Government reps should apologise – rather than seek plaudits – for delivery of Carrickmacross Group Home 16 years later

Government reps should apologise – rather than seek plaudits – for delivery of Carrickmacross Group Home 16 years later – Matt Carthy TD

 

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, has welcomed that the Group Home for people with physical disabilities, at the Convent Lands, in Carrickmacross, is due to become operational shortly.

 

But, he said, it remains a scandal that the new residents and their families have had to fight every step of the way for over a decade and a half to bring this facility to fruition.  Rather than seek plaudits, as government representatives have done in recent days, they should be apologising for the unacceptable delays and assuring that it will never happen again to other families.

 

Deputy Carthty said this week that the families of those who will be residing at the group home have been treated scandalously by the HSE and successive governments.

 

The home was first committed to in 2006 but has been subject to ongoing delays from that time.  The building was finally constructed in 2016 but has remained idle ever since because the funding necessary to operate it was not released.

 

Deputy Carthy has been raising this issue on behalf of families since 2007 when he was a member of Monaghan County Council.  Throughout his time as a local councillor and even while in the European Parliament he engaged with the local authority, the HSE and government representatives.  Since his election to the Dáil in February 2020 he has consistently raised the issue with the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for Disabilities.

 

The suggestion that there has been shift since the Fianna Fáil/ Fine Gael/ Green Party government came into place doesn’t stand up to scrutiny, he said.  “In December 2020 government promised that the centre would be operational in early 2021.  Then it was announced that it would be in the second half of the year – then than it would absolutely be open by Quarter 4 of 2021.  Now, Fianna Fáil representatives want a slap on the back because it will finally be delivered in March 2022” Carthy said.

 

He said that the delays in this project have been disgraceful.

 

Deputy Carthy continued:

 

“It is simply not acceptable that this state-of-the-art building has lay idle for almost six consecutive years.

 

“It is an indictment on successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments that the families of those people with disabilities who will reside in this home have had to fight every step of the way.  That their ordeal is coming to an end is most welcome – but government representatives should not be seeking plaudits for themselves, in fact they should be apologising.

 

“Above all, lessons must be learned.  This long-running debacle is all too symptomatic of how citizens with disabilities are often treated.  The fact that Fianna Fáil representatives issued public statements commending themselves for delivering this project 16 years after it was first mooted, without referencing those families who actually campaigned for it, is very telling.

 

“The credit for the delivery of this group home lies squarely with those families who never rested in their pursuit of a group home so that their loved-ones could live as independently as possible.  They deserve the plaudits – not politicians who were conspicuously silent during most of the 16 years of campaigning.”

ENDS

Subsidies to private landlords to top €1 billion in 2022

Subsidies to private landlords to top €1 billion in 2022 – Matt Carthy TD

 

Cavan Monaghan TD, Matt Carthy, has said that government expenditure on subsidies to private landlords is likely to surpass €1billion in 2022, representing ‘an indictment of a government housing policy that is actually making the situation worse.’

 

The Sinn Féin representative was speaking following an engagement with senior officials from the Department of Housing at the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee.

 

Carthy said:

 

“The Housing crisis in Ireland did not happen by accident.  It is a direct result of the policies pursued by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.

 

“Rather than build houses, government have instead diverted funds to subsidising landlords,  The impact of this is multi-fold.  Those in need of housing support, rather than being allocated a council house as in the past (whereby they would pay rent which could then be invested in further house builds), were instead forced into private rental accommodation subsidised by the taxpayer.  This then has caused rents to rise which has forced house prices to inflate.  The net result is that many young workers and families will never be in a position to buy their own homes, while those parties remain in power.

 

“The revelation that this year Irish taxpayers will be subsidising over €1billion in these schemes to landlords is nothing short of scandalous.

 

It reinforces the need for real change in housing policy, which will only be delivered by a change in government.”

 

The exchange at the Public Accounts Committee went as follows:

 

Deputy Matt Carthy: “I want to go back to the issue of private subsidies in the context of delivering on housing need.  The expenditure for 2020 on the HAP scheme was €464 million, is that correct?”

 

Mr. Graham Doyle: “Yes, that is correct.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “That figure increased to €542 million last year?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “Last year, yes.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “What is the expected outturn this year?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “The Estimate amount for 2022 is €584 million.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “How many people were housed through HAP schemes in each of those years?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “It was just under 60,000 in 2020 and just under 62,000 in 2021.  Those were the active tenancies supported at the end of each of those years.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “How many residencies will be accommodated by the outturn of €584 million?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “For the current year, we are planning for an additional 10,000 residencies. It is something of that order. I will ask one of my colleagues to get the figure now.”

 

Matt Carthy: “It will be in the region of 74,000?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “There are also people exiting RAS, many of whom go into social tenancies. The end-of-year figure will be in the region of 10,000 more. I will get that figure for the Deputy now.”

 

Matt Carthy: “I understand the RAS will remain fairly static.  In 2020, €133 million was spent on RAS?”

 

Graham Doyle: “That is correct.”

 

Matt Carthy: “The figure decreased last year?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “It decreased last year.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “The figure I have is €122 million. Is that right?”

 

Graham Doyle: “That is the correct figure.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “An increase is forecast for the coming year, however?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “Under the Estimate, €133 million is provided.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “Does Mr. Doyle expect that to be spent?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “We expect it to be spent, yes.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “How many tenancies were affected in 2020 and 2021, respectively?  What is the expected number for 2022?”

