Written Answers Nos. 643-666
643. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a new scheme for the building of poultry houses as part of the new rural development programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8260/14]
View answerThe new EU policy framework setting out the broad principles in relation to rural development for the 2014-2020 period has now been finalised. My Department has prepared a consultation paper in relation to the proposed measures for inclusion in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and the consultation process with relevant stakeholders is due to be completed shortly. Following completion of the consultation process, the draft Programme will be submitted to the EU Commission.
The dates of introduction of any new investment schemes will be dependent on a number of factors, including the requirement to obtain EU Commission approval for the Programme concerned. It is not possible at this stage to confirm that specific types of farm buildings will be eligible for grant-aid under the new Programme.
644. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 491 of 11 February 2014, in which he states that he was advised that the bank accounts were now separate, how does he definitively know this to be the case; if he can present the proof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8278/14]
View answerThe trustees have provided details relating to the bank accounts of the public Castlerea Town Trust and my officials rely on the trustees to comply with their obligations under the trust.
645. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form on a county basis the total amount of money spent on the fodder transport scheme in 2013; the number of farmers who availed of the scheme; the total amount of unspent money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8316/14]
View answerIn excess of 18,000 farmers benefited under the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme, under which, to date, payments worth some €2.4 million have issued, with total expenditure expected to be in the region of €2.8 million.
In light of the difficulties experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder supplies in April/May 2013, I announced the allocation of funding for an imported fodder transport scheme, designed to reduce the cost to farmers of imported forage (hay, silage, haylage) from outside the island of Ireland. The aid substantially covered the cost of transport into the country, thus reducing the cost to farmers of a bale of hay by approximately one third.
While the Scheme operated through the co-operatives, marts and other approved agencies, the actual beneficiaries are the individual farmers and primary producers who needed urgent supplies of feed. Operating the scheme in this manner was the quickest and most effective way of getting the fodder to those who needed it.
Of the 78 different concerns which participated in the Scheme, to date, 71 have submitted claims, of which 48 have been fully processed and paid in full, with a further 19 having received a 75% advance payment. The balancing payment will issue to these concerns once all outstanding issues are resolved. These concerns have been contacted directly and are working with my Department to resolve the outstanding issues.
The following tabular statement shows the payments made, to date, on a county basis. It will be appreciated that this data is compiled on the basis of the location of the particular concerns that participated in the Scheme.
2013 Imported Fodder Transport Scheme
|
County |
Value of payments made, to date |
|
Carlow |
0 |
|
Cavan |
€267,758 |
|
Clare |
€35,408 |
|
Cork |
€1,089,628 |
|
Donegal |
€77,385 |
|
Dublin |
0 |
|
Galway |
€56,557 |
|
Kerry |
€153,485 |
|
Kildare |
€2,333 |
|
Kilkenny |
€180,065 |
|
Laois |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
€18,962 |
|
Limerick |
€59,133 |
|
Longford |
0 |
|
Louth |
0 |
|
Mayo |
€7,231 |
|
Meath |
€2,250 |
|
Monaghan |
€83,606 |
|
Offaly |
€18,843 |
|
Roscommon |
€31,827 |
|
Sligo |
€182,641 |
|
Tipperary |
€110,406 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
€10,808 |
|
Wexford |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
€3,710 |
|
TOTAL |
€2,392,035 |
646. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form the total number of animals who died on farms in 2011, 2012 and 2013. [8317/14]
View answerThe number of bovines that died on farm in the last three years is set out in tabular form.
|
Year |
- |
|
2011 |
198,233 |
|
2012 |
228,382 |
|
2013 |
267,564 |
Information on deaths of other species is not available as my Department is not required to record the details of on-farm death of other species of farm animals.
647. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to deal with future fodder crises here in view of the experience of the 2013 fodder crisis. [8318/14]
View answerAfter a very difficult spring in 2013, weather conditions resulted in excellent production of high quality fodder across all fodder types last year. Both yields and quality of later cut hay and silage were good, while yields of specialist crops such as fodder maize and beet were well above average. Excellent conditions last Autumn provided an opportunity for farmers to extend the grazing season. In this regard and in conjunction with my colleague Minister Hogan, a number of amendments to the Nitrates regulations were introduced to encourage additional production. The extension of the period for the application of organic fertilisers and the discounting of certain amounts of meal when calculating the amount of phosphorus fertiliser that could be used supported farmers to extend the grazing period last Autumn and in turn keeping animals grazing for longer.
The situation continues to be monitored. Supplementary concentrate feeding has fallen significantly in cost since last year and significant volumes of fodder continue to be advertised on farming media and associated websites. Notwithstanding the recent difficult weather conditions, mild winter temperatures have also resulted in grass covers on farms that are well above last year.
The indications are that there is a satisfactory supply of fodder available at present. The quality of fodder conserved is generally excellent on farms and subject to a normal spring turnout, overall quantity should be sufficient. At this time, and subject to normal spring conditions prevailing, it is anticipated that adequate supplies of fodder will be available.
649. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the new single farm payment scheme will impact on a farm enterprise (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8372/14]
View answerI wish to preface my comments by saying that several details of the new Basic Payment Scheme remain to be agreed on including matters which may directly impact on the person the subject of this question, as such it is not possible at this time to state with certainty the impact the new Basic Payment Scheme will have on this individual. When considering the impact of the transition from the current Single Payment Scheme to the new Basic Payment Scheme, there are three ‘reference points’ to be considered.
Any farmer who received a direct payment in 2013 (Single Payment, Grassland Sheep Scheme, Burren Life Scheme, Beef Data Scheme) is automatically eligible to receive an allocation of entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. It is presumed that the Company received such a payment in 2013 and therefore holds the ‘allocation right’.
The number of entitlements that will be allocated to a farmer under the new Basic Payment Scheme will be based on the number of eligible hectares the farmer declares in 2013 and 2015, whichever is less. As the Company declared the land in 2013, and will presumably declare the land in 2015, the Company also holds this land reference point.
The method for establishing the value of entitlements in 2015 for Companies remains the subject of negotiation with the EU Commission and will not be finalised until the publication of the Delegated Act for Direct Payments.
650. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will clarify if all branches of the Civil Service within his Department are applying Department policy that staff progress or incremental salary scales on the basis of a single point per annum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8676/14]
View answerStaff of my Department on an incremental salary scale, are paid increments on the basis of a single point per annum subject to satisfactory service. Upon reaching the maximum of the salary scale, two long service increments may be paid after a further three years and six years, again subject to satisfactory service. Going forward, payment of increments will be paid in accordance with the provisions of the Haddington Road Agreement.
651. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine as far as he is aware if any official body under the aegis of his Department subscribes to the daily inflation data for Ireland collected by a company (details supplied); if so, the cost of this service; if the data will be made available to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8690/14]
View answerSubscription to the daily inflation data for Ireland collected by the named company by State Bodies under my Department’s aegis is an operational matter for the State Bodies concerned.
652. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding access to adoption files; her plans to facilitate persons in these circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7751/14]
View answerI have highlighted previously the Constitutional and legal barriers to providing access to adoption records without the consent of the birth mother. The Adoption (Information and Tracing ) Bill will address this matter but the legislature will be constrained in the nature of any access which can be granted to adoption records by these legal considerations. My Department is continuing to work on the Heads of Bill for the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval to publish the Heads of Bill as soon as possible. However, as I have previously advised the House, very complex legal and constitutional issues have arisen in the drafting of the Bill, in particular in seeking to reconcile an adopted person’s request for information about his or her identity with the right to privacy of his or her birth parent. My Department is continuing to consult with the Office of the Attorney General on this and on a number of related issues and I intend to submit the Heads of Bill for Government approval as soon as these issues have been addressed.
Once approved by Government, the Heads of Bill will be sent to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for its detailed consideration. The process of sending the Heads of Bill to that Committee will ensure that the provisions of the proposed legislation will be subject to public scrutiny and it is of course open to that Committee to invite and encourage submissions from all interested parties. In the meantime I am open to any proposals or suggestions in relation to policy on this matter that assists in achieving as much access as possible in a manner that is legally and constitutionally sound.
