Written Answers Nos. 92-97
92. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payments under the areas of natural constraint scheme and the basic payment scheme have not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; when the payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39763/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 30 April 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due under the Direct Payments Schemes as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
93. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive outstanding farm payments; his views that it is unfair on young farmers who are being left without payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39774/15]
View answerMy Department received a 2015 Transfer of Entitlement Allocation Right and Reference Value application from the person named. This application has been fully processed and advance payment under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue shortly.
The person named also submitted a 2015 National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme application to my Department. Processing of National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme applications is well underway which involves administrative and on farm checks and verification of land details submitted under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application. These checks are required under EU Regulations. In cases where additional information is required, my Department will correspond directly with the applicant concerned. When all checks have been completed and processing of applications has been finalised, my Department will correspond directly with each applicant to advise them of the outcome of their application. Payments to successful applicants under the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme will commence early in December 2015.
94. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that poorly placed lobster pots in Dublin Bay are making sailing dangerous, and could lead to a loss of life; the action he will take regarding this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39787/15]
View answerThere is an onus on all seafarers, including those deploying static fishing gear, to exercise caution at sea and to consider the welfare of others. Overall responsibility for safety at sea is a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.
95. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Defence the value of capital investment projects and grants under way or approved for funding by his Department, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39653/15]
View answerThe capital allocation for Defence for 2015 is €66m. Under the recently published Capital Investment Plan, Defence received an allocation of €437m for the 2016 – 2021 timeframe, broken down as follows:
|
Defence |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Total |
|
Capital Funds (€m) |
66 |
67 |
67 |
78 |
78 |
81 |
437 |
The White Paper on Defence sets out the roles that Government have assigned to the Defence Forces and the associated capability and operational requirements. Defence capital expenditure is mainly invested in equipment in line with these requirements and, therefore, cannot be directly associated with a specific location. As a result a full county by county analysis is not possible.
The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. This investment in infrastructure can be associated with a specific location.
The major infrastructural projects currently underway are as follows:
|
Project |
Location |
Project Value |
|
Refurbishment of North Accommodation Block |
McKee Barracks, Dublin |
€1,170,000 |
|
Refurbishment of cook house |
Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, Dublin |
€1,026,000 |
|
Upgrade of clothing store |
Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin |
€426,000 |
|
All weather training facility |
Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin |
€376,000 |
|
Provision of living in accommodation |
Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick |
€307,000 |
|
Natural gas conversion |
DFTC, Curragh Camp, Kildare |
€112,000 |
96. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence the risk assessments that were carried out prior to prescribing Lariam in relation to the risk of the drug, in order to comply with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (details supplied); given that a detailed risk assessment for malaria prior to deployment in Liberia was carried out by the Defence Forces, and in order for a proper decision to be made then, if a written risk assessment for malaria would have to be analysed with an equivalent document analysing the risk posed by Lariam. [39668/15]
View answerThe Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 does not apply to Defence Forces personnel when they are on active service. Nevertheless, I am informed by the military authorities that risk assessments are carried out for all mission areas. These risk assessments are intended to identify all hazards that might exist in a mission area, including health risks. Suitable control measures are then put in place to minimise identified risks. Where a health risk is identified the control measures will include preventative medication where appropriate.
Where malaria has been identified as a risk, 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.
The Defence Forces are aware of the range of reported side effects attaching to all anti-malarial medications. Significant precautions are taken by the Defence Forces Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of the Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications. 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.
The Defence Forces policy in relation to the use of anti-malarial medication is in line with current Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) approved summary of product characteristics (SmPC).
Anti-malarial medications, including Lariam, remains in the formulary of medications prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas mission, to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by Malaria.
97. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence further to the replies to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 111 of 8 July 2015 and 156 of 15 July 2015, wherein he states that he will write to the Deputy when the information is to hand, the reason this information has not been received to date. [39670/15]
View answerI refer to Parliamentary Question No. 111 of 8 July 2015 (PQ 27759/15). I regret the delay in responding. As the Deputy will appreciate the information sought has required a considerable amount of manual checking of the medical files.
A total of 60 personnel have served overseas in sub-Saharan Africa this year to July 2015. Fifty three of the medical file reviews are completed and a further seven are ongoing. I wish to await the outcome of the full file reviews and will revert to the Deputy with the full information when this is completed.