 

Graham Doyle: “At the end of 2020, it was 17,700, let us say. At the end of 2021, it was just under 17,100.  Obviously, there are people entering and exiting the RAS.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “Okay. Rent supplement is paid through another Department but there is obviously a relationship with Mr. Doyle’s Department because people who are on rent supplement—–”

 

Graham Doyle:  “Yes, they move generally.  RAS has stayed relatively level.  Rent supplement has come down.  Many of those tenancies probably moved into HAP in that period.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “The figures I have are that in 2020 the expenditure on rent supplement was €95 million, while last year it was €123 million.  That seems to be a substantial increase.  Does Mr. Doyle have a rationale for why that is the case?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “It is in the Vote of another Department.  I do not know if some of it is related to the pandemic in the past couple of years.  That may be the case but I am speculating.  It is not in my voted expenditure.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “In terms of emergency accommodation, the expenditure has been dropping. The figure I have is €271 million for 2020.”

 

Graham Doyle:  “The core funding for emergency accommodation has gone up a little.  There was a big jump in that subhead from 2019 to 2020, and that was very much related to the pandemic.  There was a very high level of homelessness – there still is – but it was particularly high at the end of 2019, going into 2021.  Between the pandemic and additional funding provided to support homeless services in that year, there was a very large increase in the amount of Exchequer funding provided that year.  That came down last year, as the Deputy stated.  The Deputy may be about to ask me about 2022.  That figure is €194 million, which, if we compare it with 2019 in terms of a more representative year, is a significant additional amount of funding.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “I take it that figure does not include emergency accommodation for people seeking international asylum.”

 

Graham Doyle:  “No, that is a separate Department.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “It comes from a different Department.  I refer to the estimated outturns of €585 million for HAP and €133 million for RAS.  I will assume rent supplement will remain static in the context of the upward trajectory we have seen, giving a figure of €123 million.  The amount for emergency accommodation is €194 million.  If we also take into account the figures Mr. Doyle cannot give us, that is, the private contribution towards HAP tenancies, as well as other contributions that are forced on tenants in this regard, it is fair to say that, across the schemes, well over €1 billion will be spent this year?”

 

Graham Doyle: “Those are the Deputy’s figures. He has taken some figures from other Departments as well.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “Essentially, what we are talking about here is people who are availing of schemes that involve subsidies to private interests.  In most instances, those people would be better served by, and much prefer to be housed in, a direct social housing scheme, as was traditionally the case.”

 

Graham Doyle:  “Government policy is to build those units in order to do that.  One small nuance is that RAS has probably been moving significantly towards the AHB sector in recent years, which is a charitable sector focused on the provision of housing to people who need it.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “The Department’s trajectory was mentioned earlier on.  The ratio referenced for 2017 was 50:50 in terms of what would be spent on subsidisation versus capital and the trajectory was to move that to 75:25?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “Yes.  There has been a significant increase in the social housing investment programme, which is the capital funding piece.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “Essentially, that is a recognition on the part of the Department that these schemes did not represent good value for money?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “No. That is not what it says, at all.  It is a recognition that Government policy is to invest in building new-build social houses.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “If we go back to the year of appropriation, when we are talking about €464 million for HAP; €133 million for RAS; €95 million for rent supplement and €271 million for emergency accommodation.  Mr. Doyle was indicating there was a distinction between some of the SHCEP scheme funding in terms of private leasing arrangements and others, which I gather are approved housing bodies.  What would the breakdown of that €191 million have been for the former?”

 

Graham Doyle: “In 2020?”

 

Matt Carthy: “Yes. For private landlords.”

 

Graham Doyle:  “The last time I was here, Deputy Carthy gave me a fair rattle with regard to long-term and enhanced leasing, which I can completely understand. I know he is specifically interested in those.  The long-term and enhanced leasing was just over €37 million.  There are a range of other programmes included under that. Some is leasing from the National Asset Residential Property Service, NARPS, programme, which is an National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, type social housing programme.  The biggest piece of that programme is under the CALF, the AHB funding piece in terms of payment and availability.  That is €114 million.”

 

Matt Carthy: “How much was delivered to local authorities for capital build and acquisition of housing in 2020?”

 

Graham Doyle: “Is the Deputy asking about the main scheme to build in 2021?”

 

Matt Carthy: “I am asking about 2020, initially. Mr. Doyle can give me the figure for 2021, as well.”

 

Graham Doyle: “The figure was €890 million in 2020.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Was it €890 million in capital for local authorities?”

 

Graham Doyle: “In terms of pure capital, the build programme was allocated €961 million in 2021.  The Estimate for 2022 is €1.5 billion.”

 

Matt Carthy: “In terms of the outturn of houses for each of those three years, what did we get for €890 million and €961 million? What do we expect to get at the end of this year in terms of houses available to those who need them?”

 

Graham Doyle: “That programme is led by Ms Stapleton and I will let her respond on the outturn figures.”

 

Ms Áine Stapleton: “I will get the figures that go with the expenditure. The Deputy is looking at 2020, in particular.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Yes. I am also looking at the outturns for 2021. People want to know how many houses are being delivered.”

 

Áine Stapleton: “The build output for 2020 was 5,070. The acquisitions delivery for 2020 was 1,314 and the leasing was 1,440.”

 

Matt Carthy: “The leasing?”

 

Áine Stapleton: “Yes.”