I have been anxious to see improvements in existing procedures for the tracing of birth parents by people who have been adopted. The Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1st January last, has advised me that, in the first instance, any person seeking information on adoption should contact the Adoption Authority of Ireland or the Child and Family Agency’s Community Services who will assist in directing them to the personnel dealing with their particular records. The existing arrangements for those seeking access to information reflect a transition from complex and historical situations and I am anxious that the Agency implement much more improved and consistent arrangements. I have been advised by the Agency that it is reorganising adoption services in 2014 at a national level, and will consider how best to deploy its staff to deal with this important issue so as to facilitate access to records where they exist.
The Adoption Act 2010, requirement that agencies providing Information and Tracing services would gain accreditation resulted in a number of religious orders deciding not to apply for accreditation and transferring records from their Mother and Baby Homes and Adoption Societies to the Agency. In the case of the Sacred Heart Adoption Society, for example, some 25,000 records have been transferred to the Agency’s Regional Adoption Service in Cork. Work by the Agency on the organising and storage of these records has taken place. The advice of the National Archives has been sought in relation to the proper storage of these records that are of great significance.
I have raised the importance of arrangements for the management of these records directly with the Child and Family Agency and I have also asked my officials to examine the work that could be undertaken with the Child and Family Agency, the Adoption Authority and other stakeholders to improve arrangements for managing and accessing the records that are available.
I would urge birth mothers to enrol on the National Adoption Contact Preference Register which was established in 2005 to assist adopted people and their natural families to make contact with each other, exchange information or state their contact preferences. Applicants decide, through a range of information and contact options, how they wish to proceed. The Adoption Authority of Ireland has responsibility for the operation of the Contact Preference Register. I believe there is an opportunity in the context of the considerable public attention this area is receiving to promote awareness amongst women whose children were adopted of the importance of registering their consent for contact to be re-established.
653. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the heads of the adoption (information and tracing) Bill; when she expects the Bill to come before the relevant committee for discussion; the way the issue of the parents' and children's right to privacy is being considered in the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7576/14]
View answerMy Department is continuing to work on the Heads of Bill for the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and I hope to be in a position to seek Government approval to publish the Heads of Bill as soon as possible. However, as I have previously advised the House, very complex legal and constitutional issues have arisen in the drafting of the Bill, in particular in seeking to reconcile an adopted person’s request for information about his or her identity with the right to privacy of his or her birth parent. My Department is continuing to consult with the Office of the Attorney General on a number of related issues and I intend to submit the Heads of Bill for Government approval as soon as these issues are fully determined.
The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to give a comprehensive account of the provisions of the proposed legislation until the Heads of Bill have been agreed by Government. Once approved by Government, the Heads of Bill will be sent to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for its detailed consideration. The process of sending the Heads of Bill to that Committee will ensure that the provisions of the proposed legislation will be subject to public scrutiny and it is of course open to that Committee to invite and encourage submissions from all interested parties who may wish to participate in the legislative process. I think public understanding of these matters and legislative consideration would be assisted if such parties included representatives of those who have been involved in the adoption process as well as legal experts.
654. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will clarify the role of child welfare or attendance officers (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7607/14]
View answerThe functions and operational responsibilities of the former National Educational Welfare Board are now part of the new Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1st January 2014. Within the Child and Family Agency, the Education Welfare Service has specific responsibility for the Agency’s general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education.
The primary role of the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO) in this service is to advise and assist both schools and parents in relation to their respective rights and responsibilities on issues relating to school attendance, including suspensions. While an EWO can offer advice and support to a school principal in relation to the suspensions of an individual pupil, it is ultimately a matter for the school authorities to determine policy and practice around suspensions.
The Educational (Welfare) Act 2000 obliges the principal of a recognised school to notify an Educational Welfare Officer where a student is suspended for a period of not less than six (6) days. On receipt of such a notification an EWO will consult as appropriate with the school, parents/guardian and student in relation to the continued education of the child and his or her full participation in school. Under Section 29(1)(b) of the Education Act 2000, a parent/guardian may appeal a suspension of a student.
