations of these clinics, please see the Contact section of this website.

Also, please note, due to staff annual leave for Christmas and New Year, my Dáil and constituency office in Leinster House will be closed from Wednesday, 23rd of December next until Monday, 4th January 2016.

Tags: Christmas, Information clinics, New Year

BROUGHAN WELCOMES PLANS FOR PRIMARY CARE CENTRE IN COOLOCK/DARNDALE

10 Dec 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan recently asked the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, to report on when a primary care centre would be opened and operational in Coolock, Dublin 17. Deputy Broughan received confirmation from the HSE today that construction will begin in early 2016 and is expected to be delivered in early 2017.

The reply stated that the Coolock/Darndale project is one of 14 primary care centres which will be delivered “as a single PPP project” and that ‘the Prime-Balfour Beatty consortium’ won the tender in May 2015 following the standard tendering process of the National Development Finance Agency.

Deputy Broughan said “Primary Care Centres are a vital part of community infrastructure and provide a range of very important services such as access to a GP and Practice Nurse, Community Nursing Service including Public Health Nurse, Community Registered Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, and Home Help/support staff. The addition of an operational primary care centre to the parishes of the greater Coolock area is much needed and long awaited. I welcome news today that construction is finally due to start early next year.”

Tags: Coolock, Darndale, healthcare, HSE, Primary Care Centres

EVENING SECURITY AT HOWTH JUNCTION/DONAGHMEDE DART STATION FOR FESTIVE PERIOD

8 Dec 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan asked a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donoghue, regarding safety measures to be taken by Iarnród Éireann at Howth Junction / Donaghmede DART station over the Christmas period. Deputy Broughan asked this question on behalf of concerned residents who raised the issue with him recently.

Today, Deputy Broughan received a reply from David Franks, Chief Executive of Irish Rail, confirming that while they will not have a full-time security presence during all operational hours at this busy station they “will have security teams on site between the hours of 16.30 and 00.30 over the festive period”.

David Franks also stated that the security contractor services which provide the “roving patrol” at stations and passenger services are bolstered during the Christmas period and that these additional patrols “will include Howth Junction / Donaghmede DART station.” The reason given for the inability to have “full time security presence” is “budgetary constraints”.

Deputy Broughan said “Preferably I would like to be reporting back to constituents that there will be additional full-time security on local services and at local stations, however, I acknowledge that there are budget constraints in place and that the higher ‘at-risk’ times are those after dark. This level of coverage may not be what we were looking for but I hope it will bring some comfort to the many users of the Howth Junction / Donaghmede DART station that there will be extra security teams on site in the evenings and that the station will also be fully manned.”

Tags: DART, Donaghmede, Dublin Bay North, Howth Junction

ARE WE READY FOR CROWDED AIRSPACE AFTER CHRISTMAS?

4 Dec 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has recently asked a Parliamentary Question regarding public safety regulations which govern the growing usage of drone aircraft. Deputy Broughan submitted Parliamentary Questions (PQs) to both the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohue, and Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly on public safety regulations and impact on local environment and ecosystems. The PQ to Minister Kelly was disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle.

The reply received by Minister Donohue states that “the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has statutory responsibility” “for the regulation of aviation safety standards for civil aviation in Ireland”. The Minister said that “this includes remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS)”, which is the term used to describe drones. In April 2012, the Irish Aviation Authority published a policy on the safe use of drones and there is a “regulatory process for licensing and training by the IAA” in place and it is planning to bring in new safety regulations “very shortly”. Minister Donohue’s reply goes on to say that the safe and regulated use of drones is being examined at an International and EU level and that under the National Aviation Policy 2015 his Department will “continue to contribute to the EU rule making and regulatory process concerning RPAS”.

But the Minister does admit that “it is accepted both internationally and at an EU level that the deployment of RPAS pose new challenges, including those related to public safety, and that the increase in the use of RPAS by hobbyists and enthusiasts requires consideration of regulatory controls in this arena.”

Deputy Broughan said “Since 2012, there has been an increase in usage of drones by hobbyists and this Christmas looks set to bring a greater influx of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) into built-up and recreational areas. The Irish Aviation Authority and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport need to urgently communicate current legislation to retailers of drones and to the public generally to ensure that drones are used in safe and appropriate locations and only in a safe manner.”

Tags: Christmas, Drones, Irish Aviation Authority, RPAS

FALL IN DRUGS SEIZURES IN GARDA R DISTRICT

3 Dec 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has today cautiously welcomed what appears to be a fall in the quantity and value of drugs seizures by An Garda Síochána in the R District which encompasses the Coolock, Swords and Malahide sub-districts. Figures received by Deputy Broughan this week, however, compare a full year in 2014, where drugs worth over €3 million were seized, to Quarters 1 and 2 in 2015 where just €375,306 worth of drugs was seized. A detailed analysis of the figures to compare like with like is not available as the 2014 figures is not broken down by quarter.

The numbers of Anabolic Steroids seized at the end of Q2 (51) seems in line with what was seized in 2014, at 115 in a full year. Unless a very large amount of Cannabis Herb is seized during Q3 and Q4 of 2015 it looks set to be a much lower amount than 2014 when almost €2.5 million was seized. Up to the end of June 2014, the value of Cannabis Herb seized was €143,087. Another notable, possible decrease is the reduction in Cocaine seizures where 1,023 grams at a street value of €71,629 had been seized up to the middle of 2015 compared to 5,645 grams at a value of almost €400,000 in 2014.

However, concerning increases already in the first half of 2015 can be seen in seizures of Diamorphine (97 in Q1&Q2 of 2015 compared to 47 in full-year 2014), Ecstasy tablets (4,333 already in Q1&Q2 of 2015 compared to just 879 in full-year 2014), and Opioids Other, where this category of drug was not seized in 2014 but in the first half of 2015 €35,175 worth of Opioids Other were seized.

Deputy Broughan said “While these figures appear to show a welcome decrease in the amount and value of drugs being seized in Garda District R, I am reticent to be overly optimistic in believing that the drugs problem is calming in the area. Local communities and I have seen the devastation that drugs can cause in a locality and on families and the problems associated with drug misuse can change depending on the type of drugs most accessible at any time. The very high number of ecstasy tablets is very worrying and of course, just because lower numbers across all category of drug have been seized doesn’t necessarily mean that drug misuse has subsequently lowered. We must continue to be vigilant in catching organised drug pushing gangs and sellers and provide sufficient resources to An Garda Síochána to enable them carry out investigations and seizures and get drugs off our streets.”

Tags: An Garda Siochana, Coolock, Drugs seizures, Malahide, Swords

DREDGING URGENTLY REQUIRED IN HOWTH HARBOUR

26 Nov 2015
In a Dáil debate tonight, Deputy Broughan has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, to urgently provide funding for dredging of Howth Harbour. Howth Harbour is an economically important working harbour used by fishing trawlers, by many leisure groups and enjoyed by over 500,000 tourists visiting the area each year.

However, members of the ‘Howth Harbour Action Group’ contacted Deputy Broughan recently to raise serious concerns about the build-up of silt in the harbour and the damaging effect it is having on the area. Howth Harbour has not been dredged in decades and the action group, made up of representatives from the Yacht Club, the Boating and Sailing Club, a large trawling company and local businesses, report that this neglect has led to almost 6 feet of silt building up in the Harbour. The Howth Harbour Action Group believes that the harbour is facing an operational crisis due to the lack of dredging since 1982. Even medium sized trawlers find it difficult to enter the harbour at low tide and ‘groundings’ of working and leisure vessels is more common.

It certainly seems that this is not a funding issue. Budget 2015 saw an increase in funding for the Department Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the first time since 2009 and the ‘Seafood Development Programmes’ were listed as a priority. At that time, €76 million was allocated for Marine ‘activities’ including fisheries harbour developments. In March of this year, Minister Coveney also announced a €17.8 million Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Programme where he indicated that €14.9 million was ‘set aside’ for the six Fishery Centres under the remit of the Department (of which €4.2 million was invested in ‘maintenance, development and upgrading works’ at Howth Fishery Centre).

Deputy Broughan said “In a reply to a recent Parliamentary Question Minister Coveney stated that he has approved €150,000 for “site investigation works” to investigate the material “to be dredged in any future dredging project” and that the information gathered will be necessary for a ‘Dumping at Sea’ licence. In the meantime the local Action Group have informed me that the grounding of trawlers is becoming more and more commonplace, the Dublin Bay Ferry is unable to service their timetable at times and the build-up of silt is creating safety issues for members of the boat and yacht clubs. With the operations of such an important Harbour under threat from the build-up of silt, it is vital that the Minister allocated funds specifically for a dredging programme to begin asap in 2016.”

Tags: dredging, Dublin Bay, Howth Harbour, silt

THE COURTS SERVICE DOTH PROTEST TOO MUCH
23 Nov 2015
Deputy Broughan notes the comments by the president of the District Court today disputing drink-driving conviction rates. As an elected Dáil representative, Deputy Broughan regularly requests and receives information through Parliamentary Questions. Statistics relating to the Courts Service are notoriously difficult to come by where months often pass without concrete information being sent to the Deputy.

Earlier this summer, Deputy Broughan received replies from Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald regarding the application of penalty points once convicted of these offences, the lack of convictions for persons using a mobile phone while driving and drink-driving conviction rates. The Courts Service has taken umbrage to the analysis of figures provided by them showing that out of 20,830 cases listed 8,391 were convicted. Of course, the Courts Service did not provide full information also listing how many cases were adjourned or struck-out, therefore an analysis was completed of the information provided by the Courts Service.

Deputy Broughan says “When the Courts Service originally disputed these figures I did not make a statement as I currently have follow-up questions and further questions around penalty points which are awaiting answer. Today’s comments by the president of the District Court however are highly disrespectful to Deputies and groups such as PARC road safety group who are made jump through hoops to find out information that should be available in a timely and transparent way. While the independence of the Courts is of utmost importance transparent reporting of data and statistics does not interfere with this independence and must be demanded by Ministers Donohue and Fitzgerald. The real ‘disservice’ to the public here is the fact that we cannot rely on stats provided to publicly elected reps by the Courts Service.”

Tags: Courts Service, Drink-driving, road safety

BROUGHAN WELCOMES INVESTMENT IN CRIME PREVENTION INITIATIVES

20 Nov 2015
Deputy Broughan welcomes news that Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald has secured €397,000 in funding for her Department’s crime prevention initiatives in 2016. In a response to a Parliamentary Question by Deputy Broughan, Minister Fitzgerald confirmed that this level of funding is double what was available this year and is a direct result of the various measures of ‘Operation Thor’ underway to tackle rising instances of burglary.

The rise in burglaries across Ireland, and in particular the rise in rural crime, has made crime prevention an election issue for the country. During the Fianna Fáil, Greens, Fine Gael, Labour austerity years, An Garda Síochána have seen cuts in its personnel, resources and closure of Garda Stations which have had direct repercussions on the safety of people and property around the country. A number of constituents were in touch with Deputy Broughan recently to enquire about the possibility of setting up a Garda Text Alert group in their locality. Minister Fitzgerald’s reply states that there are currently “in excess of 700 local Text Alert schemes operating” around the country. While her Department does not provide direct funding for the setting up of these schemes or the operation of Community Alert Groups, it does provide for “employment and associated costs” “including the employment of regional Development Officers”.

Deputy Broughan said “Minister Fitzgerald’s announcement that she will make €397,000 in funding available to the Community Alert programme is welcome news. With many communities actively engaged in these schemes, the doubling of funding and employment of Development Officers should hopefully make an impact on tackling crime. Of course this is a measure brought in to appease voters and certainly seems to be reactive to community demands rather than an initiative driven by Government.”

Tags: burglary, community alerts, crime

OVER 10,500 PEOPLE AWAITING PROCEDURES IN BEAUMONT HOSPITAL

19 Nov 2015
Deputy Broughan recently requested information from the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar on the number of persons on waiting lists for procedures in Beaumont Hospital and for a breakdown by length of time waiting. Yesterday, Deputy Broughan received a reply showing that 10,597 are currently on waiting lists and just 1,030 have a date for treatment.

Beaumont Hospital is often highlighted in the media for overcrowding problems, large waiting lists and huge demand for services. Indeed, Beaumont Hospital is one of the busiest Emergency Departments (ED) in Ireland, providing services to over 50,000 patients each year. In 2014, increased attendances at the ED and treating patients of an older profile led to a severe over-crowding and trolley crisis and this looks set to continue into winter 2015 without any leadership from Minister Varadkar. While a number of initiatives have been underway throughout the year to try and curb these problems, Deputy Broughan has continued to call for a new, fit-for-purpose, A&E for Beaumont. He has also continually asked Parliamentary Questions to gauge information about how great the demand is for treatment at the hospital, the size of waiting lists and the length of time patients are awaiting treatment. The figures received this week simply strengthen the need for under-resourcing at Beaumont Hospital to be urgently addressed.

There are 9,567 ‘active’ cases of people on waiting lists and just 1,030 of these have a date for treatment. 7,317 people are waiting more than 3 months to access treatment and 2,352 are waiting more than a year.

0-3 Mths
3-6 Mths
6-8 Mths
8-12 Mths
12-15 Mths
15-18 Mths
> 18Mths
Grand Total
ACTIVE
2558
2079
936
1712
1056
739
487
9567
With date for treatment
722
124
55
59
24
34
12
1030
Grand Total
3280
2203
991
1771
1080
773
499
10597

Deputy Broughan said “Figures released to me this week in response to one of my Parliamentary Questions provide further evidence of a health service in crisis. With the Government’s recent U-Turn on their plans for Universal Health cover and a looming winter trolley crisis, Fine Gael and Labour have proven their complete incompetence in managing Ireland’s health services.”

Tags: Beaumont Hospital, health

BROUGHAN WELCOMES NEWS OF LOCAL INFORMATION CLINICS FOR AT-RISK TENANTS

19 Nov 2015
Deputy Broughan has welcomed news that Dublin Simon will be running local weekly information clinics for tenants living in private rented accommodation who may be at risk of losing their tenancies. With the housing and rental crisis continuing to spiral out of control, very high numbers of worried constituents are in contact with Deputy Broughan every week. One of the issues has been the lack of information available to people until the day they are actually made homeless and it is a very distressing and confusing time for people. While Threshold have recently run an information campaign around tenant’s rights, Deputy Broughan welcomes this localised service which will hopefully provide some solace to people in difficult circumstances.

Deputy Broughan said “Dublin Bay North is the area with greatest demand for social housing with over 5,000 on the list for these areas alone. We also have huge numbers of citizens and families with children living in hotel rooms, b&bs, guesthouses and sharing in cramped conditions with family and friends. There are a number of volunteer initiatives in the community aiming to support those at risk of losing their accommodation and indeed one such group, the North Dublin Bay Housing Crisis Committee, had suggested that a Housing Liaison Officer should be based in the DCC office in the constituency so I welcome this news. Of course, we should not be in this dire situation, were over 1,500 children will be waking up on Christmas morning in hotel rooms.”

The Dublin Simon information clinics will commence this coming Monday the 23rd of November and run every Monday from 9.30am and 12.30pm at Dublin City Council Offices, Bell Building, Darndale/Belcamp Village Centre, Darndale, Dublin 17.

Tags: Dublin Simon, homelessness, housing crisis, rental crisis

SOCIAL PROTECTION APPEALS TIME STILL FAR TOO HIGH

18 Nov 2015
With the Government firmly on a pre-election whirlwind of good news announcements for the last number of months, it seems to think that its inadequacies have been forgotten. One such inadequacy is the management of processing times for appeals to the Social Welfare Appeals office for vital Social Protection payments and benefits. While the average time for a summary decision has reduced to 21.1 weeks from 25.1 in 2011, it is still far too high. Decisions with Oral Hearings now take 28.6 weeks on average (down from 52.5 weeks in 2011) but this remains a very long drawn out process.

In a reply to a Parliamentary Question on the topic, the Tánaiste attributed the reduction in time required to process appeals to “the significant resources which have been invested in the Social Welfare Appeals Office over the last number of years” yet fails to report what these resources might entail considering the harsh slashing of the Social Protection budget during the austerity years. A large back-log of appeals remain with 9,454 appeals reported as being “on hand” on the 9th of November 2015. In 2014, appeals related to the Bereavement Grant stood at 25.6 weeks and 2015 figures supplied by the Tánaiste stated that the processing time for this grant is now at 65.7weeks. This is either a human error typo or a shockingly worrying jump in processing times. The State Pension (Transition) has also risen starkly from 27 weeks in 2014 to 80.1 weeks in 2015.

In 2015, some of the key average processing times are

●      Carers Allowance                     20.9 weeks and 26.9 weeks for an oral hearing;

●      Child Benefit                             24.9 weeks and 35.5 weeks for an oral hearing (which has actually increased from 32.9 weeks in 2014);

●      Illness Benefit                           25.9 weeks and 33.6 weeks for an oral hearing;

●      Invalidity Pension                     25.8 weeks and 28.3 weeks for an oral hearing;

●      One Parent Family Payment  23.5 weeks and 34.8 weeks for an oral hearing;

●      State Pension (Contributory)  25.9 weeks and 48.2 weeks for an oral hearing;

●      State Pension (Non-Contributory)        20 wks and 29.7 wks for an oral hearing;

●      Jobseeker’s Allowance (Means)           16.3 wks and 26.2 wks for an oral hearing;

●      Jobseeker’s Benefit                  14.8 weeks and 21.9 weeks for an oral hearing;

●      Respite Care Grant                  20.6 wks and 25.3 weeks for an oral hearing; and

●      Supplementary Welfare Allowance   23.7 weeks and 38.3 weeks for an oral hearing

Deputy Broughan said “Not one payment or benefit appeal is processed in less than 10 weeks. The quickest appeal processing time is for Jobseeker’s Transitional payment at 10.7 weeks. While I welcome the improvement in processing times since 2011, it is important for the Tánaiste and Department to realise that these figures represent a huge and unacceptable timeframe were often vulnerable citizens are left in precarious financial situations trying to make ends meet and awaiting their fate. Our Social Protection processes must be set up in a way to assist people when most needed and to do so in a timely and efficient manner. The Tánaiste stresses that the Appeal Office is independent in its function but she needs to resource and staff it properly.”

Tags: Appeals, Social Protection, Social Welfare

BROUGHAN CALLS ON MINISTER FOR FINANCE TO EASE LENDING RESTRICTIONS ON CREDIT UNIONS

12 Nov 2015
Following contact by a number of Dublin Bay North Credit Unions regarding the strict lending restrictions placed upon them by the Central Bank of Ireland, Deputy Broughan raised a number of questions on their behalf. Representatives from these Credit Unions felt that some regulatory restrictions were particularly prohibitive in nature given that the 3 million Credit Union members were in no way at fault for the financial crash in 2007/08.

Replies received yesterday stated that “In February 2015 the Central Bank commenced a lending restriction review initiative, whereby credit unions that are subject to a lending restriction, but are satisfied that they have made the necessary improvements and have embedded these improvements in robust risk sensitive lending practices, could apply for a review of their lending restriction”. Minister Noonan stated that the closing date for applications to this review was the 30th of September 2015.  One month and a half after the application deadline passed, 59% of “applications received have been reviewed by the Central Bank”. “Of the applications which have been fully reviewed, 83% have had their lending restriction lifted and are now operating under the board’s stated credit risk appetite. Approximately 40% of credit unions that applied submitted their application in September. These applications are currently under review. Currently approximately 39% of credit unions have a lending restriction compared with 52% at the start of the review process.”

A key element of the accessibility of Credit Unions in the community is their ability to provide finance to members when required. Minister Noonan goes on to stated that “a pilot to test the effectiveness of a microloan scheme is soon to be launched and will run for six months. The scheme involves offering people receiving social welfare payments small affordable loans from credit unions as an alternative to moneylenders. A Personal Microcredit Implementation Group under the Department of Social Protection is progressing this initiative and over 30 credit unions from around the country are expected to participate. The Department of Finance is represented on this group. Loans will range from €500 – €2,000 in value and will be repayable over 6-24 months with loan repayments deducted automatically from the household budget scheme operated by the Department of Social Protection in conjunction with An Post. The interest rate will be a maximum of 12% a year”.

Finally, Deputy Broughan raised the possibility of officials from the Department of Finance meeting with the Irish League of Credit Unions to discuss Credit Unions supporting a fund for Social Housing and a fund for SMEs. Minister Noonan confirmed that he “received a document entitled The Social Housing Funding Proposal from the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) on 22 October 2015” and that officials from his Department “are currently assessing the proposal”.

Deputy Broughan said “Credit Unions have a hugely important role in Irish society and while I understand the necessity of prudence with regards to financial regulation I also think it is vital to examine the entire financial landscape. Credit Unions are historically very different to large financial institutions and are much more accessible to regular citizens in the community. Several Department of Finance reports state that Credit unions are now ‘underlent’ because of the impact of strict loan to asset and liquidity ratios. We should be supporting the work that they do and constantly reviewing our regulatory framework to ensure that we are not prohibiting them from supporting their members. I welcome news of the microfinancing pilot and also look forward to hearing more about the Social Housing Funding Proposal.”

Tags: Credit Unions, Finance, Financial Institutions

BROUGHAN WELCOMES SPEEDY RESPONSE TO FISHING INDUSTRY ALLEGATIONS

11 Nov 2015
Following a report on the 2nd of November by the Guardian newspaper of an undercover investigation into alleged maltreatment of migrant workers in the Irish Fishing Industry Deputy Broughan raised a number of questions with the Ministers for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Justice and Equality.

Replies to these Parliamentary Questions state that the Inter-departmental Taskforce established in the wake of these report had its first meeting on the 5th of November and is due to have its second meeting tomorrow, the 12th of November.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, is Chair of the Taskforce and informed Deputy Broughan in his reply that “the Taskforce includes high level representatives from the Departments of, Justice and Equality, Jobs Enterprise & Innovation, Transport, Tourism and Sport, the Attorney General’s office, An Garda Síochána, BIM, the Naval Service, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority” and of course, his own Department.