 

Matt Carthy: “What does that mean?”

 

Áine Stapleton: “That would be—–”

 

Graham Doyle: “It is not within that programme. The Deputy was just asking on that programme.”

 

Matt Carthy: “I was asking what we actually got for the €890 million.”

 

Áine Stapleton: “The Deputy is looking at the A3 allocation. I apologise. It is build and acquisition.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Yes.”

 

Áine Stapleton: “That is 5,070 and 1,314, respectively.”

 

Matt Carthy: “What are the corresponding figures for 2021 and 2022 in terms of projected outturn for 2022?”

 

Áine Stapleton: “We are currently concluding our statistical returns for 2021.  I do not have the output figure for the year as a whole. We expect to have that over the coming weeks.  We will certainly share that with the committee, as soon as we have the verified data.”

 

Matt Carthy: “I will come back in on that.”

 

Chairman: “I think the quarter 3 figures were approximately 3,600.”

 

Áine Stapleton: “Those are available and I can give them to the committee, if it is interested.”

 

Graham Doyle: “There is a significant level of delivery in the last quarter, as I know the Deputy is aware.”

 

Second engagement:

 

Matt Carthy: “Mr. Doyle mentioned an estimated 10,000 additional people on HAP by the end of the year.  As the budgets for other schemes are not projected to fall, I assume that figure relates to new entrants.  Is it fair to say that these are people who are not in receipt of any subsidised support?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “That would be new entrants. I am sorry, I had estimated 10,000 earlier as I did not have a figure to hand.  What is budgeted for and what is projected is 14,000.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “That would bring the total figure to 78,000?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “No, that is without exits. We also are planning for something in excess of 5,000 exits too.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Therefore that would be 9,000 net.”

 

Graham Doyle: “It would be 9,000 net.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “Okay. Then, on my figures, 73,000 or thereabouts will be on HAP by the end of the year.”

 

Graham Doyle: “I do not have a figure in front of me but I would not dispute that.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Of 5,000 coming out of HAP, how many —–”

 

Graham Doyle: “Some of those will be transfers from rent supplement as well, obviously.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “Okay, so will they be in social housing or affordable housing?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “Rent supplement is a very short-term support that the Department of Social Protection provides.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “Is Mr. Doyle saying that 5,000 people will be removed from the HAP and rent supplement schemes this year?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “We expect 5,000 exits from HAP.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “How many of those who exit HAP does Mr. Doyle anticipate will be offered a social house?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “I do not have a figure before me but I think it is a significant proportion.  In 2021, the number of exits to a social house was 4,500.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “Going back to the €1.5 billion that has been allocated to capital this year, how much of that is going directly to local authorities for building and acquisition?”

 

Graham Doyle: “In terms of the—–”

 

Matt Carthy:  “How much is going to local authorities as opposed to AHBs?”

 

Graham Doyle:  “That is in the A3 subhead the Deputy referred to earlier.”

 

Áine Stapleton:  “I might come in on the A3 figure. That is largely for the financing of local authority builds.  The AHB build is shown in the capital advanced leasing facility, CALF, subhead, which is separate.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “That €1.5 billion is predominantly going to—–”

 

Áine Stapleton:  “It is predominantly for local authorities. That is correct.”

 

Matt Carthy:  “How many new local authority houses will be provided by the end of the year?”

 

Graham Doyle: “As a part of the new-build programme?”

 

Matt Carthy: “Yes.”

 

Graham Doyle: “For the 2022 new-build programme, we are targeting 9,000 homes. Our pipeline is looking promising at the moment.”

ENDS

Ag Minister should stand with farmers against Carbon Tax

Ag Minister should stand with farmers against Carbon Tax – Matt Carthy TD

 

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture, Matt Carthy TD, has called on the Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue, to join the rising numbers calling for the pending increase in Carbon Tax to be ‘suspended, if not ceased altogether.’

 

After posing questions on the subject to the Minister last week, Deputy Carthy said that farmers had been warning of the implications of rising fertiliser prices and other input costs for months.  These rising costs are impoverishing farmers and adding to the ongoing inflation crisis, he said.

 

Teachta Carthy said:

 

“Minister McConalogue’s refusal to stand against a further carbon tax hike is worrying – on the one hand he claims to understand the challenge of rising input costs, but on the other he is standing over government measures that will increase them further.

 

“Farmers cannot afford another Carbon Tax hike in May.

 

“Sinn Féin want the carbon tax hike to be abolished, but the refusal of the Minister for Agriculture to agree even to a postponement until the current inflation crisis has passed points to a politician that is out-of-touch.

 

“Like all others, farm families cannot bear increased heating costs at this time.  The Carbon Tax impacts on farmers particularly as those who use contractors end up essentially paying in full despite exemptions.  Farm contractors themselves are left with little choice but to pass this on to farmers who must bear it within their already tight margins.

 

“Consumers also end up also paying for them at the tills; on top of their already increased costs in motor fuel and heating.

 

“The Minister for Agriculture has a very important place in government – they are meant to be the voice for farmers and rural communities.

 

“If Minister McConalogue were to bring the real-life experiences of farmers to cabinet, I am confident we would achieve, at least the postponement of the pending increase – he should do just that.

 

“Equally, he must engage with his cabinet colleague in the Department of Finance and ensure that the promised review regarding farm contractors carbon tax obligations begins immediately.”

