Thursday, 3 Jul 2014

Written Answers Nos 141-160

Departmental Staff Sick Leave

Questions (141)

Barry Cowen

Question:

141. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline, in tabular form, the total number of sick days taken by staff in his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 and further broken down by uncertified, certified and long-term absence leave. [28828/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The information requested is set out in the following table:

	2011	2012	2013	To date in 2014 *
Number of Staff Serving at 31 December (WTE)**	812	77 9	748	738
Number of certified sick days	6,65 6	5,163	6,17 3	2,69 4
Number of uncertified sick days	702	49 3	44 8	16 5
No of staff with sick absences in excess of 20 working days** *	63	43	49	29

* At 30 June 2014

** WTE indicates whole time equivalent staff

* * * Absence in excess of 20 working days considered long term sick absence

S taffing levels were reduced in my Department in May 2011 following the transfer of heritage functions out of my Department to the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht and the transfer to my Department of the community functions of the previous Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Questions (142)

Barry Cowen

Question:

142. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form per annum all external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report and its publication date. [28843/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

The information requested is set out in the following table.

Year Commissioned	Consultant/Author etc.	Name/Description of Report/Review/Study	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Amount Spent Since March 2011
2011	Building Research Establishment Ltd	Retrofitting Code of Practice.	Published March 2014.	(1)€21,190
2011	Pyrite Panel	Report of the Pyrite Panel - Independent report to provide options for the Minister to deal with the pyrite problem.	Published July 2012.	€21,470
2011	Secretariat to the National Economic and Social Council of Ireland	Analysis on national climate policy.	Interim report released October 2012; final report released in February 2013.	Nil
2011	Mr. David Lovegrove	2011 Report of the Dormant Accounts Board.	Published July 2012.	€9,689
2011	Pembroke Communications	Advise on, and assist tendering process for, Tidy Towns sponsorship.	No formal report due for publication.	€4,560
2011	Barrow Archaeological Services	Archaeological reports on Met Éireann site at Valentia.	The report is not intended to be published as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility.	€1,210
2011	Malachy Walsh & Partners	EIS Screening Report for site at Valentia.	The report is not intended to be published as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility.	€6,336
2011	National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)	Audit reports for ISO9001:2008 in 2011 and 2012.	Not intended for publication.	€6,699
2011	ARUP Consulting Engineers	Study in respect of provision of fire detection and alarms systems in dwellings.	Not intended for publication. It is a technical report, to inform work in the Department.	€29,935
2011	Murtagh & Partners	Review of Dublin Region Homelessness Services and Funding in 2011.	Published October 2011.	€27,800
2011	Housing & Sustainable Communities Ltd.	Toolkit for Local Authorities on regeneration.	Not intended for publication. This was a report intended to provide assistance to Local Authorities in drawing up proposals for the regeneration of their areas.	€12,300
2011	Dr. Eoin O'Sullivan, Trinity College Dublin	Review of the Homeless Strategy 2008-2013.	Published November 2012.	€6,000
2011	Indecon	Regulatory Impact Analysis of proposed regulations for household food waste.	Published June 2012.	€24,725
2011	Tobin Consulting Engineers	National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2011 Report.	Published April 2012.	€61,077
2011	Certification Europe Ltd	Compost Quality Assurance Scheme.	Published October 2012.	€139,142
2011	RPS Group	Provision of expertise concerning Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment techniques for the evaluation and revision of Regional Waste Management Plans.	No formal document due for publication. The work comprises principally advice, guidance documents and technical expertise.	€45,223
2011	SKM Enviros	Irish Recycled Plastic Waste Arisings Study.	Published September 2011.	€37,566
2011	White Young Green	Annual Dust Impact Assessment Report (2011) at the Former Irish Steelworks Site, Haulbowline, Cobh, Co. Cork.	Published March 2012.	(2)see footnote
2011	Marine Institute	Marine Strategy Framework Directive - Initial Assessment.	The technical report was published on the Department's website in Q2 2013 and the summary report was published in Q4 2013.	(3)€1,475,006
2011	Price Waterhouse Coopers	Independent assessment on establishment of National Water Utility.	Irish Water - Phase 1 report and appendices published January 2012. Implementation Strategy published December 2012.	€179,584
2012	AECOM	Cost optimal study for non-domestic buildings.	Published March 2013.	€56,227
2012	Mr. David Lovegrove	2012 Report of the Dormant Accounts Board.	Published March 2013.	€1,120
2012	DKM Economic Consultants	Review of Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000.	Published July 2013.	€39,690
2012	Indecon	Feasibility study on a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme.	Published November 2012.	(4)€42,706
2012	Version 1	Evaluation of ICT Disaster Recovery configuration and capability.	Not intended for publication.	€9,363
2012	Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)	Analysis of Property Tax Options - a report to the Interdepartmental Expert Group on Property Tax.	Published December 2012	€60,280
2012	Inter-Departmental Group	Design of a Local Property Tax – Report of the Inter-Departmental Group.	Published December 2012	Nil