Deputy Broughan said “I welcome the speedy response that the Government is taking to the allegations presented in the Guardian’s report. I did, however, question why the Gardaí were not boarding vessels and inspecting them the day that the report was released. I hope that the Taskforce comes to some speedy conclusions and recommendations and that real action is taking to protect vulnerable workers from exploitation.”

Tags: Allegations, Fishing Industry, Guardian Report

BROUGHAN CONTINUES TO OPPOSE AVIATION PIPELINE FOR WELL-BEING OF DUBLIN BAY NORTH CONSTITUENTS

11 Nov 2015
On the 20th of October this year, Deputy Broughan expressed his disappointment at the approval by both Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council for the proposal by Fingleton White & Co and the Independent Pipeline Co. for an aviation fuel pipeline of approximately 15km from Dublin Port to Dublin Airport. On behalf of Clontarf, Malahide Road, Artane and Coolock constituents, Deputy Broughan has today lodged an objection to the proposal with An Bord Pleanála on a number of grounds but most importantly due to the lack of a Health Impact Statement.

Fingleton’s proposal involves an underground kerosene pipeline passing up along the Malahide Road through a densely populated residential region including East Wall, Fairview, Marino, Clontarf, Donnycarney, Artane, Coolock, Darndale, Ayrfield, Clare Hall and Burnell along the R139 and the M1 and up to the airport. As reported earlier this year, it is a major change of route from the 2001 Fingleton White oil pipeline plan of 11.1km which was to run from the port up East Wall Road, through Ballybough onto Richmond Road and up through Drumcondra and Gracepark Road onto Griffith Avenue and the Swords Road through Whitehall to the Airport.

Deputy Broughan felt that a striking omission from the proposal’s documents submitted to Dublin City Council Planning Department by Fingleton White was a Health Impact Statement. There is a growing demand in academic and planning research literature that every major construction and engineering project should be accompanied by a Health Impact Statement. An Bord Pleanála itself recently ruled that a major energy project could not be approved because the proposers had not carried out a Health Impact study.

A further important point and reason to reject the proposal is that at several locations, on Copeland Avenue, Clontarf for example, or near the junction of Kilmore Road and Malahide Road, dozens of households’ front rooms will be literally 2 or 3 metres from the pipeline. There are perhaps up to 1,000 of the 50,000 or so homes in Dublin Bay North living just adjacent to or directly beside this proposed 14.4km kerosene pipeline. Nowhere in the planning application are the grave consequences of these facts remotely considered. Because of the long history of oil and gas pipeline fractures and incidents in the United States, there has been a longstanding public demand, for example, as in Michigan, that all major fuel pipelines must be at least 500 feet (or perhaps 150 metres) from a family home. Such a setback distance is under strong consideration in Ireland also and will be again proposed during discussions on the Dublin City Council and Fingal County Development Plans 2017 to 2023. The location of a large kerosene pipeline in very close proximity and adjacent to family homes should be unconscionable.

Deputy Broughan said “I have been staunchly opposed to this plan for many years now and am baffled that permission has been granted by both Local Authorities without due respect for the health and safety of residents living alongside the proposed route. This plan would also represent a year of absolute traffic mayhem and disruption for residents in this area with no net benefit to the community. Constituents ask why this pipeline and any such routes through densely populated residential areas are needed at all. They correctly point to the presence of the €800 million port tunnel which over the past 8 years has diverted heavy commercial traffic (including aviation fuel trucks) out of Dublin Port along the 4.5km tunnel out past Santry and just 2km further north along the M1 to Dublin Airport. The port tunnel was planned and developed from 1993 and it is one of the greatest infrastructural projects in the history of the state. Most importantly, aviation fuel trucks make up just 1.5% of the traffic in the tunnel. Maximising the Port Tunnel’s usage of commercial and other vehicles is a core objective of sustainable Dublin transport policy. Residents have suggested an alternative route from the coast across rural north Dublin and well set back from any homes. The proposal must be stopped as the potential consequences are disastrous for Dublin Bay North.”

Tags: Aviation pipeline, Dublin Bay North, Pipeline, Planning, Port Tunnel

WE MUST INVEST IN DEDICATED GARDA TRAFFIC CORPS

6 Nov 2015
Deputy Broughan has recently been questioning the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, on many matters related to road safety. Deputy Broughan has asked a number of follow-up questions regarding drink-driving cases and convictions in order to get a full picture of the current status of the implementation of this area of our road safety legislation.

This week, Deputy Broughan received information on the numbers of mandatory alcohol testing (MAT) checkpoints, the number of Gardaí in the Garda Traffic Corps, and the Garda Traffic Fleet Strength.

In 2014, there were 78,000 MAT checkpoints nationwide and up to the end of September there were 59,436. In 2012, there were 877 Garda Traffic Corps Personnel. However, this number reduced to 811 in 2013 and to 749 in 2014. Minister Fitzgerald states in her reply that “It is important to note that roads policing is the duty of every Garda member, this duty is not reserved for Garda members of the Traffic Corps Units. As part of this enforcement policy members of An Garda Síochána carry out planned and ‘ad hoc’ checkpoints as required, including mandatory alcohol testing (MAT) checkpoints.” She also says that she has requested information on the strength of the Traffic Corps in 2015 following the recommencement of recruitment of Gardaí in 2014.

The numbers of Traffic Fleet strength has finally seen a very marginal increase after dropping in 2013 to 285 (down from 289 in 2012) and Minister Fitzgerald says that she has also requested the figures for 2015.

GARDA TRAFFIC FLEET STRENGTH 2012 – 2014

CARS
VANS
MOTORCYCLES
4X4
OTHER
TOTAL

MARKED
UNMARKED

2012
79
29
17
113
41
10
289
2013
95
26
15
94
42
13
285
2014
109
28
19
95
34
10
295
Deputy Broughan said “I have consistently opposed this Government’s conservative fiscal choices in imposing austerity and deep cuts to Gardaí resources are a prime example of this. Over the last 7 years, we observe a correlation between investment in our Garda Traffic Corps and the number of deaths and incidents of serious injuries on our road, as well as the numbers of drunk, dangerous or disqualified drivers who come before the courts.”

Tags: Garda, road safety, Road Traffic, Traffic Corps

COUNCIL CONFIRMS MODULAR HOUSING WILL BE HERE FOR DECADES
30 Oct 2015
Yesterday I sent out a press release giving my thoughts on the much-heralded modular housing units. Concerns have been expressed by constituents that temporary modular units might be left in situ for several decades as happened in the past. Now I have been informed by Dublin City Manager, Owen Keegan, that modular housing is here to stay – perhaps for up to 6 decades.

The location of 38 of the housing units in Belcamp Avenue is on a site that already had detailed plans for a social housing build of 40 actual homes. Now it has been confirmed that instead of bricks and mortar homes at this site, that these prefabs are intended to be in place and used for up to 60 years as social housing.

During the Ahern, Cowen and Kenny governments I made several requests on behalf of the local residents associations and other Belcamp and Priorswood constituents for funding for social housing programmes at the amenity area in question in Belcamp Avenue and at a number of similar sites in North Coolock. These last and current austerity governments refused to provide this funding even though our Dublin North Central housing list has grown to over 5,000 families and citizens during the interim period.

I attended the exhibition of modular housing units and got the impression that they would indeed be temporary, in place for perhaps 2 to 3 years while we awaited the first delivery of Minister Kelly’s Social Housing 2020 targets. Instead it seems that these prefabs will be used during this homeless crisis to house families with homeless priority and then according to City Manager, Owen Keegan “in all probability revert to standard social housing”.

Tags: DCC, homelessness, Modular homes, Modular Housing, social housing, Social Housing 2020

MODULAR HOUSING ONLY VERY BELATED AND LIMITED STOP-GAP TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS

29 Oct 2015
Last night, the first five locations for Dublin City Council’s modular housing units were announced. Unsurprisingly, all five locations are in working class communities where I’m sure families experiencing homelessness will be welcomed. 40 units are to be constructed in Finglas, 38 units in my own constituency in Belcamp, 29 units in Crumlin, 24 in Ballyfermot and 22 in Ballymun. These first 22 are expected to be located in Ballymun and in place by the 21st of December. The Belcamp Avenue open space, of course, had detailed plans for the construction of real houses for local families on our huge Dublin Bay North housing lists. But the successive Fianna Fáil Green and Fine Gael Labour austerity governments refused to provide funding to build these homes. On behalf of local Belcamp and North Coolock constituents, I have asked City Manager, Owen Keegan and Housing Manager, Dick Brady to indicate how long the proposed modular homes will be left in Belcamp Avenue amenity open space before they are replaced with real homes in the general housing style of Belcamp and Priorswood.

Ireland is currently experiencing a homeless crisis, the likes of which the country has never seen before and which is directly related to the complete abandonment of social housing building programmes through the Fianna Fáil / Fine Gael / Labour years. It is also a direct result of Fine Gael’s obstinate opposition to introducing rent certainty and regulating the rental market. The reality is that the numbers of families entering homelessness will continue to spiral with approximately 70-80 families entering homeless services each month. The Homeless Executive’s figures for September showed that, nationally, there were 1,571 children in emergency accommodation and 738 families and these are only the official figures of those with homeless priority. There are many more families living in cramped and over-crowded, unsuitable conditions with family and friends. This is an unprecedented crisis and, as Deputy Broughan been saying all year, requires emergency legislation and strong leadership.

Reports today highlight the urgent need for these modular housing units to be built and occupied. However, on the 12th of February 2015, over 8 months ago, Dick Brady, Housing Manager of DCC, said in a meeting with Deputy Broughan that this was a suggested solution that he put to the Minister, along with stressing that measures to address rising rents would be required to stem the constant flow of families becoming homeless. While Minister Kelly, his officials and Local Authorities, sit around all year talking and setting up taskforces and committees, we have had families with babies sleeping rough.

Deputy Broughan said “I recently attended the display of modular housing units and it remains to be seen how they will hold up during an Irish winter. Also, they seemed restrictively expensive for the €80,000 cost per modular home, which was quoted to me by the developers of the units, I believe DCC could complete most of a bricks and mortar normal home. I also have many unanswered questions, which I have today submitted as Parliamentary Questions, such as how will the units be allocated – are they going to go to families who have already been in hotel rooms for substantial lengths of time; will these families remain on the Local Authorities housing lists with homeless priority and be allocated an actual house in order of this priority or will they go to the back of the housing list; etc? Interestingly, parallel reports state that developer Michael O’Flynn has announced plans to build 10,000 homes in Dublin and Cork and apparently his construction company “has lands with planning permission for 500 housing units and existing stock of more than 200 new units”. I am loathe to see Ireland returning to the boom days of private developers pushing up house prices while NAMA and local authorities drag their heels on building social and affordable housing for the majority of citizens requiring homes.”

Tags: Belcamp, homelessness, Modular Housing, social housing

BEAUMONT NEEDS A NEW A&E STAT!

23 Oct 2015
Last night, Beaumont A&E had to close its doors to admissions with patients being directed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda due to overcrowding and high numbers of patients on trolleys, including two patients in their 90s who had to wait on chairs.

Beaumont Hospital is one of the busiest Emergency Departments (ED) in Ireland, providing services to over 50,000 patients each year. In 2014, increased attendances at the ED and treating patients of an older profile led to a severe over-crowding and trolley crisis, which is something that continues to occur in hospitals around the country each winter yet the Irish public and media have not become immune to it.

Deputy Broughan attended a meeting with the CEO of Beaumont Hospital, Liam Duffy, and leading clinical managers early this year on the achievements in their provision of health services despite difficulties facing the hospital due to savage health cut-backs since 2009. Deputy Broughan has also consistently raised these issues in Dáil Éireann and received a detailed report from Tony O’Brien, Director General of the HSE, in early February which outlined a number of factors which contributed to the difficult conditions in Beaumont’s A&E last winter. One of the main factors to be addressed in order to improve the ‘patient pathway’ was delayed discharges. Beaumont usually has an average of 96 patients awaiting discharge on any one day which is the equivalent of 3 full wards. A reply to a recent Parliamentary Question on the progress of the Emergency Department Task Force stated that “significant progress has been made to date on the overall ED Taskforce plan including a steady reduction in delayed discharges from hospital (561 on 13 Oct 2015, down from 830 in Dec 2014)”. The reply also states that the waiting time for funding for the Nursing Home Subvention Scheme is now down to between 2 to 4 weeks from 11 weeks.

While a number of initiatives have been underway throughout the year to try and curb the problems, Deputy Broughan has been calling for a new, fit-for-purpose, A&E for Beaumont. This week Deputy Broughan received replies to further Parliamentary Questions on the status of proposals for the new A&E and was informed that “Beaumont Hospital has appointed a design team, incorporating architects and healthcare planners to undertake a feasibility study on the location, size and cost of building a new Emergency Department at the hospital. This is currently at stakeholder consultation phase, with a number of proposals being considered and the report is expected to be available in mid-December 2015”.

Furthermore, in planning to deal with the seasonal upsurge in demand for healthcare, Minister Varadkar says that the additional funding of €18 million which was provided in July was intended for use for provision of “approximately 300 additional hospital beds”. With regards specifically to Beaumont Hospital’s “winter capacity planning”, the Day Hospital at St. Joseph’s, Raheny is extending “from a 2 day to a 5 day service”. “The Day Hospital provides a multi-disciplinary team for frail older people, thus providing an alternative care pathway for these patients, helping them to avoid ED admission. Rehabilitation and transitional care services are also provided in St. Joseph’s, which facilitates earlier discharge from Beaumont and assists in avoiding re-admissions.”

Deputy Broughan said “Our small and pressurised A&E is now at breaking point and it will take far more than Minister Varadkar’s ‘bed-side manner’ to provide a cure. After years of austerity and cuts Ireland’s health-service is flat-lining and it will take more than taskforces, committees and lip-service to resuscitate it. In his Budget 2016 speech, Minister Brendan Howlin claimed that the overall budget for health has been restored to pre-crash levels of over €13 billion. However, he was contradicted by Minister Varadkar, who rightly said that the health budget is at least €1 billion off its pre-crash peak in nominal terms. The Department of Health budget was decimated during the austerity years and citizens in need of quality health care continue to pay the price.

Beaumont Hospital urgently needs a new A&E and unless the Government want another winter trolley scandal they should prioritise this capital project immediately and start work on this critically needed project in 2016!”.

Tags: A&E, Beaumont Hospital, health service, HSE, Leo Varadkar, Trolley crisis

BROUGHAN AND PARC WELCOME NEWS OF ROAD SAFETY LAWS REVIEW

20 Oct 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan and Ms Susan Gray of PARC Road Safety group have today welcomed news from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that our complex Road Safety legislation is to be consolidated following this week’s revelation of the worryingly low conviction rates for drink driving cases. Earlier this week, it was reported that of the 20,000 plus drink-driving cases before Courts nationally between January 2013 and May 2015 just 8,391 were convicted. A much smaller number of these convictions then had their driving licence numbers recorded.

Deputy Broughan has long been a supporter of strengthening our road safety laws and has consistently challenged Government and relevant Ministers on deficiencies and loopholes discovered through Parliamentary Questions and legal challenges in our Courts. Deputy Broughan has worked with and supported PARC in their work to improve road safety and in highlighting many of the loopholes in our flawed penalty points system.

Susan Gray of PARC said “We’re happy to hear that the Minister intends to finally consolidate our road safety legislation. We have been calling for this for years. It should not be up to a volunteer group of people personally affected by road traffic collisions to chase the Courts service and the Government on this issue. But we will not give up. We’ll continue to attend Courts and liaise with the Road Safety Authority (RSA), the Gardaí and the Department to ask these questions.”

Deputy Broughan said “I echo Susan’s sentiments that it is welcome news that our road safety legislation will be consolidated. Of course, we have been calling for this very thing for many years. I have today asked the Minister to confirm when this piece of work will begin and the estimated completion time as it cannot be put on the long-finger. Drink-driving and dangerous driving are very serious offences and the perpetrators of such crimes must be held accountable. 126 people have died on our roads so far this year – Ministers Donohue, Fitzgerald and the Courts Services need to sit down and examine how many of these tragic deaths could have been avoided and why. The onus should not be on people avoiding conviction and prosecution but on making our roads safer and the legislation to enable this watertight”.

Tags: Courts, Drink-driving, Drink-driving convictions

BROUGHAN CRITICISES COUNCIL GREEN-LIGHT FOR HALF-BAKED AVIATION FUEL PIPELINE PLAN

20 Oct 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has today expressed his disappointment that both Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council have approved the proposal by Fingleton White & Co and the Independent Pipeline Co. for an aviation fuel pipeline of approximately 15km from Dublin Port to Dublin Airport. This time last year, Deputy Broughan first raised concerns in Dáil Éireann at the plans and also strongly criticised the plans when they were published in April of this year.

The proposal involves an underground kerosene pipeline passing up along the Malahide Road through a densely populated residential region including East Wall, Fairview, Marino, Clontarf, Donnycarney, Artane, Coolock, Darndale, Ayrfield, Clare Hall and Burnell along the R139 and the M1 and up to the airport. As reported earlier this year, it is a major change of route from the 2001 Fingleton White oil pipeline plan of 11.1km which was to run from the port up East Wall Road, through Ballybough onto Richmond Road and up through Drumcondra and Gracepark Road onto Griffith Avenue and the Swords Road through Whitehall to the Airport.

In 2009/2010, the promoters of the project had tried to bypass Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council but An Bord Pleanála ruled that the proposal would have to be considered by both local authorities. Both Councils have now given the go-ahead to this potentially dangerous project. Deputy Broughan has spoken of the important health and safety considerations and standards that would need to be put in place by Minister Alan Kelly’s Department before any oil pipeline could remotely be considered because it would be the first of its kind in this country. Unfortunately, neither Deputy Broughan nor his constituents have much faith in Minister Kelly’s ability to properly run his Department. Deputy Broughan previously raised concerns in Dáil Éireann about the lack of any set back distance for pipelines in Irish legislation whereby any major pipeline would have to be a minimum distance away from homes and residential areas.

He noted that the Dublin Port Tunnel which was built at a cost of €800 million already caters for HGVs, including vehicles carrying aviation fuel, between the sea port and the airport. He also noted that aviation fuel vehicles reportedly make up only 1.5% of the overall traffic numbers travelling through the Port Tunnel.

The 15 conditions attached to the Dublin City Council granting of permission totally ignore the fears of residents who will live a few metres from the kerosene pipeline. No consideration was given to a route through the rural area of central Fingal which could have avoided proximity to peoples’ homes. Condition 5 refers to a Major Accident Prevention document and a possible ‘leak, rupture, burst, damage or other interference’ with the pipeline but the international standard for setback distance from homes is nowhere referred to.

Deputy Broughan concluded “I remain deeply concerned about the proposal for the new oil pipeline route and the lack of adequate consultation that has taken place to date with all residents potentially affected and their public representatives. When this was first proposed in 2001, we had no Port Tunnel. The building of such a pipeline seems totally unnecessary and its route is completely inappropriate now. It will cause great distress and potential health and safety issues for thousands of Dublin Bay North constituents. For that reason, I will again be consulting my Dublin Bay North constituents with a view to referring the proposal to An Bord Pleanála”.

Tags: airport, Aviation pipeline, Port Tunnel

NO INFORMATION CLINICS THIS WEEKEND
20 Oct 2015
Please note that I will not be holding my information clinics this weekend, on Saturday October 24th and Monday October 26th, due to the October Bank Holiday.

Also, please note my Dáil and constituency office in Leinster House will be closed on Monday, 26th October 2015.

My weekly information clinics will resume as normal on Saturday, 31st October 2015. For further details of the times and locations of these clinics, please see the Contact section of this website.

Tags: bank holiday, Information clinics

NAMA CAN’T DELIVER

14 Oct 2015
Yesterday’s Budget 2016 unveiled plans for NAMA to deliver 20,000 residential units by the end of 2020 and today, in Dáil Éireann, Deputy Broughan challenges the Government on why this is not the entire solution to Ireland’s housing emergency. Over 90,000 people are on social housing waiting lists nationwide and growing numbers are accessing emergency homeless services due to spiralling rents and mortgage arrears. As part of a €4.5 billion package, Ministers Noonan and Howlin, yesterday announced that we are returning to the old, failed system of developer-led residential construction.

Deputy Broughan criticised the Ministers for handing over the responsibility of building to developers who have built so many substandard, fire-traps up to 2009 and have sat on their land banks ever since while they emerged from bankruptcy (with taxpayers and NAMA covering their reckless failures). He instead has again urged the Government to declare a Housing Emergency, to introduce rent certainty and to begin an immediate social housing building programme with higher annual output targets with an investment of at least €2 billion per year for 5 years, with €1 billion from Exchequer funds and €1 billion from Public Private Partnerships (with sufficient, thorough health and safety checks).

The Public Accounts Committee recently asked why 4,000 NAMA housing units were turned down by Local Authorities. Given the scale of the current housing crisis, Deputy Broughan requested clarification from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Community, Alan Kelly, on how many NAMA properties have been made available to Local Authorities.  In the reply to the Parliamentary Question (outlined in full below), Kelly indicates that up to the end of September 2015, 6,574 NAMA properties were identified but just 2,526 were deemed to be ‘suitable for social housing’. 1,600 units were ‘delivered for social housing use at the end of Q3 2015′ and of these 359 are still being completed. The reply also notes that properties that had been deemed unsuitable by Local Authorities are being revisited which would make one ask why they were deemed unsuitable in the first place. However, Minister Kelly has not answered the actual question asked. How many properties were turned down by Dublin Local Authorities?

Deputy Broughan says “It would be churlish of me not to acknowledge the number of positive social expenditure measures announced in yesterday’s pre-election budget such as improvements to childcare and child benefit. I am, however, deeply disappointed at the Government again failed to take this opportunity to declare a Housing Emergency and to introduce Rent Certainty along with other measures to curb the current rental, housing and homelessness crisis. With another death on our streets last weekend, one must ask what needs to happen before Enda and Co. take this issue seriously?”

ENDS For more information contact Tommy Broughan at (01) 618 3557

NOTES TO THE EDITOR: Full Parliamentary Question and Reply here:

Question No. 418

Chun an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil:

To the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government:

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to recent proceedings at the Public Accounts Committee at which it was stated that 4,000 housing units which were offered in recent years to local authorities were subsequently refused by those authorities; if he will confirm the number of those homes were in each of the four Dublin local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Thomas P. Broughan.

