Written Answers Nos. 156-169
156. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the decision to impose a penalty on the single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57309/12]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2012. The eligible areas for Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas purposes of the parcels referred to, which were declared on the application, were reduced following a review carried out by my Department using the latest aerial photography available.
The person named was written to in this regard on 24 August 2012. Arising from correspondence received from the applicant, two subsequent follow up ground inspections were carried out by my Department. Following this review process, the eligible area of the parcel was increased to approximately 39% (4.44 hectares) of the digitised area of the land.
The person named has the right to appeal the outcome of the review process to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.
157. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their disadvantaged area scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57314/12]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 15th May 2012. A number of issues arose during the processing of this application which have yet to be resolved. My Department has already been in correspondence with the applicant in this regard and will now follow up this up with further contact.
158. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57360/12]
View answerAs processing of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised, payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.
159. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a quota is in place as to the number of Vietnamese children who may be adopted on an annual basis to this State as part of the recent agreement between Ireland and Vietnam; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57157/12]
View answerI am informed by the Adoption Authority that the issue of "quotas" is not referred to in the Administrative Agreement on intercountry adoption drawn up between Ireland and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. However, as previously stated, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is an independent sovereign state. As such it will decide the manner in which it implements the Hague Convention, including the numbers of children deemed suitable for intercountry adoption having regard to the principles of the Convention. It is reasonable, however, to assume that the numbers of adoptions by Irish parents may not reach previous levels.
160. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will support PEIN and DCYA in 2013 as outlined by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 17. [57169/12]
View answerThe Government has given approval to the drafting of a Bill to establish the Child and Family Support Agency. Work on the preparation of the legislation is proceeding as a priority and the intention is that the Agency will be established in early 2013. In order to inform the content of the legislation the Government has decided that upon establishment the Child and Family Support Agency will have responsibility for a range of services. This includes the full range of child welfare and protection services currently operated by the HSE including family support and alternative care services, and a number of additional services, including the functions of both the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board.
The Government's consideration of these matters was informed by the content and recommendations of the Report of the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency which I published in July of this year. I share with the view of the Task Force that in order to achieve genuine improvements for children and families, the Agency must have a broader focus than child protection. It is my intention that the Agency will be as broadly based as possible and that it should include those services that might, in the first instance, help prevent problems arising for a family, that would identify problems and provide supports at an early stage, and, that would assist children and families in managing serious problems requiring specialised interventions beyond their own resources. I can assure both the Deputy and the Prevention and Early Intervention Network (PEIN) that the work of the new Agency will include a strong emphasis on prevention, early intervention, family support and therapeutic care interventions.
I am satisfied that very considerable progress has already been achieved in the reform of Ireland’s child protection and welfare services. I am confident that the establishment of the Agency will bring a dedicated focus to child protection, family support and other key children’s services for the first time in the history of the State and will in time contribute to the transformation of what are essential services for families and communities.
161. Deputy Paudie Coffey asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide in tabular form, the total amount of capital funding her Department has allocated to Waterford for the years 2011 and 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57286/12]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to the amount of capital funding allocated by my Department to Waterford in the years 2011 and 2012 is set out in the following table.
|
Scheme |
Project |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Youth Services – Small Grants Scheme |
HSE South, Waterford |
€8,100 |
- |
|
Childcare Programme - Parent and Toddler Initiative |
Waterford County Childcare Committee Ltd |
€5,600 |
- |
|
Childcare Programme – Capital Funding Scheme |
Williamstown Community Childcare Centre Ltd |
- |
€14,049 |
|
Leapfrog Childcare |
- |
€1,986 |
|
|
Cappoquin Childcare Facility |
- |
€25,000 |
|
|
Early Days |
- |
€36,370 |
|
|
Presentation Playschool Ltd |
- |
€24,955 |
|
|
The Manor Childrens Centre |
- |
€10,541 |
|
|
Little Stars Preschool |
- |
€25,380 |
|
|
Baile Beag First Steps Creche Co. Ltd |
- |
€49,964 |
|
|
Waterford Childcare Centre |
- |
€4,021 |
|
|
Childcare Programme - Childminding Development Grant |
Waterford County Childcare Committee Ltd |
- |
€6,004 |
|
Waterford City Childcare Committee |
- |
€5,905 |
162. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will reverse a decision (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57313/12]
View answerIn 2012, €39,712,927 will be distributed by my Department to 477 youth projects throughout the country. The allocations are distributed to the youth projects through 39 administering agencies/bodies that hold funding administration status. These include VECs, national youth organisations and 11 other bodies including some county councils.