2012	Flynn Furney Consultants Ltd	Environmental Management Services re: review of CEMP at Valentia Site (Method Statement)	The report is not intended to be published as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility.	€3,167
2012	Glas Ecology	Environment Management Plan (Breeding Chough and Peregrine Survey, Valentia Island, Co. Kerry).	The report is not intended to be published as it is a technical report relating to a site on Valentia Island where Met Éireann are building an Air Monitoring Facility.	€4,920
2012	Munster Archaeology	Report on archaeological investigation/survey of Met Éireann site at Valentia.	Preliminary report published February 2014. Final report expected shortly.	€47,289
2012	Mr. Hendrik W van der Kamp	Independent Evaluation of the Planning Review Report 2012.	Published January 2013.	€12,096
2012	Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy	Preparation of EIA Guidelines.	Published March 2013.	€7,200
2012	Mr. Seamus Woulfe SC	Review of the management by the Department of an application by Wicklow County Council for loan approval in respect of the compulsory purchase of land at Charlesland, Co. Wicklow - Phase 1.	Published March 2012.	€19,680
2012	Mr. Seamus Woulfe SC	Review of the compulsory acquisition of land by Wicklow County Council at Charlesland, Co. Wicklow - Phase 2.	Published April 2013.	€49,200
2012	Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA)	Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas report on how to support the economic development of rural Ireland.	Published April 2014.	(5)€19,049
2012	Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	Review of leasing model.	The Report will be published following completion of the review process in the context of the development of a strategy for social housing later in 2014.	€1,937
2012	RPS Group	All Island Used Tyre Survey.	Published March 2013.	(6)€17,673
2012	RPS Group	Review of the Producer Responsibility Model in Ireland.	Four reports published in 2013 and remainder to be published early in Q3 2014	€211,458
2012	Tobin Consulting Engineers	National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2012 Report.	Published April 2013.	€58,271
2012	Fehilly Timoney & Company	Bulky Waste Reuse Best Practice - Feasibility Study.	Published July 2013.	€55,289
2013	Garrett Fennell Solicitor	Independent Review of the registration arrangements for Architects under the Building Control Act 2007.	Published on the Department's website.	Nil (report produced on a pro-bono basis)
2013	Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) & University College Cork (UCC)	Technical support on developing low carbon sector roadmaps for Ireland.	The project relates to technical support, with no formal document due for publication.	€107,552
2013	Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) & University College Cork (UCC)	Technical support for the purposes of advising Government on the proposed 2030 EU Framework for Climate and Energy Policies.	No formal document due for publication. The project relates to technical support.	€30,496
2013	AP Env Econ Limited	Ireland’s Environmental Data: Inventory, Assessment and Next Steps.	Published April 2014.	€35,178
2013	SLR Environmental Consulting (Ireland) Ltd	Wind Energy in Ireland: Building Community Engagement and Social Support.	To be published July 2014.	€50,451
2013	Indecon	Assessment of Potential Merits of New Initiative re Purchase of Local Authority Houses by Existing Tenants.	Not intended for publication.	Nil (report produced on a pro-bono basis)
2013	Userneeds	Usage survey on the Met Éireann website.	Not intended for publication - this was a report volunteered to Met Éireann by the survey company on a 'sample' basis.	Nil - provided as a 'free sample'
2013	KW Research & Associates	NTACC Research into why Travellers leave Traveller-specific accommodation.	Completed. Published on Department's website April 2014.	€9,921
2013	Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	Business Process Design of the Housing Assistance Payment.	Not intended for publication at this time pending enactment of the Housing Bill 2013.	€54,938
2013	Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency	Review of CALF assessment process.	The Report will be published following completion of the review process in the context of the development of a strategy for social housing later in 2014.	€11,675
2013	Tobin Consulting Engineers	National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2013 Report.	Published June 2014.	€52,014
2013	Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)	Article 29(2) Report on Progress on Implementation of the EC (Good Agriculture Practices for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2010.	Published April 2014.	Nil
2013	RPS Group	Public consultation process on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and producing a report.	Published November 2013.	€9,000
2013	Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)	Affordability aspects of the provision of water services in Ireland and subsequent analysis.	Published in May 2014 as Appendix 2 and Appendix 5 of the "Report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Affordability Measures".	€57,655
2013	Deloitte & Touche	Expert Assistance in the Local Government Shared Services Programme	The project relates to technical support, with no formal document due for publication.	€39,299
2014	Ricardo-AEA	NSMC Residential Solid Fuel Study	October 2014	(7)€40,000 (estimate)
2014	MacCabe, Durney Barnes	Independent Planning Review.	Expected to be published in September 2014.	€18,600
2014	Padraic Thornton Planning & Environmental Consultancy	Independent Review of Draft S31 Directions in Westmeath.	Published May 2014.	€5,000
2014	Tobin Consulting Engineers	National Litter Pollution Monitoring System - 2014 Report.	Expected to be published May 2015.	€52,013 (estimate)