For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 13th October, 2015.

Ref No: 35230/15

REPLY

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Alan Kelly)

Following proactive engagement between NAMA, the Housing Agency and my Department, a process has been established since late 2011 to ascertain whether residential properties made available by NAMA, through its borrowers and receivers, are suitable for social housing.  Properties that are deemed suitable may be leased or purchased by local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) through engagement with the property owners or, on their behalf, appointed insolvency practitioners, facilitated by NAMA.

To the end of September 2015, NAMA had identified 6,574 residential properties controlled by its debtors and receivers under this initiative as being potentially available for social housing. Of this figure, 2,526 properties have a confirmed demand and are available for social housing. In respect of the 4 Dublin local authorities in particular, since the engagement with NAMA began, 2,005 residential properties have been identified by NAMA as being potentially available for social housing, and of these demand has been confirmed by the local authorities concerned in respect of 763 of these properties.

The remaining 4,048 of the total of 6,574 units identified nationally are no longer available for social housing purposes for a variety of reasons. In respect of 2,469 of the properties identified by NAMA, local authorities considered them unsuitable for social housing because of sustainable planning and housing policy issues associated the units or they were located in areas with no social housing demand.  A further 1,579 units originally identified as available for social housing were subsequently discovered by NAMA to be unavailable.

Of the 2,526 that are available and for which local authorities have confirmed demand, 1,600 have been delivered for social housing use at the end of Q3 2015. This figure includes 1,241 units that are complete and a further 359 units where contracts have been signed and final completion works are under way.  A further 486 properties are considered as being active transactions whereby terms are agreed or active negotiation is on-going by all parties concerned or where a detailed appraisal is being carried out. An additional 440 properties are to be further appraised. Of the 1,600 units have been delivered through the NAMA process, 649 (41%) of these are situated within the 4 Dublin local authority areas.

The process of reviewing units previously deemed unsuitable by local authorities is on-going. Local Authorities, particularly those in high demand areas, are continually reviewing the list of available NAMA properties to see if they are suitable to be brought into use as social housing.

Tags: Budget 2016, housing, NAMA

BROUGHAN ASKS ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOWTH HARBOUR

12 Oct 2015
Deputy Broughan has recently asked a number of Parliamentary Questions to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, on the current status of properties at Howth Harbour and the development of this popular and important amenity. Howth is a much beloved destination of Irish people and tourists alike and is currently a finalist in the ‘Foodie Town of Ireland’ competition.

Minister Coveney recently revealed to Deputy Broughan in response to a Parliamentary Question (PQ) that more than €4.2 million was invested in “maintenance, development and upgrading works” at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre which formed part of the 2011 to 2014 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Programme. In an earlier PQ, Deputy Broughan learnt that, of the total 70 properties/sites in the Centre’s portfolio, 10 of the commercial entities do not have “current documented lease agreements in place” and 4 of these 10 “are in arrears of rent”. In total, at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre there are 13 properties in rental arrears, totalling €603,395.

Deputy Broughan says “Howth Harbour is a very important landmark on Dublin’s coast. It is a historic and valued working harbour. I welcome news of investment in the area, including the €1.79 million approved for 2015 but note that a worrying 18.6% of properties are in arrears. It is disappointing that the Minister reports that “Employment statistics relating to the private and state organisations operating out of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre are not available” since the number of jobs in the Harbour area is a key indication of progress in our local Howth economy. I’m urging the Minister to prioritise the stabilisation of these properties and continue investment in the Harbour through 2016.”

ENDS For more information contact Tommy Broughan at (01) 618 3557

NOTES TO THE EDITOR: Full Parliamentary Question and Reply here:

Parliamentary Question No. 14

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken each year since 2011 to develop fishing, boat repairs, tourism, and other small businesses at Howth Fishery Harbour in Dublin 13; the number of jobs maintained and created in the Harbour over the lifetime of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Thomas P. Broughan.

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 7th October, 2015.

Ref No: 34019/15 Lottery: 9 Proof: 9

REPLY

The Minister for Agriculture, Food   and the Marine : (Simon Coveney)

Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under statute. All six Fishery Centres are first and foremost working fishery harbours. However each centre has unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social perspective.

Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is no exception to this diversity. It is also a very important tourist destination in addition to being a major venue for leisure activities with a wide range of recreational users of the harbour. There is also significant number of businesses, particularly restaurants, operating in the Harbour. With that in mind the Department engages with stakeholders to increase the profile of the Harbour for the betterment of the wider community.

To this end, the Harbour regularly approves applications for events, yacht races, local celebrations and various functions etc within the harbour precincts. In addition, the Department approved locating the Howth Tourism Information Office within the confines of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. This facility opened in July 2014.

Notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, I am happy to be able to advise the Deputy that in excess of €4.2 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth FHC as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme from 2011 to 2014.

For 2015, I approved funding of €1.79 million for the maintenance and development of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. Major works for 2015 include the continued upgrading of the electrical system, provision of a small craft pontoon and traffic management works.

There are a total of 70 properties in the Howth Fishery Harbour Centre property portfolio encompassing a range of economic activity. Properties are made available by means of competitive public tender, the most recent competition being held on the 15th June this year. The majority of Fishery Harbour Centre properties are leased by my Department to a variety of public and private sector tenants which support this range of activities.

Employment statistics relating to the private and state organisations operating out of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre are not available, however I am satisfied that the investments made by my Department in the infrastructure of the Harbour are facilitating the maintenance and development of commercial, industrial, leisure and tourist related activity at the harbour and in the wider Howth area.

Tags: Agriculture, Fishery, Howth

BUDGET 2016, AN OPPORTUNITY TO CLOSE INEQUALITY GAPS IN IRISH SOCIETY

12 Oct 2015
Deputy Broughan submitted a number of Budget 2016 priority recommendations to Ministers Noonan and Howlin and hopes that they take this opportunity, their final budget in Government, to close the inequality gaps in Irish society (which are becoming more evident as growth and concentrations of wealth return to the dysfunctional pre-crash levels). Deputy Broughan highlighted housing, health (including disability), education, childcare and child protection, and social protection as areas to immediately be addressed.

Deputy Broughan expressed that, on the capital side in 2016, at least €1 billion should be spent on public housing directed by a reformed NAMA (as the public interest developer) or by an extended National Housing Executive. Likewise, the Health capital envelope for 2016 should be increased and include planning for projects like a new A&E Department at Beaumont Hospital and similar facilities at hard pressed emergency departments like University Hospital Galway. Deputy Broughan, like many other Deputies, received a high number of pre-budget submissions from various interest groups and focussed on those areas affecting the most vulnerable in Irish society. Clearly the Health and Disability sectors need restoration in current funding of at least €1.5 billion in 2016.

Deputy Broughan also strongly criticised the government’s announcements for public transport and said that at least another €1 billion needs to be deployed to this area from 2016 to 2019. Deputy Broughan suggests that the Metro North project could and should start construction in 2018 with a completion date of 2021. The 2026 completion date makes the government a total laughing stock.

In order to balance the books, Deputy Broughan put forward a number of wealth taxes on corporations and citizens with the highest incomes, including, for example, a 48% income tax on salaries of €100,000 plus, a Financial Transaction Tax (FTT), and a Solidarity and Reparations Tax on Financial Institutions (together yielding up to well over €1.5 billion). HE also demanded that the effective rate of Corporation Tax should be the 12.5% rate for all companies based in Ireland (yielding perhaps at least another €500 million).

Deputy Broughan says “It will be interesting to see what new information is revealed tomorrow, given that many of the measures expected to be introduced in Budget 2016 have been discussed in the media in recent weeks. I welcome the Tánaiste’s announcement that child benefit will be partially restored by €5 per week but it remains to be seen what other steps the Government takes to make Ireland fairer and more equal. It mentions the ‘recovery’ often yet world markets remain volatile and our recovery remains fragile. Will the Government finally abandon austerity and protect our most vulnerable citizens and families or will it fritter away tax revenues to shore up Fine Gael’s big business and wealthy backers?”

Tags: austerity, Budget 2016, Equality

WHAT IS MINISTER COVENEY DOING ABOUT CARBON EMISSIONS?

9 Oct 2015
Deputy Broughan this week supported the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill in Dáil Éireann. Although Deputy Broughan agreed with campaigners that the Bill did not go far enough in cementing Ireland’s commitment to strenuous low carbon emissions targets, he felt that the bill is indeed a step in the right direction.

Deputy Broughan also recently asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, to outline the measures his Department is taking to specifically address agriculture’s large contribution to Ireland’s total carbon emissions.

Deputy Broughan says “It is interesting to note the number of different projects and initiatives in the agricultural sector to move towards sustainable farming and indeed, the collaboration taking place with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on bioenergy. However, my fear is that, as with most things this Government does, these reports, initiatives and think-tanks will merely be a tick box exercise without really encouraging more sustainable agriculture in Ireland as an urgent priority. Yet climate change is already happening, is unavoidable and of course, is uncontrollable unless serious change takes place on a global scale.”

ENDS For more information contact Tommy Broughan at (01) 618 3557

NOTES TO THE EDITOR: Full Parliamentary Question and Reply here:

Parliamentary Question No:10

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is taking to address Agriculture’s large contribution to carbon emissions to meet EU-agreed emissions targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

– Thomas P. Broughan.

For ORAL answer on Wednesday, 7th October, 2015.

Ref No:   34018/15       Lottery:   5        Proof:   5

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine: (Simon Coveney)

Sustainable growth is a basic principle of all of our agriculture policies and programmes – we are committed to ensuring that the sector continues to grow sustainably so that Ireland can play its part in meeting the increasing global food demand while having regard to our climate obligations. This is why my Department and its agencies have developed a series of innovative measures including Origin Green and the Carbon Navigator initiative to drive sustainability in the sector. Sustainability and climate change measures are also key elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

My Department is also developing its sectoral contribution to the National Mitigation Plan, which will examine how the sector can play its part in addressing the current 2020 compliance challenge and will look out to 2030 and beyond.

The recently launched agri-food strategy, Food Wise 2025, sets a course for the agri-food industry of more sustainable growth over the next decade.   An environmental analysis was developed in tandem with this strategy and the final report will be completed shortly.

Ireland sees agriculture, forestry and other land uses (AFOLU) greenhouse mitigation policy as intrinsically linked in an integrated land-use approach. Our major commitment to investment in the Forestry Programme will yield a very significant level of mitigation to 2020 and beyond.

My Department is also working closely with colleagues in the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to assess the potential of bioenergy from the agriculture and forestry sectors to contribute to the 2020 renewable energy targets.

In terms of research and its contribution to the environmentally sustainable development of the agri-food sector; my Department provides a core grant to Teagasc, and operates competitive funding programmes for ‘public good’ type agri-food research, namely Stimulus and FIRM. A recurring research priority is the greenhouse gas efficiency of Irish agricultural production systems so as to maintain our economic and environmental competitive advantages.

Tags: Agriculture, Carbon Emissions, climate change

DISSOLVE THE DÁIL FOR THE SAKE OF OUR HOMELESS PEOPLE

29 Sep 2015
What needs to happen for this Government to take definitive action on our housing and homeless crisis? Will it take a horrific tragedy befalling one of the thousands of children experiencing homelessness before the so-called leaders of our country finally realise the extent of this catastrophic crisis?

On Friday last, Alan Murphy tragically died on our streets in very close proximity to our national parliament and to where Jonathan Corrie died in December 2014. Despite reactive Government policies, in August of this year the number of persons in emergency accommodation continued to spiral to 3,732 adults, 707 families, 1,496 children (during the week of the 24th – 30th of August). However, those of us working on the ground, and listening to our constituents, know that this is merely the tip of the iceberg.

My solutions include declaring an immediate Housing Emergency (a FEMPI but for our vulnerable homeless citizens not for our bankers), immediately introducing rent regulation (which has been found to be constitutional), ending discrimination by landlords against rent supplement applicants, increasing security of tenure and empowering NAMA to directly plan and build large new developments of social and mixed tenure housing. (NAMA was supposed to have such a role from mid-2014 and given the total and disastrous failures of private developers since 2007 it’s now essential to have a nationally owned public housing developer. We also need a quicker turnaround of vacant properties/voids, strong financial support for Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs)/Voluntary Co-ops to access finance and the adoption of Sweden’s policy that no children should be evicted.

I’m calling on the Government to apologise to the thousands of children living in hotel rooms, guesthouses and b&bs and for their sake, and the sake of our homeless citizens and families, to call an immediate General Election so that the appalling situation in housing may be addressed by a new Dáil.

Tags: homeless families, homelessness, housing crisis

BROUGHAN CALLS FOR INVESTMENT IN MALAHIDE ROAD RE-ALIGNMENT

24 Sep 2015
Deputy Broughan has today, during Topical Issues Debate, called for the inclusion of the Malahide Road Re-Alignment in the Department of Transport’s Capital Programme 2016. The Malahide Road Re-alignment was a key roads improvement objective in the 2005-2011 and 2011-2016 Dublin City Development Plans but was shelved during the downturn.

Masterplans for the North Fringe of Dublin City and the adjoining South Fringe of Fingal County Council were first drafted almost 15 years ago by the planning departments of the two Councils with plans for a new Urban District of 10,000 to 12,500 homes and ancillary commercial developments. Unfortunately, however, the financial and building crash from 2008 brought much of this development to a halt and the discovery of high pyrite levels in foundation infills and insulation and other construction problems has greatly delayed the much needed completion of the core of the North Fringe.

The Malahide Road Re-alignment plan was to divert traffic from the very busy Malahide Road to the west at Darndale Belcamp, over a new bridge and across the N32/R139 through Belcamp College and then moving back eastwards to re-join the Malahide Road near the Moyne Road junction. The last detailed report by DCC engineers costed the project at approximately €50 million.

Deputy Broughan says “Capital expenditure on this Re-alignment/Bypass would be a very valuable investment as a key measure to enable the sustainable completion of the North Fringe/South Fringe region. Many thousands of new homes, services and businesses are needed in this region and, in addition to addressing our catastrophic housing crisis, this road investment would be a huge boost to the local, public infrastructure. I’m urging the Minister to ensure that the National Transport Authority (NTA) makes the project a priority for the 2016 Capital Programme”.

Tags: Capital Programme, Dublin Bay North, Malahide Road, North Fringe

HOPEFULLY METRO NORTH RECONSIDERATION NOT JUST ELECTION PLOY

23 Sep 2015
Early this year I made a submission to the Public Consultation of the National Transport Authority (NTA) on their North Dublin Transport Study. I noted then that the study areas of Dublin Bay North and Dublin North West from Drumcondra to Dublin Airport and Swords had “a longstanding profound need for a fixed line public transport system”. I argued that “the preferred option of my Dublin Bay North constituents and myself has always been for the Metro North proposal.”

Indeed in the NTA study, the ‘Optimised Metro North’ option scored very highly under the size of the catchment population, speed of journey times, land use and transport integration headings. While the capital cost of the project remained significant I argued that a Cost Benefit Analysis of the project over 30 to 50 years into the future would easily make Metro North the most desirable option offered in the NTA study. The study also included a LUAS extension from Cabra Broombridge, Heavy Rail solutions (from the Dublin / Belfast line) and Bus Rapid Transit systems. For many years, of course, the distinguished engineer Mr. Cormac Rabbitte advocated a Metro North system based on the Madrid model which would be significantly cheaper than the various NTA options and proposals.

The report today that Minister Donohue and the Government are belatedly reconsidering ‘a revised less expensive optimised’ metro system proposal from the NTA is therefore very welcome (especially given all the time and money that was wasted by this and earlier governments in failing to progress the Metro North and other Dublin transport proposals). Hopefully the first phase of works to build Metro North will now be in the 2016 Capital Programme to be presented to Dáil Éireann shortly by Minister Howlin. The cost is estimated to be below €2 billion (over a number of years) and the route would run from Swords through Dublin Airport, Ballymun, Drumcondra and O’Connell Street over to St. Stephen’s Green. It is proposed that the carriages and stations would be smaller in this revised plan (with larger LUAS-type carriages rather than DART carriages) and these aspects of the proposal need to be reviewed again. Virtually every other EU capital now has a quality Metro and fixed line public transport system. It is deplorable that Dublin’s Northside has had to wait so long for any similar development. Hopefully this reconsideration of an optimised version of Metro North is not just a General Election ploy but will begin a process to build a Northside Metro.

Tags: DART, Metro North, Public Transport

MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND THE JUDICIARY AGAIN FAIL SAFE ROAD USERS

21 Sep 2015
Deputy Broughan has today expressed his strong disappointment at Mr Justice Seamus Noonan’s ruling that breath alcohol test reports must be produced in both Irish and English to be valid. This ruling directly contradicts the reassurances given by our Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohue, back in March of this year, where he confirmed that “It is not the case that reports are provided in both English and Irish”.

Deputy Broughan highlighted this potential problem with the Minister following reports from District Courts around the country by PARC Road Safety Group. Susan Gray of PARC is in regular contact with Deputy Broughan on matters regarding road safety and the implementation on our road traffic laws. Following on from a meeting with the Minister Deputy Broughan suggested that this potential loophole needed to be closed by way of Statutory Instrument. However, in the Minister’s reply dated March 24th 2015 he stated “I am satisfied following consultation with the Gardaí that there is no requirement to change the Road Traffic Act 2010 to make amendments of the kind suggested by the Deputy”. Today’s ruling changes this.

Deputy Broughan says “This judgement is extremely disappointing and is yet another example of the disconnect in our road traffic law enforcement. Why is it necessary for a volunteer, advocacy group to discover and point out the flaws in our implementation of our robust road safety laws? After consultation with Ms Susan Gray back in March I directly suggested closing this loophole which was leading to a number of drink-driving cases being adjourned. The Minister’s reply is very definitive yet today a Judge ruled otherwise. What will this mean for the remaining adjourned cases? The Government cannot seem to get a handle on our complex road safety laws and it is disappointing to say the least. The public are also concerned that the Judiciary again does not seem to be committed to administering clear road safety laws enacted by the Oireachtas.”

ENDS For more information contact Tommy Broughan at (01) 618 3557

NOTE: Full Parliamentary Question and Reply available here:
Dáil Question
No: 984

To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to amend Statutory Instrument No. 541 of the Road Traffic Act 2011 where it states that reports will be provided in both English and Irish in view of the fact that this statement is leading to drink-driving cases being adjourned and thrown out of court where drivers were only provided the report in English, as was highlighted at a meeting (details supplied), and in view of the fact that this is now affecting drink-driving prosecutions around the country..
– Thomas P. Broughan.

* For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 24th March, 2015.
to you by Ms Susan Gray and PARC in your meeting in January and as per your response to PARC on the 23rd of February this year where you indicated that a person can have the report in Irish on request to immediately amend the Road Traffic 2010 Act where it states that “Where the apparatus referred to in section 12 (1) determines that in respect of the specimen of breath to be taken into account as aforesaid the person may have contravened section 4 (4) or section 5 (4), he or she shall be supplied immediately by a member of the Garda Síochána with 2 identical statements, automatically produced by that apparatus in the prescribed form and duly completed by the member in the prescribed manner, stating the concentration of alcohol in that specimen determined by that apparatus” to delete the reference to 2 identical statements; and to immediately amend any other references to persons receiving reports in both English and Irish in relation to arrests for Road Traffic violations

Ref No: 11735/15 Proof: 1136

Answered by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport
Paschal Donohoe

REPLY
While I cannot comment on specific court cases, I would be happy to clarify the general position.
Section 12 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 provides for the taking of specimens of breath, blood or urine following an arrest under Part 2 of that Act, which deals with intoxicated driving. Section 13 of the Act sets out procedures to be followed after the taking of a specimen of breath under section 12.

Section 13(2) requires that, in cases where testing of a breath specimen has indicated an alcohol concentration higher than the legal limit, the apparatus should print ‘2 identical statements’ of the result in a prescribed form. The form itself was subsequently prescribed by SI 541 of 2011.

So that there is no misunderstanding I should clarify that, as the section makes clear, one of the 2 identical statements is to be signed by the individual and retained by An Garda Síochána, while the other is retained by the individual. In this way, both the Guards and the individual retain identical records of the test results. It is not the case that reports are provided in both English and Irish and it would not be appropriate to delete the section.
I am satisfied following consultation with the Gardaí that there is no requirement to change the Road Traffic Act 2010 to make amendments of the kind suggested by the Deputy.

Tags: Courts, Drink-driving, road safety

RAHENY CLONTARF FLOOD DEFENCE WALL NOT FULLY THOUGHT THROUGH

26 Aug 2015
Deputy Broughan is representing a number of constituents who have been in contact recently due to the high, rather unattractive, flood defence wall structure currently being constructed along the James Larkin Road. Plans for such a structure have been in place for some time now and the reported height is to be 850mm (or 2’9” in feet). However, photos sent to Deputy Broughan showed concrete slabs towering over one of the workers. Many constituents complained that the view of Bull Island, its wetlands and Dublin Bay was being strongly impeded by the new wall structure. Many senior constituents complained that the Bay was now invisible from James Larkin Road as they drive along the coastal area.

Deputy Broughan contacted the Dublin City Council Regional Projects and Flood Advisory Office in Marrowbone Lane, the Director of Streets and Traffic, the Roads Planning Department and the Sutton to Sandymount team to try and ascertain whether the current fairly high seawall will remain part of the final structure. Deputy Broughan has since made a number of representations and is awaiting a full report. He was informed that when the footpaths are restored, the Jim Larkin Road will also be raised slightly and that this should restore at least part of the view.

Deputy Broughan says “While I fully accept that appropriate flood defence mechanisms are completely necessary, surely there are less imposing engineering structures that can be used to ensure that coast is protected but that the beauty of Bull Island is unobstructed. It also appears that some key departments of Dublin City Council have not themselves been consulted about the new metre high wall. The flood alleviation and cycleway project was approved by An Bord Pleanála and went through the Part 8 public planning process at DCC.”