ENDS

Failure to meet broadband targets an ‘abysmal failure’

 Failure to meet broadband targets an ‘abysmal failure’ – Matt Carthy TD

 

Cavan Monaghan TD Matt Carthy has said that the track record of National Broadband Ireland (NBI) to reach ‘any targets to-date represent an abysmal failure and inspires little confidence.’

 

Carthy was questioning senior officials from the company which secured the €2.7 billion contract to rollout high-speed fibre broadband to 544,000 rural homes and businesses when the appeared before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee to account for slow progress to-date.

 

In advance of the hearing, Carthy said:

 

“The original target for 2021 was 115,000 homes passed, later revised to 60,000 in April.

 

“Minister Ryan announced it would be at least 130,000 by the end of 2022, while as late as last October NBI were assuring the Committee that they would reach 60,000 by that years end.

 

“This never materialised, and we are now we now have wildly varying potential targets for 2022, with little reason for confidence.

 

“It was welcome that the Minister of State recently confirmed to me that he intends to levy penalties where targets are missed.  NBI are in receipt of significant state subsidy, and this Committee intends to both ensure that people in rural Ireland receive the broadband service they are entitled to and that the state recoups the maximum funds for failure to do so”.

 

The exchange at the Public Accounts Committee went as follows:

 

Deputy Matt Carthy: “I want to clarify where we are. How many homes and businesses have been passed?”

 

Mr. T.J. Malone: “We have passed or constructed about 38,000 to 38,500 premises as of today.”

 

Matt Carthy: “What was the figure at the end of the 2021?”

 

T.J. Malone: “It was about 34,000.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Is it correct that the target for the end of March is 60,000?”

 

T.J. Malone: “Yes. That is the figure for premises constructed and built to walk off. When our contractors are finished and walk off site for built connections, the target is 60,000. We believe we will have 47,000 completed by the end of February. We are nearly halfway through February so we are tidying those up and doing the final bits and pieces. That would be 47,000 and the additional 13,000 will be finalised and under construction by the end of March.”

 

Matt Carthy: “That is a substantial acceleration considering NBI has moved from 34,000 at the end of December to 38,500 now if that will double within the next month or so.”

 

T.J. Malone: “It is understandable to see it that way but the vast majority of this work for the remaining 25,000 from December was completed so we would be at anything between 70% and 90%, or a little over it, of the work completed in those areas. It was just a matter of finalising and finishing the smaller pieces that were left to be done, albeit those small pieces stopped homes being categorised as being constructed or passed. The end of February and March will involve finishing out those bits and pieces. That is where a major jump will be seen, as is the case from the end of January to the end of February, which brought the target to 47,000.”

 

Peter Hendrick: “That is why we can start to allow homes to pre-order. We can do so because we get certainty at least 12 weeks in advance of when the construction will finish. When Mr. Malone’s team finishes on site and the 60,000 premises are constructed, we then have to inform industry, which is the retail operators and we give them a notification period where they can go and sell to consumers. At that point they can give consumers exact dates on when we will install but the installations do not happen for anything between two and four weeks after that. The definition under the contract is that is when they are contractually passed, even though the construction and all the work will have been done by the end of March.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Of those 60,000, does NBI have an estimate for who it expects to be connected? How many people or dwellings among those 60,000 will contract up to be part of it?”

 

Peter Hendrick: “We are approaching pre-orders from 9,000 premises and we are about to connect 7,000 premises over the course of the next week to ten days. On average we are installing 150 premises per day and we are doing installation seven days per week. The demand is there, the orders are coming in and we are meeting that demand in the volume of connections on a daily basis. That rate of 150 will increase.”

 

Matt Carthy: “What proportion of those that are passed lead to connections? That is what I am trying to get to.”

 

Peter Hendrick: “We have measured it over time. In advance of completing the build we take pre-orders for the three months in advance of completion. We have measured Cavan, Carrigaline and areas like that and we are seeing take-up of above 30% and growing. There is a demand but equally there are consumers who may be in contract with an existing operator and so they may be coming to the end of a contract. As we build across all Twenty-six Counties and as more retailers are actively selling, we are noticing that retailers are starting to migrate their customers onto our network, even if they are in contract, because they see the opportunity to get them on board with this fibre network. To keep that customer for the long term they have to migrate them while they are already in a contract.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Is there a turning point where NBI becomes profitable or unprofitable in terms of the number of connections?”

 

Peter Hendrick: “After the network is built the subsidy reduces significantly so we have to ensure that our income from the retailers connecting their customers meets our operational costs. Within our financial model there is a timeline for our operational profitability.”

 

Matt Carthy: “What is that?”

 

Peter Hendrick: “There is a date in the model. I cannot give that to the Deputy off the top of my head but I would expect, based on the demand we are seeing, that it will probably be earlier than we originally envisaged.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Can Mr. Hendrick even give me some ballpark figures on how many passes and connections NBI needs?”

 

Peter Hendrick: “I will put it like this. We would assume we will get to an overall take-up of approximately 85%. Originally, when we looked at historical data cross Europe, and we were not comparing against fibre networks because at the time there was not a significant level of them being built, we assumed that it could be up to eight years after work was completed in a deployment area before that threshold of 85% take-up would be reached. We are seeing that the demand for high-speed broadband is greater, that the capacity requirements are greater and that Eir is committed to switching off the copper network, notwithstanding other retailers in the market that have TV or mobile services that are driving their customers onto this network. The achievement of 85% should happen significantly faster. If I go by Eir’s switch off of copper, Eir has committed that it wants to switch off that copper network within five years of NBI finishing in a deployment area. That brings the period down from eight years to maybe five years after completing in a deployment area.”