(1) The contract is in conjunction with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Total cost of the study is €169,302 (inclusive of VAT). My Department's contribution is €21,190 (inclusive of VAT) with the balance being met by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (i.e. €148,112 inclusive of VAT).

(2) My Department previously provided funding to Cork County Council to support the production of an annual Dust Impact Assessment Report at the former Irish Steel site at Haulbowline Island. Following a Government Decision in June 2011, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine assumed the lead role in relation to the remedial works necessary to be undertaken on the site. Accordingly, funding provided to Cork County Council for the annual Dust Impact Assessment Report 2011 and subsequent years is a matter for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

(3) This report arises from a broader process connected with Ireland’s obligation to implement the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The work primarily consists of a determination of the status of Ireland’s marine waters and the measures necessary to achieve, or maintain, the required status by 2020. The preparation of a draft Initial Assessment (under Art. 8 of the MSFD) including proposals for Good Environmental Status (Art. 9) and for draft Environmental Targets (Art.10)

- Creation of an Atlas of the Irish Marine Environment

- Development of an index of environmental and associated indicators

- Preparation of a summary report for use in public consultation (Art. 19)

- Development of a streamlined national reporting system

(4) This report was co-funded by my Department and the Private Residential Tenancies Board. The cost to my Department of €42,706 represents 50% of the total cost.

(5) This report has been co-funded by my Department, Teagasc and the Western Development Commission. The cost to my Department of €19,049 represents 40% of the overall expenditure.

(6) Survey jointly commissioned and funded by Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland and my Department.

(7) This report has been commissioned by my Department under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council and in conjunction with the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. The cost is being evenly split and the final charge to my Department is estimated at €40,000.

Freedom of Information Requests

Questions (143)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

143. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a freedom of information request (details supplied). [28866/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

My Department has no record of having received any such Freedom of Information requests from the individual concerned.

Public Participation Networks

Questions (144)

Ann Phelan

Question:

144. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government in considering the roll-out of pilot counties and their findings, if he would consider amending the guidelines for the roll-out of PPN structures, in respect of County Carlow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28876/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

For the first time in the history of the State, a framework for public participation, which has been provided for under the Local Government Reform Act 2014, will provide the basis for statutory engagement with the community.

My Department has advised all local authorities Chief Executives that Public Participation Networks (PPNs) must be set up immediately in all local authority areas at county level and guidelines have been issued by my Department to be followed in setting-up the structures. With effect from 1 June 2014, where community representation is to be provided on appropriate committees of the local authority, such as Strategic Policy Committees and Local Community Development Committees, it must be sourced through the PPN. The guidelines provide for a consistent approach to the nomination of community representatives to the LCDCs from the PPNs, with two from the Community and Voluntary College, two from the Social Inclusion College and on e from the Environment College. I have no proposals to amend these arrangements.

Question Nos. 145 and 146 answered with Question No. 136.

