Written Answers Nos. 487-503
489. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue on an agri-environment options scheme III appeal lodged by a person in County Galway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39846/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 28th November 2012. The process of ranking and selecting all AEOS applicants was clearly set out in the scheme documentation. Acceptance into the scheme was established using the predetermined selection criteria as follows:
- farmers in the Boora region of Co. Offaly who chose Wild Bird Cover Option B (Grey Partridge) as one of their selected options,
- farmers with a minimum of 0.5 hectares of designated land,
- farm partnerships,
- farmers who previously participated in REPS commencing with smallest farms and
- others based on farm size (again favouring smaller holdings).
The person named was a previous participant in REPS. Based on the funding available farmers in category 4 with 22.06 hectares of utilisable agricultural area and below were successful. As the farm size of the person named is 26.79, the application was unsuccessful. On 27th May 2013, a letter issued to the person named informing him that he was not successful and setting out the reasons. The person was also informed of his right of appeal to AEOS Section. An appeal was received from the person named and he has been advised that his appeal was unsuccessful. He has been informed of the right to appeal this decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
490. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of crèche inspections that have been carried out in the Health Service Executive South region in 2011 and 2012; the reasons for any changes in the number of inspections; if there are plans to increase the number of inspections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39208/13]
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.
495. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the value for money review of youth work funding will be completed and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39463/13]
View answerA Value for Money and Policy Review on a number of youth schemes in receipt of funding from my Department is currently being carried out. The Value for Money and Policy Review has focused on three schemes which provide funding of some €35.3 million to support the provision of youth services. These are the Special Projects for Youth Scheme (SPY); Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 (YPFSF 1 & 2) and the Local Drugs Task Force scheme (LDTF). The report of the VFM is expected at the end of October.
My Department is also currently developing a new youth policy framework for publication early next year. The new youth policy framework will aim to enhance the provision of youth services and activities and it will, inter alia, promote co-ordination between government departments and youth sector organisations with a view to maximising the effectiveness of the State funding available to support services for young people in future years. It is anticipated that the findings of the Value for Money and Policy Review report will inform the Youth Policy Framework.
502. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39164/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