 

Matt Carthy: “Five years from passing?”

 

Peter Hendrick: “Correct.”

 

Deputy Carthy later pressed officials from the NBI as to the targeted number of homes passed by years end:

 

Matt Carthy: “Is the target still to have 130,000 homes passed by the end of the year?”

 

T.J. Malone: “We are finalising those targets at the moment. They will be finalised with the Department in March. We have built our unit around a target, from construction to walking off site, of between 100,000 and 130,000 premises.”

 

Matt Carthy: “There is a big difference between those two numbers.”

 

T.J. Malone: “There is a big difference. There are still many unknowns so we need some sort of bandwidth in that estimate. Delivery will fall between those two numbers.”

 

Matt Carthy: “What is Mr. Malone contemplating the milestone for the end of the year to be?”

 

T.J. Malone: “Does the Deputy mean the amount that will be completed?”

 

Matt Carthy: “What will be passed by the end of the year? I presume a milestone is set out in the wider contract.”

 

T.J. Malone: “We are targeting between 100,000 and 130,000 premises. We will finalise that with the Department over the next number of weeks. By March, we will have finalised a figure with the Department but we will aim to have completed on-site construction for between 100,000 and 130,000 premises.”

 

Matt Carthy: “How will those negotiations with the Department work? I presume NBI will bring to the Department its forecast for what it has the capacity to deliver. What would happen if the Department was to say it expected NBI to achieve a greater number?”

 

T.J. Malone: “When we sit down to go through and agree that, we will take into account all the learnings we have had, the understandings we have put into it, etc. We can see a lot of what is on the ground at the moment. We will explain all of that and go through it with the Department. The Department lives with us pretty much every day of the week. We have interaction with the Department and all of its advisers and people on an ongoing, daily basis. The Department is familiar with what is out there. Ms Fisher might give the Deputy an understanding on that. We are not only updating the figure for what will be constructed or passed by the end of the year. There are a number of other things within that contract, including an updated intermediate remediation plan. Perhaps Ms Fisher will respond to the Deputy.”

 

Ms Jenny Fisher: “Because we have incurred delays, there is a process under the contract whereby we must go to the Department and show a root cause analysis as to why those delays occurred, what plans we are putting in place to mitigate their impact and how we are going to bring things back on track. We have been engaged in that process with the Department for the past three months or so. It is an involved process that looks at how the milestones will be recalibrated in order to adjust the delivery, recognising the impact of Covid-19 on the programme and other challenges in the mobilisation phase. That is all evidence based, which gives the Department appropriate assurance that we are taking all the steps we should be taking to ensure we are managing this in the best way possible.”

 

Matt Carthy: “On the recalibration of the milestones, are our guests satisfied that despite whatever delays NBI has encountered or might encounter in the future, it has sufficient evidence that it will be in a position to satisfy the Department—–”

(Interruptions).

 

Jenny Fisher: “The connection with the Deputy broke up a little but I think he was asking whether we have satisfactory evidence to be able to complete that exercise with the Department. The answer is “Yes”. We are going through that. Our technical advisers are reviewing it. We have a number of different working groups with the Department whereby it interrogates the information we are giving to them to make sure they have the assurances they require.”

 

Matt Carthy: “We are dealing with a situation whereby we have a possible target that differs by almost 30% at its lowest and highest points. It is a broad target. If delivery is on the lower end of that scale or if other targets need to be amended, are our guests satisfied that, whatever the circumstances, they will be in a position to convince the Department to recalibrate the milestones?”

 

Jenny Fisher: “The target would be the baseline from which we would measure the impact of any other issues that arise in the contract. We must always demonstrate whether it is the result of something within our control or outside our control. The important thing is that we do not get paid until we actually deliver the milestones so we still have to go through the test strategy with the independent certifier, demonstrate how the network has been delivered and confirm that we have all the financial evidence in place before we receive any of the subsidies. The subsidies are only paid when we deliver.”

ENDS

Northern Finance Minister visits Carrickmacross Workhouse

Northern Finance Minister visits Carrickmacross Workhouse – Matt Carthy TD

 

The Sinn Féin Finance Minister in the northern Executive, Conor Murphy MLA, was in County Monaghan last Friday.  His busy set of engagements included a visit to the Carrickmacross Workhouse complex.

 

Minister Murphy was hosted by local TD, Matt Carthy, and they were joined in Carrickmacross by Chris MacManus MEP, Fermanagh/ South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew and local Sinn Féin Councillors Noel Keelan and Colm Carthy.

 

The Sinn Féin delegation met with Yvonne Marron and Fiona Farrell who provided a tour of the historic buildings.  Minister Murphy was provided with an extensive history of the Workhouse including its role during the Great Hunger when many local poor died at the site while 38 girls were transported to Australia in horrendous conditions.

 

The Workhouse representatives told of the efforts of the Farney Community Development Group who, over several decades, have strove to turn the centre into a vibrant, living community facility that couples as a memorial to all those who passed through the doors during darker times.

 

Deputy Carthy recalled to the visitors the efforts to secure the building into public ownership after it had entered into private hands.  He referenced attempts to rezone the Workhouse lands in the mid 2000s which would have permitted the development of apartments on the historic site.  He cited that, as the then chair of Carrickmacross Town Council, it was his casting vote that secured a ‘community’ zoning that protected the buildings and land.