Pyrite Resolution Board Staff

Questions (147)

Clare Daly

Question:

147. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff involved in the Pyrite Resolution Board; and his views that a monthly review of applications is sufficient to deal with the numbers of homeowners whose properties have a BCA rating of 2. [28884/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

There are five people, including the Manager, working with the Pyrite Resolution Board. In addition, the Housing Agency is providing additional resources to the Board by way of administrative, technical, financial and ICT supports.

The management of the day-to-day work, including the validation of the applications, audits of Building Condition Assessments and approval of applications for inclusion in the scheme, is undertaken by the Manager and the staff working with him. To date the Board has received in excess of 500 completed applications, approximately 200 of those have been validated and forwarded to the Housing Agency for the assessment, verification and recommendation process; of this figure in excess of 50 have been approved for inclusion in the scheme and the homeowners notified accordingly.

The Pyrite Resolution Act 2013 provides that the Board shall hold as many meetings as may be necessary to perform its functions and it is a matter for the Chairman and the Board members to determine the appropriate frequency of its meetings in order to carry out its functions in a diligent and effective manner.

Pyrite Remediation Programme

Questions (148)

Clare Daly

Question:

148. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 19 June 2014, the position regarding the remediation of dwellings where the builder is still trading, in view of the fact that he is on record previously as stating that this did not exclude somebody from the scheme, but rather that they had to show that they made efforts to get the builder to resolve it. [28886/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Applications from homeowners for inclusion in the pyrite remediation scheme must be assessed against the eligibility criteria of the scheme which include a requirement that the applicant has no other practicable option, other than under the scheme, to secure the remediation of their dwelling. It is not the Pyrite Resolution Board’s policy to exclude applicants from the scheme solely because the builder is still trading. However, as a scheme of last resort, the Board must satisfy itself that applicants under the scheme have taken all reasonable and appropriate steps to seek to have those parties who have a responsibility in this matter undertake the remediation of their dwellings.

I am satisfied that the Board will deal with this matter diligently and in a balanced manner which will ensure that a timely and efficient pyrite remediation programme is delivered to affected homeowners and that the resources available to the Board are used effectively and in a way that achieves optimum outcomes.

Property Tax Rate

Questions (149)

Barry Cowen

Question:

149. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the current status on regulations guiding local authorities who wish to reduce the local property tax with the plus-minus 15% limits; when he will publish the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28900/14]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government

Effective from 1 July 2014, local authorities may vary the rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) in their administrative area for the following year by up to 15% of the basic rate of the Tax. The decision must be taken by resolution of the Council and must be notified to the Revenue Commissioners by 30 September in order to apply for the following year.

There are certain factors that local authorities are legislatively bound to take into account when deciding whether or not to vary their LPT rates for a given year (expected income and expenditure, accumulated assets and liabilities and the impact of any variation on their local area). The decision is not one that can be taken without considering the financial implications as it will have a direct impact on the level of funding available to local authorities and, therefore, on their ability to discharge their statutory responsibilities.

The Local Property Tax (Local Adjustment Factor) Regulations 2014 set out the process for local authorities who wish to vary their LPT base rates, including the factors that they must consider and the type of public consultation that they should undertake as part of that process. I have also issued guidance to local authorities concerning matters relating to these Regulations; this guidance is available on my Department’s website at http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/LocalGovernment/Administration/FileDownLoad,38336,en.pdf.

The power to vary LPT rates has been given to local authorities to further increase their autonomy. Elected members are already responsible for finalising the annual budget of the local authority – it is a reserved function for them – and the power to vary LPT rates will enable them to directly influence the level of LPT income they have to meet their expenditure requirements in the future.

Defence Forces Properties

Questions (150, 151)

Clare Daly

Question:

150. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide the details of the arrangement between his Department and the GAA regarding the leasing of Columb Barracks in Mullingar; the time for which the lease is held; and the cost of same. [28787/14]

Clare Daly

Question:

151. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence the consideration that has been given to ex-soldiers represented by the Irish United Veterans Association and other local groups in Mullingar to be facilitated at Columb Barracks. [28788/14]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together.

A part of the barracks has been licenced by the Department to Westmeath GAA Board for use as a training centre. Discussions are at an advanced stage with the Board in relation to the possible lease of a more substantial part of the facility and these discussions should be completed over the coming months. As the discussions are ongoing and confidential to the parties involved it would not be appropriate to furnish details.