Tags: Clontarf, Dublin City Council, Flood Defence

NO INFORMATION CLINICS UNTIL MONDAY, 7th SEPTEMBER 2015
26 Aug 2015
Please note, due to long-standing prior commitments, my weekly information clinics will not be taking place this weekend or the first weekend in September.

My weekly information clinics will resume on Monday, 7th September 2015. For further details of the times and locations of these clinics, please see the Contact section of this website.

BROUGHAN CONCERNED AT DECREASING NUMBERS OF ADDICTION COUNSELLORS

20 Aug 2015
Deputy Broughan is concerned that the number of addiction counsellors, employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) Drug Treatment Service, nationwide has dropped from 139.2 in 2011 to 122.8 in 2015. Dublin Services have seen the largest decrease with the Community Health Organisations (CHOs) of Dublin South West/Kildare/West Wicklow, Dun-Laoghaire & Bray, Arklow and Wicklow down from 32 to 24 and Dublin North-East down from 24 to 20. These 2 CHO areas alone make up for 10 of the overall 16.4 positions no longer available to people accessing addiction services.

Earlier this summer, Deputy Broughan received a reply from the HSE regarding the number of persons accessing methadone treatment around the country. The reply to this Parliamentary Question showed that there was a rise in overall numbers from 9,655 people at the end of December 2013 to 9,866 people at the end of May 2015. A recent report from a child psychotherapist stated that cannabis is currently a greater drug problem than alcohol among Irish teens and the Aislinn Centre, the only residential drug treatment centre for adolescents has also seen increases in admissions for cannabis use.

Deputy Broughan says “Addiction continues to be an issue for many Irish citizens and families. Help, support and assistance in desisting from addictive behaviour and substances must be available for people when they are ready and able to take the necessary steps towards recovery. I do not understand why the numbers of addiction counsellors nationwide are reducing so significantly when we have not seen the equivalent drop in numbers of people experiencing addiction. Addiction can have devastating effects on families and communities and it is the Government and HSE’s responsibility to ensure that sufficient services are available to meet the need. I’m calling on the Minister of State with responsibility for Drugs, Aodhán O Ríordáin to examine this reply from the HSE and to question why the largest drops are in the CHO’s which tend to have higher levels of addiction and to immediately increase the numbers of addiction counsellors in the CHO areas most effected by the overall decrease.”

Tags: Addiction, Counsellors, Drugs, health

RECALL THE DÁIL ON HOMELESS CATASTROPHE

18 Aug 2015
Deputy Broughan is calling for Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister Alan Kelly to immediately recall the Dáil to discuss the ongoing and worsening crisis of families entering homelessness. Deputy Broughan has approached both Kenny and Kelly on a number of occasions throughout this year both directly via email/letter and across the floor of the Dáil and called on them to declare a housing emergency. The bankers got a FEMPI (Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act), so why is the Government so hesitant to introduce emergency housing measures for the 1,383 children experiencing homelessness?

Of all the mistakes this Government has made, and there have been many, this housing and homelessness crisis is potentially the most devastating and dangerous. Earlier this summer, Deputy Broughan met with the Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon and then also a representative from the Children’s Rights Alliance to voice his serious concerns over the welfare of children and families in emergency accommodation and the shocking longer term impacts that lack of suitable accommodation could be having on these children and families.

Two months ago, Deputy Broughan wrote an open letter to the Taoiseach, the Tanáiste, Minister Alan Kelly and Minister Brendan Howlin and urged them to meet with representatives of the Irish Housing Network and, again, to declare a housing emergency. Alan Kelly finally sent a reply today with his standard line that ‘the long-term solution to homelessness is to increase the supply of homes’ and heralding his ‘Social Housing Strategy 2020′. While Deputy Broughan agrees that massively increasing supply is the longer term solution and welcomes the strategy to build new houses it is simply disrespectful to all families involved to deny that this is a crisis that requires urgent measures. The immediate solution needed is to introduce rent regulation (which has been found to be constitutional), to end discrimination by landlords against rent supplement applicants, to increase security of tenure to at least 3 years and to empower NAMA to directly plan and build large new developments of social and mixed tenure housing (NAMA was supposed to have such a role from mid-2014 and given the total and disastrous failures of private developers since 2007 it’s now essential to have a nationally owned public housing developer). Schools are starting back next week and families are being accommodated in any hotels/b&bs that will take them – in some cases located far across the city from where their schools are.

Deputy Broughan says “This is now a public policy disaster. Kenny and Kelly are dragging their heels on this hugely serious issue. Media interest has peaked recently and hopefully this will increase the pressure on the Government to take action but this crisis has been growing and deepening drastically over the past 5 years. Why is the Government so reticent to introduce rent regulation? Is this because landlords’ interests are represented so strongly by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil? Just when I think that the crisis cannot get any worse we get reports of families with children sleeping rough. I dread to think of the types of tragedy that could befall any of these families and abhor the lack of action by our supposed ‘leaders’ of the country, along with the lack of accountability by management of local authorities. The lack of action on homelessness is shameful.”

ENDS For more information contact Tommy Broughan at (01) 618 3557

NOTES FOR THE EDITOR:
A copy of the reply by Minister Kelly’s office can be read here:

Dear Deputy Broughan,
I refer to your request that Minister Alan Kelly meet with selected representatives of the Irish Housing Network. Due to a heavy schedule of diary engagements unfortunately it will not be possible for the Minister to meet with this group, however the Minister has asked me to reassure you that addressing the issue of homelessness is a top priority for him and the Department.
The long-term solution to homelessness is to increase the supply of homes. In November 2014, Minister Kelly launched the Government’s Social Housing Strategy 2020. This six-year strategy sets out to provide 35,000 new social housing units at a cost of €3.8 billion and restores the State to a central role in the provision of social housing. In addition the Strategy envisions delivering up to 75,000 units of long term, quality accommodation to meet housing needs through local authority housing supports schemes.

Since becoming Minister with responsibility for housing Minister Kelly has increased the funding available through this Department for homeless services; Budget 2015 confirmed €55.5 million in such funding, an increase of over 20% on the amount which was made available for allocation in 2014 (€45 million). The funding needs of the various regions are being kept under review on an ongoing basis.

The Minister is fully committed to prioritising homelessness, not just through funding for services but also by implementing additional measures, such as:

· housing acquisitions;

· returning vacant local authorities properties to productive use;

· the roll out of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP);

· and the prioritisation of homeless households in the allocation of tenancies under the control of housing authorities.

Homelessness is an issue which requires a whole-of-Government response and a range of measures are identified in the Government’s Implementation Plan on the State’s Response to Homelessness (May 2014) and in the Action Plan to Address Homelessness (December 2014). Copies of these plans are available on the Department’s website at:
http://www.environ.ie/en/DevelopmentHousing/Housing/SpecialNeeds/HomelessPeople/
The Minister and his Cabinet colleagues consider progress in implementing these plans through meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform which has scheduled the issue of homelessness as ongoing agenda item for meetings.

I trust that this information has been of assistance.

Tags: crisis, homeless families, homelessness, housing

TIME FOR KELLY TO RESIGN

28 Jul 2015
Deputy Broughan is today calling on Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to step down following the decision by Eurostat that Irish Water must remain on the Exchequer Balance Sheet. Deputy Broughan has been a very vocal opponent to the setting up of Irish Water and the introduction of water charges and believes that the news today is further confirmation of the failure of this Government’s handling of the Irish Water fiasco.

Deputy Broughan raised many Parliamentary Questions about Irish Water this term and a number of these were disallowed by the Ceann Comhairle, usually stating that “the Minister has no official responsibility to Dáil Éireann for this matter.” Most recently, Deputy Broughan disputed this due to the large amount of Exchequer funding being paid to Irish Water.

While the news of Irish Water remaining on the Exchequer balance sheet will not have a negative impact on Budget 2016, it does mean that our budget deficit will not be as healthy as originally thought.

Deputy Broughan says “This is an absolute farce. Today’s news is yet another example of why Irish Water needs to be dissolved immediately and the responsibility of our national water supply and drainage restored to the Irish local authorities (organised on a regional basis). Minister Alan Kelly has proved himself to be a complete failure on this (and other) issues and I’m calling on him to do the right thing and hand in his resignation. Neither I, nor my constituents, have any confidence in his ability as Minister.”

Tags: Alan Kelly, Eurostat, Irish Water

NO INFORMATION CLINICS UNTIL SATURDAY, 22nd AUGUST 2015

28 Jul 2015
Please note, due to staff annual leave, my Dáil and constituency office in Leinster House will be closed for the first two weeks of August (until Monday, 17th August 2015). Any queries will be responded to on our return during the week commencing 17th of August.
My weekly information clinics will resume on Saturday, 22nd August 2015. For further details of the times and locations of these clinics, please see the Contact section of this website.

Tags: closed, Office Hours

MINISTER MUST INCREASE GARDAÍ NUMBERS AT DISTRICTS J & R

24 Jul 2015
Deputy Broughan welcomes news this week that 97 new Gardaí attested in Templemore. Deputy Broughan recently questioned the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, on whether the number of Gardaí will be increased in the J & R Districts of Coolock, Clontarf, Santry, Raheny and Howth following the recruitment of new Gardaí.

In a response to the Parliamentary Question raised the Minister stated that it is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to decide upon the “distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources”. Speaking on the number of new Gardaí recruits since 2009, and indeed yesterday’s attestation, the Minister also confirmed that there are “two further intakes scheduled for October and December of this year. This will bring the number of new recruits to 550 by the end of 2015”.

Minister Fitzgerald’s reply states “On attestation, these new Probationer Gardaí will be assigned to Garda Stations throughout the country, where they will be allocated to mainstream uniform policing duties, and the needs of all Garda Divisions will be fully considered as part of this process”. She would not confirm the number of Probationer Gardaí which would be allocated to the busy Garda Districts J & R.

In an earlier reply to another Parliamentary Question on the number of Gardaí in each district in the Dublin Metropolitan Area each year since 2011, Deputy Broughan learned that the total number of Gardaí in Coolock, Clontarf, Santry, Raheny and Howth stations has reduced by 40 overall since a peak of 394 in 2012. In 2011, there were a total of 117 Gardaí (including Inspectors and Superintendents) in Coolock Garda Station; this reduced to 114 in 2012, 112 in 2013, 109 in 2014 and down to 108 at the end of March this year. In 2011, there were 77 Gardaí (again of all levels) in Clontarf Garda Station; this reduced to 72 in 2012, 69 in 2013, 68 in 2014 and down to 66 at the end of March this year. Santry Garda Station had a total of 81 Gardaí in 2011 and this jumped to 102 in 2012, but then decreases steadily to 95 in 2013, 90 in 2014 and now 89 up to the end of March 2015. Raheny Garda Station has also seen decreases with levels at 68 in 2011, 64 in 2012, 62 in 2013 and 2014 and down to 60 up to the end of March 2015. Howth Garda Station had 39 Gardaí in 2011, as with Santry this actually increased to 42 in 2012 and then reduced to 38 in 2013, 31 in 2014 which had remained at the same level up to the end of March 2015.

Deputy Broughan says “Recent CSO figures showed that overall crime statistics seem to be falling in most counties, but not in Dublin. I continue to represent constituents experiencing anti-social behaviour and alleged criminal activity and I believe that a greater police presence would act as a deterrent to some criminal behaviour. We had a recruitment embargo on new Gardaí for five years and existing Stations were expected to improve their levels of service with fewer resources. Figures released to my office clearly show the consistent reduction in manpower at each of the Stations. I’m calling on Minister Fitzgerald to examine these numbers with her colleague, the Garda Commissioner and allocate at least some of the new Gardaí to the Districts serving Dublin Bay North.”

Tags: Clontarf, Coolock, Dublin Bay North, Gardaí, Howth, Raheny, Santry

BRUTON NOT MEASURING UP ON DUBLIN BAY NORTH JOBS

21 Jul 2015
Before the summer recess, Deputy Broughan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, to provide an update on the status of Cadbury/Mondelez jobs as it has been almost five months since the announcement that over 200 jobs were to be cut at factories in Coolock and around Ireland.

On the 27th of February this year Mondelez Ireland, the parent company of Cadbury, announced that 160 jobs were to go at their chocolate plants in Coolock and in Rathmore, Co. Kerry and that 45 jobs would be lost in the closure of the Trident chewing gum production facility in Tallaght. Cadbury Coolock has been an important employer in Deputy Broughan’s constituency since 1956 and generations of local families have worked at the iconic plant.

Since the shock announcement Deputy Broughan has attended a number of briefings with workers and their trade union representatives. He has also contacted his colleague, MEP, Nessa Childers, to request information on Mondelez’s European subsidiaries and regulation. Furthermore, Deputy Broughan has raised this important issue on a number of occasions, by way of Parliamentary Questions and Topical Issues Debates, with Minister Bruton, particularly as Minister Bruton is also an elected representative for this constituency.

Deputy Broughan says “Last week I received an update from the Minister for Jobs that unfortunately did not address the issue concerned. The workers themselves, and their representatives have put forward alternative proposals to management of the plant and Minister Bruton says that they are still in discussions around these ‘rationalisation plans’. Instead of supporting the workers with their proposals to Cadbury management the Minister says that he has directed “Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to continue their drive to find alternative projects for the area affected.” I asked the Minister what he was doing to boost jobs in our constituency of Dublin Bay North and his reply details information about funding that is available for entrepreneurs through Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and an online tool for SMEs. The Minister does not seem to understand that we want him to fight for these Cadbury jobs. It is simply not good enough that he has sat back and seemed to accept that these job losses were inevitable when he was asked by the workers for support. While I absolutely welcome every new announcement of job creation around the country, it is not acceptable that the Minister ignore workers in long-established companies such as Cadbury and Clerys. Current jobs must be protected where possible and I sincerely wish the workers the best with the alternative plans they developed and submitted to management.”

Tags: Cadbury, Coolock, Jobs, Mondelez

VARADKAR CONFIRMS SUPPLEMENTARY BUDGET NEEDED FOR HEALTH

20 Jul 2015
Deputy Broughan continues to call on the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, to urgently prioritise improvements in the Accident and Emergency Department of Beaumont Hospital. Beaumont Hospital is one of the busiest Emergency Departments in the country and provides services to more than 50,000 patients every year.

Overcrowding remains a problem at Beaumont A & E and Deputy Broughan has recently raised some questions regarding planning for the seasonal upsurge this coming winter as it is essential that a crisis such as what we saw in winter 2014 is avoided. In a reply of February this year to previous questions raised by Deputy Broughan, Tony O’Brien, Director General of the Health Service Executive (HSE) reported that “the numbers of emergency presentations in 2014 is up 2% on 2013 and emergency admissions are up 1.8% on 2013 levels. The main factor leading to the current ED pressures relates to higher numbers of delayed discharges in acute hospital beds, when comparing this year to same period last year. On the 6th of January there were 770 delayed discharges reported across the acute hospital services. This was approximately 150 more than at this time last year and this has led to a consequent increase in the numbers of patients on trolleys requiring admission particularly on the first week of the year. This was despite both the hospital and community investing in transitional care beds during the course of 2014”.

Following continuing problems with overcrowding and long delays in Beaumont’s busy A&E Deputy Broughan has asked Minister Varadkar whether he intends to submit a Supplementary Budget to address the urgent needs of Beaumont and the other huge deficiencies in our health services. In a reply received last week the Minister confirmed “whilst it is clear that a Supplementary Estimate will be required, given the uncertainty around certain expenditure areas, it is too early to quantify this requirement.”

In a reply to another Parliamentary Question on the ‘health’ of Beaumont’s A&E Department, Minister Varadkar said that hospital management, along with the HSE, have implemented a number of initiatives to “improve the patient pathway both through the ED and the hospital.” Some of these initiatives include increased collaboration with community services, the development of the RCSI Hospitals Group’s ‘Frail Elderly Project Team’ with a Community Geriatrician, use of 16 beds in the Clontarf Orthopaedic Hospital for step down, transferring patients to Mount Carmel ‘for transitional or rehabilitative care’ plus a number of other measures to reduce the pressure on Beaumont’s A&E Department. In addition, the Emergency Department (ED) Taskforce Implementation Oversight Group is receiving monthly reports on progress being made on the various actions decided.

Deputy Broughan says “Last Friday, the HSE confirmed to me that “Beaumont Hospital has advised that they have completed a tender for a feasibility study for a new Emergency Department. Once completed the feasibility study will be used to inform discussions with the HSE on progression towards the building of a new ED”. Now the Minister has confirmed that a Health Supplementary Estimate will be put forward so I am urging him to seriously consider the results of the feasibility study along with the long-standing needs of Beaumont Hospital. I welcome the initiatives currently being implemented but all my constituents and I do feel that an upgraded ED is required for Beaumont. I have also asked about the possibility of the provision of an A&E facility at the neighbouring Ashlin Centre but this is not being considered. We have to take all necessary measures to ensure that we are prepared for this winter and that citizens do not have to worry about how long they could be left on trollies should they require hospital treatment. The Minister needs to re-invest in our ailing healthcare services.”

Tags: Beaumont Hospital, Budgets, Healtcare, HSE

DCC HOUSING WAITING LIST NOW GREATER THAN POPULATION OF LONGFORD

16 Jul 2015
Deputy Broughan has today received figures from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government that appear to indicate that there were less than 300 vacant Local Authority dwellings in 2013. Following on from liaising with the Irish Housing Network, which have recently reclaimed the unused Bolton Street Hostel and a detailed reported released by Dublin City Council (DCC) on the demographics of their 21,592 strong housing list, Deputy Broughan requested information from Minister Kelly on vacant housing stock, in both Local Authorities and NAMA stock.

Deputy Broughan has been challenging Minister Kelly on the critical issue of the growing housing crisis for over a year now. Indeed, in his budget submission for Budget 2015 Deputy Broughan called for the implementation of rent regulation to halt the worsening housing and homeless crisis. Almost one year later, our homeless figures, particularly of families with young children, have grown drastically and over 1,200 children are now living in unsuitable, emergency accommodation in DCC alone.

Figures released earlier this week from Dublin City Council confirmed that their waiting list for social housing has exceeded 21,000 for the first time and that 1,368 people have been on the waiting list for 10 years or more. Of course, it is Deputy Broughan’s own constituency of Dublin Bay North that has the greatest demand in the city with 5,733 applicants awaiting housing. The report detailed the types of units needed, the family sizes and the amount of time on the list.

In a reply to a Parliamentary Question on vacant NAMA properties Minister Kelly stated that his Department and the Housing Agency “have been engaged with NAMA identifying properties that might potentially be suitable for social housing purposes” since December 2011. Minister Kelly said “It is important to remember that the properties under consideration in this process are part of the security for loans that NAMA has acquired. In the majority of cases properties remain in the ownership of the original borrowers. The remaining properties are controlled by receivers appointed by NAMA. Therefore, information on individual properties is commercially and legally sensitive and for that reason has not been released to my Department.”

Minister Kelly’s reply states that “since the process began, up to end of June 2015, a total of 1,386 NAMA residential properties have been delivered for social housing use, comprising of 1,083 completed properties, with a further 303 that have been contracted and where completion work is on-going. A further 624 properties are active transactions whereby terms are agreed, active negotiation is on-going with all parties concerned, or where a detailed appraisal (i.e. determining the most likely delivery mechanism) is being carried out.

In respect of the local authorities mentioned by the Deputy, the table below sets out the number of units that have been delivered/contracted to date and the number that are currently under active consideration”

Local Authority Units Completed/Contracted Units Under Active Consideration
Dublin City 363 –
DLRD Co. Co 93 –
Fingal Co. Co. 60 46
Kildare Co. Co. 93 19
Meath Co. Co. 29 9
South Dublin Co. Co. 113 8
Wicklow Co. Co. – 7
Louth Co. Co. 27 –
Total 778 89

In a reply to a similar Parliamentary Question but regarding vacant Local Authority Housing stock Deputy Broughan was given the following reply “Statistics on local authority housing stock are published by the Local Government Management Agency , including numbers of vacant social housing units and the average number of weeks for each local authority to re-let a unit from the date of vacation of the unit to the completion of repairs. The most recent statistics are the Service Indicators in Local Authorities 2013 which are available at the following weblink: http://www.lgma.ie/en/service-indicators-local-authorities-2013.”

Deputy Broughan says “Figures released this week showed that the number of citizens waiting to be housed by Dublin City Council is 42,106. To put this figure in context it is more than the entire population of County Longford and almost as high as the population of Waterford City. Yet the Government and Local Authorities continue to drag their heels on this issue. The Local Government Management Agency’s report shows that in 2013, there were 24,029 local authority dwellings in DCC, 4,340 in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, 4,466 in Fingal and 9,086.8 in South Dublin County Council. Respectively just 2%, 0.9%, 2.8% and 0.5% were reported as being empty during this period and, of these empty dwellings, just 51%, 54.8%, 19.8% and 10.6% of these were “available for letting”.

Demand for social housing is at an all time high and the Minister and Local Authorities must be looking at all available avenues to begin to make a dent on the lists; including, of course, utilising all available vacant stock, particularly those that have already been deemed to be available for housing. Bureaucratic delays are leading to increasing numbers of citizens and families staying in unsecure and unsuitable accommodation. It is simply not fair. The solution to the housing crisis is multi-faceted – it requires immediate rent regulation and immediate builds. I’m calling on Managers Owen Keegan and Paul Reid to take responsibility, along with Minister Kelly, and urgently release and acquire much-needed properties and if they can’t do this in the next month or so for them to explain to the Irish public why not.”

Tags: DCC, homelessness, housing, NAMA

CALLS TO ANIMAL WELFARE HELPLINE TRIPLES

10 Jul 2015
Calls to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s Animal Welfare Helpline tripled between 2013 and 2014 a reply to a Parliamentary Question by Deputy Broughan revealed. There were just 212 calls to the helpline in 2013, which increased to 652 calls in 2014 and by mid-2015 the number of calls was already at 350, which indicates that the increase will continue through this year.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provide a helpline and email contact to report incidents of suspected animal cruelty. In the response to the Parliamentary Question, Minister Coveney confirms that “where it is considered appropriate, follow up action is arranged by Inspectors from my Department or with the assistance of ISPCA/DSPCA Inspectors under their respective Service Agreements”

Deputy Broughan says “We don’t know from these figures whether instances of animal cruelty have also increased or whether people are just less tolerant of such cruelty and more likely to report it. There have been some very distressing reports recently of puppy farms and maltreated animals, especially horses. I encourage people to continue to report instances of cruelty and for the Minister to take action when necessary.”