 

That marked a turning point in the development of the buildings and Yvonne Marron outlined the fantastic work by the Community Development Group, assisted in large part by Monaghan County Council who officially purchased the building, who have brought their vision for the Workhouse to fruition.  Ms. Marron further explained exciting new plans for the workhouse, including proposals to develop an artistic and tourism hub.

 

Conversation inevitably moved to funding opportunities with a particular emphasis on the future PEACE programme.  Minister Murphy indicated that the next PEACE fund could be the last and therefore, in his view, it is imperative that monies deliver a long-term positive legacy across the border region.  The vision of Carrickmacross Workhouse fitted perfectly into that sphere, he said.  He also indicated that he hopes to see relationships strengthen further between community groups in South Monaghan and neighbouring South Armagh in his own constituency.

 

Speaking afterwards, Cavan Monaghan  Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, thanked the Workhouse management for facilitating the visit.

 

He said:

 

“The Workhouse is the flagship project of Carrickmacross.  A building that was the site of our darkest days is now the driver of our vibrant community.

 

“The Farney Community Development group are a credit, their legacy is already assured but their future plans are exciting and ambitious.  Certainly, we in Sinn Féin look forward to offering any support we can in ensuring their delivery.

 

“I was delighted to bring Minister Conor Murphy, MEP Chris MacManus and MP Michelle Gildernew to the centre.  There are clearly new opportunities for all-Ireland and cross-border collaboration and my objective is to ensure that Co. Monaghan is in a position to utilise those opportunities.  That is why visits such as this are so important”.

ENDS

Soil sampling ‘shambles’ requires immediate action

Soil sampling ‘shambles’ requires immediate action – Matt Carthy TD

 

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy TD has said that descriptions of the Pilot Soil Sampling Programme as a ‘shambles’ requires immediate action if farmers are to have faith in the departments commitment to provide climate supports.

 

His comments came following reports that delays in the scheme had resulted in farmers taking action that may preclude them from participating in the project.

 

The scheme will see farmers provide soil samples and receive detailed analysis reports with information on nutrients, soil carbon and information on harmful bacteria.

 

Teachta Carthy said:

 

“The Soil Sampling scheme has the potential to facilitate farmers making much more detailed and informed decisions regarding their soil management and fertiliser use.

 

“I firmly believe that we must work towards this style of granularity, on a farm-by-farm basis, in order to help our family farmers meet our climate obligations.

 

“That the number of applicants for this scheme was more than double the available places is testament to farmers willingness and commitment to play their part.

 

“However, reports that delays have resulted in farmers having to take actions such as spreading lime, slurry, or fertilliser prior to being sampled will be a cause of great consternation for both those participating and those who were denied a place.

 

“Too often farmers must effectively bare the burden alone of increased regulation within their own already too tight margins – with promises of support or mitigation to come down the line.  This scheme was one of very few indications to farmers that the department was actively working on such supports, and it has now seemingly descended into a farce.

 

“Minister McConalogue needs to immediately outline the reason for the delay in the implementation of this scheme is, and how he intends to see it promptly addressed.”

ENDS

Salary of Health Sec Gen set to breach €300,000 while ordinary workers & families struggle

Salary of Health Sec Gen set to breach €300,000 while ordinary workers & families struggle– Matt Carthy TD

 

Revelations that the Secretary General of the Department of Health secured yet another pay rise of almost €3,000 was the subject of huge criticism by Sinn Féin TD, Matt Carthy, in the Dáil last week.

 

The Cavan Monaghan representative challenged the Taoiseach for standing over ‘a further indefensible pay rise of €3,000’ for Mr. Robert Watt as this hike follows a previous increase of €3,000 last November and an initial €81,000 increase in the salary agreed by government.

 

Mr. Watt was appointed to the role with a controversial salary increase, leading to a joint investigation by the Oireachtas Committees on Finance and Public Accounts which concluded that there was no process or rationale to justify the increase.

 

Teachta Carthy told An Taoiseach Michéal Martin said:

 

“The pay for the Secretary General of the Department of Health went up yesterday by €3,000.  That is on top of the increase last November of €3,000.

 

“That is on top of the additional €81,000 on which the Taoiseach, Minister Eamon Ryan, and the Tánaiste collectively agreed, without any process, rationale or justification.

 

“There is no justification.

 

“His salary now stands at €297,869.  Compare that to the head of the British NHS, whose salary is £199,000.

 

“Does the Taoiseach recognise just how disgusting this scenario is when he is looking for plaudits for giving front-line healthcare workers €1,000?  He has done virtually nothing for all those workers and families who are struggling to make ends meet.

 

“Yet, he took €87,000 of their money and handed it to one of the highest paid civil servants in the world.

 

“Does the Taoiseach regret his role in this grubby affair?

 

“Will he now move to restore the salary to the Secretary General level at a rate that was based on some level of due process?”

ENDS

TII confirm that ‘Clontibret to the border’ Road Scheme will be prioritised if government instructs

Carthy questions future of critical N2 project at PAC hearing with Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Cavan Monaghan Sinn Féin Deputy Matt Carthy has said that the message from Transport Infrastructure Ireland regarding the future of the N2 Clontibret to the border road scheme was clear – government prioritisation of the project will deliver funding in 2022 to progress it to the next phase.

