Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Written Answers Nos. 760-781

Drug Treatment Programmes

Questions (760, 761, 762, 763)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

760. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of methadone users here during each year since 2012. [13550/16]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

761. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who entered drug treatment during each year since 2012. [13551/16]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

762. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health for details on the availability of naloxone to at-risk injecting drug users here. [13552/16]

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

763. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health The details of family-based treatments available for adolescent drug users. [13553/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 760 to 763, inclusive, together.

As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Drug Treatment Programmes

Questions (764)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

764. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health his Department’s guidelines on urine testing for methadone users; his plans to end this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13554/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The introduction of the Opioid Treatment Protocol (Farrell and Barry, 2010) is the first external review of the Methadone Treatment Protocol in Ireland, examining the regulatory process and oversight of methadone and opiate dependence treatment, focusing on both the 1998 protocol and the processes by which treatment is implemented and delivered. It recognised the importance of the role of testing in determining compliance with the consumption of the prescribed medication, particularly when this is within a wider clinical assessment, with a broader care plan and focus on clinical progress on a number of dimensions.

The review recommends significantly reducing the frequency of testing, applying it on a more random basis and shifting some of the resource currently expended on organising urine testing into more key working and other related activities.

As recommended in the review, the HSE has convened a group comprising of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland, the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, HSE Addiction Services Managers and the National Social Inclusion Office to develop a comprehensive set of clinical guidelines on the treatment of opioid addiction.

Final draft Guidelines were submitted to the HSE Quality Improvement Division on the 10 March and are awaiting final approval and clearance prior to implementation.

National Drugs Strategy

Questions (765)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

765. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if there has been any evaluation by his Department of the outcome of the policy approach taken to banning head shops and the drugs that were sold in them. [13555/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In response to the proliferation of head shops in Ireland between 2007 and 2010, and the widespread availability of new psychoactive substances through these outlets, Government initiated a multi-pronged approach to target the activities of head shops and the sale of unregulated psychoactive substances in Ireland.

The Misuse of Drugs legislation is the primary means of regulating psychoactive substances. Under this legislation and regulations made thereunder, over 200 substances (legal highs) were controlled by means of statutory instruments in May 2010 and a further 60 in November 2011. Substances were controlled either by means of individual names or by means of generic definition.

Experience has shown that new psychoactive substances can quickly emerge and there will always be a time lag before such new substances can be made subject to control under the Misuse of Drugs Acts. Accordingly, the Criminal Justice (Psychoactive Substances) Act 2010 was introduced as a general criminal justice measure to deal with new psychoactive substances as they emerge, making it a criminal offence to sell, import or export, for human consumption, a psychoactive substance which was not regulated or controlled under other legislation. The Act works in tandem with the ongoing controlling of specified substances under the Misuse of Drugs Acts and continues in place as supporting legislation to the Misuse of Drugs Legislation. On foot of these two pieces of legislation nearly all of the over 100 head shops then existing were closed in 2010. The legislative actions above were taken in tandem with education and awareness-raising initiatives informing of the potential dangers of the use of psychoactive substances.

While there has been no formal evaluation of the approach taken, a study by researchers in Trinity College Dublin published in June 2015 has shown a significant reduction in both recent and problematic use among young people of novel psychoactive substances in the year after the Government introduced legislative changes targeting the sale and supply of such substances. The researchers acknowledge that the study cannot prove a causal relationship between the closure of the head shops and reductions in NPS use by these adolescents, however their findings have shown that the implementation of legislation, targeted primarily at the vendors of NPS, coincided with a fall in NPS use among this high risk group of teenagers who attend a drug and alcohol treatment service.

The results of the most recent General Population drugs prevalence survey for 2014/15, which will be released by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol later this year, will provide up-to-date data on the prevalence of NPS use in the population.

