Written Answers Nos. 223-235
223. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any fishermen from boats under 17m are directly represented on the Sentinell Herring Fishery Committee, other than PO representatives; if he will provide details of the committee membership and their respective vessel sizes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40290/13]
View answerI am not aware of a Sentinel Herring Fishery Committee. I will take it that the Deputy means the Celtic Sea Herring Management Committee (CSHMAC) whose remit covers all herring fisheries in the Celtic Sea. In 2005, the Minister of the day constituted a Management Committee, the Celtic Sea Herring Management Advisory Committee whose role is to advise the Minister on the management arrangements for the stock.
The Committee has been established on an informal basis i.e. Minister decided to establish the Committee and issued letters to relevant organisations asking them to nominate persons to the Committee. The Committee has been very successful in its operation assisting in a rebuilding of the stock and achieving MSC certification. The Committee comprises representatives of industry and processors and is chaired by the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation (IS&WFPO). The Department is not represented on the Committee nor is any other State agency. However, the Marine Institute advises the Committee from time to time on scientific issues relating to the stock. The representation is as follows: Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation – 2 persons; Irish Fish Producers organisation – 2 persons; Irish South and East Fishermens association – 2 persons; Killybegs Fishermens Organisation – 1 Person; Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association – 2 persons; Irish Federation of Fishing Co-operatives – 1 person.
The membership of the committee changes from time to time while retaining the proportion of representatives from each organisation. I do not ratify the individual representatives which the producer organisations nominate to the committee, nor do I retain a list of individual members. Most Producer Organisations on the committee represent a range of fishing boat owners from small vessels to larger vessels and fishing vessel owner are free to join a producer organisation which best represents their interest.
224. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for agri environment option scheme 3 entry in respect of a person (details supplied) [40324/13]
View answerAn application under the Agri-environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 26 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: 1. farmers in the Boora region of Co. Offaly who chose Wild Bird Cover Option B (Grey Partridge) as one of their selected options, 2. farmers with a minimum of 0.5 hectares of designated land, 3. farm partnerships, 4. farmers who previously participated in REPS commencing with smallest farms. and 5. others based on farm size (again favouring smaller holdings).
Based on the funding available farmers in category 4 with 22.06 hectares of utilisable agricultural area and below were successful. Category 4 farmers with areas greater than this and all farmers in category 5 were unsuccessful. The person named comes under category 5 as he had not previously participated in REPS. On this basis a letter issued to the person named on 27 May informing him that he was not successful and setting out the reasons. The person was also informed of right of appeal to AEOS Section. An appeal was received from the person named and it is currently being considered. The person named will be notified in writing of the outcome of this appeal once a decision has been made.
225. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for single farm payments where penalty was imposed in respect of a person (details supplied) [40325/13]
View answerMy Department is currently examining land parcels declared for the purposes of benefiting from payment under the Single Payment Scheme and other area-based Direct Payment Schemes. As part of this review a number of ineligible features were removed from the parcels declared by the person named. My Department has carried a review of land parcels with exclusions declared by the applicant and has established that the amounts in question should be refunded to the applicant. An official of my Department has contacted the person named directly to explain the situation to him.
226. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application which is at penalty review status and file being processed in respect of a person (details supplied) [40326/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 September 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks for 2011 non compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the scheme were noted in relation to the Planting New Hedgerows and Establishment and Maintenance of Habitats actions which resulted in a penalty being incurred. Full 2011 payment totalling €1,029.98 (net of penalty) has now issued to the person named – 75% payment issued on 17 April 2013 and the balancing 25% payment issued on 24 April 2013.
Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investment through checks on receipts. The person named was selected for a ground inspection which took place on 26 October 2012. During this inspection, areas of non-compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme were noted in relation to the Species Rich Grassland and Traditional Hay Meadow actions which resulted in a further penalty being imposed. On 27 June 2013, a letter issued to the person named informing him of this and outlining his appeal option. To date, there is no record of an appeal having been received by officials in my Department. The application is being finalised on the basis of the inspection findings and payment will issue shortly.
227. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the agri-environment option scheme 2012 payment in respect of a person (details supplied) and when payment will issue. [40327/13]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1 September 2011 and full payment totalling €1,167.17 issued in respect of 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Payments in respect of the 2012 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investment through checks on receipts. During the administrative checks in respect of the 2012 Scheme year issues were identified in relation to the Wild Bird Cover option. The person named was notified of these issues and the matter is currently under review by Officials in my Department. Payment for 2012 will issue at the earliest opportunity once these issues have been resolved and all validations have been successfully completed.
228. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the parameters of the discussions held with Ministerial colleagues at the Meeting of Ministers for Agriculture and Fisheries, AGRI-FISH, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 23 September 2013; if he will detail any agreement reached; if he will provide an update in matters discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40329/13]
View answerThe meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers on 23 September last took place in Brussels. The main item on the agenda was CAP reform. The Council agreed to a small adjustment in the Council position in order to allow the Lithuanian Presidency to finalise an agreement with the EU Commission and the European Parliament on a number of outstanding MFF related issues not covered by the political agreement on CAP reform reached last June. I am pleased to say that the Lithuanian Presidency went on to have a successful trilogue and I expect the Agriculture Committee of the European Parliament will approve the deal at its meeting next week, paving the way for full endorsement by the European Parliament at its November plenary meeting.
A number of issues were raised under other business. The EU Commission provided an update to Ministers on developments in international trade issues, including the upcoming WTO Ministerial conference in Bali and the bilateral trade negotiations with Canada, USA and Japan. The Commission also made a presentation to Ministers of its proposals for a new EU forest strategy. Ministers also heard reports of recent conferences. I, myself, debriefed my colleagues on the conclusions from the 33rd conference of Directors of EU Paying Agencies, which was held in Dublin in April last. The Presidency provided a report on a recent conference in Vilnius on organic production and Slovenia briefed Ministers about an August conference dedicated to furthering the production of protein crops in the Danube and South European region.
Poland drew Ministers’ attention to the risks posed by the outbreak of African swine fever close to the EU border and called for a coordinated approach. Netherlands raised the question of the EU TRACES computer system, which records data on movements of live animals, calling for greater transparency in regard to the information recorded on this system.
229. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedures applicable to the importation of budgerigars; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40331/13]
View answerPersons may bring their pet birds to Ireland with them from another EU Member State (and Andorra, Croatia, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway) on change of residence or on holiday provided the following conditions are met: an Owner Declaration for Pet birds must accompany the bird/s en route; a Form of Advance Notice of Import must be sent to the Animal Health and Welfare Division of my Department at least 24 hrs in advance of arrival of consignment in Ireland.
Persons bringing their pet birds to Ireland (on change of residence or on holiday only) from a non-EU country (other than Andorra, Croatia, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State) may import under licence not more than 5 birds provided the birds are accompanied en route by the owner or a person acting on behalf of the owner; individually identified; accompanied by a veterinary health certificate signed by an official veterinarian to confirm compliance with the pre-export requirements as set out in Commission Decision 2007/25/EC; accompanied by a declaration signed by the owner/person representing the owner in the form contained at Annex 111 to in Commission Decision 2007/25/EC; Imported either through Dublin Airport or Shannon Airport.
All information on this is available at www.agriculture.gov.ie/pets.
231. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the number of advisors, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by his Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40696/13]
View answerIn response to the Deputy’s question, I have detailed below the information requested:
|
- |
1981 |
2011 |
2013 |
|
Special Advisers |
1 |
3* |
2 |
|
Press Officer |
1 |
1 |
1 |
*Includes one Special Adviser appointed by Minister Smith for the period 1 January 2011 to 9 March 2011.
232. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the further progress that has been made in implementing the recommendations of the report of the Independent Child Death Review Group since her replies of 28/03/2013 and 18/07/2013; the total number of social workers employed in Children and Family Support Services at present, and this number for each of the past five years; if and when the independent reviews into child deaths referred to by her will be published and if not, the reason for same; when the final progress report of the Ryan Report Implementation Plan will be brought before the Oireachtas; the number of young persons currently in receipt of aftercare services; her plan for developing legislation to strengthen the provision of aftercare; if she will provide details of all cuts to child care and aftercare services that have been implemented in recent years, or any restrictions of services forced by economic necessity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40138/13]
View answerThe Deputy has raised a number of separate issues which I will deal with individually.
In relation to the Independent Child Death Review Group (ICDRG), the Deputy will be aware that when I published the report of the group, I accepted that action in the areas identified was required. The necessary actions are being implemented in the context of the Government’s reform programme for children’s services. The integrated delivery of these reforms will ensure that responses to many of the ICDRG recommendations will be mainstreamed into the work programme of the new Child and Family Agency. HSE Children and Family Services are proactively planning, and will publish as part of the service planning process, specific actions to continue to improve the quality of its services and to address the recommendations highlighted in ICDRG report. The development of a quality assurance framework for social work services will be an integral part of the progress which is being made in this regard.
In relation to the numbers of social workers employed in Children and Family Services in the HSE, the latest HSE employment census indicates that the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) social workers employed in the HSE Children and Families service area was 1,405.53 at the end of July 2013. The census numbers reflect the outcome of a process of re-classification of social workers within the HSE into individual care groups, including Children and Families, to support the process of establishing the new Child and Family Agency. Consequently direct comparisons with social work numbers for previous years are not meaningful. It should be noted that there are a variety of reasons for fluctuations in employment census figures at any given time, particularly as the employment census is based on a snapshot of staff who are on the payroll at the date of the census. Among the reasons for staff being removed from the payroll thereby causing changes in employment census numbers (aside from retirements and recruitment) are deaths, career breaks and other unpaid leave, resignations and unpaid sick leave.