CONTACT DETAILS: Dedicated helpline to report incidents of Animal Cruelty
Call Save: 0761 064408
Phone: 01 6072379
email address – animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie

Tags: Animal Welfare, Cruelty to Animals, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Helpline

BROUGHAN QUESTIONS NOONAN ON SUGGESTED MORATORIUM ON GREEK DEBT

10 Jul 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has questioned both the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, and the Taoiseach a number of times this year on the possibility of Ireland hosting a Eurozone debt conference, on the possibility of significant write-downs of both Greek and Irish debt and more recently, on a possible two-year moratorium on Greek debt repayments to allow the Greek budget and economy to re-stabilise.

Yesterday, the Minister of Finance replied to a Parliamentary Question regarding Deputy Broughan’s proposal for a moratorium and waiver of a large portion of this debt for Greece and Ireland. Minister Noonan states that “it is important to recognise that in relation to the burden of Greek debt significant concessions have already been granted”. He continues to give the example that in November 2012, there was an agreement by the Eurogroup “to a lowering by 100 basis points of the interest rate charged to Greece on the loans provided in the context of the Greek Loan Facility. An extension of maturity of the loans by 15 years was also decided”.

Minister Noonan states that there is a current “moratorium on repayments of principal on the Greek Loan Facility until the early part of the next decade. Moreover, there are no interest or principal repayments due on the Greek EFSF loans until 2023”. He further confirms that he is “open to further maturity extensions, longer grace periods, etc. in order to reduce further the burden of Greek debt”.

With regards to Ireland, the Minister for Finance says “This is what we have done in Ireland. We have restructured our debt – extending the maturities on the EFSF and EFSM loans, replacing the promissory notes with long-term bonds, etc. – in order to reduce the burden of debt”. But Deputy Broughan believes that the backbreaking burden of debt on Ireland down to 2020 and beyond must also be urgently reduced in the context of a Greek resolution.

Deputy Broughan says “It seems that Minister Noonan is giving contradictory accounts on the issue of Greek debt and his openness to support serious debt reduction and restructuring measures to enable the Greek economy to re-stabilise. Reports from Europe have been indicating that Irish representatives are standing firmly on the side of Germany and opposing Greece. In the meantime, it is the citizens of Greece that are suffering and experiencing hardship while trying to go about their day to day lives. I hope that the Irish government will now support fundamental debt reduction for Greece this weekend and that Ireland’s debt and savage interest burden will now urgently go back on the Eurozone agenda.”

Tags: debt, Eurozone, Finance, Greece

1,200 PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES UNABLE TO ACCESS RESPITE BEDS

9 Jul 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has recently raised a number of questions relating to services available for persons with Intellectual Disabilities and their families, waiting lists for such services, the number of respite beds available and whether funding will be allocated in the Government’s Capital Expenditure Programme for these important services.

A recent reply to a Parliamentary Question, which was received directly from the HSE, stated that 27,318 people with an intellectual disability registered with the National Intellectual Disability Database (NIDD) were receiving services. The NIDD is managed by the Health Research Board (HRB) and participation is voluntary so figures do not represent the total population in Ireland of persons with intellectual disabilities. The HSE confirmed that the NIDD does not record numbers on waiting lists but rather on “future service requirements”. The database estimates that 2,043 persons will require residential respite services for the first time in the period 2014 – 2018, which is a decrease of 11 from the previously projected numbers in 2012. A further 1,647 residential respite support places “will require changes or enhancements”.

A further reply from the HSE provided the numbers of people who accessed respite care services in 2012, 2013 and 2014:
The number of people benefitting from residential centre based respite services (ID, and/or Autism, Physical , Sensory)
6039 in 2012 6,208 in 2013 5227 in 2014
The number of bed nights in residential centre based respite services used by people with Disabilities (ID and / or autism and Physical and Sensory) 239,239 in 2012 242,699 in 2013 180,901 in 2014

The HSE report that due to “a significant number of respite beds” being used instead as “long term residential placements” the HSE target of respite nights are down compared to previous targets. The reply states that “the combined number of respite bed nights for people with ID or a physical and/or sensory disability are down -36.2% since March 2012”. However, this is partly due to a “significant increase in home support hours at June 2014 (27% above Q2 target, and 59% higher than 2013 Q2 level)” for the areas in the DML area which comprises South and South West Dublin, Kildare/West Wicklow, Laois/Offaly, Longford/Westmeath and Wicklow. The HSE attribute this improvement to the delivery of new models of respite care such as home respite and extended day care etc.

The HSE’s reply states “In addition to the centre-based respite services outlined above, between 2,000 and 2,500 persons availed of non-centre based respite services such as holiday residential placement, occasional respite with host family, overnight respite in the home, and summer camps, allowing people to continue living with their families and in their communities”.

According to statistics from the NIDD, more than 1,200 persons are currently in need of respite but are not receiving this service due to the lack of available beds. The HSE state that “providing each individual with four weeks respite in a year would require 92 additional respite beds at a cost of €6.9 million”.

Deputy Broughan says “I’m calling on the Minister to immediately release funds to increase the number of respite beds available to people with intellectual disabilities. The HSE have been reviewing the sustainability and suitability of the ‘Host Family Support Model’ of providing respite services since receiving a report from a working group in 2012. Currently there are just nineteen such host family settings around the country. If people with intellectual disabilities and their families consider this an acceptable option for respite services then I urge the HSE to push forward in implementing the recommendations from the working group. The HSE and the Minister can easily improve respite services before the end of the year and allow the 1,200 people awaiting services the respite break they deserve.”

Tags: Disability Strategy, HSE, Intellectual Disabilities, Respite beds

BROUGHAN QUESTIONS MINISTER VARADKAR ON SEASONAL UPSURGE PREPARATIONS

9 Jul 2015
In Dáil Éireann this morning, Deputy Tommy Broughan questioned Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, on the current status of the Fair Deal scheme and preparatory plans for dealing with the seasonal upsurge for demand for healthcare services in Ireland.

The Fair Deal scheme is part of the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) which has received 56,989 applications for funding since becoming operational in October 2009. This funding provides assistance with paying for long-term nursing home care and in 2014, 22,061 citizens received funding. The scheme, however, continues to be under pressure as many citizens face long backlogs to access the funding resulting in delayed discharges from acute hospital care to appropriate nursing home beds. The budget for the NHSS this year is €948.8 million which includes an uplift of €10 million for the ‘Delayed Discharges Initiative’ which was to provide 300 additional beds in long stay care. A further €44 million was then allocated in April this year to fund another 1,600 places.

Deputy Broughan received a reply to a PQ, from the HSE, at the end of May, on the current number of Fair Deal beds in public facilities which confirmed that in April 2015 there were 1,197 beds. This figure has decreased from 1,212 in 2012 yet our population is ageing and access to Fair Deal beds continues to be an issue for acute hospitals.

Deputy Broughan referenced ALONE’s ‘Home First’ Campaign which calls for support to enable vulnerable older people remain in their own homes. According to ALONE’s research approximately one third of older persons currently in nursing homes could live at home with support. Data from the Centre for Ageing Research and Development in Ireland (CARDI) showed that 4.5% of our population over 65 years are in long-term residential care; this compares to 1.5% in Italy, 3.4% in Germany and 4.2% in the UK.

Deputy Broughan says “The Minister needs to give serious consideration to extending Home Care Packages (HCP) to support persons to remain in their own homes. In PQ replies from the HSE at the end of June I was informed that the target for the HCP scheme this year was 13,200 recipients of HCP at any one time (which can lead to waiting lists), 10.3 million hours of home help in a year and allocated funding for the entire scheme of €130 million. Indeed, since 2011 home help hours have been cut by 1.68 million hours. I note in a PQ reply from the HSE dated the 25th of June that an additional €10 million was allocated for ‘intensive home care packages’, of which €5 million was allocated to HCP under the ‘Delayed Discharges Initiative’ this year following our unprecedented overcrowding crisis last winter. As of the end of April 2015 there were 944 persons on HCP waiting lists throughout Dublin. By increasing funding to this scheme, in conjunction with the Fair Deal Scheme and Carer’s Packages, more seniors could be supported in their own homes and communities.”

Tags: Fair Deal Scheme, health service, nursing home beds

BROUGHAN SLAMS MINISTER REILLY’S LACK OF INTERVENTION ON HOMELESS CRISIS

8 Jul 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has this morning, during oral Parliamentary Questions slammed the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, James Reilly, for his total lack of intervention to protect families experiencing homelessness. Deputy Broughan was questioning the Minister on his preparation for the upcoming UN Review on the Rights of the Child and addressed the worrying issue of homelessness among children.

In 1992, Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which means that we are required to submit progress reports to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and take part in oral examinations by members of the Committee. We have completed two previous examinations in 1998 and 2006 and submitted the State’s consolidated 3rd and 4th reports to the Committee in 2013. Minister Reilly is due to represent Ireland at our next oral examination by this Committee in January of 2016.

Figures released this week show that the week ending the 28th of June there were 1,122 children living in emergency accommodation. This figure has almost doubled since August 2014 and shows no sign of slowing. Deputy Broughan reports that his office currently represents dozens of families in homeless situations, including some ‘hidden’ homeless, in unsuitable, cramped, shared accommodation with family members/friends while most are placed in emergency accommodation with their families, some for over one year.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs was established on the 2nd of June 2011 to “lead the effort to improve outcomes for children and young people in Ireland”. The high-level objectives on the Departments website are very honourable in theory but there has been no evidence of Minister Reilly taking a lead addressing the impact of the housing crisis on children of homeless families. One of the values listed says that the Department will “collaborate and innovate across the organisation and with other departments, agencies and sectors to improve outcomes for children and young people, particularly those who are most vulnerable.” Deputy Broughan points out that Minister Reilly has rejected a number of his questions about supports for children experiencing homelessness, instead saying that this is the responsibility of Minister Alan Kelly. This attitude doesn’t seem like collaboration or innovation in the face of such an emergency.

Deputy Broughan says “This is an absolute emergency. It could even be described as our generation’s mothers and babies homes scandal yet our dedicated Minister for Children sits back and takes no action. Have we learnt nothing from our country’s past mistakes? The UN Committee accept ‘Parallel Reports’ from civil society groups to inform its reviews and examinations. These Parallel Reports are independent and will also be considered in the Committee’s preparation of the examination. The Children’s Rights Alliance and the Ombudsman for Children have both submitted parallel reports and both have included the need to address homelessness in children. The Minister cannot shirk his responsibility on this issue. He needs to re-read the values and objectives on his own website and explain why these don’t extend to young children living in hotel rooms, guesthouses and b&bs through no fault of their own, but at the fault of this Fine Gael/Labour Government.”

Tags: children, homelessness, Youth Affairs

BROUGHAN SAYS CIVIL DEBT (PROCEDURES) BILL 2015 DIRECTED AT CITIZENS OPPOSED TO WATER TAXES

3 Jul 2015
Deputy Broughan has spoken in Dáil Éireann today on the Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015 and said that while he welcomed provisions for eliminating imprisonment for non-payment of fines, the nub of the Bill is to force people to pay for Irish Water through attachment orders to the wages and deductions from social welfare payments.

The removal of imprisonment for non-payment of fines, not court ordered instalments, was recommended in the report by the Law Reform Commission on ‘Personal Debt Management and Debt Enforcement’ which was published in 2010, a year before this conservative Government even came into power. Yet there has only been movement on the Bill since the mass protests against the farcical quango Irish Water.

Deputy Broughan highlighted a number of potential problems with the Bill and the serving of notices, potentials privacy issues in disclosing attachment orders to employers and the technologies available to court clerks in issuing these orders.

Deputy Broughan says “Every week I meet and represent Irish citizens struggling to make ends meet after years of austerity and draconian cuts. Many of these are single mothers and many often go without food themselves in order to be able to feed their children. The Tánaiste’s newest changes to the One-Parent Family structure are pushing more single parents further into poverty, Minister Kelly’s lack of action on the housing crisis mean that over 1,000 children are now living in hotel rooms and now this Bill, being pushed through along with amendments to the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014, will punish people on low incomes and social welfare payments for not paying their Irish Water bills.”

Tags: Civil Debt, Irish Water

FAI FUNDING DOWN OVER €1.6 MILLION SINCE 2008

1 Jul 2015
Deputy Broughan has today noted the significant decrease in funding to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) from the Irish Sports Council in the past 7 years. While funding totalling €26,311,986 has been paid out since 2008, it has decreased annually from €4,350,000 in 2008 to €2,707,910 this year.

Deputy Broughan raised a number of Parliamentary Questions around this topic following the controversial €5 million payment/loan made by FIFA to the FAI. In a reply from the Irish Sports Council received yesterday, they outlined the amounts granted to the FAI and the ‘Women in Sport’ Programme since 2008. The ‘Women in Sport’ Programme was introduced in 2005 following research undertaken by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which highlighted the need to increase women’s participation in sport.

The table indicating the Irish Sports Council’s investment is detailed below:

FAI Funding Women in Sport Funding Total
2015 €2,565,410 €142,500 €2,707,910
2014 €2,565,410 €142,500 €2,707,910
2013 €2,700,432 €142,500 €2,842,932
2012 €2,842,560 €150,000 €2,992,560
2011 €3,158,400 €192,274 €3,350,674
2010 €3,360,000 €250,000 €3,610,000
2009 €3,500,000 €250,000 €3,750,000
2008 €4,000,000 €350,000 €4,350,000

The Irish Sports Council also detailed that audit process for funding recipients, confirmed that their auditors are currently Deloitte and that the FAI, GAA and IRFU are audited on a ‘triennial basis (one organisation a year)”. They further confirmed that “the FAI was last audited by the ISC in 2014”.

Deputy Broughan also asked about the promotion of football across the Republic given the great health benefits of the sport and the important role in representing Ireland in international competitions. He was pleased to note the number of initiatives in place to engage young people, particularly young people at risk, in the sport. Also, Emerging Talent Programme (ETP) activities will be organised for players who have been identified from under11, u12, u13 and u14 teams. Deputy Broughan further notes commitment to providing “more participation opportunities for women and young girls” in the 2015 priorities of the Irish Sports Council.

Deputy Broughan says “Despite reducing the allocation of funding to football over the years we still continue to see new talent emerge. Particularly encouraging is the increase in interest in women’s football. At the beginning of the year we had Stephanie Roche shortlisted for the 2014 FIFA Puskas Award for goal of the year alongside football legends Ronaldo and Messi. Football is a great way to keep fit and healthy and I’m heartened to see that, despite lower resources, the Irish Sports Council is continuing to prioritise promoting football to all age-groups and genders.”

Tags: FAI, Football, Irish Sports Council

BROUGHAN CRITICAL OF CEANN COMHAIRLE’S REFUSAL TO ALLOW DÁIL QUESTION ON EMC

1 Jul 2015
It is regrettable that the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Barrett, has refused to permit a question requiring the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, to explain to the Dáil the information available to the Economic Management Council (EMC) regarding write-downs of state assets since 2011.

The oral question tabled for tomorrow, Thursday the 2nd of July by Deputy Broughan was as follows:

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report to Dáil Éireann on his role as a member of the Economic Management Council regarding tax and revenue expenditure due to write-downs of state assets during sales of loans and other assets by IBRC, NAMA, AIB, PTSB and other fully or partially controlled state financial institutions during the lifetime of this government; whether his Department raised any concerns at the levels of expenditure and income forgone since 2011 and on the impacts of those expenditures on the funding of each government department in each budget since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The Ceann Comhairle informed me that “The Minister has no official responsibility to Dáil Éireann for this matter, as it impinges upon the principles of Cabinet confidentiality.”

But the key element of this question is the role of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to tax and revenue expenditures due to the sale of loans and other assets by financial institutions under state control.

Minister Howlin’s government has left the Irish people with a national debt interest payment of over €42 billion down to 2020 (almost the size of a single years total departmental expenditure). So the question posed is fully relevant to the members of Dáil Éireann and the general public and should not (like many others I have posed) have been disallowed.

Tags: Ceann Comhairle, Dáil Éireann, IBRC, NAMA, Public Expenditure

RESTORE FUNDING CUTS TO ST. MICHAEL’S HOUSE

25 Jun 2015
In a Topical Issues Debate in Dáil Éireann this afternoon Deputy Broughan called for the draconian cuts to St. Michael’s House to be reversed. St. Michael’s House has seen a €12.3 million cut in its budget since 2008, yet there has been no decrease in the need and demand for these services. Indeed, there are waiting lists to access many services and 18 months ago, there were 330 people waiting to access residential care and over 50 families of those citizens were coping with great difficulty.

St. Michael’s House is an excellent organisation which has been providing vital services to persons with intellectual disabilities and their families since 1955. Some of these vital services include clinical and counselling services, educational and vocational services, employment services, residential and respite services, specialist Alzheimer’s services for people with intellectual disabilities and also social, sporting and recreational services. St. Michael’s House is the largest, and probably most well-known, provider of intellectual disability services in Dublin and is the third largest provider of such services nationally.

Many parents, siblings and service users themselves, have contacted Deputy Broughan seriously concerned about the future of these vital services. In particular follow on services for school leavers are under severe pressure and are, in some cases, without appropriate premises. The current buildings being used by St. Michael’s House for day services are full and further suitable accommodation is currently being sourced in the North Dublin Area but it is most likely that should suitable buildings be found that they will not be commissioned and ready for use from September this year.

The number of respite beds has also greatly decreased as available beds have been used to provide extra long-term places in residential care. Another key complaint of families and service-users is that there is no multi-annual or guaranteed funding from the HSE and Department of Health for services to young people with intellectual disability when they graduate from school.

Deputy Broughan says “I am very familiar with the trojan work carried out in St. Michael’s House and similar services in St. John of Gods and Menni Services and am calling on the Minister to urgently discuss any funding opportunities that may arise with Minister Howlin’s Capital Expenditure Fund. People with intellectual disabilities and their families have experienced some of the most drastic cuts since 2008 and this funding must be urgently restored as we enter a period of recovery.”

Tags: disability, HSE, respite, St. Michael’s House

BROUGHAN ASKS FOR URGENT ACTION ON HOWTH ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR AND FIRES

25 Jun 2015
Local Deputy Tommy Broughan has asked the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald and An Garda Síochána to devote significant resources to addressing recent serious incidents of anti-social behaviour around Howth Harbour.

During the recent spell of sunny weather, residents in Howth Town have complained of public drinking on the East and West Piers and of mayhem and anti-social behaviour resulting from this drinking both in the Harbour and on the nearby Howth beaches. Residents and visitors to Howth have complained of youths with trays of beer and children’s buggies packed with beer being brought into the Harbour Area.

Over recent weeks also there have been a number of serious heathland fires on Ireland’s Eye and on Howth itself. Deputy Broughan has paid tribute to An Garda Síochána and the Firefighters of Kilbarrack, North Strand and other Northside Depots for their vigilant response on these fires.

In a reply to a Parliamentary Question raised on the issue Minister Fitzgerald confirmed that ‘Operation Irene’ commenced at the beginning of this month and will run until the end of August. Operation Irene is a Garda operation designed to tackle anti-social behaviour in public places, in particular during spells of good weather. Minister Fitzgerald confirmed that an increased Garda presence in Howth, at the Pier and Dart Station will be part of Operation Irene. She also confirmed that “a multiagency approach is being pursued with ongoing liaising between An Garda Síochána, Dart Control, Fingal County Council, the Harbour Master and Íarnród Éireann.”

Superintendent Joseph O’Connor of Raheny Garda Station also sent through a prompt reply to Deputy Broughan confirming the information that Minister Fitzgerald provided. Increased patrols and checkpoints in the vicinity of Howth Harbour and surrounding areas have already commenced. Superintendent O’Connor also confirmed that they are liaising with the Dublin Fire Brigade regarding the recent fires. He noted that “great care needs to be taken by persons visiting the area especially in this dry period when the vegetation is very brittle and susceptible to ignite.”

Deputy Broughan will continue to monitor the situation and engage with relevant local bodies and residents to ensure that everyone has a safe and a happy summer.

Tags: anti-social behaviour, Gardaí, Howth

BROUGHAN CAUTIOUSLY WELCOMES LEGISLATION FOR LOW PAY COMMISSION

24 Jun 2015
In his address to Dáil Éireann this evening on the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015 Deputy Tommy Broughan has welcomed the legislation but says that he is unsure of what actual impact the Commission will have over the years on the lives of our hundreds of thousands of workers on low pay.

Approximately 4.7% of all workers in Ireland, (just over 73,000 workers) are earning the national minimum rate of €8.65 per hour. Of course this is the experienced adult rate and those who are starting out in employment or in structured training are on the reduced rates of between 70%-90% of the national minimum wage. Deputy Broughan highlighted the a distinct gender bias in low pay rates which was noted by the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) who confirmed that over 60% of workers on low pay are women and that “50% of women in Ireland are earning €20,000 or less”.

Deputy Broughan spoke about the changes in landscape of the European Union since the economic crash, where the ideal of ‘Social Europe’ seems to have been buried by fiscal and general economic neo-liberal conservatism. A feature of this new harsh economic Europe is the steady fall in wages across many Eurozone economies. An article in the Guardian earlier this week, discussed the failures of the Eurozone and said that since the introduction of the single currency wages across Europe have been driven down and surprisingly, as the article points out, it is German low-paid workers who have taken the biggest hit. In 14 years German workers have barely seen any wage rises. According to the article the higher skilled, higher paid jobs are disappearing out of Germany to the much lower paid states of east and south east Europe. Gerhard Bosch, a German expert on inequality, says that lower paid jobs and the numbers of the ‘low-wage workforce’ are “almost at US levels”.

Since the crash the rich continue to grow their wealth but the poor are feeling the pinch the most. While the banks got bailed out Europe’s ordinary citizens got sold out. What has happened to the social Europe of Jean Monnet, Jacques Delors and the other founding fathers of the EU, Minister, who had the vision that working together as a single market would raise living standards for us all?