Orthodontic Services Data

Questions (766)

John Deasy

Question:

766. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for patients under 18 years of age and patients over 18 years of age in the Health Service Executive south region who require specialist orthodontic treatment; the current number of such cases on the waiting list in the region; the number of these patients who have been waiting for two years or longer; and if there are plans to deal with the length of time patients have to wait. [13561/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Eating Disorders

Questions (767)

John Deasy

Question:

767. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time in the Health Service Executive south region for persons diagnosed with anorexia nervosa and bulimia who have been referred to a specialist for treatment. [13562/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (768)

Robert Troy

Question:

768. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if there is any avenue through which funding is available to set up a residential home for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities to provide both residential and day services; if such funding is not available, if he will consider putting this in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13647/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.

As the Deputy has not identified a specific location or service, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in general terms regarding the issue he has raised. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.

Clinical Indemnity Scheme

Questions (769)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

769. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 408 of 24 May 2016, the expected timeframe involved in this decision process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13663/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The request by the North West Neurological Institute to be included as a State Authority for the purposes of being covered by the Clinical Indemnity Scheme is being actively examined by my Department in the context of the review of S.I. No. 63/2003 and forthcoming amendments to the Order, which may include extending the number of agencies to be covered. It is not possible at this stage to indicate when the determination will be complete.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (770)

David Cullinane

Question:

770. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year savings for 2017 by reducing spending on professional fees by 10% in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14112/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. The information will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

GLAS Payments

Questions (771)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

771. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12529/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Records in my Department show that no GLAS application was submitted for the person named and accordingly the question of payment does not arise. A Draft Online Application was commenced for Tranche 1 of GLAS but was never submitted to my Department and therefore it could not be considered for approval. There is no record of any application having been prepared and submitted on the GLAS System under Tranche 2 of the scheme.

Transfer of Entitlements Application

Questions (772)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

772. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12591/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named submitted a 2015 Private Contract Clause application to my Department seeking the transfer of land and entitlements by lease as transferee. While the application for 3.06 hectares of land was initially deemed successful, further checks revealed that the land parcel involved in the Private Contract Clause had been leased in by the person named in 2013 without accompanying entitlements. Furthermore the person named did not establish any entitlements or receive payment on any other land in 2013 therefore he did not establish an allocation right into the Basic Payment Scheme. The person named was notified in writing on 18th May 2016 that the Private Contract Clause application had been deemed unsuccessful.

TAMS Applications

Questions (773)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

773. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of issuing approval to a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12610/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The applicant in question has applied under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme for automatic slurry scrapers and animal housing. The application has passed the administrative checks and has been selected for approval which will issue once the technical aspects of the application have been checked in the local office.

GLAS Issues

Questions (774)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

774. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delays in getting tranche 1 and 2 approvals issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12617/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The overall target for GLAS is to attract 50,000 farmers into the scheme. I am pleased to confirm that some 38,000 farmers have been approved into the first two Tranches of GLAS, 26,500 in GLAS 1 and 11,500 in GLAS 2, while ensuring adequate provisions are available for Tranche 3 of the scheme. A small number of applicants had difficulty submitting applications under Tranche 2 of GLAS. My Department is investigating all issues that have arisen and maintains close contact with the GLAS approved advisors responsible for the submission of these applications with a view to resolving the issues and finalising any outstanding applications as soon as possible.

GLAS Establishment

Questions (775)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

775. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the next phase of green low-carbon agri-environment options scheme will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12619/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The overall target for GLAS is to attract 50,000 farmers into the scheme. I am pleased to confirm that some 38,000 farmers have been approved into the first two Tranches of GLAS, 26,500 in GLAS 1 and 11,500 in GLAS 2, while ensuring adequate provisions are available for Tranche 3 of the scheme. I plan to launch Tranche 3 of GLAS (GLAS 3) later this year and all farmers not already in the scheme, including those who were unsuccessful in their applications for the first two tranches will have the opportunity to submit a new application for GLAS 3 when the scheme opens. When preparing applications, it is important that farmers, in consultation with their advisors, ensure that the highest standard environmental plans are presented to the Department, to increase their chance of selection under GLAS 3.