The N2 Clontibret to the border road scheme was one of eight projects included in the National Development Plan that was not allocated any funding in the TII 2022 workplan.  The move led to much criticism at a recent meeting of Monaghan County Council and has dismayed many of those that travel the road from as far away as Donegal and Derry.  It was seen as a critical element of the A5/N2 cross border route that has been central in many peace negotiations.

Deputy Carthy was engaging with the Chief Executive of TII, Peter Walsh, at the Public Accounts Committee last week.  Mr. Walsh told the Cavan Monaghan representative that the body will follow the instructions of the department of Transport – meaning a government prioritisation of the project will see it proceed speedily.  The Sinn Féin TD has since called on Minister Heather Humphreys to ensure that government deliver funding in 2022.

The engagement between Deputy Carthy and TII went as follows:

Deputy Matt Carthy:  Transport Infrastructure Ireland is one of these organisations that finds itself in a bind, because whenever it is doing something that is welcome in a local community, it is the Minister who has delivered that.  However, whenever it is postponing or suspending projects, that is on TII.

I want to try to figure out where the line is drawn in terms of political decisions versus TII’s input.  For example, are roads that would be included in the national development plan, NDP, decided by the Ministers and the Department or does TII tell the Department and Ministers which roads need to be included in that NDP based on an objective criteria?

 

Mr. Peter Walsh – Chief Executive TII:  At the time of the preparation of an NDP, the Department of Transport consults with us and other agencies.  We would identify areas of the network that we believe require and warrant intervention.  It is a matter then for the Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the elected representatives to approve an NDP, which we will then deliver.  What we may have submitted does not always come through.

Matt Carthy:  TII would send the Department a list, I presume in order, of what it thinks are the most critical road projects or transport projects?

 

Peter Walsh:  “It is not as straightforward as that.  There are policy decisions set down by Government that need to be honoured and followed.  For instance, if the commitment to the protection and renewal of the network is placed as a very high priority, then that, obviously, becomes a first priority for us.

 

Matt Carthy:  Of the existing network?

Peter Walsh:  Yes, of the existing network.  Therefore, we would need to meet those costs or advise Government and the Department of those costs.  Where there is a commitment to projects at construction and there are contracts in place and those bills have to be met, that then becomes a priority that needs to be met.  Where there is Cabinet approval to proceed with a project into planning, as part of expending code process, such as, for example, the Galway ring road or Foynes-Limerick, then those projects have a priority because there is a commitment to it.  Therefore, the consequences of those need to be dealt with.  Where there is a policy that says that we need to upgrade the access to ports, then the likes of Cork to Ringaskiddy, Foynes-Limerick or Oligate to Rosslare has a priority.  The current 2022 allocations reflect the upcoming commitment to the Government’s Town Centre First policy that is imminent.  All of those priority areas, as identified by Government, have to be reflected in the projects that we bring forward.

Matt Carthy:  To clarify, let us say we are at the preparation stage of the NDP, so TII has done all that work.  It has brought its analysis of the Government commitments and the projects, I presume, from its own members of staff or input from local authorities.  It has outlined other national areas that perhaps the Government would like to consider.  However, at the end of the day, it is the Department that sits down with the Minister to decide what will actually include in the NDP from that list.  It then comes back to TII, which finds out what the NDP is.  There may be, I presume, projects that TII has not considered on the top if its list, but all of a sudden, they are in shining lights in the NDP?

 

Peter Walsh:  In my experience of it so far, it is generally the other way around. We had more and they were not favoured.

 

Matt Carthy:  The Department took roads off TII’s list?

 

Peter Walsh:  We would have identified areas of the network that required and warranted intervention, but they did not make it on to the NDP.

 

Matt Carthy:  Perhaps it is just as well because Mr. Walsh said that TII cannot fund the ones that are there.

 

Peter Walsh:  Is the Deputy referring to my paper to the transport committee?

 

Matt Carthy:  No, in terms of the projects being moving to planning and upgrade stage, TII has dropped eight of them in terms of funding for 2022.

Peter Walsh:  Yes, for 2022.

 

Matt Carthy:  Therefore, if there were more projects within the NDP, there would have been more projects that would not have received funding from TII.

 

Peter Walsh:  We have to work within the funding that is available to us.

 

Matt Carthy:  That is the next part of the question.  How does TII decide the projects it will not proceed with?  Where does the relationship with the Department of Transport fit in?

Peter Walsh:  The priority list that I just went through determines which schemes have a priority in terms of getting allocations.  We allocate the funds required to meet the commitments that each of those projects will have in 2022. As things stand, we have quite a number of projects at construction, so they are at first priority in terms of ensuring that all the bills arising out of them are met.  Whatever is left after that is what we allocate in accordance with those priorities of connections to ports, Town Centre First and so on.

It is then a matter of how much we have.  It could be a case that a particular project is very large and the bills that are likely to arise in the short term in order to do ground investigations or topographical or environmental surveys could be very expensive and we cannot afford it that year.  However, as we understand the funding profile from the Department, it improves dramatically in the year 2026.  Therefore, those projects will be progressed at that time.

Matt Carthy:  I am trying to identify in the here and now – 2022.  For an example that I would know of, the N2, has two pieces, which are Carrickmacross to Ardee and the Clontibret to the Border road schemes.  Nobody who has ever driven that road would say anything other than the priority would be the northern end, because that road is in a more dangerous position than the southern road.  However, TII made a decision to proceed with the southern stretch.  Why was that?