In the context of the current budgetary restriction across the public sector and within the HSE there is a general pause on all recruitment including those grades included in the list of specified grades with delegated sanction from the general moratorium on recruitment and promotion within the public service. However due to the importance of child welfare and protection responsibilities every effort is made to maintain staffing levels. In this regard for Children and Family Services a National Employment Control Group has been established to consider all vacancies as they arise. This situation is under constant review. In the event of a change of staffing in the management of particular cases normal procedures are followed to ensure that all files and records are up to date and that there is a process of full briefing and introduction for new staff under the supervision of line management. Statutory child care Regulations and Standards are followed in all circumstances to ensure the best welfare of the child(ren).
As regards the publication of independent reviews into child deaths, I am informed by the HSE that seven review reports have been submitted for publication. These will be published in the next month together with the Child Death Review Panel’s Annual reports for 2011 and 2012, outlining in detail the work referred to and completed by the panel.
In relation to the fourth and final progress report on Ryan Report Implementation Plan, this will be published on schedule before the end of 2013
On the matter of aftercare, Section 45 of the Childcare Act 1991 places a statutory duty on the HSE to form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view to provide services in accordance with the section and subject to resources. All young people who have had a care history with the HSE are entitled to an Aftercare Service. The extent as to what is provided is based on assessment of need, age and the length of time the young person was in care. Good practice clearly indicates that where a young person needs to be in care, they should remain in their placement until they are ready to leave. Preparation for leaving care is an integral part of the care placement and is introduced formally to young people usually at 16 years of age. This preparation, determined by a comprehensive needs assessment, sets out a process of targeted and structured support to enable the young person to make a smooth transition from statutory care to independent living, where appropriate. Data in regard to the number of children who left Care on reaching their eighteenth birthday began to be collected in 2012. Similar data was not collected for previous years. The number of young adults aged 18 to 20 (inclusive) in receipt of an aftercare service on the last day of the reporting period at 31.03.2013 was 1,149.
The Deputy will be aware that I am currently examining options, in association with the Attorney General, to strengthen legislation regarding the provision of aftercare. I have recently held round-table discussions with HSE, service providers, advocates and the voluntary sector in relation to the recent improvements in aftercare service delivery and the proposed legislative change. My officials have met with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to discuss the nature and impact of the strengthening of aftercare legislatively in Northern Ireland and issues to do with service provision. The Deputy will be aware that I had previously indicated my intention to bring forward legislative amendments in the legislation to establish the Child and Family Agency, and this remains my focus.
In relation to the Deputy's final query around cuts, it is self evident that reductions in budgets in recent years have provided challenges for Children and Family Services management. The priority has been to continue to deliver the maximum level of safe statutory services possible within available resources. The key areas of service provision are as follows: promoting the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection; providing a wide range of Care services for children requiring care and protection; providing for the provision of a range of family support services, including by voluntary bodies and other persons and providing a range of adoption services.
In responding to this challenging budgetary environment Children and Family Services has, where possible, identified the impact of pre-existing and future risks on delivering the planned service levels outlined in Service Plans while continuing to operate within its budget. The priority has been in all areas of statutory responsibility to maintain, and in some service areas, to increase service levels. Some examples of this increase in service delivery are: Between 2009- 2012 there has been an increase of 44.27% in the number of foster families from 2,959 to 4,269; between 2009 – 2012 child abuse referrals have increased by 58%; between 2009 – 2012 the number of children in Care has increased by 11.5%. There has been a significant increase in the provision of Aftercare services.
In conclusion, I would state that the Government is currently engaged in the most ambitious programme of reform of services to children and families ever undertaken. The central element of this programme is the establishment of the new Child & Family Agency. However, it should be noted that even ahead of the formal establishment of the Agency there is a significant level of work already underway to reform child and family services. The ‘change management programme’ being developed by the senior management team of the new Agency involves over 100 individual reform projects which will introduce operational improvement to the services for which the Agency will be responsible. Some of the specific initiatives included in this change management programme include reorganisation of residential care centres into a national service under a single national manager; ongoing measures to specify child welfare and protection referral pathways and ensure consistency in the management of referrals; review of caseloads; reforming the interface with the courts system; ongoing support for implementation of Children First; reform of data management including additional performance information and the introduction of a National Child Care Information System; and new internal structures and processes to improve quality assurance.
233. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will respond to correspondence (details supplied) regarding crèches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40198/13]
View answerThis correspondence appears to be an invitation to the Deputy. I wish to advise that my office has received a similar invitation.
234. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the name and business address of all of the providers of public relations services to her Department since the current Government came into office: the total amount spent on such services in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40218/13]
View answerThe Referendum Unit within my Department engaged MKC Communications, the Archway, 4a Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2, to provide communication support services to my Department. In 2012 they were paid €32,350 and have been paid €7,245 to date this year.