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme

Questions (776)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

776. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the review of the areas of natural constraint scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12630/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Article 32 of EU Regulation 1305/2013 requires all member states to implement a new system for designating eligible areas under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from 2018 at the latest. At present, eligible land under the scheme is designated by reference to criteria such as stocking density, family farm income, population density and the percentage of the working population engaged in agriculture. Under the new system of designation which must be introduced in 2018, eligible areas will have to be designated on the basis of biophysical criteria such as temperature, dryness, soil drainage, moisture and stoniness, and slope of the terrain.

My Department has commenced work on this project, and relevant technical experts are currently working on sourcing and analysing the data in relation to the new criteria. Once this process is complete, the data will provide the basis for the identification of eligible areas in the ANC scheme from 2018 onwards. Until this process is complete, it is not possible to predict what the outcome will be.

GLAS Data

Questions (777)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

777. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who were excluded from green low-carbon agri-environment scheme phase 2; his plans for their exclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12632/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The overall target for GLAS is to attract 50,000 farmers into the scheme. I am pleased to confirm that some 38,000 farmers have been approved into the first two tranches of GLAS, GLAS 1 and GLAS 2, while ensuring adequate provision remains for Tranche 3 of the scheme. The unprecedented level of applications to the Scheme has meant that for the second tranche of GLAS, priority was given to what are called Tier 1 and Tier 2 candidates, i.e. those who either manage key environmental assets like endangered birds, protected habitats or high-quality water courses, or who have committed to undertake particularly valuable environmental actions like growing feed-crops for wild birds, adopting low-impact tillage techniques or using low-emission slurry spreading methods. 

Farmers had been urged to present the highest standard environmental plans under GLAS 2, and to adopt actions that would promote them from Tier 3 to a higher tier, thereby significantly increasing the chance of selection. I am delighted that over 80% of applicants in this second tranche of GLAS opted to do so, and with the funding available to me I have been able to approve all of these.

Some 14,000 applications for GLAS 2 were received on the Departments online system with over 11,500 of these applications receiving approval into the scheme with a contract start date of 1 January 2016. Based on the eligibility and selection criteria 2,411 GLAS 2 applications were not admitted to the scheme. An additional small number of applications are currently under review by Department officials, and if found to be successful, will be admitted to the scheme.

A third tranche of GLAS will open later this year and any applicant who was unsuccessful under GLAS 2 has the opportunity now to re-examine their proposed farm-plan in consultation with their advisor to see how it might be improved to increase their chance of selection under GLAS 3 and submit a new application for GLAS 3 when the scheme is opened.

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Questions (778)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

778. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the Scottish derogation measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12710/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named submitted an application under the Scottish Derogation measure of the Basic Payment Scheme. Under EU regulations an applicant must have been actively farming in the Beef, Dairying, Sheep or Arable sectors on 15 May 2013 whereby s/he produced, reared or grew agricultural products including through harvesting, milking, breeding animals or keeping animals for farming purposes. It also requires the Department to carry out administrative and on farm checks. These checks are currently being finalised and the person named will be contacted by my Department regarding the outcome of her application in the coming days.

GLAS Applications

Questions (779)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

779. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; if he will approve and issue payment for the commonage element of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12711/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named has been approved under Tranche 1 of GLAS with a contract start date of 1 October 2015. GLAS applicants with a start date of 1 October 2015 are eligible for a 2015 part-year payment in respect of 2015 eligible actions, for the three month period 1 October 2015 - 31 December 2015. The first instalment of the payment issued to the person named on the 8 March 2016. The balancing payment, which will include the full commonage entitlements due to the person named for 2015, will issue after all required regulatory checks are fully completed.

TAMS Applications

Questions (780)

Jim Daly

Question:

780. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12726/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The applicant in question has applied for animal housing and an in-parlour meal feeding system under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme Tranche 2. His application has passed the initial administrative checks. All applications received in a given tranche have to be examined and then ranked and selected before approvals commence. Approvals for the second tranche of applications will commence in a matter of weeks.

TAMS Eligibility

Questions (781)

Jim Daly

Question:

781. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will include the construction of an underground cattle pass under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12730/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

There are no proposals to include underground cattle passes in the TAMS II Schemes.