Peter Walsh:  I do not know if I can give the Deputy absolute reasons here.  Both were considered and the one that was better able to progress in 2022, as I recall, was the section to Castleblayney.  Clontibret to the Border does not have the same accident history and, as such, the prioritisation was given to the more southern section.

 

Matt Carthy:  Mr. Walsh previously mentioned that, in terms of criteria, in some instances there is Government approval to proceed to planning.  Does TII have to prioritise that?

 

Peter Walsh:  Yes.

 

Matt Carthy:  For those projects that were dropped, for example, if the Government made a political decision that these are priority projects and that was conveyed to TII through the Department of Transport, would it then have to revise its annual plans?

 

Peter Walsh:  It is open to the Minister to direct us to undertake any action.  If the Department advises of a particular policy imperative that requires the progression of a particular project, of course we would take that seriously.  I do not know how to answer beyond that.

Matt Carthy:  Mr. Walsh answered it very fairly.  Essentially, what Mr. Walsh is saying to us – and correct me if I am wrong – is that the NDP was launched with bells and whistles, but there was no funding or not enough funding for TII to be able to implement and deliver the roads element of it, and it may have funding in 2026.

 

Peter Walsh:  I should differentiate between the first five years, 2021-2025, and the years 2026-2030.  As we understand the funding profile, there are sufficient funds in the overall plan.

 

Matt Carthy:  However, TII is not getting it until 2026?

 

Peter Walsh:  Correct.

Matt Carthy:  In 2026, the people who are currently in government will probably be sipping piña coladas somewhere and enjoying their retirement.

In the short term, I take it that these projects are shelved.

 

Peter Walsh:  They are not shelved.

 

Matt Carthy:  Will Mr. Walsh explain what is the status of these eight road projects?

 

Peter Walsh:  They are valid projects.  They are on our books and with the local authority.  We are not in a position to fund them in a meaningful way to allow them to progress over the next couple of years.  We will pick them up as soon as funding will allow.  We have to work within the funding we have.

 

Matt Carthy:  In cases where delays transpire due to lack of funding, is it Mr. Walsh’s experience that the overall cost increases if those delays are prolonged?  By the time TII goes back to the project, new planning considerations can mean some of the work that was previously undertaken has to be redone.

 

Peter Walsh:  A delay in any project will result in it being more expensive.  That is true for all sorts of reasons.

Matt Carthy:  Beyond inflationary and natural cycles, are they more expensive?  For the eight projects in question, work has already been done to some degree on all of them.  That may be feasibility studies or more technical matters.  If progress is stalled or suspended and it takes longer to do it, and bearing in mind that general increases happen over time, is it fair to say there will be additional costs as a result of those delays because some of the work will have to be carried out again?

 

Peter Walsh:  It may be for inflation reasons alone, but I think it is fair to say it will cost more.

 

Matt Carthy:  Okay. To clarify, can the Department decide that the decision is wrong, that it wants the project to be prioritised in 2022 and that the current plans will have to be revised?

 

Mr. Peter Walsh:  If the Department instructs us to do so, we would generally accept that. I cannot think of any circumstance where we would resist.

ENDS

Carthy calls on Minister Humphreys and government to deliver ‘Clontibret to border’ road funding

Carthy calls on Minister Humphreys and government to deliver ‘Clontibret to border’ road funding

 

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy has said that the government must restore funding to allow progress to the next planning phase of the Clontibet to the border N2 road scheme.

 

The scheme was included in the National Development Plan but was it revealed last week that it has ‘shelved’ from funding by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).  In a hearing at the Dáil’s Public Accounts Committee, the Chief Executive of TII, Mr. Peter Walsh, confirmed that any shelved project will be restored in the event of government instruction (see separate article).

 

Deputy Carthy said, therefore, that there must be a cabinet instruction to Minister Eamon Ryan to inform TII to earmark this road as a priority project.  He called upon his constituency colleague, Minister Heather Humphreys, to secure this instruction.

 

Last week, Teachta Carthy, also raised the issue of the N2 Clontibret to the border road scheme with Taoiseach Michéal Martin during questions on promised legislation.

 

Carthy said:

 

“We remember the Government’s fanfare at major launches such as Our Rural Future, the shared island initiative and the many launches for the National Development Plan.

 

“The lofty words spoken at those launches about commitment to rural, regional and all-Ireland development actually count for very little when compared with the failure to deliver the infrastructure projects our regions require.

 

“We recently learned that the actions of the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, and the Government have resulted in the TII stalling the next planning phase of the Clontibret to the Border N2 road scheme, for example.  Money was diverted from that project to pet projects of the Minister.

 

“The actions of TII at the behest of the Government could permanently condemn a project that was a key component of several peace process talks and is an integral infrastructure project for a region that has no rail network and a pathetic level of public transport options.

 

“Will the Taoiseach outline today whether he will ensure that this decision is reversed and the funding for this infrastructure project will be restored?”

 

In his response Taoiseach Michéal Martin said that government will “engage with the Minister and the TII in respect of what can be done on a whole variety of projects that are at different stages of development”.

 

Deputy Carthy has said that any delay in progressing this road will have a detrimental impact on economic development in the central border and north west regions.  He has also said that it is unfair to ‘sterilise’ the land of Monaghan landowners indefinitely while this project is suspended indefinitely.

ENDS

 

 

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