My Department is examining the scope for streamlining the tasks associated with the financial management of funding for projects to achieve greater efficiency in the administration of funding. From January 2013, it is proposed to transfer the administration of the allocated funding involving six national organisations to the City of Dublin Youth Service Board (CDYSB). These six national bodies are currently responsible for administering funding to some 30 youth projects on behalf of my Department.
CDYSB is a statutory board established in 1942, under the City of Dublin VEC. The CDYSB, on behalf of CDVEC, has for several years, undertaken the administration of some 50 youth projects in the Dublin City area and has developed a strong track record in managing these payments. The initiative is subject to the successful completion of a service level agreement between my Department and the CDVEC and discussions are ongoing with CDYSB at present.
The proposed revised administration process will be monitored during 2013 for efficiency and effectiveness for the Department and for the projects concerned. Subject to a successful transition to the new system it is proposed that consideration will be given to further streamlining financial processing arrangements in 2014.
It is envisaged that the successful streamlining of the administration of the funding for the youth projects will deliver benefits in terms of saving on the administration costs incurred under the present arrangements and efficiencies for both the Department and projects themselves.
Every effort is being made my Department to ensure that, in the administration of the funding allocations in the present challenging budgetary situation, the focus is maintained on the provision of the front line services for young people. The VECs have a statutory role in the provision of youth services and further legislative provision to continue this important function is contained in the Education and Training Boards Bill, 2012. Indeed it would be the hope of the Department that, in reducing the administrative burden in relation to the funding of projects, the role of youth officers, in supporting youth projects in the delivery of a quality youth service to young people, would be strengthened. The VECs will continue to receive funding from the Department in respect of this valued role including for the costs of the youth officers employed by them.
My Department will communicate further and hold discussions about the proposals for change with the VECs and other organisations that administer funding on its behalf during the course of 2013. Officials from my Department are in ongoing discussions with the Irish Vocational Educational Association.
163. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs since Ballydowd special care unit opened, the number of children that have been placed there on an annual basis with a breakdown of that number on a yearly basis; the length of time spent by each child placed in Ballydowd special care unit; the number of children that have placed in Ballydowd special care unit on more than one occasion and the length of time of each of these repeat admissions. [57332/12]
View answer164. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs since Gleann Alainn Special Care Unit opened, the number of children that have been placed there on an annual basis with a breakdown of that number on a yearly basis; the length of time spent by each child placed in Gleann Alainn Special Care Unit; and the number of children that have placed in Gleann Alainn Special Care Unit on more than one occasion and the length of time of each of these repeat admissions. [57333/12]
View answer165. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs since Coovagh House Special Care Unit opened, the number of children that have been placed there on an annual basis with a breakdown of that number on a yearly basis ; the length of time spent by each child placed in Coovagh House Special Care Unit; and the number of children that have placed in Coovagh House Special Care Unit on more than one occasion and the length of time of each of these repeat admissions. [57334/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 163 to 165, inclusive, together.
As this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to provide me with the information sought. I will respond to the Deputy on receipt of this information.
166. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding in respect of a community centre (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57330/12]
View answerMy Department has received an application for funding from the 2012 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number currently being assessed by my Department, and the Deputy will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision has been made.
167. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of under 70 years medical cards he expects to remove in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57233/12]
View answerI take it the Deputy is referring to the measure announced in the recent Budget to tighten the rules relating to a person’s spending and earnings that is disregarded when carrying out the means test for the standard medical card.
A date has not been set for the implementation of these new rules. In advance of that, the Department will develop this proposal in more detail in consultation with the HSE. The new rules and the implementation date will be announced and publicised in advance by the Department and the HSE.
Until the specific changes have been identified, it is not possible to estimate the number of cardholders that will be affected
168. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57127/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
169. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the annual State spend on high-tech drugs for 2009, 2010, 2011 and that estimated for 2012; the savings delivered in respect of the cost of these medicines over each of the years outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57131/12]
View answerThe Health Service Executive is responsible for the administration of the community drugs schemes. The HSE has therefore been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
