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491 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 492[Mr. Crawford.]drawn to the fact that two persons (detailssupplied) in County Monaghan who wereassessed by Department personnel and found toneed remedial tuition have now been advised thatno remedial help is available; and if she will makea statement on the matter. [5985/05]Minister for Education and Science (MsHanafin): Having confirmed the identities of thepupils in question with the Deputy’s office, I wishto confirm that my Department considered applicationsfor resource teaching support for bothpupils. The school was advised on 4 February2005 that the pupils do not qualify for resourceteaching support as the applications did not meetthe criteria for such support. The school currentlyhas the services of a learning support teacher postand a resource teacher post supporting a totalenrolment of 28 pupils. It would be expected thatthe special educational needs of both pupils canbe met from within these resources. I understandthat the assessments were carried out by a personwho was a former member of my Department’sstaff.350. Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Educationand Science the reason special needs assistantsin primary school both part-time and fulltimestaff receive holiday pay but assistants inthird level colleges do not receive such a payment;the plans she has to review this situation;and if she will make a statement on thematter. [5987/05]Minister for Education and Science (MsHanafin): Personal assistants are utilised withinthird level colleges for certain classes of studentswith disabilities, mainly those with physical ormobility difficulties. The main source of fundingfor personal assistants is the fund for studentswith disabilities. Colleges of further and highereducation can apply on behalf of students whorequire a personal assistant in order to participateequitably in their education. Contractual arrangementsin relation to personal assistants varybetween institutions. Most colleges either useagencies that supply personal assistants, oremploy personal assistants directly on temporarypart-time or wholetime contracts. In both cases,the employer of the personal assistant is requiredto comply with the relevant employment legislationwhich is in force at this time. In somesmaller colleges, personal assistants are contractedon a self-employed basis directly by thestudent, who is provided with the necessaryresources by their college.The manner in which the personal assistantsare employed is a matter for each institution. Theterms and conditions of employment foremployees who provide support for students withdisabilities in third level is a matter for the individualcolleges concerned.Departmental Correspondence.351. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defenceif he will investigate the issues raised in correspondence(details supplied); and if he will makea statement on the matter. [5640/05]Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea): The issuesraised in the correspondence referred to by theDeputy are not a matter for the Department ofDefence, nor has an application to use DefenceForces facilities been received from the group inquestion.Defence Forces Ombudsman.352. Mr. Stanton asked the Minister forDefence the position regarding the DefenceForces ombudsman, including powers and functionsand date of commencement of the role; ifthe ombudsman will be able to investigate complaintsby persons who are no longer members ofthe Defence Forces; the way in which theombudsman can be contacted; and if he will makea statement on the matter. [5658/05]Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea): The personappointed to be the ombudsman for the DefenceForces will be selected through a process of openpublic competition held by the Public AppointmentsService. This competition will be advertisedas soon as possible.As regards the matter of former members ofthe Defence Forces making application to theDefence Forces ombudsman, on his-her appointment,the position is that the Ombudsman(Defence Forces) Act 2004 generally providesthat both serving and former members of theDefence Forces may make an application within12 months of the occurrence of an action complainedof or within 12 months of the applicanthaving become aware of the action complainedof. However, members and former members ofthe Defence Forces will not be able to makeapplication to the Defence Forces ombudsman inregard to a matter which pre-dates the commencementof the legislation. Complaints madeby serving members of the Defence Forces relatingto matters pre-dating the commencement ofthe legislation may be submitted to the Ministerthrough the structured redress of wrongs process,as at present, on a transitional basis when the newlegislation is commenced.Defence Forces Property.353. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defencethe position regarding overholders in theCurragh, County Kildare; the position regardinghis Department’s proposals to address the matter;his plan to provide alternative accommodationfor these persons and their families; and if he willmake a statement on the matter. [5763/05]Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea): Personnelon being discharged from the Permanent DefenceForce are obliged to vacate married quarterswithin a short period of the dates of their dis-
493 Questions— 22 February 2005. Written Answers 494charge. The provision of housing is primarily amatter for the local authorities and marriedmilitary personnel have an equal claim on suchhousing as other members of the community inthe same income category. My Department iscontinuing to examine all options, includingaffordable housing and voluntary and cooperativehousing schemes, with regard to the rehousingof those overholders who would in thenormal way be eligible for local authority housing.The Department remains in contact with theoverholders pending resolution of the issue.354. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defencethe number of houses purchased by tenants at anestate (details supplied) in County Kildare; thenumber still in negotiation; his proposals to concludethe stated sales; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [5764/05]Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea): To date 85of the 100 houses at Orchard Park have been soldto the occupants. A contract of sale and deed oftransfer have been executed in respect of anothercase. Two further houses are in the process ofbeing sold by tender and it is expected that thesesales will also be completed in 2005. The sales ofthe remaining 12 quarters to the occupants arebeing actively pursued.355. Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defencethe position in regard to the takeover of theOrchard Park housing estate, The Curragh,County Kildare by Kildare County Council; andif he will make a statement on the matter.[5765/05]Minister for Defence (Mr. O’Dea): KildareCounty Council has advised that the roads, servicesetc. at Orchard Park will have to be broughtup to the required standard before they will betaken in charge. It is hoped to undertake a programmeof works later in the year to ensure thefacilities at the estate are up to the standardrequired. In the interim a contractor is beingengaged to carry out emergency repairs to theroads.Architectural Heritage.356. Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government ifhe will consider an application for grant assistancetowards repair and restoration of a premises(details supplied) in County Kildare; and if hewill make a statement on the matter. [6008/05]Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government (Mr. Roche): No applicationhas been received in my Department for grantassistance for the building referred to in the questionunder the scheme of EU co-financed grantsfor the conservation of the architectural heritageprovided for under the National DevelopmentPlan 2000-2006. My Department has also establishedthat no application for funding has beenmade to Kildare County Council under the grantsscheme for the conservation of protected structureswhich is administered by local authorities,although the council is aware of the project.Applications for grant assistance in 2005 undereither of these schemes are now closed. It will beopen to the project promoters to lodge an applicationfor assistance under the 2006 schemes.Waste Management.357. Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Governmentthe progress which has been made on the promisedintroduction of a common nationwide wastecharges waiver system for qualifying applicants.[6095/05]Minister for the Environment, Heritage andLocal Government (Mr. Roche): The provisionby a local authority of a waiver in respect of allor part of a charge in respect of the provision ofa waste service by or on behalf of the authority issolely a matter for the local authority concerned.My Department has no function in the matter.However, the issue of waste charges and lowincome persons-households has been raised in asocial partnership context arising from SustainingProgress. Discussions are continuing between myDepartment and the Department of Social, Communityand Family Affairs in terms of identifyinghow any outstanding issues might be addressed.Social and Affordable Housing.358. Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Governmentthe average cost per unit of delivery of socialhousing in the State. [5580/05]Minister of State at the Department of theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Government(Mr. N. Ahern): The last full year for whichactual social housing unit costs are available is2003 and these are set out in the following table:2003 National Dublin\ \Local Authority 142,000 175,000Voluntary and Co-operative(Capital Loan and SubsidyScheme) 149,000 201,500House Completions.359. Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Governmentthe house completions in each of the past fiveyears; the percentage of these each year whichwere social housing; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [5581/05]360. Mr. Morgan asked the Minister for theEnvironment, Heritage and Local Governmentthe house completions in each of the past fiveyears; the percentage of these each year whichwere second homes; and if he will make a statementon the matter. [5582/05]
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