Written Answers Nos. 170-175
170. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on a disadvantaged area scheme appeal will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4692/13]
View answerThe person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases were impacted by the requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who applied for and were refused derogation in this regard. The person named subsequently availed of the option to appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee. That Committee adjudicated on this appeal and the person named was notified of the unsuccessful outcome, in writing, on 13 December 2012.
171. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the recent attack on, and mauling of, a family pet by hounds of a County Carlow based hunt and in view of the clear and present danger posed by hunting dogs to domestic animals, livestock, pets and so on, if he will ban all hunting of wild animals with packs of dogs in the countryside. [4725/13]
View answerI understand that this matter is currently being investigated by An Garda Síochána under the Control of Dogs Act 1986. In regard to the hunting of animals generally, this is a separate and distinct matter from the present case. The Animal Health and Welfare Bill makes provision for lawful hunting unless a animal is released in a injured, mutilated or exhausted condition.
172. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding toxins found in mussels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4790/13]
View answerA comprehensive framework exists to deal with seafood safety in Ireland. The Marine Institute is responsible for monitoring shellfish for the presence of naturally occurring phytoplankton toxins. Toxicity can occur at any time during the year and the periods of closure can vary considerably from year-to-year. The monitoring programme is designed to detect toxicity in shellfish growing areas before harvesting, thereby providing the necessary information to restrict the placement of toxic shellfish on the market. Regulatory controls, which are enforced by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, exist to support these restrictions.
Cromane Bay has been on a closed biotoxin status on an almost continuous basis since July 2012 for azaspiracid toxins, with levels of azaspiracids detected occasionally up to 9 times the regulatory limit. Azaspiracid shellfish poisoning can cause diarrhoea, nausea, headaches and chills. I am advised that the azaspiracid toxicity event is expected to pass in the near future. I am aware of the difficulties that these naturally occurring toxicity events cause for shellfish fishermen and aquaculture operators. I understand that mussel farmers in Cromane have been unable to bring their product to market because of this toxicity event, but the State controls are there to protect public health and indeed the international reputation of Irish seafood thereby ensuring the future of this important sector.
While there are no specific funds available for operators affected by these natural occurring events, which are an inevitable occasional feature of operating aquaculture farms in Irish coastal waters, a range of financial support measures co-funded by the European Fisheries Fund are available to the seafood sector through the Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013.
173. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding cuts of Health Service Executive funding to the posts of Childminder Advisory Officer in the Wicklow constituency (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4715/13]
View answerThe 1991 Childcare Act provided for regulation of the pre-school sector. However, there was a recognition at the time of the difficulties of regulating the childminding sector, given its scale and the strong view that women should not be subject to regulation if they minded a small number of additional children. As a result, the majority of childminders are exempt from the Regulations currently in place.
The 2000 Expert Working Group on Childcare set out a plan for integrating the various strands of child care and education, including childminding. It made a number of recommendations aimed at overcoming the barriers preventing childminders from moving into the formal economy, most of which have been implemented. These included the introduction of a system for voluntary notification of childminders, and the introduction of Childcare Services Relief, which allows a voluntarily-notified childminder to mind up to three children without paying tax on the earnings and to make a PRSI contribution.
In 2002, the Health Service Executive (HSE) agreed to fund a Childminding Advisory Officer post in each county, who would work with the 33 City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) funded under the Childcare Programme, implemented by the then Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. The role included notifying childminders of training opportunities, providing networking opportunities and supporting the voluntary notification system which was being developed by the CCCs. While Childminding Advisory Officers were established in most county areas, this was not always the case and they were not always located with the local CCC. Despite their presence and the additional supports including training, a small capital grant scheme and the introduction of a tax relief for childminding in 2006, the increase in the number of voluntarily-notified childminders since 2004, when the number was 500, has been relatively small and levelled off at 1,250.
In recent years, HSE funding for the Childminding Advisory Officer posts has gradually decreased, and is no longer in place in some areas. I understand that this is due to pressure on HSE resources and the need to prioritise funding to other areas of front-line services. While this is not a welcome development, I would point to the fact that the CCCs are now well-established and effective bodies at local level, and that supporting the childminding sector is an integral part of their work. As a result, childminders continue to have access to support, training and advice.