Guidance issued to all schools in Developing a Code of Behaviour (2008) by the then National Educational Welfare Board covers a wide range of issues relating to suspension as an element of behaviour management planning, including;
- When is it appropriate to use suspensions?
- When is it not appropriate?
- Length of suspensions
- Opportunity to appeal the decision of a principal to the Board of Management
- Grounds for the removal of a suspension
- Appeals under the Education Act 1998
- Obligations to report under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000.
It has been the experience of the Educational Welfare Service that school Principals generally are open to advice from EWOs based on the guidance in Developing a Code of Behaviour and very often seek the assistance of their assigned EWO in such matters.
655. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide in tabular form the number of staff in her Department currently on a sabbatical or career break broken down by zero to six months, six to 12 months, one year to two years, two to three years, four to five years and five years plus; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7623/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy on the number of staff in my Department currently on a sabbatical/career break by duration is set out as requested in tabular form.
|
Currently by duration |
0-6 months |
6-12 months |
1-2 years |
2-3 years |
4-5 years |
5 years |
|
No. of staff |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
656. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide in tabular form the total number of uncertified sick days taken by employees in her Department and the average uncertified sick days per employee taken; the total certified sick days taken by employees; the average certified sick days per employee; the total sick days taken by employees; the average total sick days and median overall sick days per employee in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. [7639/14]
View answerAs my Department was established on 2nd June 2011, the information requested by the Deputy is provided from June 2011 onwards. Absenteeism information relating to staff currently employed by my Department for the years 2009, 2010 and up to end May 2011 will be included in the returns from the Departments where the staff involved were employed prior to transfer to my Department.
|
YEAR |
Uncertified Sick Days |
Average Uncertified Sick Days per employee |
Certified Sick Days |
Average Certified Sick Days per employee |
Total Sick Days |
Average Total Sick Days per employee |
Median Overall Sick Days |
|
2011 (June-Dec) |
69 |
0.55 |
641 |
5.13 |
710 |
5.68 |
2 |
|
2012 |
101 |
0.83 |
934 |
6.48 |
1,053 |
7.31 |
2 |
While the overall number of days lost to sick leave appears to have increased over the period 2011 to 2012, account must also be taken that the numbers employed in the Department also increased during the same period. The overall lost time rate, which is the total amount of time lost due to sick leave as a percentage of total time available, is a more accurate picture of absenteeism levels and this has fallen from 5.48% in 2011 to 3.52% for 2012.
657. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question of 4 February 2014, in view of the large amount of expenditure incurred on guardians ad litem, their solicitors and counsel, if she will urgently recommend that arrangements for the future organisation and delivery of the guardian ad litem service will be put on a statutory basis. [7653/14]
View answerI believe there is a clear need to radically reform the basis to the current arrangements in relation to guardians ad litem. The current, essentially ad hoc, arrangements for the operation and management of guardian ad litem services is a legacy issue which my Department is addressing as a priority this year in liaison with the Department of Justice and Equality.
My Department is actively examining all aspects of service provision in this area, with a view to the introduction of more regulated and sustainable provision which will address a range of issues including payment arrangements. While mindful that it is, in fact, the courts who appoint guardians ad litem in care proceedings, the examination is taking account of the potential key elements of a reformed service such as criteria for the engagement of guardians ad litem, their role and responsibilities, their status, necessary qualifications and experience for appointment, and the basis for their remuneration.
Other reforms which have already been initiated or completed as part of the wider programme of legal reform relating to children are also very relevant. These reforms include the establishment of the Child and Family Agency on 1 January last, the amendment to Section 17 of the Child Care Act enacted in 2013 to reduce the frequency and related cost of renewing interim care orders, the introduction of national procedures relating to Court practice by the Child and Family Agency, the examination being given by the Minister for Justice and Equality to the establishment of dedicated Family Courts and the referral of a draft General Scheme and Heads of Bill in respect of the Children and Family Relationships Bill to the Oireachtas. This latter proposed legislation, which is being taken forward by the Minister for Justice and Equality, signals the proposed introduction of revised arrangements for guardians ad litem in respect of certain family law proceedings. This is an important context for the collaboration which is under way between both Departments.