Columb Barracks is also currently used by an Garda Síochána and the Customs Service for training purposes and these arrangements will remain in place. The Department has had some communications with the Irish United Veterans Association (IUNVA) as to their possible use of Columb Barracks.

Departmental Staff Sick Leave

Questions (152)

Barry Cowen

Question:

152. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he will outline in tabular form the total number of sick days taken by staff in his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 further broken down by uncertified, certified and long-term absence leave. [28826/14]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The information requested by the Deputy regarding the total number of sick days taken by staff in the Department of Defence in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 is set out in the tabular statement.

	2011	2012	2013	Up to 31 May 2014
Self Certified Sick Days	270	246	210	75
Certified Sick Days	3,079	2,275	2,843	1,026
Total	3,349	2,521	3,053	1,101

Sick leave absences of more than four weeks duration are regarded as long term absences. The information set out as follows outlines the number of instances of long term absence for the years 2011 to date.

Year	No. of instances
2011	31
2012	23
2013	28
Up to 31 May 2014	9

The Department of Defence adopts a policy of proactive management of sick leave through a range of strategies designed to reduce absence from work.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Questions (153)

Barry Cowen

Question:

153. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form per annum all external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report and the publication date. [28841/14]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

My Department has commissioned two external reports since 9 March 2011. On 19 April 2011, Mr Frank Callanan, SC, was commissioned to carry out an independent review into matters relevant to the deaths of Corporal Fintan Heneghan, Private Mannix Armstrong and Private Thomas Walsh on 21 March 1989 while serving with the 64th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The report was completed in September 2011. The cost of this report was €51,660 including VAT.

Arising from one of the recommendations made in the Air Accident Investigation Unit’s report into the crash involving the Air Corps’ Pilatus PC9 aircraft at Cornamona, Co. Galway on 12 October 2009, the Air Corps reviewed the operation of its Safety Management System and accepted the suggestion made that it include an external source in the auditing process. Accordingly, Mr Jacques Michaud was commissioned by the Air Corps in August 2013 to carry out a review of the Air Corps’ Safety Management System. The report entitled “Irish Air Corps Safety Management Review” was completed in November 2013 at a cost of €20,000.

Defence Forces Remuneration

Questions (154)

Robert Troy

Question:

154. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence if he will proceed with a disablement gratuity payment under the Army Pensions Acts in respect of a person (details supplied). [28873/14]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

Under the Army Pensions Acts the Minister for Defence may, when awarding a disablement gratuity, take into account compensation received in respect of the same disablement. This is provided for under Section 13(2) of the Army Pensions Act, 1923, as amended by the Army Pensions Acts of 1927 and 1946. The purpose of this provision is to prevent compensation ‘on the double’ for the same injury. In a situation where court proceedings have commenced, but have not reached a conclusion, the award of a disablement gratuity is postponed to allow consideration under the above provision.

In the case outlined by the Deputy, the individual is pursuing two civil compensation claims. I am advised that both claims concern injuries which are similar in nature to the injury for which an award under the Army Pensions Acts is being considered. As such, the case falls for consideration under Section 13(2) of the Army Pensions Act, 1923, as amended. It is not possible to fix the amount of the disablement gratuity to be awarded until the outcome of both sets of court proceedings is known. Therefore, I do not propose to proceed with payment of a disablement gratuity at this time.

Medicinal Products Licensing

Questions (155)

Clare Daly

Question:

155. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 23 of 18 June 2014, the fact that while Lariam is licensed by the Irish Medicines Board, it also licenses Malarone and Doxycycline, and does not make recommendation regarding which should be used; and if Ireland is following international best practice in this area, the reason we are the only country which uses only Lariam. [28887/14]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) is the statutory authority with responsibility for the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Ireland.

The Defence Forces Medical Corps is advised that the three anti-malarial medications licensed by the IMB – Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline – can all have significant side effects and protocols are in place to control the risk of side effects in individuals.

Each of the three drugs has been used by the Defence Forces, depending on individual circumstances including the type of malaria in the destination, the duration of travel, etc. Where malaria has been identified as a risk in a particular mission area, the choice of chemoprophylaxis is dependent on a number of factors including the type of malaria in the destination, resistance to particular drugs, the profile of the traveller (contra-indications, underlying health conditions, purpose of travel), the duration of travel and adherence issues. The choice of medication is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces on the basis of best international practice having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces.