Deputy Broughan advocated for a Living Wage approach rather than simply a Minimum Wage going forward as the Living Wage has been calculated by ICTU as being €11.45 per hour, significantly higher than the current national minimum wage hourly rate of €8.65. Deputy Broughan indicated that he hopes that this will be a stepping stone towards bettering conditions and wages of the lower-paid workers in Ireland.

Tags: Low Pay, Low Pay Commission, Minimum Wage

OPEN LETTER ON HOUSING EMERGENCY TO TAOISEACH, TÁNAISTE, MINISTERS FOR ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND REFORM

23 Jun 2015
Enda, Joan, Alan and Brendan

I am writing to you to request that you meet with the selected representatives of the Irish Housing Network as a matter of urgency. The below facebook post with news of last week’s occupation of the Department of the Environment has been brought to my attention and I wish to fully support those calling for a meeting with Minister Alan Kelly.

The people and groups involved in the Irish Housing Network are volunteers from the grassroots of communities most affected and devastated by rising rents and lack of supply of affordable housing. To deny that there is a crisis is the utmost disrespect to the thousands of families with young children who are in unsuitable accommodation today.

This is not a party political issue Ministers. By declaring a housing emergency and setting up a cross-government action group next week, including input from those representing families experiencing homelessness, we could start to seriously address this worsening crisis. By the time the small numbers of housing units being planned are delivered by 2020, irreversible damage will already have been done to the longer term mental health and development of the thousands of Irish children experiencing such stress and instability. The treatment of homeless families is our generation’s laundries scandal or mother and babies home scandal and we cannot simply sit by while the government’s lack of action causes such distress and damage to these vulnerable young people and their families.

I would also like to request a meeting this week or next to discuss this issue, in particular in light of Minister Howlin’s plans to finalise the Capital Expenditure Fund and the urgent necessity for the state itself, and our local authorities, to embark on a large programme of direct social housing construction.

ENDS For more information contact Tommy Broughan at (01) 618 3557

NOTE TO THE EDITOR: Copy of Facebook Post by the Irish Housing Network

Irish Housing Network – June 18th 2015
Statement from the Irish Housing Network statement on Custom House Occupation 18/06/2015 (more information to follow soon)

Today the The Irish Housing Network, which includes grassroots homeless and housing groups North Dublin Bay Housing Crisis Community Help 4 the homeless , An Spréach: Housing Action Collective, The Hub – Ireland, Lay Litigation Ireland Social Workers Action Network (SWAN), Housing Action Now and Help the Hidden Homeless along with supporters, activists and families affected by the housing crisis occupied the Custom House.

Assembling at 2pm at the GPO the Custom House was chosen because it contains the department of the Environment, Community and Housing. Once we arrived we demands two things 1) a meeting with minister or senior staff and 2) the immediate declaration of a housing and homelessness emergency. After much debate and discussion, the occupation of a central lobby and the arrival of the gardai, a meeting was agreed with senior staff. They wanted to clear the lobby but we stood our ground. Four representatives have been chosen to negotiate, three from housing and homeless groups in the network and one women facing eviction who has take every route possible and wanted her case heard.

Inside negotiations a number of points became clear. They had no intention of declaring the current situation as a crisis, in fact they stated it was not important. We gave them case after case, we explained the statistics, to no avail. They said they were doing everything they can and government strategy was working, a contradiction if ever there was one. They said they would not change any laws, and therefore could not even consider opening up empty property that are not council owed or consider measures to stop abuse in the private rental sector. Stopping evictions was off the cards and NAMA was not to be discussed.

For all the people in emergency accommodation this was a kick in the teeth, or all the children without a home, for all of those facing rent hikes and poverty, abuse and neglect this was a kick in the stomach. For the people homeless and sleeping under their office windows this was callous disregard.

We were told we might get a meeting with Minister Kelly, but they couldn’t guarantee anything. We were told send in our demands, they will have ‘a look’.

All the groups and supporters assembled after outside. We agreed that the government and the department have made it clear to us what they will do. Nothing. We, the people, the groups fighting for change and those affected by this crisis would be the ones to change things. We would have to fight to do it.

This is only the beginning. Everyone is welcome to join, we need as many as we can get to stand up, whatever your skill, whatever your role whatever your time. We are all in this together and will win together.

Tags: children, families, homeless crisis, Housing emergency, Irish Housing Network

BROUGHAN WELCOMES PURCHASE OF ALL HALLOWS BY DUBLIN CITY UNIVERSITY

19 Jun 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has welcomed today’s news that All Hallows College in Drumcondra, Dublin 9 will continue as an important educational facility after being bought by Dublin City University (DCU).

All Hallows College has been in operation since 1842 and it has been under the stewardship of the Vincentian Congregation since 1892. DCU first admitted students in 1980 and has since grown steadily, solidifying its reputation as one of Ireland’s top universities.

Deputy Broughan said “I’m delighted to see that the Vincentian Order decided to turn down much higher offers from construction firms in order to keep the campus as an educational facility. All Hallows has a long reputation in supporting people in particular who are accessing second chance education and the closure of the facility would have been a huge loss to our educational landscape. I commend the institution for choosing the lower offer from DCU rather than taking the easier option of double the money.

The Vincentian Congregation and DCU must be commended for ensuring that this oasis of learning and tranquillity in Drumcondra will continue as a centre of education especially for older students and citizens retraining for a new career on the Northside of Dublin.”

Tags: All Hallows, DCU, education

GOVERNMENT STILL SHIRKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOUSING CRISIS

18 Jun 2015
Deputy Broughan again strongly criticised the Government for their handling of the housing and homeless crisis during his speech today in Dáil Éireann on the Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015 saying that while he welcomes some action, finally, that it will not go very far anytime soon in attempting to solve our worsening housing and homeless problem.

Deputy Broughan believes that the State must take the main role and ultimate responsibility to solve this unparalleled crisis by making Local Authorities become the key developers of social housing in the country. He referenced the major social housing output, led by Minister Jimmy Tully, in the mid-1970’s which continued into the late 1980’s. Deputy Broughan points out that with a reported cost of €750,000 per month being spent by DCC on accommodating homeless families in necessary emergency placement that an estate of 300 new homes could have been delivered over the past 4-5 years for this type of funding alone.

The genesis of the Regeneration and Housing Bill 2015 is intended to support Minister Coffey’s recently announced ‘Construction 2020 Strategy’ and indeed Minister Kelly’s much-heralded ‘Social Housing Strategy 2020 – Support, Supply and Reform’ by attempting to foster increased activity in construction of housing units. The Bill provides for the definition of ‘vacant site’, for the setting up of a vacant site register and the introduction of a vacant site levy at 3% of the market value of the site. It will also amend certain sections of the Planning and Development Act 2000 and removes the option for developers to make a payment in lieu of providing a social housing allocation to their development.

Deputy Broughan says “While I welcome the general thrust of the Bill and acknowledge that it is necessary in order to progress Minister Coffey’s and Kelly’s 2020 Strategies they are merely tinkering with the issue. Fundamental reform and emergency legislation are needed. The cost of building social housing can be drastically reduced and Local Authorities need to be made act and start building immediately. The so-called solution of building 400 prefabs is a shocking and disappointing development in this crisis. Would these Ministers allow their families live in one of the recently announced ‘cellular modular housing’ units? I’m very certain that they most absolutely would not. At the end of April this year there were 1,118 children living in emergency homeless accommodation, an almost 200% increase in nine months. And this is not even the full extent of the numbers affected. Every week I meet and talk to those affected by this crisis and cannot fathom how the government can continue to stick their heads in the sand and ignore this catastrophe.”

Tags: homelessness, housing, social housing

BROUGHAN WELCOMES ADMIN FILTER FOR GARDA VETTING

18 Jun 2015
Deputy Broughan today received a reply from the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, confirming that an “Administrative Filter for Garda Vetting Disclosures” has been introduced as an interim measure while waiting of the final amendments to the Spent Convictions Bill.

Deputy Broughan recently requested clarification from Minister Fitzgerald as to when the Criminal Justice (Spent Convictions) Bill 2012 would be enacted and when the necessary procedural changes for Garda vetting would take place. In the reply to his Parliamentary Question Minister Fitzgerald confirmed that she hopes to bring the final amendments to the Bill before the Oireachtas “as soon as possible” with plans to commence it in the autumn of this year. In the interim the Administrative Filter is being used and this “provides that certain minor offences that are over 7 years old are no longer disclosed” and that this filter “gives effect to the main provisions likely to be contained in the amended Act”.

Deputy Broughan says “I welcome the introduction of the Administrative Filter and commend Minister Fitzgerald on her work in progressing procedural measures while we are waiting for the bill to be enacted. Many people have been hindered because of minor convictions that they may have received in their youth but then stayed with them for life. The Irish Penal Reform Trust has also done great work in supporting the importance of this bill and I certainly hope that this Administrative Filter will assist people in travelling and applying for jobs, accommodation, etc.”

Notes to the Editor: A copy of the Administrative Filter follows:

Garda Vetting Procedures

Administrative Filter

In anticipation of the amendment and commencement of the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012, an administrative filter in respect of Garda Vetting Unit Disclosures will operate in accordance with the following procedural guidelines.

Criminal Convictions to be disclosed in all cases:

1)         Offences Against the Person.

2)         Sexual Offences

3)         Convictions on indictment.

District Court Convictions which will not be disclosed:

1)         Motoring Offences :

District Court convictions for motoring offences will not be disclosed after 7 years even where more recent offences have been committed. This is because it is considered that old minor motoring offences would not be relevant due to the passage of time.

2)         Minor Public Order Offences :

The following convictions under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 will not be disclosed if the offence is over 7 years old even where more recent offences have been committed:

●      Section 4 (Intoxication),

●      Section 5 (Disorderly conduct),

●      Section 6 (Threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour),

●      Section 7 (Distribution or display of material which is offensive),

●      Section 8 (Failure to comply with direction of Garda),

●      Section 9 (Wilful obstruction).

3)         Other minor offences – 1 Only:

District Court convictions for any other minor offence will not be disclosed after 7 years where the person has one such offence only (excluding motoring or public order offences over 7 years old). This provision does not apply to offences against the person or to sexual offences.

Probation Act Provisions

Where persons have been dealt with by a district court in accordance with the provisions of section 1(1) (i) or 1 (1) (ii) of the Probation Act 1907, the offences will not be disclosed except in cases where the circumstances of the offence gives rise to a bona fide concern that the person concerned may harm a child or vulnerable person.

Where persons have been dealt with by a court in accordance with section 1 (2) of the Probation Act, these will be disclosed in all cases. (Section 1 (2) relates solely to persons “convicted on indictment”.)

Offences in respect of which a person is charged but subsequently not prosecuted or acquitted.

Non convictions will be considered for disclosure where the circumstances of an offence gives rise to a bona fide concern that the person concerned may harm a child or vulnerable person. This information will only be disclosed if the information is of such a nature that its disclosure is necessary, proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of children or vulnerable persons, or both, as the case may be.

The Garda Central Vetting Unit will make such decision in the context of:

The information concerned

The relevance of the information to the type of work/activity

The source and reliability of the information

The rights of the vetting applicant and any submissions made by them.

Where the GCVU makes a determination to disclose information under this section the GCVU will:

– Notify the person who is the subject of the application for the vetting disclosure concerned, in writing, of its determination and of the reasons for it,

– Provide to the person a copy of the information to be disclosed,

– Notify the person of the intention to disclose the information to an Authorised Signatory for the registered organisation concerned after the expiry of 14 days from the date of notification, and

– Allow the applicant the opportunity to make a written submission.

– There will also be an appeals process in respect of a decision to disclose the information.

The GCVU will not issue a vetting disclosure in respect of a person until this process has been completed.

Tags: Administrative Filters, Garda Vetting, Spent Convictions

ALMOST 10,000 PEOPLE ACCESSING METHADONE TREATMENT NATIONWIDE

16 Jun 2015
Deputy Broughan today received a reply from the Health Service Executive to his earlier Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Health on the numbers of persons on methadone maintenance programmes in each of the Community Health Organisation Areas for the years 2013, 2014 and to date in 2015. He was shocked and concerned to see a rise in overall numbers from 9,655 at the end of December 2013 to 9,866 at the end of May 2015.

The response received provided the numbers as set out below:

Community Health Organisation
Number of People in Treatment
as at 31st December 2013
as at 31st December 2014
as of 31st May 2015
Area 1
86
94
108
Area 2
131
122
137
Area 3
235
264
257
Area 4
304
345
373
Area 5
362
422
457
Area 6
888
873
887
Area 7
3491
3387
3353
Area 8
605
656
672
Area 9
3021
2980
2951
No Fixed Abode
509
604
657
Unknown
23
17
14
Totals:
9655
9764
9866
The HSE recently established nine Community Healthcare Organisations (CHO) nationwide as part of their service improvement programme. The new geographical areas for each CHO are as follows:

Area 1: Donegal, Sligo/Leitrim/West Cavan and Cavan/Monaghan

Area 2: Galway, Roscommon and Mayo

Area 3: Clare, Limerick, and North Tipperary/East Limerick

Area 4: Kerry, North Cork, North Lee, South Lee, and West Cork

Area 5: South Tipperary, Carlow/Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford

Area 6: Wicklow, Dun Laoghaire and Dublin South East

Area 7: Kildare/West Wicklow, Dublin West, Dublin South City, and Dublin South West

Area 8: Laois/Offaly, Longford/Westmeath, Louth and Meath

Area 9: Dublin North, Dublin North Central and Dublin North West

According to the figures provided by the HSE Areas 7 and 9 equate to 64% of the total number of persons in methadone treatment currently.

In a reply to a Parliamentary Question in April of this year regarding the standard operating procedures on dispensing methadone in Garda Stations and the number of methadone related deaths Minister Varadkar stated the following: “The latest annual figures from the National Drug-Related Deaths Index indicate that there were 633 drug related deaths in 2012. 350 of these deaths were due to the toxic effects of drugs which represents a decrease from 387 in 2011. Methadone was implicated in 86 poisonings in 2012 compared to 118 in 2011. The majority of the deaths (87%) where methadone was implicated were polydrug poisonings”.

Deputy Broughan says “Hopefully with the recent appointment of a Minister of State with responsibility for drugs we will start to see a difference in our worsening drugs crisis. Projects such as Ana Liffey Drug Project and Merchants Quay Ireland have long been calling for action on the issue and we can see from these figures that our dependence on methadone as a means of treating addiction is growing. We need real alternatives, appropriate supports and timely access to detox rehabilitation centres.”

Tags: Drugs, HSE, Methadone

DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL NOW PAYING FOR EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION FOR FAMILIES WITH CREDIT CARD

12 Jun 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has today again expressed his utter dismay and disappointment at the lack of leadership by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny and the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, Alan Kelly on the devastating homeless crisis. Their decided lack of action at declaring a Housing Emergency is placing our families and young children in danger, it is wreaking havoc on their mental health and security and placing their wellbeing in jeopardy.

Deputy Broughan and his office are in regular contact with the Central Placement Service (CPS) while representing distraught constituents who have found themselves in a situation where they are now homeless due to being unable to find accommodation that will accept rent supplement, having being refused an uplift in rent supplement or even in some cases where the property is in receivership and being sold off to recoup the landlord’s debt.

Deputy Broughan has been reporting for the last number of months that there is a significant lack of supply of emergency accommodation for families and that there are waiting lists to access rooms in hotels, b&bs and guesthouses. At varying times in the last number of months there have been between 50-80 families with young children left without access to accommodation. In these cases the families are expected to continue sleeping on floors and sofas of friends and families yet do not receive ‘Homeless Priority’ status until the day that they are officially placed in emergency accommodation by the CPS. Deputy Broughan has represented a number of families who have been left in cramped and unsuitable sleeping conditions as the alternative is sleeping rough on the streets with their children.

Most recently Deputy Broughan has learned that, due to the severe lack of emergency family accommodation, these families are now being asked to source their own temporary accommodation in the form of hotels, b&bs, guesthouses and then the CPS pays for the accommodation by credit card. In a PQ reply received at the end of April addressing the amount of funding given to Local Authorities to address homelessness Minister Kelly stated “As regards funding, I have made an additional €10.5 million available for homeless accommodation and services across the country in 2015. This is an increase in funding of over 20%, bringing the Exchequer contribution to €55.5 million.”

Deputy Broughan says “I cannot fathom how the Government refuses to see the extent of this problem. I understand and welcome the longer-term measures that are being put in place through Social Housing Strategy 2020, Construction 2020 and Tenancy Sustainment Protocol but it is simply not enough and simply not happening quickly enough. Yesterday the Tánaiste blamed this crisis on the previous government and lack of supply of appropriate and affordable housing. This is an unacceptable excuse. The leaders of this Government have a responsibility to these families and young children to act now and they should be apologising for allowing a situation to occur that has pushed thousands of children into homelessness rather than pettily blaming past mistakes. This is not a time for party politics; it is a time to put these distressed and vulnerable families at the heart of government business by calling an emergency housing crisis and developing a cross-party working group with weekly action points.”

Tags: Central Placement Service, DCC, homeless families, homelessness

DID YOU GET YOUR BACK TO SCHOOL CLOTHING AND FOOTWEAR ALLOWANCE LETTER?

12 Jun 2015
The Department of Social Protection has confirmed that “106,460 customers will receive an automatic payment” of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance this year. At an information briefing in Dáil Éireann yesterday, officials from the Department of Social Protection stated that correspondence to social welfare recipients who have no need to complete an application form has been issued this week. If you have not received such a letter by early next week you will need to apply for the allowance.

The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance is a means-tested payment made to eligible persons who have dependent children attending school. The Allowance is €100 for children aged 4-11yrs and €200 for children aged 12-22yrs* (please do note that children over the age of 18yrs must still be in second level education).

For those who do not receive letters next week confirming automatic payments they should contact 1890 66 22 44 or Text ‘FORM BTSCFA’ followed by their name and address to 51909 to request an application form. Applications for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance are being administered through the Sligo Social Welfare Service Office.

Deputy Broughan says “The costs involved with children returning to school after the summer are very high and this allowance can go some way to helping with these costs. I welcome the efficiency of the automatic payments system but would urge those who do not receive letters by next week but who think that they are entitled to the allowance to ensure that they apply soon on the contact details above.”

Tags: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, children, School, Social Protection

BROUGHAN CONCERNED WITH ONGOING LACK OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR UNDER 18s

4 Jun 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has today expressed serious concern at the continued practice of under 18s being treated in adult mental health units. Information received from the Health Service Executive (HSE) recently showed that the “percentage of admissions of children to age appropriate units in March was 77% against the targeted 95%”. However, this figure is still considered an improvement as in January of this year just 55% of under 18s were admitted to age appropriate units.

The Child And Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) are part of the HSE and currently consist of 63 teams. The CAMHS service is being reconfigured and expanded under the National Service Plan 2015 through additional investment for Mental Health Services which has been in place since 2012. Earlier Parliamentary Question replies indicated that there are significant waiting lists of “approximately 3,000 children, of which some 400 are waiting in excess of 12 months” (figures for February 2015) to access CAMHS services.

A HSE reply to a further Parliamentary Question raised in May stated that “in March 2015, there were 35 Child and Adolescent acute inpatient admissions”. The reply goes on to say that 27 were admitted to “age appropriate Child and Adolescent Acute Inpatient Units and 8 were to adult mental health inpatient units/Approved Centres”. However, of these 8 half were aged 17yrs or older. The figures revealed in the PQ reply dated 18th May 2015 state that a total of 102 children and adolescents were admitted with 72% to age appropriate units and 29% to adult mental health units. The HSE states that most of these admissions were voluntary with parental consent “with a very small number under Section 25 of the Mental Health Act 2001.”

The HSE reply explains that there are many factors which lead to a child/adolescent being admitted to an adult mental health unit and that these factors include if it is a crisis admission with no adolescent bed available; distance to CAMHS in-patient units; and whether the young person is nearing 18yrs of age. The HSE state that in cases where a person aged under 18 has been admitted to an adult unit that “the goal must be in such circumstances to reduce the length of such admissions either by discharge to Community CAMHS or transfer to a Child unit.” Some of the steps taken to ensure a short stay in inappropriate units include a “dedicated email notification system” which alerts the Mental Health Division (MHD) when a child is admitted to an adult unit; monitoring daily bed usage data; and weekly ‘referrals’ teleconferences on Mondays to review in-patient activity and waiting lists.”

Deputy Broughan says “I welcome the steps being taken by the HSE and CAMHS to address and reduce the numbers of vulnerable children and adolescents being admitted into adult mental health units. These times of crisis are distressing enough for the young person and their families without the extra worry of knowing it is not the appropriate service for them and their needs. I understand that a CAMHS Improvement Steering Group and Project Group are proactively working on steps to ensure that young people experiencing mental health difficulties are treated in a timely fashion and in the correct environment but I’m sure that increased resources would, in this case, move these improvements on significantly”.

Deputy Broughan concluded “I’m calling on the Minister to work with the HSE and the CAMHS Improvement Groups to ensure that children and adolescents have access to these important mental health services when needed.”

