Written Answers Nos. 194-201
194. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cavan will receive their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50035/13]
View answerAs processing of the application of the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme has recently been finalised, advance payment under this scheme is due to issue in to the person named in the coming days, directly to the nominated bank account.
195. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive their disadvantaged area scheme payment and their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50063/13]
View answerThe application of the person named was one of those selected for Satellite (remote sensing) Inspection. Following initial processing an over claim was determined. A subsequent ground inspection confirmed the over claim. As the total area over claim was greater than 20%, no payment is due to the person named for the year in question based on the scheme Terms and Conditions and the relevant EU regulations. A letter explaining the foregoing and also informing the person named of a right to appeal, issued on 11 November 2013.
196. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline in tabular form the number of appointments to State boards under her Department's remit made since March 2011 to date in 2013; the number of vacancies in State boards under her Department's remit since March 2011 to date in 2013; the number of vacancies State boards under her Department's remit publically advertised since March 2011 to date in 2013; and the number of appointments to State boards under her remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [50008/13]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy there are four agencies which are funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote. These are the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI); the Family Support Agency (FSA); the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) and the Ombudsman for Children.
With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention Schools as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001.
Apart from the Ombudsman for Children's Office which does not have a board, I am responsible for all board of management appointments.
Since I took office in March 2011, I have directly appointed 46 persons to the boards of management under the aegis of my Department and there have been 52 vacancies since that date. I can confirm that there is currently one vacancy on the board of management of the AAI, four vacancies for the FSA, one vacancy for the NEWB and no vacancies for the Children Detention Schools.
As the Deputy may be aware, in line with the Government decision of April 2011, new arrangements were put in place for the making of appointments to State Boards and bodies. Following this Government Decision, on my Department's website I have invited expressions of interest from persons interested in being appointed to the boards of State Bodies and Agencies operating under the Department's aegis. The notice indicates the vacancies in the boards of the respective bodies. My officials acknowledge all expressions of interest received and maintain a database of those expressions. My Department’s website is monitored and updated on a regular basis to reflect the number of vacancies as they arise.
The appointment of members to each of these bodies is not a competency-based process. The governing legislation in relation to each of these bodies sets out the composition of the board either in terms of their qualifications and experience, or the Government Minister or body that is responsible for nominating representatives on them or who must be consulted in the nomination process.
For example, the Adoption Act, 2010 requires that the board of the Adoption Authority of Ireland consists of 7 members – the chairperson must be a Judge, barrister or solicitor and the ordinary members must include a social worker with experience in adoption practice, a social worker with research expertise in child welfare, child protection or both, a barrister or solicitor with experience in the practice of law in relation to families and children, a medical practitioner and a person with appropriate training in psychology.
On the other hand, the Education Welfare Act, 2000 provides that the Minister shall make appointments to the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) from among persons who in the opinion of the Minister have a special interest or expertise in matters relating to the functions of the board.
The Family Support Agency Act, 2001 provides that the Minister may appoint individuals to the board who have a special interest or expertise in matters relating to the functions of the Agency. The current membership of the board of the Family Support Agency will be appointed to the board of the new Child and Family Agency when it is established.
The Children Act, 2001 outlines the different Ministers and organisations that nominate persons to serve on the board of management of the children detention schools.
In making my decisions on appointments to boards, subject to the governing legislation, I consider the most suitable persons for the positions available with due regard to the body or agency in question and its particular responsibilities and I seek to ensure that the appropriate mix of skills and experience is in place to achieve the best result.