My Department provides annual funding to each CCC to enable them to support and advise all childcare providers at local level. In 2012, the total amount allocated to the CCCs was €11.3m. In addition, in 2012 my Department provided €220,000 to the CCCs for Childminding Development Grants. My Department also provides annual funding, totalling €2.85m in 2012, to seven National Voluntary Childcare Organisations to provide support at a local level to their members. This included €358,000 for Childminding Ireland, the representative body for childminders.
In 2007, the then Office of the Minister for Children published National Guidelines for Childminders which had been developed by its National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee. The Guidelines provide information to childminders on whether they are subject to the Child Care Regulations, the voluntary notification system, the tax relief for childminders, as well as guidance on good practice and other useful information on the role of the childminder in the provision of childcare services.
My Department has commenced work on Ireland's first Early Years Strategy. I have received Government approval for the approach I am taking in developing this Strategy as an innovative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of our Early Years sector, aimed at providing a coherent approach to seeking to improve the lives of children from bith to the age of six. One of the policy issues which I have identified for consideration in the preparation of the Early Years Strategy is the development of the childminding sector as a fully-integrated component of early childhood care and education, in particular for the under-one age group.
Under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006, services providing care for children who have not yet commenced primary school are required to notify their service to the Pre-School Inspectorate of the HSE, and are subject to inspection and report by the Inspectorate on a regular basis. Services covered by the Regulations include full-time, part-time and sessional services, as well as childminders taking care of more than three pre-school children from different families in the childminder's home.
Childminders taking care of not more than three pre-school children from different families are not covered by the Regulations. Decisions on how best to regulate and support the childminding sector will continue to form part of the ongoing work on the Early Years Strategy.
174. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date that has been set for Russian authorities to visit Dublin to conduct bilateral discussions; and if she will confirm the persons that will be attending these talks on behalf of the Adoption Authority of Ireland and from her Department. [4566/13]
View answerAs Russia has not ratified the Hague Convention future adoptions from Russia, beyond those provided for under the transitional arrangements, may only be possible under a bilateral agreement. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with states who have not ratified the Hague Convention is governed by Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010.
It is the role of the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) to make an assessment of whether the intercountry adoption legislation and practices in a non-contracting state, in this case Russia, are in compliance with both Irish legislation and the principles of the Hague Convention. As part of this assessment the Adoption Authority has reviewed a draft bilateral agreement presented to it during previous discussions with its Russian counterparts and has provided me with an initial assessment in this regard. I have asked the Adoption Authority to have further exploratory talks with the Russian authorities focussing on areas of concern in order that the Authority may progress its assessment of the situation and provide a definitive recommendation to me on the feasibility of formally opening discussion with the Russian Federation under Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010.
The Russian authorities indicated that they are in a position to meet the AAI in the first quarter of this year. The Adoption Authority, through the Irish Embassy in Moscow, have confirmed their availability for this meeting. A response from the Russian authorities to the Adoption Authority is awaited. The issue of official attendance at the proposed meeting will be dealth with when the meeting has been scheduled.
175. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding changes in the adoption law in relation to declaration extensions (details supplied); the measures she will take to address this situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4610/13]
View answerI am aware of concerns raised by prospective adoptive parents whose declarations for eligibility and suitability to adopt will expire on 31 October 2103. The Adoption Act 2010 requires that these applicants must apply to the HSE under Section 37 of the Adoption Act 2010 for assessment and issuance of a declaration of eligibility and suitability to adopt.
I have asked the AAI to advise me on what system improvements can be put in place to facilitate an appropriate and timely assessment process for applicants whose declarations of eligibility and suitability will expire. I have arranged for officials from my Department, together with officials from the HSE and AAI, to meet shortly to discuss the nature of the assessment process to be undertaken in these cases and the timescale for carrying out such assessments. I am willing to consider to consider legislative amendments if required. In the meantime the AAI have advised me that the AAI and HSE will ensure that any applicant with a referral pending will be prioritised for assessment and issuance of a declaration of eligibility and suitability.
