Written Answers Nos. 212-222
212. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when final vesting will take place in relation to a commonage (details supplied) in County Galway; if any outstanding issues remain to be resolved; if he will provide the details of these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9419/13]
View answerWhereas my Department has prepared a draft Vesting Order, it cannot be lodged with the Property Registration for the moment as there are a number of outstanding clarifications required concerning the grazing rights. Given the complexity of this unregistered commonage with split titles my Department is not in a position to vest in clients individually but must wait until all title issues have been addressed. Every effort is being made to expedite this matter as quickly as possible.
213. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who planted land and are at the end of their 20 years for payment and, subsequent to that allows the forestry to mature and then sell off the timber: if they are obliged to replant all of that land again; if they do so are they entitled to start again and reapply for funding for the replantation; if they once again qualify for a new forestry scheme for the ground that is planted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9494/13]
View answerIn order to preserve the forest estate and to protect the considerable State investment in forestry to date, it is the policy of this Department that all grant-aided plantations must be replanted after clear-fell has taken place. On this basis only General Felling Licences are issued for normal commercial forestry operations and, under the Forestry Act, 1946, such licences carry a compulsory replanting condition.
My Department does not operate any reforestation schemes. Therefore, replanting is not grant-aided.
214. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding access and well being in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [9342/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
215. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of funding she proposes to allocate for youth cafés in 2013; when this funding will be allocated; to which youth cafés this funding will be allocated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9370/13]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector.
Funding of €53.173m has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. Within this total funding, €1.75 has been provided in a new capital funding programme for 2013. This will include €1.5m for youth cafés and youth projects and €250,000 for play and recreation initiatives in 2013. Criteria for the schemes are being developed at present and my Department will be announcing details regarding the application process for 2013 shortly.
216. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has had discussions with the Department of Social Protection on the possible negative consequences on the provision of youth services if the job initiative programme were to cease due to the loss of youth workers in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9395/13]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector.
Funding of €53.173m has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. Of this total funding, €1.75 has been provided in a new capital funding programme for 2013. The emphasis in the 2013 youth affairs budget is on consolidating and maintaining, insofar as possible, the level of existing programmes and services for young people.
There are some 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and over 40,000 volunteers involved in the provision of services and activities for young people.
Each year over 380,000 young people participate in youth services.
My Department works closely with the Departments of Social Protection, Education and Skills and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, on a range of issues including the Government’s employment agenda.
In relation to the youth services, I have sought to highlight and promote the potential of youth work as part of a continuum of education, employment and youth services supports in enhancing the employability of young people.
This is a priority theme during my Presidency of the EU Council of Youth Ministers in line with Ireland’s overall EU Presidency priority theme – Jobs, Stability and Growth.
I have had discussions with the Minister for Social Protection in relation to our shared interest in the youth employment agenda and in relation to my Department’s contribution to the Government’s overall activation programme to assist people who are unemployed and keep young people engaged in the labour market.
My Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Social Protection and other relevant departments in the context of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs and the contribution of the youth services in supporting youth employment including through a greater focus on promoting and supporting volunteering opportunities.
217. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the legal status of the interim arrangements between the Health Service Executive and the new Child and Family Support Agency. [9503/13]
View answerI am firmly committed to the transformation of Ireland’s children and family service, and in this context, to the establishment as a priority of the new Child and Family Support Agency. The Agency, upon establishment, will assume full statutory responsibility for a range of child and family services currently provided by three separate agencies; namely the HSE, the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board.
Drafting of the legislation necessary to establish the Agency is at an advanced stage. This will be a very comprehensive piece of legislation, providing as it does for the subsuming of functions from three separate agencies and assigning responsibilities in relation to the care and protection of children and the promotion of their welfare. Pending the establishment of the Agency the functions which are due to transfer will continue to be discharged by the relevant statutory bodies.
218. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a statement (details supplied) in relation to planned abortion legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9515/13]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution was inserted by the Eighth Amendment in 1983 and is as follows:
‘The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.’
In Attorney General v X, the Supreme Court considered the meaning of the Eighth Amendment in the circumstances that arose in the case. The case concerned a girl of 14 years of age and the threat to her life was from suicide. The Supreme Court analysed and interpreted the text of Article 40.3.3 and decided that the Constitution permitted abortion in certain limited and particular circumstances, namely, where there was a real and substantial risk to the life of the woman, which could only be removed by terminating the pregnancy.
Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution as interpreted in the X case judgment is the law in of the State and the Oireachtas is legally bound to adhere to this interpretation. In order for the risk of suicide to be removed as a ground for lawful abortion, a referendum must be held. Indeed two referendums have been held to attempt to remove the risk of suicide as a ground for lawful abortion and they were both defeated. It is inaccurate to suggest that termination will be permitted in cases where there is a "threat" of suicide - rather it will only be permitted where it is established by expert medical opinion that as a matter of probability there is a real and substantial risk to the life, as opposed to the health, of the mother which can only be avoided by the termination of her pregnancy.
As the Deputy will know, last December the Government approved the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C v Ireland case by way of legislation with regulations, within the parameters of Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in the X case. They also agreed to make appropriate amendments to the criminal law in this area.
The aim of this Bill is to regulate access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with Article 40.3.3° of the Constitution as interpreted in the X case, and provide for the drafting of regulations to deal with operational and procedural matters relevant to the issue. Intensive work is under way on drafting this legislation and it is the Government’s intention that the Heads of a Bill will be published in the next few months.
219. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of estimated costs for a project (details supplied) in County Louth; if he will indicate the successful contractor for the work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9284/13]
View answerManagement of the health care property portfolio is a service matter. Therefore the Deputy's question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
220. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that there are enough graduate intern positions for all graduate doctors in July 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9287/13]
View answer221. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if there is going to be a shortage of intern places for both EU and non-EU graduates of Irish medical schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9289/13]
View answer222. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of intern places available for medical graduates in any given year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9290/13]
View answer227. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a full report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Fottrell Report, NCMET report and the Second Interim Report on the Implementation of the Reform of the Intern Year where an increase in intern posts was advised as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9303/13]
View answer228. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if a solution to the lack of intern places for medical school graduates will be implemented before the beginning of the intern year on 8 July 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9304/13]
View answer235. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the shortfall in intern posts for the new medical doctors graduating in two to three months time; his plans for the doctors who do not get an internship in view of the fact that the registration requirements dictate they must complete a one year internship programme which must be completed within two years of graduation or they will not be allowed to practice medicine here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9343/13]
View answer246. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that adequate intern places will be available to accommodate all graduates from Irish medical schools, who will graduate this year, and wish to get an internship here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9399/13]
View answer247. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health his views on whether it is important that graduates of Irish medical schools are given an opportunity to use their medical skills here by working in Irish hospitals thus providing a return to the taxpayer for the investment in their education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9400/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 222, inclusive, 227, 228, 235, 246 and 247 together.
The Report of the Undergraduate Medical Education and Training Group (Fottrell - 2006) recommended a number of reforms in basic medical education including a significant increase in medical school intake for Irish/EU students, on a phased basis. While my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, has lead responsibility in implementing the Fottrell recommendations, the increased intake will result in a requirement for additional intern places for graduates in the health service. Of course it is important that these graduates are given an opportunity to work in Irish hospitals. Accordingly, the issue of an adequate number of intern places in the Irish medical system is a priority for my Department and for the HSE.
The HSE established an Intern Implementation Group in 2009 to implement aspects of the Report of the National Committee on Medical Education and Training on the Intern Year. This Group has issued two Reports, the most recent, the Second Interim Report, in April 2012.
The intern year is an integral part of medical training and a medical practitioner cannot be fully accredited without it. Under the provisions of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007 it is a matter for the HSE to assess, on an annual basis, the number of intern training posts required by the health service. There were 572 such posts available in Ireland for the July 2012 intern intake, an increase of almost 70 posts since 2007. To date, there have been sufficient posts for all EU graduates from Irish medical schools and a number of available posts for some non-EU applicants.
My Department is in regular contact with the HSE in relation to the issue of intern places with the aim, in so far as is possible, of providing a sufficient number of intern places for Irish/EU graduates from Irish medical schools. It should be noted that under EU law intern posts must be open to graduates from other EU countries and the HSE has no control over the numbers applying.
The application process for internships closed in November last but the HSE will not know the final number of eligible applicants for some time. The final numbers that will proceed to the first round match have not yet been determined as the overseas candidates must pass the entrance test; meet the HSE English language requirements; provide a Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate; and pass their final year medical exams. Candidates applying from within Ireland must provide a BLS certificate and pass their final year medical exams.
The HSE will have approximately 80 additional posts available for interns commencing their training in July 2013. In total there will be in the region of 650 places available for 2013 and the HSE consider that there will be sufficient capacity and funding to ensure that every EU graduate of the six Irish medical schools can access an internship.