Tags: CAMHS, Mental Health, Under 18s

DENIS O’BRIEN CANNOT SILENCE OUR NATIONAL PARLIAMENT

29 May 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has today expressed serious concern over the censorship of Irish media in reporting important issues raised by Dáil Éireann yesterday by Independent Deputy, Catherine Murphy T.D. Today, a UK newspaper, the Guardian, did what our own national media would not and reported on Denis O’Brien’s silencing of Ireland’s national parliament. It certainly makes for interesting reading and I would encourage you to read it if you have not already done so: http://www.theguardian.com

Transcripts of all Dáil debates are available on the Oireachtas website and may be accessed by any member of the public with internet access. In the ‘Oireachtas Business’ tab, you can choose ‘Parliamentary Debates’ and ‘Official Reports’ to access full transcripts of all Parliamentary interactions by date (Deputy Murphy’s speech is available here: http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie . You can also download video files from the ‘Watch and Listen’ section of the site and search by date (https://oireachtas.heanet.ie/mp4/dail/)

Deputy Broughan says “I am shocked and appalled that Denis O’Brien is attempting to block our national media from discussing information that was shared in Dáil Éireann, using Dáil privilege, by my colleague, a fellow Independent T.D, Deputy Catherine Murphy. We are elected representatives of the voting public and Deputy Murphy gave information that is clearly in the public interest and certainly requires further investigation. We do not serve in Dáil Éireann to protect the interests of any media mogul and assist him in growing his billions in wealth while there are hundreds of mothers and children living in hotel rooms. And we certainly do not sit in Dáil Éireann to allow one billionaire to dictate what can and cannot be reported in our media while the Taoiseach and his cronies head off on a week’s break”

Deputy Broughan concludes “I want to highly commend Deputy Murphy and her staff on their trojan work in bringing this important issue to the Dáil. I fully support her and I want to call on the Taoiseach to immediately convene an emergency meeting of Dáil Éireann to discuss this backward censorship that has no place in an educated, developed society.”

Tags: Catherine Murphy, censorship, Denis O’Brien, IBRC, SiteServ

DÁIL SPEECH ON THE PROPOSED AER LINGUS SALE

28 May 2015
Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute briefly to this discussion and to reiterate my stance from January that the sale of the 25.1% Government stake in Aer Lingus is clearly not in Ireland’s national interest. The sale poses an immediate threat to air connectivity from Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Knock airports, despite reassurances that vital slots at Heathrow Airport will remain in place for seven years. It also threatens the future of 3,900 Aer Lingus workers, especially the 2,100 back office and ground staff, and abandons the 15,000 IASS pensioners who gave their lifetime’s work to our national airline and State airports.

The €1.3 billion IAG bid will signal the end of Ireland’s historic, independent aviation company dating from the era of Seán Lemass who was a great Minister for Industry and Commerce in the 1930s. We knew this day was coming when this conservative Fine Gael-Labour Party Government agreed with the troika back in 2012 to sell €3 billion of State assets, two thirds of which would go towards paying off the unfair debts that were imposed on this country. The Labour Party and Fine Gael have since shamefully flogged off our family silver, including Bord Gáis Energy, the national lottery for 20 years and now Aer Lingus. Bord Gáis was also sold for a song to a British legacy company, Centrica, which is the old British Gas. Attempts to sell Coillte were narrowly averted by the outrage of our constituents across the country.

It is laughable listening to the brazen, brass-neck hypocrisy of the Fianna Fáil Party pretending to mourn the demise of our national airline. Fianna Fáil sold 75% of our iconic national airline back in 2006 and ensured the company would be privatised. They then pretended to be fools when Michael O’Leary immediately moved to take over the airline. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have acted hand-in-hand on this matter.

The first question which occurs to everybody at this stage is why this sale is going ahead now. Aer Lingus has been enjoying considerable success, particularly during the latter part of the Mueller era, as an independently owned national airline. The 2014 annual report highlights a 9.2% increase in revenue, a 17.8% increase in operating profit and increases of 9.4% and 7.9% in average fare revenue per seat and per passenger respectively.

The number of passengers also increased between 2013 and 2014 up to almost 10 million, while revenue passenger kilometres also increased 8.7% in just one year. The 2015 first quarter report’s interim management statement continues with these positive numbers from the Aer Lingus management and workforce. Aer Lingus has a net cash amount of over €650 million, which is nearly 30% higher than the 2013 net cash balance. Why are we selling now when this airline, our airline, is clearly thriving? The key to the recent success of Aer Lingus has been its short-haul business model and its niche positioning in the middle of the market. Aer Lingus holds approximately 41% of market share of the Irish short-haul market. An integral reason for this is the connectivity and importance of the strategic slots at Heathrow Airport.

Had the Government agreed to the International Consolidated Airlines Group, IAG’s, original takeover bid back in January, we would not even have the miserly concessions that the Minister outlined. I listened carefully to the statement of the Minister, Deputy Paschal Donohoe. He placed great importance on the seven year guarantee on the Heathrow Airport slots and the ability of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to use this new B share to prevent the disposal of slots and any proposed change in the Aer Lingus board and head office.

There is also reference to ambitious plans to grow passenger numbers by 2.5 million by 2020.

How do these reported guarantees tie in with the cost-saving initiatives being planned by Aer Lingus? Does the Minister know which areas of business or the workforce will be hit? Almost six months ago, Captain Evan Cullen of the Irish Airline Pilots Association, IALPA, pointed out the dangers especially to back office and maintenance staff numbers from this proposed takeover. Any duplication of functions already in London and Madrid, for example, will be ruthlessly eliminated by the IAG management and in executive leadership terms, Dublin will become a branch office of this British airline. What guarantees are there for quieter routes in Cork, Shannon and Knock airports, particularly during the months with lower numbers of tourists visiting? We are familiar with the takeovers and what happens even to iconic brands. We have witnessed job losses and closures just recently with the takeover of O2 by 3 and in Dublin Bay North we are wrestling with the consequences of the takeover of Cadbury by 3G-Heinz-Kraft-Mondelez, which could have devastating consequences for the Coolock workforce.

I strongly agree with Senator Sean D. Barrett in his opposition to this sale to a European legacy flag carrier airline like BA-IAG. British Airways was the largest airline in Britain from 1974 until 2008 and it is a founding member of the oneworld airline alliance but it has a chequered history with acquisitions, profitability and industrial relations disputes. British Airways merged with Iberia to form IAG in 2011 and promptly cut 4,500 jobs, mainly in Iberia. The redundancies were part of a so-called restructuring process that led to a return to a profit last year. With Aer Lingus already posting healthy profits, what will a restructuring programme look like for that company?

The British Airways main hub is London Heathrow, where it currently owns 40% of available slots, ahead of Aer Lingus and Lufthansa. It also operates out of London City Airport and it previously had significant operations in Manchester but these were shut down after BA halted the Manchester to New York route. All BA international flights are now out of London, meaning that passengers from regional UK airports must transfer there. As Impact recently noted, people must get a double ticket. BA-IAG has a shocking record in connectivity to the nations and regions of Great Britain, as Senator Sean D. Barrett pointed out in a fine recent article in Phoenix. There are no transatlantic routes from great cities such as Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Belfast, Glasgow and Edinburgh, for example. BA has also had a very poor record in connecting both parts of Ireland to the United Kingdom in the past.

Mr. Stephen Kavanagh, the new chief executive at Aer Lingus, has reportedly confirmed by way of letter the company’s commitment to working within registered employment agreements, REAs, and will include staff groups which are not covered by current agreements. However, the Minister has said that when restructuring is required, he does not think there will be compulsory redundancies. Therefore, the Minister clearly accepts there will be significant job losses on foot of this takeover. IALPA has consistently pointed out that in the long term, the best use of the slots at London Heathrow from Aer Lingus would be to service the London to US market rather than Dublin to London.

Mentioned in the Aer Lingus 2014 annual report is the cost optimisation and revenue excellence, CORE, programme that was launched in 2014 and aims to strengthen price competitiveness. The report states “staff-related efficiency measures were largely deferred in the context of efforts to resolve Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme, IASS, pension funding difficulties”. The report also states, “In 2015, Aer Lingus will seek annual cost reductions totalling €40 million under CORE, an increase of €10 million compared with the original target announced in early 2014”.   Has the Minister requested any information on how these cost-saving measures will be implemented? By selling the Government’s 25.1% stake in Aer Lingus, he is selling any input we have into protecting the jobs. According to the Minister’s statement, the Government intends to use the proceeds of the sale for a new “connectivity fund” within the Ireland strategic investment fund. Does the very purpose for these funds not show that connectivity at Cork, Shannon and Knock airports will be damaged by IAG in this takeover? Surely it would have been fairer to address the deficits in the IASS and ensure that deferred IASS pensioners receive the money that is rightly due to them.

Very sadly, I note that Deputy Joe Costello and other Labour Party backbenchers – we must call them the IAG eight – promised at the Labour Party conference that any sale of the 25% stock would be used to resolve the appalling cuts of 60% and more for deferred pensioners.

Deputy Dominic Hannigan: That is not true. Show me the evidence of us saying that at the conference.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: They passed a motion.

Deputy Dominic Hannigan: No.

Deputy Colm Keaveney: I have a copy of it.

Deputy Dominic Hannigan: The Deputy is deliberately misleading the House.

Deputy Thomas P. Broughan: We are hearing from the IAG 8 but tomorrow night they will have a chance to walk the walk by voting beside Deputy Róisín Shortall and me. There is no question that any guarantees by IAG chief executive, Mr. Willie Walsh, to the Irish Government may be worthless as the years roll on after an IAG takeover. For example, we will not always have a Marino man – Mr. Walsh – in charge of the BA-Iberia combine. The ongoing threat posed to IAG, Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and other traditional aviation operators from low-cost operators like Ryanair and easyJet also suggests that Aer Lingus will be swallowed up and disappear when it enters IAG. It is hard to see too how calls by unions like SIPTU to protect jobs at Aer Lingus will be implemented by an organisation that ruthlessly cut 4,500 jobs when it took over Iberia.

Tomorrow evening it will be time for people to make the careful decision on this, as Deputy Róisín Shortall mentioned. I ask the IAG 8 to walk the walk. They will always be very welcome to walk beside me and Deputy Róisín Shortall in voting “No” to this short-sighted and very damaging sell-out of a key national asset. I urge them to do so.

Tags: Aer Lingus, Dublin Airport, IAG

BROUGHAN CALLS ON DÁIL TO REJECT AER LINGUS SALE

27 May 2015
In Dáil Éireann today Deputy Tommy Broughan has strongly criticized the Government’s plans to sell the 25.1% share in Aer Lingus to IAG. He re-iterated his concern that the sale poses an immediate threat to air connectivity from Dublin and Ireland’s regional airports despite reassurances that vital slots at Heathrow Airport will remain in place for 7 years. It also threatens the future of 3,900 Aer Lingus workers (especially the 2,100 back office and ground staff) and abandons the thousands of IASS (Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme) pensioners who gave lifetimes of work to our national airline and state airports.

Deputy Broughan said that it is laughable listening to the hypocrisy of the brass-necked Fianna Fáil party pretending to mourn the demise of our national airline. He pointed out that it was they who sold 75% our iconic national airline back in 2006 and ensured that the company would be privatised. They then pretended to be fools when Michael O’Leary immediately moved to take over the airline. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael as always have acted hand in hand on this matter and now Labour Deputies seem to have agreed to go along with this short-sighted and damaging sale of a key national asset.

Stephen Kavanagh, the new Chief Executive, at Aer Lingus has reportedly confirmed by way of letter the company’s commitment to working within Registered Employment Agreements. But Deputy Broughan voiced significant concerns on the Aer Lingus CORE (Cost Optimisation and Revenue Excellence) programme which was launched early in 2014 and apparently aims to strengthen the airline’s price competitiveness. The Aer Lingus 2014 annual report states “staff related efficiency measures were largely deferred in the context of efforts to resolve IASS pension funding difficulties.” The pilots union IALPA has long pointed out the danger to Aer Lingus back office and maintenance jobs from this sale and the fact that the Dublin office of Aer Lingus will henceforth be a branch office. Deputy Broughan spoke at length on the history and evolution of IAG/BA/Iberia and on how 4,500 jobs were cut mainly in Spain when BA merged with Iberia in 2011. Despite its ‘reassurances’, in the long-term, IAG will utilise Aer Lingus Heathrow slots for the London/US market.

Deputy Broughan says “According to Minister Donohue’s statement, the Government intends to use the proceeds of the sale for a new ‘Connectivity Fund’ within the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). Surely it would have been fairer to address the deficits in the IASS scheme and ensure that Deferred IASS pensioners receive the money that is rightly owed to them.” He concluded by urging all deputies to vote no to this sale tomorrow evening.

Tags: Aer Lingus, Dublin Airport, IAG, IASS

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BROUGHAN WELCOMES NEW EU REGULATIONS TO COMBAT PILOT FATIGUE

25 May 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has today welcomed news that stronger EU Regulations will soon come into force strengthening safety regulations and in particular the area of Fatigue Risk Management for pilots.

Deputy Broughan recently asked a number of Parliamentary Questions to Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohue, on the health and safety planning and future legislation concerning necessary rest periods, pilot rosters and general protection of pilots’ health. Minister Donohue replied on the 13th of May and stated that the necessary regulation is covered by European Law and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). He stated that “Regulation (EU) 83/2014 provides for the flight time limitations regime, the oversight of which in Ireland is the responsibility of the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA)” and he directed the IAA to respond with further clarification.

The response from the IAA received last week confirmed that Regulation (EU) 83/2014 will be operational from the 18th of February 2016 for Irish Commercial Air Transport Operators. This regulation “supersedes Regulation EEC 3922/91 otherwise known as EU-OPS Subpart Q”. The IAA explains that the new regulations will enforce a number of changes in particular concerning Fatigue Risk Management. Airlines will be required to comply 5 main points including publishing “rosters sufficiently in advance to provide the opportunity for crew members to plan adequate rest, ensure that flight duty periods are planned in a way that enables crew members to remain sufficiently free from fatigue so that they can operate to a satisfactory level of safety under all circumstances”, to be mindful of “the frequency and pattern of flight duty periods and rest periods”, to “allocate duty patterns which avoid practices that cause a serious disruption of an established sleep/work pattern” and to “provide rest periods of sufficient time to enable crew members to overcome the effects of the previous duties and to be rested by the start of the following flight duty period.”

Deputy Broughan says “I welcome the measures being taken by the European Law and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to address recent concerns about pilots’ health and rest periods. In particular, I welcome news of the regulations concerning airlines carrying out ‘Fatigue Training (ORO.FLT.250)’for personnel who are involved in planning and maintaining staff rosters. Unfortunately, these new regulations won’t be operational until mid-February next year but at least they are steps in the right direction.”

Tags: Pilots, Rest time

BROUGHAN SHOCKED AT NUMBER OF CONSULTANT VACANCIES AT BEAUMONT HOSPITAL

20 May 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has today expressed shock at the delays in filling vital consultant positions at Beaumont Hospital and the impact these vacancies are having on health service delivery.

In a PQ reply received from the Health Service Executive (HSE) this week Deputy Broughan reveals that a Consultant Anaesthetist position has been vacant for over 3 years now. This vacancy has led to a reduction of elective surgeries and apparently is to be re-advertised due to no suitable candidates during the first round of recruitment. The Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist post is also still vacant, but apparently has been recruited and has an agreed start date of January 2016. The impact of this delay is also a reduction in elective surgeries. The Consultant Transplant Surgeon post has been vacant since the 1st of December 2014 due to the lack of successful candidates and the impact has been that routine surgery in delayed. Another Consultant Transplant Surgeon is currently on rest days until the end of June 2015 and no locum is available. Finally, the Consultant Histopathologist post has been vacant since the end of October 2014.

€1.769 billion has been taken out of the Irish health service by the Fianna Fail/Green and Fine Gael/Labour governments since 2009 and the result is a struggling health service, with huge waiting lists, over-crowding and sub-standard service. In a PQ reply received from Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, on the 15th of April this year he confirmed that “the combined reduction in funding to the Department and HSE between 2009 and 2014 amounted to €1.769 billion in gross vote terms. Of this figure, €1.479 billion related to the reduction in funding to the HSE”. Of course, the cumulative cuts since 2009 are therefore at least €6 billion to €7 billion.

Deputy Broughan says “I met with Bill Maher, the new CEO of the RCSI Group in Beaumont on Friday last where he and his Beaumont colleagues gave a very comprehensive presentation on the needs of Beaumont Hospital and the RCSI group of hospitals. Beaumont currently has 812 beds, 672 in-patient beds and 146 day case beds (including beds in St. Joseph’s Hospital Raheny). Beaumont Hospital falls under Area 9 which has a population of 581,486 and figures for this Area show that the Emergency Departments deal with approximately 51,000 attendees yearly, 24,000 in-patients, 181,000 out-patients and 57,000 day cases. These figures clearly highlight the importance of having a full complement of staff, including of course consultants. The Minister needs to act now. He keeps saying that it is not a funding issue but clearly with nearly €2 billion being taken out of the service per annum since 2009 it is without a doubt having a negative impact now. Put your money where your mouth is Minister.”

COPY OF REPLY RECEIVED FROM THE HSE

Consultant Vacancy as at 13/4/2015
Grade
Post Number
Vacant From
wte
What done regarding recruitment
Impact of Vacancy
Consultant Anaesthetist
4361006
01/02/2013
0.5 and 1 from 1/4/15
Advertised on 27/7/14 . Closing on 29/8/14 No Candidates met short listing criteria.   Retiree continued to cover half time on a locum basis up to 1/4/15.   Post to be re-advertised
Reduction of elective surgeries.
Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist
20018
01/11/2014
14 hrs
This is a post shared with Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin (25hrs Crumlin, 14hrs Beaumont) The post has been advertised by Crumlin and recruited with an agreed start date of January 2016.
Consultant Transplant Surgeon
4620001
01/12/2014

Advertised 1/12/14 – No successful candidate
Routine surgery delayed
Consultant Transplant Surgeon
627001

Post Holder currently on Rest Days until 30/6/2015 – No locum available
Existing consultants working 1 in 2 rotas.
Consultant Histopathologist
272001
31/10/2014

Post currently with CAC for approval
Appointment to post will: (1) Improve histopathology turn-around-times (TATs) (2) Facilitate hospital compliance with waiting list initiatives

Tags: Beaumont Hospital, health service, Recruitment

BROUGHAN QUESTIONS MINISTER FLANAGAN ON CHINA’S TREATMENT OF TIBET AND UYGHUR

19 May 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has today questioned the Minister Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, on his views in relation to movements for self-determination in Tibet and among the Uyghur nation of Central Asia following the Minister’s meeting with the Premier and Foreign Minister from China this past weekend.

Last weekend, the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney and the Minister Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan met with the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, the Chinese Minister for Agriculture, Mr Han Changfu and Minister Flanagan’s counterpart, Mr Wang Yi in a visit to farms in the West of Ireland to discuss opening up the market following the lifting of the 15 year ban on EU beef. The Government hopes to strengthen business relationships between the 2 countries. However, Deputy Broughan asked that human rights violations be examined and investigated as relations improve between Ireland and the People’s Republic of China.

Tibet, a Buddhist country with millennia old strong cultural and religious traditions, has been part of the People’s Republic of China since 1959 and unrest in the region has been well documented, with the Dalai Lama becoming an international figurehead for the self-determination of Tibet. The lesser-known Uyghurs of the Xinjiang region (originally East Turkestan of Central Asia) are also suffering oppression as they are mainly an Islamic nation with strong ties to the Turkic peoples of Central Asia (and Turkey itself). Their culture and religion has also been repressed. A report from the International Uyghur Human Rights and Democracy Foundation states that “Uyghurs are subjected to compulsory unpaid labour in the construction of a pipeline planned to export local petroleum resources to other parts of China. Uyghurs also continue to be the only population in China consistently subjected to executions for political crimes, and these executions are often both summary and public”.

Deputy Broughan says “If we are going to strengthen business relations with the People’s Republic of China, we cannot do so by turning a blind eye to any human rights violations we know to be occurring. I am calling on Minister Flanagan and the Taoiseach to ensure, in our own centenary celebrations of independence, that they ask questions of their Chinese counterparts and to acknowledge and end the human rights abuses in both so-called ‘autonomous’ regions of Tibet and Xinjiang Uyghur.”

Tags: China, Foreign Affairs, Tibet, Uyghur

BROUGHAN WELCOMES EXTENSION OF GARDA YOUTH DIVERSION PROJECTS

15 May 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has warmly welcomed the announcement today by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, of the extension of the important Garda Youth Diversion Projects. In particular, Deputy Broughan is delighted to see that 2 of the 10 new locations will be in his constituency of Dublin Bay North with new projects operating in Donnycarney/Fairview/Clontarf and in Kilbarrack/Killester/Raheny.

The allocations to the Raheny/Kilbarrack area are especially important given recent grave concerns expressed by Deputy Broughan’s Edenmore constituents. These concerns relate to alleged serious anti-social and criminal behaviour at night around Edenmore Park and Edenmore Shopping Centre.

Minister Fitzgerald today announced €2.8 million in funding to expand the Garda Youth Diversion Services nationwide. The funding has been made available from the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Scheme and the roll-out of these services will be managed by the Irish Youth Justice Service. Deputy Broughan has also welcomed the news that this funding will provide for additional staffing numbers in the existing project in Kilmore West Youth Service, Coolock, Dublin 5.

In a PQ reply from Minister Fitzgerald earlier this year, she confirmed that, up to the end of February this year “there were 66 dedicated Community Gardaí assigned to Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North of which 32 Community Gardaí are assigned to the DMR North District ‘R’”.

Deputy Broughan says “The work of the Garda Youth Diversion Projects is absolutely invaluable. This increase in funding allowing for 2 extra services and additional staff to the Kilmore project, coupled with the number of Community Gardaí, in the area will hopefully lead to a decrease in anti-social behaviour and help keep young people away from crime. The work being done on the ground in the constituency is so important and I commend everyone involved in the projects and the young people who engage in the services available to them.”

Tags: Coolock, Garda Youth Diversion, justice, Raheny

BROUGHAN WELCOMES MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN ROAD TRAFFIC LAWS

15 May 2015
Deputy Tommy Broughan has welcomed news received this week that Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, will soon be commencing Section 6 (c) of the Road Traffic Act 2014 which will “create a Garda power of arrest in cases of people driving while disqualified.”

Deputy Broughan has long been trying to establish the figures of drivers who are still driving while disqualified perhaps due to discrepancies around accuracy of recording licence numbers at the time of conviction and then lack of follow-up to ensure that licences have been surrendered to the Road Safety Authority (RSA). The RSA took over at the national driver licensing authority at the end of October 2013 and “under regulation 45 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006), as amended by S.I. no. 6 of 2013, it is a legal requirement that people who are disqualified from driving must surrender their driving licences to the RSA, in its capacity as the national driver licensing authority. Failure to do so is an offence”. The proper regulation and enforcement of this disqualification requires significant collaboration between the Courts Service, the Gardaí and the Road Safety Authority. The RSA is required to write to the Gardaí to inform them when driving licences have not been surrendered.

