Written Answers Nos. 198-210
198. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to applicants for the single farm payment who have lost large areas of lands to erosion in coastal areas after the recent severe weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11403/14]
View answerI can confirm that the cases of those farmers whose holdings have been adversely affected by recent storms are eligible for consideration under Force Majeure provisions; such cases will be dealt with sympathetically, on their merits, on a case by case base.
On the broader issue, I wish to reassure those farmers, who are anxious that if they did not have sufficient hectares to match their Single Farm Payment entitlements in 2014, it would impact on the level of payment entitlements allocated to them in 2015 under the new CAP Regime. This is not the case. Those farmers should be aware, that in the context of CAP Reform, decisions which I have taken in recent weeks provide protection for the payments of farmers.
In the first instance, a decision was made to use 2013 eligible land – or 2015 if it is lower – for the calculation of number of new payment entitlements. This means that the number of entitlements allocated to farmers should correspond to the number of eligible hectares on the holding. In addition, the total value of the new entitlements allocated to farmers in 2015 will be based on the total value of entitlements - rather than payments - owned by farmers in 2014, irrespective of whether or not they were paid under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme. Therefore, there is no reason whatsoever why such farmers cannot fully benefit from payments under the CAP Reform Regime from 2015 onwards.
199. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason penalties were imposed on farm payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if the person may appeal the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11415/14]
View answerA verification visit was conducted recently by a Departmental Inspector, the results of which are being processed. The person named will be advised, in writing, of the outcome of the visit as soon as possible. The necessity for this visit follows the appeal of the person named against the findings of the review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme, which revealed that one of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. As the person named disputed the area of ineligible land, a visit by a Department official to verify the position on the ground was necessary to resolve the matter.
200. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason behind the proposed closure of the DVO office in Tralee; where the work will then be carried out; the effect it will have on farmers in County Kerry who have been dealing with this office for many years; whether there are proposed cost savings or, like the closure of the Garda stations, whether it will cost more to close and relocate this office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11482/14]
View answerI would like to emphasise that the Tralee office is not being closed down. The position is that the administrative functions are being transferred to the Portlaoise office but the Department’s vets, inspectors and technical officers will remain in place at the existing local offices to service our clients across all of the schemes that are provided from these offices. Front-line services will be fully maintained and public access for all of the Department's stakeholders will continue to be available in the Tralee office.
The transfer of the administrative functions out of the Tralee office arises from an extensive review of the local office structure which was carried out by the Department over the last number of years. This review concluded that, arising from investment in technology and the substantial reduction in disease levels in recent years, significant efficiencies would accrue from the centralisation of administrative functions in two centres, thereby giving rise to significant scope for redeployment of administrative staff from existing local offices. The process of centralising the administrative functions commenced in 2012 and is on-going.
In line with Government policy, my Department has actively sought redeployment opportunities for administrative staff in local Offices and staff have already been transferred from the local offices in Limerick, Tipperary, Enniscorthy and Waterford to other Departments and agencies, such as the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Justice, in order to enable those bodies to provide important services, including the property tax, Garda vetting etc. Arising from this process, cost savings associated with salary and office accommodation will accrue to my Department.
In conclusion, my Department will continue to maintain a public offices in Tralee and, indeed, in all of the locations from which the administrative functions are being transferred. The centralisation of administrative support should not impact negatively upon local access and services for local customers.
201. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the establishment of a graduate placement scheme in the Child and Family Agency (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11352/14]
View answerBudget 2014 included the provision of €6.7 m (€12 m in a full year) to support the continuing implementation of the reform programme across children and family services. This additional funding will assist the new Child and Family Agency in meeting identified service pressures. This will include the filling of social work vacancies taking account of identified need, with a particular focus this year on the filling of vacancies arising from maternity leave.
The Agency is also finalising proposals arising from the provision of this additional funding, for the targeted recruitment of graduate social workers. This initiative will involve the introduction of a guaranteed and protected induction programme for newly qualified social workers. Discussions with IMPACT and other parties are ongoing and the merits of the scheme will be clear when the details are finalised.
The scheme is not a cost-cutting exercise and is being designed to create a stable and protected initial environment within which newly qualified graduate social workers can hone their skills in practice as they move through probation to full induction in line with best practice. The scheme will include protected workload as well as weekly tutorial and mentoring provision.
Full details of the scheme will be published after discussions with the trade unions have been completed.
202. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider an extra preschool year for a child (details supplied) in County Dublin. [11398/14]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is implemented by my Department and provides for one year's free preschool year for each eligible child before they commence primary school. The child referred to by the Deputy is availing of the full free preschool complement in this academic year and there are no circumstances where a second free preschool year is provided under the programme.
203. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current number of social workers' posts that are vacant; and when these posts will be filled. [11430/14]
View answerA total of 1,459 social work posts transferred from the HSE to the Child & Family Agency and 74 positions are currently vacant. The complement transferring was determined following a detailed census and re-classification process undertaken in the HSE during 2013 through which social workers were formally assigned to particular care groups, including child and families services.
A rigorous system of risk analysis is in place in each area to ensure that staffing numbers do not fall to an unsafe level and gaps identified through this process are addressed with the additional resource of temporary staff as required. All identified vacancies are the subject of a recruitment process to ensure their filling at the earliest opportunity.
204. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her position on the proposal to put a graduate placement programme in place to fill social worker vacancies in a situation where the proposed graduate recruits could be in receipt of lower salaries than social workers who are not part of the programme. [11431/14]
View answerBudget 2014 included the provision of €6.7m (€12m in a full year) to support the continuing implementation of the reform programme across children and family services. This additional funding will assist the new Child and Family Agency in meeting identified service pressures. This will include the filling of social work vacancies taking account of identified need, with a particular focus this year on the filling of vacancies arising from maternity leave.
The Agency is also finalising proposals arising from the provision of this additional funding, for the targeted recruitment of graduate social workers. This initiative will involve the introduction of a guaranteed and protected induction programme for newly qualified social workers. Discussions with IMPACT and other parties are ongoing and the merits of the scheme will be clear when the details are finalised.
The scheme is not a cost-cutting exercise and is being designed to create a stable and protected initial environment within which newly qualified graduate social workers can hone their skills in practice as they move through probation to full induction in line with best practice. The scheme will include protected workload as well as weekly tutorial and mentoring provision.
Full details of the scheme will be published after discussions with the trade unions have been completed.
205. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite funding under the Health Service Executive lottery funding for an organisation (details supplied) in County Kildare working with young persons with disabilities in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11198/14]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
206. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the determination of eligibility for medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11210/14]
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.
207. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a walking frame will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11213/14]
View answerAs this is a service related matter, the HSE has asked to investigate the circumstance of this case and respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
208. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11214/14]
View answerThe management of inpatient and day-case waiting lists for patients awaiting public health care is based on the principle that after urgent and cancer patients are treated, then clinically assessed routine patients should be seen in chronological order (i.e. longest waiter first).
Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
209. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [11220/14]
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.
210. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health when new schemes will be introduced to replace the motorised transport grant and mobility allowance; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11221/14]
View answerIn November 2013, the Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health, in consultation with other relevant Ministers. The Department of Health is working to progress this matter in line with the Government's decision.
The Department will draw on the work, last year, of the Review Group on Transport Supports for People with Disabilities and the Inter-Departmental Group tasked by Government to consider details of a statutory replacement for the discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes.