Doxycycline has to be taken in the absence of dairy products. It has a daily dosage regime. While it can cause minor but troublesome, mainly gastrointestinal side effects, it can also produce sun-sensitivity skin rashes (akin to severe sun burn) in some individuals. This is particularly significant when used in very sunny climes. For this reason it is not recommended for first line use by the Defence Forces in sub-Saharan Africa. It is, however, the anti-malaria chemoprophylaxis of first choice by the Defence Forces in some geographic regions, e.g. Afghanistan where the predominant malaria species is the Plasmodium Vivax.

Malarone has a daily dosage regime and up to September 2012, Malarone was only licensed for up to 28 days continuous use and was not an option as the usual duration of deployment for the Defence Forces is 6 months. The 28-day limit was removed in September 2012. However, there is limited evidence as to the safety and effectiveness of Malarone usage for longer periods. On this basis the Defence Forces Policy to use Malarone up to the 27 day limit remains unchanged.

Lariam is one of the most effective medications for protection against the type of malaria prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and remains the anti-malaria chemoprophylactic agent of choice where the predominant species of malaria is the virulent Plasmodium Falciparum.

I am advised that the Defence Forces follow best international practice in prescribing Lariam. It is the policy of the Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness for service overseas and medical suitability, i.e. a medical risk assessment for Lariam is carried out on an individual basis. This is intended to rule out personnel from overseas service with certain conditions, e.g. depression, anxiety, pregnancy, neurodegenerative disorders etc. which, as has been indicated by the IMB, are more likely to precipitate serious adverse reactions to Lariam.

The former Minister for Defence had the various concerns surrounding the use of Lariam investigated thoroughly and obtained the advice of leading medical experts, who concur with the prescribing practices followed by the Defence Forces.

As I stated previously on 18 June last, Lariam remains licensed by the IMB and must remain in the formulary of medication prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas missions, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by this highly dangerous disease.

Departmental Staff Sick Leave

Questions (156)

Barry Cowen

Question:

156. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline in tabular form the total number of sick days taken by staff in his Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 further broken down by uncertified, certified and long-term absence leave. [28822/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The information requested by the Deputy is contained as follows. Q1 2014 contains January – March 2014.

Year	2011	2012	2013	Q1 2014
Number of Uncertified Days	2,168.00	1,861.00	1,358.00	461.00
Number of Certified Days *	10,267.00	11,591.00	9,468.00	3,341.00
Number of Long Term** Sick Days	18,361.00	15,071.00	16,907.00	3,539.00
Total	30,796.00	28,523.00	27,733.00	7,341.00

* Please note Certified leave total excludes Long Term Sick Leave amount.

** Long term sick leave is sick leave of 28 days or more

Consultancy Contracts Data

Questions (157)

Barry Cowen

Question:

157. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide in tabular form per annum all external consultant reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011; the costs per report; the company involved; the title of the report and the publication date. [28837/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table as follows.

2011: March- December

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
Stiofán Nutty	Report on the Development of Ireland's Organic Industry and Establishment of An Irish Organic Trade Board	Mar-11	8-Sep-11	29,040
University College Dublin	EU School Fruit Scheme/Food Dude Programme in Ireland – A review of evaluations completed to date - Commission Regulation 288 of 2009	Sep-11	6-Feb-12	6,388

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
	Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2010		Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire - completed May 2011,
	Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2010		Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2011, published in 2010 Woodflow January 2011
	Market Report for Ireland for the Timber Committee 2010		UNECE report completed Sept 2011
Drima Marketing Ltd		Mar-11		12,792
Rockwell Automation	Hazard and Operability Study	Nov-11	13-Dec-11	3,740