Earlier in April, in response to Parliamentary Question number 711, the Road Safety Authority reported to Deputy Broughan that in 2013, 3 notifications were sent by the RSA to the Gardaí, in 2014 there were 23 notifications and up to the 9th of April 2015 there had been 22 notifications so far this year. These numbers seem extremely low when compared to the thousands of drivers being disqualified from driving in Courts around the country. When Deputy Broughan asked Minister Donohue for his opinion on these low figures the Minister replied that “While the numbers of licences surrendered to the RSA appear to be low, it is still an offence to drive while disqualified, whether or not the licence has been surrendered”. Minister Donohue went on to say that he plans to commence Section 6 (c) mentioned above.

Deputy Broughan says “I welcome the fact that the Minister is acknowledging gaps in our legislation and enforcement of road safety laws and that he will soon commence an important section of the Road Traffic Act 2014. I would also like to commend the work of PARC Road Safety Group for their continuous work in following-up on numbers of licences surrendered versus the numbers of drivers disqualified. While I am still awaiting some answers from Ministers Donohue and Fitzgerald I am glad to see that improvements in collaboration and communication measures are recognised and the movement is occurring to ensure discrepancies are rectified.”

Tags: penalty points, road safety, Road Safety Authority

BROUGHAN URGES TAOISEACH IN DAIL TO ADDRESS HALLOWEEN MAYHEM

13 Oct 2010
Dublin North East Labour T.D. Tommy Broughan T.D. asked Taoiseach Brian Cowen in Dail Eireann this morning to make sure the resources are in place in local communities to avoid any mayhem in the run-up to and on Hallowe’en night.

Deputy Broughan said, “Many communities experience an unacceptable level of anti-social activity around the Hallowe’en period. Over the last couple of years local authorities have organised a number of safe, community-run Hallowe’en events for children and young people. But many constituents now fear that these community-maintained events may be under threat because of Fianna Fail/Green Party cutbacks.” Dublin City Council Assistant Manager Philip Maguire earlier told Deputy Tommy Broughan at the Dublin Joint Policing Committee that even though DCC is under severe financial pressure they intend that key supports for the Hallowe’en festival would continue for 2010.

Deputy Broughan asked Taoiseach Cowen this morning in Dail Eireann to confirm that these resources would be in place to prevent any anti-social activity occurring throughout the Hallowe’en period. He also asked Taoiseach Cowen to ensure that the long promised Sale of Alcohol Bill is urgently published including measures proposed by the Labour Party to include the retailer’s name or code on each item of alcohol to stamp out underage drinking and the misuse of alcohol.

Taoiseach Cowen indicated that the Sale of Alcohol Bill will be published early next year. However, the Taoiseach refused to address the appalling anti-social behaviour that many (especially urban) communities endure around Hallowe’en.

“It is very disappointing that Taoiseach Cowen did not take this matter more seriously in Dail Eireann and I intend to continue to pursue the Taoiseach and Justice Minister Dermot Ahern on this matter”, concluded Deputy Broughan.

GILMORE & BROUGHAN MEET STARDUST VICTIMS & RELATIVES IN DAIL EIREANN

13 Oct 2010
Local Dublin North East Labour T.D Tommy Broughan and Labour Leader Eamonn Gilmore T.D. today met a delegation of the Stardust Victims and Relatives Committee in Dail Eireann.

The delegation led by Ms. Antoinette Keegan met the Labour party in Dail Eireann for a full briefing on the Committee’s continuing campaign for justice for the 48 tragic victims of the 1981 fire disaster.

Deputy Broughan said, “I was delighted to again meet and be briefed by the Stardust delegation given their tremendous campaign over nearly 30 years.” The Stardust Victims and Relatives Committee reported that in the context of the 2009 Coffey Report into the 1981 inferno they had contacted Taoiseach Cowen nearly two years ago seeking a meeting. But the Committee have still not received a reply from the Taoiseach on this matter. They also asked for a public apology from the government, the re-opening of the original inquest and a full criminal investigation of the Stardust tragedy.

Deputy Broughan said, “The Labour Party has repeatedly requested that the Taoiseach meet with the Stardust Victims and Relatives Committee and we would again urge Taoiseach Cowen to make sure that all outstanding issues arising from the horrific Stardust tragedy are addressed as soon as possible.”

IRISH RAIL RESPONDS TO BROUGHAN ON BAYSIDE DART FLOODING

12 Oct 2010
Irish Rail CEO Mr. Dick Fearn has responded to Dublin North East Deputy Tommy Broughan on the recent serious flooding of Bayside DART station which closed down this key station for nearly a full day and massively inconvenienced local commuters. Deputy Broughan had also raised serious ongoing concerns about flooding and drainage problems in the vicinity of Bayside DART station on behalf of local Bayside, Baldoyle and Sutton residents.

Deputy Broughan had asked Mr. Dick Fearn to fully report on why Bayside DART station was flooded and closed down last month after relatively insignificant levels of rainfall and what actions are being taken by Irish Rail and Fingal County Council to avoid this happening again?

Mr. Fearn reported to Deputy Broughan that “the most recent floods at Bayside DART Station have been caused by a series of critical factors. Whilst the station pumps have been operating, they were completely overwhelmed by the force and volume of the water. The water was being pumped to the local drainage system but as this in turn was at full capacity it cascaded back out of the shores and into the subway. Therefore we were pumping the same water around in a circle. Furthermore, ground water was pushing its way up and this was causing flooding in the station as our buildings engineers witnessed water coming through the grouting in the tiles. Iarnrod Eireann’s Building and Facilities Maintenance Manager is now proposing, in consultation with the Fingal County Council representatives, to divert part of the subway drainage to the storm drain on the north side of the station. In the meantime, through cooperation between Iarnrod Eireann and Fingal County Council, we will make every effort to ensure that a solution will be found to these problems to avoid the flooding that has been causing the closure of Bayside station recently.”

Deputy Broughan said, “There appears to be an ongoing and damaging drainage and flooding problem around Bayside DART Station. Just last week I received more complaints of flooding in parts of Sutton Park. Iarnrod Eireann and Fingal County must now work in full cooperation with the local community and residents’ associations to ensure that this matter is addressed and remedied as soon as possible.”

DISAPPOINTMENT AS FF/GREENS RULE OUT EXTRA GARDA RESOURCES FOR NORTH FRINGE & DONAGHMEDE

8 Oct 2010
Local Dublin North East T.D. Deputy Tommy Broughan has expressed disappointment at the refusal of Justice Minister Dermot Ahern and his Fianna Fail/Green colleagues to consider allocating more Gardai resources to the North Fringe district and Donaghmede, Dublin 13.

Deputy Broughan had again asked Minister Ahern in Dail Eireann whether he was considering a long-requested Garda Station, or even a sub-station, for the North Fringe and environs and Donaghmede given the massive population explosion that has occurred with the building of the North Fringe.

Deputy Broughan said, “I have supported the campaign of local Donaghmede residents for a Garda Station for nearly ten years given the significance and size of the Donaghmede area in Dublin North East.” Since the development of the vast new urban North Fringe district there has been perhaps as many as 4,000 new homes built in the Dublin 13 area (half of which are now occupied), yet the Minister and his predecessors have consistently ruled out enhancing the policing personnel and infrastructure to match the increased population.

“Given the huge population in Donaghmede, and the wider North Fringe district it is extremely disappointing that Justice Minister Ahern and his Fianna Fail colleagues have now ruled out a new station for the area and is “satisfied that the area is being provided with a comprehensive policing service”, concluded Deputy Broughan.

BROUGHAN RAISES TAXI CRISIS WITH TAOISEACH IN DAIL EIREANN

7 Oct 2010
Local Dublin North East Deputy Tommy Broughan T.D. has again raised the ongoing crisis in the taxi industry with Taoiseach Cowen in Dail Eireann.

Deputy Broughan commented, “Unfortunately, a of number taxi workers representing the Irish Taxi Council are currently in such despair at the state of the taxi industry that they have gone on hunger strike outside Dail Eireann to highlight their plight. The taxi workers and their representatives have requested meetings on many occasions with the Minister for Transport and the Taxi Regulator to discuss all of the issues involved. But unfortunately both the Minister and the Regulator have refused to meet the taxi men and women.” Deputy Broughan immediately raised this matter with Taoiseach Cowen, Transport Minister Dempsey and the Taxi Regulator and asked them to meet the striking workers and their representatives so that this situation is resolved as soon as possible.

Deputy Broughan said, “I am contacted by taxi constituents on an ongoing basis who have described how they are finding it increasingly difficult to earn a basic, decent income to support themselves and their families.”

Last year, Deputy Broughan launched a comprehensive taxi reform plan on behalf of the Labour Party (Hailing A New Taxi Service: A Fair and High Quality Taxi Service For All) which outlined a programme to massively overhaul the disastrous current “light touch” regulatory system established by the Fianna Fail government.

“The current free-for-all in the taxi sector is grossly failing passengers and taxi workers alike. We cannot allow the taxi industry which is so integral to our public transport system to continue to become a free-for-all with little compliance to basic standards and massively degraded wages and conditions”, concluded Deputy Broughan.

BROUGHAN CALLS FOR ANTI-SOCIAL STRATEGY AS LEVEL OF OFFENCES SOARS

7 Oct 2010
Figures released to Dublin North East Deputy Tommy Broughan by the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern show an ongoing and incredibly high level of public order and assault offences.

Deputy Broughan had asked Minister Ahern to report on the number of incidents of anti-social behaviour that occur each year and to outline what new initiatives he and his colleagues are taking to address this ongoing problem. Deputy Broughan has long campaigned for a comprehensive policy to target and eliminate the scourge of anti-social behaviour in local communities including a database of reported incidents and the development of a precise and mappable database of anti-social and criminal hotspots that will allow An Garda Siochana and Local Authorities to target problematic areas. In the UK, for example, anti-social incidents are specifically recorded and targets are in place to reduce these appalling incidents in the different police districts.

Unfortunately, Minister Ahern has not ordered that anti-social behaviour incidents are specifically recorded and targeted so the CSO has provided Deputy Broughan with overall figures for the number of assaults causing harm (including poisoning), other assaults and disorderly conduct between 2004 and 2010.

“The number of incidents assaults and disorderly conduct (which includes many incidents of anti-social behaviour) has actually soared since 2004”, said Deputy Broughan. “In total there were 3,892 assaults in the four quarters of 2004 and 38,253 incidents of disorderly conduct during the same period. The shocking total number was therefore 42,125 incidents in 2004.

“However, this figure has continued to rise. In the last four quarters of 2009 and 2010, for example, there was a slight decrease in assaults to 3,627. Yet the increase in disorderly conduct incidents shot up to 47,376 and therefore the total number of incidents over the last four quarters was 51,003”, continued Deputy Broughan “This is an appallingly high level of incidents. It is clear that for all the tough talk of this Minister and his predecessors on tackling anti-social behaviour, no progress at all has occurred and astonishingly there are now more not less disorder and assault incidents since 2004. In effect, Minister Ahern and his Fianna Fail/Green colleagues have no proper anti-social behaviour strategy and have abysmally failed on their promises to have “zero tolerance” for any anti-social or criminal behaviour.”

Deputy Broughan said, “There is also always a high level of unreported anti-social incidents so these figures are really just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to anti-social activity. I believe that Minister Ahern must now seriously tackle this issue by firstly determining the true level of anti-social behaviour in neighbourhoods across the country and putting specific anti-social measures in place”, concluded Deputy Broughan.

BROUGHAN RAISES EU RETRAINING FUNDS FOR EX-SRT WORKERS IN DAIL EIREANN

6 Oct 2010

Dublin North East Deputy Tommy Broughan has asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation in Dail Eireann to make sure that structures are immediately put in place to allow the dispersal of EU Globalisation Funding to ex-SRT workers as quickly as possible.

On 22nd September 2010 the European Commission announced its approval of an application for European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) co-financing assistance in support of redundant workers formerly employed at the S R Technics aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin airport. The EGF application is for a total of €11.46m of which the EU contribution sought is €7.45m. The application remains to be approved by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.

Minister O’Keefe has now told Deputy Broughan that “in the interim national funding, in anticipation of subsequent EU reimbursement up to specified limits, is being provided for the continued roll-out of measures across a wide range of service providers currently which former S R Technics workers may avail of. These measures include occupational guidance, training, educational opportunities and enterprise supports.”

A week ago, a new programme was announced to allow former SRT apprentices to complete the on-the-job phases of their apprenticeships with the Air Corps which will be co-financed with EGF support.

Deputy Broughan has also learnt that “tenders have been received under a public tendering exercise for a national coordinator for EGF implementation and this process will be brought to completion shortly. In the interim all State agencies and relevant educational bodies involved in service provision for redundant S R Technics workers have met to discuss how the current measures available can be intensified for the remaining period of anticipated EGF funding.”

Deputy Broughan has also welcomed the proposal to run an information event to fully inform all ex-SRT workers of the services that should be made available under this funding programme. But he has urged the Minister to make sure that the key structures are in place for this vital funding to be accessed by former SRT workers as quickly as possible.

BROUGHAN URGES JUSTICE MINISTER TO ACT NOW TO PREVENT HALLOWE’EN MAYHEM

6 Oct 2010
Local Dublin North East T.D. Tommy Broughan has urged Justice Minister Dermot Ahern to act now to prevent the mayhem and severe anti-social behaviour that so often plagues local communities in the run-in to Hallowe’en night.

“Unfortunately, many residents still feel under siege around the Hallowe’en period. It is imperative that Minister Ahern once again co-ordinates a strategy now with An Garda Siochana and the Local Authorities to prevent disgraceful anti-social behaviour that has sadly happened around Hallowe’en including the setting-off of illegal fireworks, underage drinking around bonfires and the sometimes serious intimidation of local householders”, said Deputy Broughan.

Deputy Broughan asked Justice Minister Ahern to outline what steps he is taking now before the Hallowe’en period starts to tackle this annual problem and also to eliminate the importation of dangerous fireworks into Ireland.

Minister Ahern reported that the 2006 Criminal Justice Act is now in place and allows for a fine of up to €10,000 or 5 years imprisonment for a fireworks offence under the Act. However, disappointingly the Minister ruled out contacting the UK manufacturers of many of these fireworks to try and get to the source of these illegal imports as being “outside of his jurisdiction.”

However, Minister Ahern did report to Deputy Broughan that “a nationwide information campaign will take place in the run up to Hallowe’en using national and regional newspapers to highlight to the public the dangers of fireworks and the significant penalties that exist for their illegal use.” Minister Ahern went on to report that “I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that Operation Tombola, the annual Garda operation, is in place for policing during the Hallowe’en period and to prevent and detect the organised importation of fireworks in the lead up to Hallowe’en and to police the Hallowe’en period. Persons suspected of engaging in the importation, supply or sale of fireworks will be identified and targeted.”

Deputy Broughan has also learnt from the Minister “that through the Schools Programme and other local programmes members of An Garda Síochána will highlight the dangers associated with illegally imported fireworks. Gardaí have a liaison mechanism in place with Local Authorities for the removal of identified stockpiles of combustible materials, in advance of Hallowe’en night. Gardaí have also advised Managers of Off-Licences to ensure that staff are appraised of their obligations and responsibilities under Licensing legislation relating to the sale of alcohol, in particular to underage persons.”

Deputy Broughan continued, “Minister Ahern has advised me that “the provisions of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 will be rigidly enforced” on Hallowe’en night. I would urge the Minister to make sure that the resources are in place to allow An Garda Siochana and the Local Authorities to make sure this is the case”, concluded Deputy Broughan.

At the Dublin Joint Policing Committee, Deputy Broughan also raised constituents’ concerns about Hallowe’en and the need to maintain community-organised Hallowe’en functions supported by Dublin City Council. Manager Philip Maguire told Deputy Tommy Broughan and the Committee that the City Council is desperately strapped for income but that existing support for Hallowe’en would continue for 2010.

MINISTER CONFIRMS APPALLING DELAYS IN REDUNDANCY PAYOUTS

6 Oct 2010
Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Minister Batt O’Keefe has confirmed to local Dublin North East T.D. Tommy Broughan that citizens who have been made unemployed still face appalling months-long delays in accessing their desperately needed redundancy award.

Deputy Broughan said, “I have heard from a number of local constituents who were made unemployed and who have faced a long and tremendous struggle to access their rightful redundancy payment from the Social Insurance Fund. These constituents have been treated disgracefully.  When they were let go (after decades of service to their respective companies), they received no wages in lieu of notice, no holiday and no redundancy pay.  They were then left waiting for nearly a year to receive their statutory redundancy payment through the SIF from the Fianna Fail/Green government.”

In light of this outrageous situation, Deputy Broughan contacted Minister Batt O’Keefe and asked him to urgently address the backlogs and delays in the system for accessing redundancy awards through the Social Insurance Fund and if he has met or been briefed by the National Employment Rights Authority on this matter.

Minister O’Keefe has now confirmed to Deputy Broughan that “the Redundancy Payments Section of my Department is currently processing rebate claims from employers in general dating from February 2010 so that the waiting time is currently between 6 and 7 months.” In terms of lump sum payments paid directly to employees in instances where employers are unable to pay the statutory redundancy entitlements, Minister O’Keefe reports that “the processing time for these claims has improved significantly and claims dating from February 2010 are currently being processed.”

Minister O’Keefe went on to say that he acknowledges Deputy Broughan’s “concerns in relation to processing times overall given the difficulties which delays give rise to for employees and employers alike.” But incredibly, in the eight month period up to the end of August 2010, the number of claims processed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation was 51,800 which is a 96% increase compared to the corresponding period in 2009 (26,405) and which is greater than the total number of claims lodged in 2009 (50,664). On average 1,200 new claims are being made to the Department each week. Minister O’Keefe also reported that “the claims backlog reached its highest level at 43,000 in the latter quarter of 2009 has been reduced to a level of 32,137 at the end of August 2010 representing a reduction in the backlog of almost 11,000 claims.

“Clearly, staff in the Department are under pressure given the soaring number of redundancy claims. But Minister O’Keefe and his Fianna Fail and Green colleagues have overseen this appalling jobs crisis and it is their responsibility to put the resources in place so that citizens who have been made unemployed can access their hard-earned redundancy payment as fast and efficiently as possible”, concluded Deputy Broughan.

BROUGHAN CONGRATULATES NORTH EAST WINNERS OF CITY NEIGHBOURHOOD AWARDS

1 Oct 2010
Dublin North East T.D. Tommy Broughan has warmly congratulated all of the winners of the City Neighbourhood Awards 2010 on what was an outstanding night for North East community and residents’ associations.

Deputy Broughan attended the awards ceremony in Croke Park this week where Dublin North East groups won across a wide range of categories.

Ard Na Greine Residents’ Association once again won their category for Residential Areas of 300 plus; Raheny won the Best Mixed Used Street award and came second in the Best Urban Village category; Donaghmede Estate Residents’ Association and Newbrook Road won second prize in the Best Community Environment Initiative; and Rathmore Residents’ Association won second prize in the Residential Area 1-150 category. Millwood Senior Citizens’ were also nominated in a number of important categories.

“The 2010 City Neighbourhoods awards ceremony was an incredible night for Dublin North East community and residents’ organisations who yet again performed exceptionally well”, said Deputy Broughan.

“All residents of Dublin North East should be deeply proud of the terrific work of these volunteers and community leaders who are the unsung heroes of our communities”, continued Deputy Broughan.

“I would also like to pay tribute to all of the residents’ associations and their colleagues who couldn’t make it to the awards ceremony but who carry out Trojan work on an ongoing basis to keep our local estates in such good condition. Ard Na Greine Residents’ Association, Donaghmede Estate Residents’ Association and Newbrook Road, Raheny, Millbrook Senior Citizens and Rathmore Residents’ Association work tremendously hard to keep the local environment clean and pleasant.  The awards are due recognition of this work that happens on a daily basis and which can be easily be taken for granted as we pass by well kept green areas, flower beds and tidy streets”, concluded Deputy Broughan.

BROUGHAN CONGRATULATES NORTH EAST WINNERS OF CITY NEIGHBOURHOOD AWARDS1 Oct 2010

Dublin North East T.D. Tommy Broughan has warmly congratulated all of the winners of the City Neighbourhood Awards 2010 on what was an outstanding night for North East community and residents’ associations.

Deputy Broughan attended the awards ceremony in Croke Park this week where Dublin North East groups won across a wide range of categories.

Ard Na Greine Residents’ Association once again won their category for Residential Areas of 300 plus; Raheny won the Best Mixed Used Street award and came second in the Best Urban Village category; Donaghmede Estate Residents’ Association and Newbrook Road won second prize in the Best Community Environment Initiative; and Rathmore Residents’ Association won second prize in the Residential Area 1-150 category. Millwood Senior Citizens’ were also nominated in a number of important categories.

“The 2010 City Neighbourhoods awards ceremony was an incredible night for Dublin North East community and residents’ organisations who yet again performed exceptionally well”, said Deputy Broughan.

“All residents of Dublin North East should be deeply proud of the terrific work of these volunteers and community leaders who are the unsung heroes of our communities”, continued Deputy Broughan.

“I would also like to pay tribute to all of the residents’ associations and their colleagues who couldn’t make it to the awards ceremony but who carry out Trojan work on an ongoing basis to keep our local estates in such good condition. Ard Na Greine Residents’ Association, Donaghmede Estate Residents’ Association and Newbrook Road, Raheny, Millbrook Senior Citizens and Rathmore Residents’ Association work tremendously hard to keep the local environment clean and pleasant.  The awards are due recognition of this work that happens on a daily basis and which can be easily be taken for granted as we pass by well kept green areas, flower beds and tidy streets”, concluded Deputy Broughan.

GORMLEY STILL IN DENIAL ON PYRITE DISASTER

28 Sep 2010
Dublin North East T.D. Tommy Broughan has slammed Environment Minister John Gormley for ignoring the ongoing scandal of pyrite affected homes in Dublin North East.

Deputy Broughan again asked Minister Gormley if he would carry out an urgent audit of all buildings constructed before 2007/08 which is