I plan to bring forward legislative proposals to reform this area in the current year in collaboration with the Minister for Justice and Equality.
658. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 720 of 15 January 2014, the number of social workers being deployed this year from existing adoption teams to information and tracing work; and the total number of staff dedicated to information and tracing work in the adoption service in the Child and Family Agency. [7654/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, the information sought by the Deputy has been requested from the Child and Family Agency and I will be in touch as soon as this information is received
659. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if any children were placed in private child care centres in this jurisdiction on foot of special care orders made by the High Court in the years 2012 and 2013. [7655/14]
View answerI have been advised by the Child and Family Agency that no child or young person who was the subject of a Special Care Order was placed in a private Child Care Centre in this jurisdiction during 2012 and 2013.
660. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if it is the case that some private residential child care centres require the payment of a retainer fee to secure a placement for a child. [7656/14]
View answer661. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the total amount of expenditure incurred in the years 2012 and 2013 towards the cost of placing children in care of the State in private residential child care centres. [7657/14]
View answer662. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a breakdown on a monthly basis of the number of children in the care of the State placed in private residential child care centres, including a breakdown of the number of children by Health Service Executive region. [7658/14]
View answer663. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of all private residential child care centres used by the Health Service Executive Children and Family Services in 2013, including the names of the providers and the owners of the centres; the number of staff in each of the centres; and the level of training and qualifications attained by each member of staff in such centres. [7659/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 660 to 663, inclusive, together.
The HSE compiles monthly Performance Reports which are published on the HSE website http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Publications/corporate/performancereports/2013pr.html. These reports include data on Children in Care, including the number of children placed in Private Residential Centres.
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Child and Family Agency and I will forward this to the Deputy when it becomes available.
My Department is currently collating some of the information received and I will writing directly to the Deputy on this issue in the coming days.
664. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the valid timeframe for declarations to adopt a child from a country will be extended to allow enough time for the whole process to be completed. [7847/14]
View answerThe expiration of declarations is covered under Section 41(1) of the Adoption Act, 2010. The section provides that a declaration of eligibility and suitability expires after 24 months from the date of issuance of the declaration or after a further period of not more than 12 months that the Adoption Authority may specify. I understand that at the time of drafting of the legislation it was felt that this provided an adequate period following the initial assessment of applicants to complete an adoption. Given the changing landscape of intercountry adoption, this may no longer be the case. I am examining a number of proposals in relation to amendments to the Adoption Act, 2010. Any change to the length of validity of a declaration must take account of the necessity to ensure that an applicant's current situation in relation to their suitability to adopt is considered in the adoption process.
665. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if any of her departmental or ministerial offices have been swept for electronic or any other type of surveillance or bugging equipment since coming to office in March 2011; the reasons for this check; the results of this check; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7888/14]
View answerMy Department has not been swept for electronic or any other type of surveillance or bugging equipment since establishment in June 2011.
666. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will list any new organisations-agencies established in her Department since 9 March 2011; the role and functions and the annual operating budget for these organisations-agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7939/14]
View answerThe Child and Family Agency is the only organisation/agency established by my Department since its establishment in June 2011.
The Child and Family Agency, established on the first of January 2014 under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, has statutory responsibility for services previously provided by the National Educational Welfare Board and the Family Support Agency. In addition, the Agency has responsibility for children and family services previously delivered by the HSE together with domestic and sexual violence services, certain psychological welfare services, and preschool inspection services. The coming together under one Agency of such a range of services provides a platform for the delivery of more efficient and effective services to children and families. The remit of the Agency will contribute to the achievement of its overall vision, which is seeking to bring about greater integration of services with a focus on early intervention and community engagement. The Agency has an allocated non-capital budget of over €602 million and a capital budget of over €6 million for 2014.