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
Brendan Riordan, Research Economist	The Net Contribution of the Agri-Food Sector to the Inflow of Funds into Ireland: a New Estimate	3-Mar-11	23-Jul-12	6,000
Accenture	An analysis of an internal review of procurement.	23-May-11	20-Sep-11	Work done on a pro-bono basis
Accenture	An examination of the opportunities and capacity for further shared services between the Department and its non-commercial state agencies.	23-May-11	20-Sep-11	Work done on a pro-bono basis
Accenture	A review of the Department’s role in regulating meat plants	23-May-11	20-Sep-11	Work done on a pro-bono basis
KPMG	An examination of the administration of the Single Payment Scheme.	4-Jul-11	13-Oct-11	Work done on a pro-bono basis
Fitzmaurice Tingle Ltd.	Refrigeration Consultancy on 6 Fishery Harbour Centre Sites	14-Oct-11	8-Nov-11	3,505
Brian Scott, 28 Portlock Gardens, Nailsea, Bristol, BS48 2QY, UK	Port Security Assessment- Castleownbere Fishery Harbour Centre	29-Sep-11	Nov-11	4,680

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
Deloitte Ireland	To examine recommendations of the Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities as applicable to be this Department to value the assets referred to and to make a series of recommendations	Commissioned centrally end June/July 2011	Not applicable	Work done on a pro-bono basis
Michael Dowling	Beef 2020 Activation Group: Growing the Beef Sector	Feb-11	Mar-14	13,000
Briggs Environmental Services	Oil Spill Contingency Plans	May-07	Updated on regular basis	4,424
Deloitte Ireland	Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Annual Accounts Certification	2010	Not for publication – Report is a requirement of EU legislation	509,830
ESPION	Independent assessments of the Department's IT security measures and security review of the Department's infrastructure	IT security measures - quarterly - IT infrastructure security review - bi-annual	Not for external publication - Required for EU accreditation purposes	11,306

2012: January- December

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
Drima Marketing Ltd	Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2011	Mar-12	Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire - completed May 2012,	12,792
	Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2011		Joint Wood Energy Enquiry report published in 3 July 2012
	Market Report for Ireland for the Timber Committee 2011		UNECE report completed Sept 2012
Indecon	Review of certain aspects of the Irish Horse Racing Industry	1-Mar-12	20-Jul-12	59,225
Philip Farrelly and Co. Ltd	Food Harvest 2020 – Environmental Analysis Report	12-Apr-12	Jan-14	233,848
CMG Crime Management Ltd	ISPS Port Security Plan Castletownbere	25-May-12	Jun-12	3,198
Team BDS	Lean Review of the Meat Inspection Service	10-Oct-12	Delivered September 2013	98,597

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
Deloitte Ireland	Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Annual Accounts Certification	2010	Not for publication – Report is a requirement of EU legislation	514,169
Compass Informatics Ltd.	Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine - GIS Review 2012/2013	11-Oct-12	Not for publication (For internal Departmental information)	23,419
ESPION	Independent assessments of the Department's IT security measures and security review of the Department's infrastructure	IT security measures - quarterly - IT infrastructure security review - bi-annual	Not for external publication - Required for EU accreditation purposes	32,134

2013: January- December

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
Norfolk Marine	Survey works report to Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre	13-Mar-13	Apr-13	10,828
Drima Marketing Ltd	Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2012	13-Feb-13	Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire - completed May 2013,	11,400
	Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2012		Joint Wood Energy Enquiry report and will be published in 2012 Woodflow (July 2013)
	Market Report for Ireland for the UNECE Timber Committee 2012		UNECE report expected in October 2013

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
Indecon	Review of certain matters relating to Bord na gCon	13-Dec-13	Jul-14	60,885
				(Due to be paid following completion of the review in 2014)
Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants	Ex Ante Evaluation, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment of the 2014 – 2020 Rural Development Programme	31-Jan-13	Ongoing	48,400
Philip Farrelly and Co. Ltd. Unit 5A Fingal Business Park Balbriggan Co. Dublin	Food Harvest 2020 – Environmental Analysis Report	12-Apr-13	Jan-14	57,403
Brian Scott	Port Facility Review Killybegs	May-13	Jul-13	1,200
Deloitte Ireland	Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Annual Accounts Certification	2010	Not for publication – Report is a requirement of EU legislation	468,277
ESPION	Independent assessments of the Department's IT security measures and security review of the Department's infrastructure	IT security measures - quarterly - IT infrastructure security review - bi-annual	Not for external publication - Required for EU accreditation purposes	18,825