Appointments to State Boards under the remit of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs since March, 2011
National Educational Welfare Board
|
Board Member |
Term |
|
Nuala Doherty (Chair) |
30/07/12 – 29/07/17 |
|
Brendan Broderick (Resigned 31/12/12) |
15/09/11 – 03/03/14 |
|
Catherine Connery |
28/05/12 – 27/05/15 |
|
Marian Jennings |
28/05/12 – 27/05/15 |
|
Eamonn Flynn |
15/09/11 – 03/03/14 |
|
Bob Dowling |
02/03/12 – 01/03/15 |
|
Ruairí Gogan |
02/03/12 – 01/03/15 |
|
Deirdre Matthews |
14/01/13 – 30/09/13 |
|
Mary Donnelly |
23/04/12 – 22/04/15 |
|
Sally Maguire |
03/11/13 – 03/03/14 |
Children Detention Schools
|
Board Member |
Term |
|
Joe Horan (Chair) |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Gerard McKiernan |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Ursula Kilkelly |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Diego Gallagher |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Sylda Langford |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Pat Rooney |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Elizabeth Howard |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Colin Fetherston |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Barry Rooney |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Deirdre Keyes |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Dan Kelleher |
26/03/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Rachel Grimes |
14/11/12 – 25/03/14 |
|
Niall Kelly |
06/09/13 – 25/03/14 |
Family Support Agency
|
Board Member |
Term |
|
Sharon Foley (Chair) |
30/01/12 – 31/03/13 (Ordinary Board member) 26/03/12 – 31/03/13 (Chair) |
|
Caroline Murphy |
20/10/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Dick Hickey |
02/06/11 – 01/12/11 02/12/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Dr. John Griffin |
30/04/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Marie Fenlon |
01/09/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Liz Chaloner |
30/01/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Nuala Ryan |
30/01/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Catherine Downey Murphy |
11/07/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Catherine Hazlett (Resigned on 16/05/12 due to restructuring of Department) |
26/07/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Yvette O’Malley (Resigned on 10/11/11) |
01/09/11 – 10/11/11 |
|
Marie Dullea |
11/07/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Imelda Martin |
28/11/11 – 31/03/12 16/04/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Lorraine Mulligan |
12/12/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Dr. Nollaig Byrne |
08/02/12 – 31/03/13 |
|
Norah Gibbons (Chair) |
01/06/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of Child and Family Agency (CFA) |
|
Sylda Langford |
17/09/1313 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA |
|
PJ Fitzpatrick |
17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA |
|
Noelle Spring |
17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA |
|
Rory O’Farrell |
17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA |
|
Gary Joyce |
17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA |
|
Ita Mangan |
17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA |
|
Noel Kelly |
17/09/13 – up to 3 years or establishment of CFA |
Adoption Authority of Ireland
|
Board Member |
Term |
|
Dr. Imelda Ryan |
07/02/12 – 6/07/17 |
197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the children of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 15 whose children are in care; the length of time the children are in care; the number of visits to each of the children facilitated by the authorities in the interim; the number of occasions on which visits to the children were not facilitated or were cancelled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50076/13]
View answerThe HSE advised that as this case is subject to legal proceedings and the in camera rule, it is not appropriate to comment any further on the specific aspects of the case. The HSE will work closely with the family, ensuring that all views are considered in order to achieve the best outcome for the children.
198. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to ban the use of trans-fats in food sold here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49928/13]
View answerMy Department recognises the importance of limiting the use of trans-fats in foods sold in Ireland. The Department raised this issue at EU level during negotiations on EU Regulation 1169/2011 governing the provision of food information to consumers. The European Commission agreed to prepare a report on the presence of trans fats in foods and in the overall diet of the EU population by the end of 2014. The aim of the report is to assess the impact of appropriate means to enable consumers to make healthier food and dietary choices, including the provision of information on trans fats to consumers or restrictions on their use. The Commission will accompany this report with a legislative proposal, if appropriate. The Commission’s report will inform future action in this area.
199. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the target month he is working to for the updating of regulations under the Misuse of Drugs Act following the recent public consultation period. [50046/13]
View answerThe draft regulations which are being prepared in my Department constitute a major amendment of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations. Due to their complexity it has been necessary to have two rounds of consultations with stakeholders and interested parties. Arising from the latest consultation process, the draft regulations are being reviewed. When this review is completed, the Government's approval will be sought to notify the draft regulations to the EU Commission and Member States under the Technical Standards Directive. It is anticipated that the draft regulations will be so notified before the end of the first quarter of 2014. The EU notification period may take up to 3 months to complete. Following its completion, the Government's approval will be sought to amend the relevant Statutory Instruments.
200. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the funding provided to Treoir for the past five years with the breakdown between staff and other costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49844/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have requested the Health Service Executive to investigate and respond directly to the Deputy.
201. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a primary care centre in Baldoyle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49853/13]
View answerDelivery of healthcare infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore the question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
