Written Answers Nos. 211 - 219
211. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a application (details supplied); when the person may expect payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53380/12]
View answerThe application for payment (Form 2) has yet to be received in my Department. It is suggested that the person named contact her registered forester who is responsible for the submission of the application for payment once the plantation is completed.
212. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the current policy in regard to Coillte selling forestry State land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53383/12]
View answerCoillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the sale and acquisition of land which take place regularly, are the responsibility of the company.
The current policy in regard to the sale of land by Coillte is as provided in the Forestry Act 1988 and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, with which Coillte, as a state body, must comply.
213. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the timeframe for the enactment of changes to family law legislation that are expected following the passing of the Children's Referendum. [53153/12]
View answerA challenge to the provisional referendum certificate has been made under the provisions of the Referendum Act 1994 and is currently before the High Court for determination. In light of this, it would not be appropriate for me to anticipate the enactment of legislation pursuant to the children's referendum held on 10th November 2012.
I take this opportunity to point out that the initiation of any changes in family law are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality. Regarding my area of responsibility, the General Scheme of a proposed Adoption (Amendment) Bill was published back in September, in conjunction with the publication of the referendum proposal, in order that members of the public would be informed of changes to adoption law envisaged for implementation arising from approval of the Constitutional change.
214. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total number of Government special advisers employed in her Department, the total cost of employing these advisers and the cost of employing these advisers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53307/12]
View answerThere are three Special Advisors employed in my Department. One Advisor is employed on a full-time basis and two are employed on a 50% working sharing basis.The total salary costs associated with their overall employment is €166,675 per annum. All employment contracts are fully in line with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on the staffing of Ministerial Offices.
215. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will approve and expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53090/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
216. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of persons broken down by county, who are using front line services for victims of domestic violence and if such a breakdown could include numerical figures for those using said services who are under the age of 18 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53100/12]
View answerIn 2010 the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence was published. It aims to provide a framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and is lead by Cosc which is the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence.
The HSE subsequently published its own Policy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The principal actions are in line with the National Strategy. The HSE’s policy states that a health-focused analysis of violence is crucial, not only because the consequences of such violence require a significant amount of healthcare system resources, but most importantly because the health care system is often the first route through which victims seek to access supports.
Services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence – including 20 crisis refuges, 27 domestic violence support services and 16 rape crisis centres received €19.182 Million in 2011.
The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
217. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of children who were in residential care in the Cork/Kerry area between January 2012 and September 2012; the number of approved whole time equivalents staff Kerry units for the Health Service Executive South and a value for money and cost per child during this period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53105/12]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
218. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health if any assessment has been carried out of the impact on the numbers of items dispensed to medical card holders of the fifty cent charge and particularly if the €10 annual cap negates the purpose of the charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53123/12]
View answerMedical card holders are required to pay a 50c charge for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €10 per month (not per annum) for each person or family. Charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme. Prescription charges result in savings to the Health Service Executive of approximately €27 million annually.
The part of the question relating to the assessment of the impact of the 50c charge on the numbers of items dispensed has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
219. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if Autism will be a key priority of his as part of Ireland's Presidency of the EU in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53131/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the issue of children’s disability policy and services including autism is a priority for the Government. The Department of Health, the Health Service Executive, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs co-operate on an ongoing basis with a view to advancing children's disability issues including autism. A dedicated Cross-Sectoral Team, comprising representatives of the three Departments, the HSE, the National Educational Psychological Service and the National Council for Special Education plays a key role in this regard.
Earlier this year to strengthen co-operation across the sectors on policy and operational matters in this regard a Principal Officer led Unit was established in my Department whose brief includes the promotion of enhanced inter-sectoral collaboration on children’s disability issues including autism.
In recognition of the emphasis placed by the Government on these matters it is envisaged that the issue of children with intellectual disabilities and autism will feature on the agenda of the Informal Meeting of Health Ministers during Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council in 2013.