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
NTA Monitor Limited	Independent assessments of the Department's IT security measures and security review of the Department's infrastructure	IT security measures - quarterly - IT infrastructure security review - bi-annual	Not for external publication - Required for EU accreditation purposes	16,162
Ms Judith Annette	Deer Management Policy Vision Deer Management Policy Vision - Report and recommendations for action from a consultation process in 2013	13-Jun-13	Apr-14	2,500
Forest Solutions	NPV and IRR analysis for New afforestation scheme	27-Nov-13	16-Jan-14	1,968

2014: January- Jun

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
Drima Marketing Ltd	Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2013	6-Feb-14	Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire – May 2014	11,780
	Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2013		Joint Wood Energy Enquiry report and will be published in 2014 Woodflow (July 2014)
	Market Report for Ireland for the UNECE Forestry and Timber Committee 2013)		UNECE report will be completed in October 2014
Crime Management Services Ltd	ISPS Port Security Assessment Castletownbere	6-Mar-14	Jun-14	4,736
Crime Management Services Ltd	ISPS Port Security Assessment Killybegs	6-Mar-14	Jun-14	4,736

Consultant	Title of Report	Date of Commission	Date or Expected Date of Publication	Payments - €
RSM McClure Waters	Ex Ante Evaluation, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment of the 2014 – 2020 Forestry programme	10-Mar-14	Sep-14	97,508
NTA Monitor Limited	Independent assessments of the Department's IT security measures and security review of the Department's infrastructure	IT security measures - quarterly - IT infrastructure security review - bi-annual	Not for external publication - Required for EU accreditation purposes	7,208
Deloitte Ireland	Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Annual Accounts Certification	2014	Not for publication – Report is a requirement of EU legislation	103,095
Forest Solutions	NPV and IRR analysis for New forestry for Fibre scheme	8-May-14	4-Jun-14	2,214

Single Payment Scheme Eligibility

Questions (158)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

158. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a proposal to consider scrub land as eligible land for the purposes of the single farm payment; the circumstances in which this type of land can be considered eligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28860/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

There is no proposal to consider scrub land as eligible land for the purposes of the Single Payment Scheme. Under the Terms & Conditions of the Direct Aid Schemes, which includes the Single Payment Scheme, farmers are obliged to declare only eligible land when making their applications. In this context, an “eligible hectare” is land that is used for an agricultural activity and includes land used to grow cereals, oilseeds, short rotation coppice, miscanthus sinensis, protein crops, sugar beet, maize, fodder beet, turnips, mangolds, kale, vegetables, potatoes and grass for silage/hay/grazing. In addition, REPS areas, such as newly created habitats under option 4a of REPS 3 and REPS 4, and areas under linnet and riparian zones, are also eligible. The areas declared are then recorded on my Department’s Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS), which currently contains the details of some 900,000 individual land parcels.

The Deputy will be aware that, following consultation with the EU Commission, as part of the normal accounting process, my Department was requested to undertake a complete review of the LPIS database. This has resulted in the necessity to adjust parcels of a significant number of applicants, where it was established that some ineligible features had been included. Subsequent to this exercise, a review by Commission officials prompted the proposed substantial financial correction, which my Department is currently vigorously contesting. In this context, it will be appreciated that the designation of scrub land as eligible land, for the purposes of the Direct Aid Schemes concerned, is not possible under the provisions of the governing EU Regulations.

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Questions (159)

Dara Calleary

Question:

159. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding agri-environment option scheme and single farm payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo. [28864/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2012. Full payments have issued to the person named in respect of the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. Payments for the 2014 scheme year for the person named and all other AEOS 1 participants will be processed in the 4th quarter of 2014.

The application for SPS submitted by the above named in 2013, was one of those selected for inspection. Following final processing there was a deduction of €12.09 from the final payable area. Payments under this scheme issued on October 16 2013 and December 2 2013 respectively.

Land Issues

Questions (160)

David Stanton

Question:

160. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the prevalence of Alopecurus Myosuroides, or Black Grass, here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28880/14]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Alopecurus Myosuroides (Black Grass) is an annual grass-weed which occurs throughout most of Europe but can be a particular problem in cereal production in more western European countries. Low levels of this weed often occur in Irish cereal crops but are generally not of agronomic significance and black grass would be considered to be of only minor importance in Irish arable systems, although there are some indications of an increased presence this year. Teagasc, the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority provides agronomic advice on appropriate control measures for this weed.