Written Replies Nos. 191 to 197
191. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health to include the chronic long-term illnesses Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis on the list of illnesses covered by the long-term illness scheme established under the 1970 Health Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14009/16]
View answerThe Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are as follows: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
Under the Drugs Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange health services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
192. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Health the opportunities he had to raise the rights of the victims of symphysiotomy during the United Nations Human Rights Council. [10143/16]
View answerThe Universal Periodic Review (UPR) is an interactive process that allows UN member states the opportunity to question the state being reviewed on its human rights record and make recommendations in that regard. At the UPR meeting in Geneva in May, member state delegations did not raise the issue of symphysiotomy. The Tánaiste did not therefore speak on this issue.
Ireland provided an update to the UN on the Surgical Symphysiotomy Payment Scheme as part of its national report earlier in the UPR process. The national report was submitted in February 2016 ahead of the review itself in May and is available at the following website address:
http://www.upr.ie/Website/UPR/uprweb.nsf/page/DOJL-A97JFV1512120-en/$file/National%20Report%20IE%20Cycle%202.pdf.
193. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will open applications under the new sheep scheme; when he will issue the first payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13852/16]
View answerThe sheep sector is an important component of our agriculture economy and the third largest farming sector in Ireland with over 34,000 producers and an output value of over €230 million in 2015. It is for this reason that the Programme for Government includes a commitment to provide €25 million for a new scheme in support of the sheep sector.
My Department is consulting with farm organisations and stakeholders and once discussions are concluded, the scheme will be included in the upcoming amendment to the Rural Development Programme, which is due in late June. It would be my hope that, subject to agreement by the European Commission and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the scheme will be opened to applications in 2017.
I should also note that my Department is committed to developing the sheep sector through the FoodWise 2025 strategy. Sheep farmers are able to avail of supports in the form of GLAS, ANC and TAMS, as well as improving their efficiency and profitability through membership of the Knowledge Transfer scheme which builds upon the successful discussion group format.
194. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for farm payments. [13853/16]
View answerThe person named received payment under the Basic Payment Scheme on 11 March 2016. She also submitted a Private Contract Clause application to my Department seeking the transfer of land and entitlements by lease as transferor. The person named was notified in writing on 18 April 2016 that as the transferee under this application already held the allocation right and value, there was no requirement to have submitted the Private Contract Clause. The application has now been processed on this basis and a supplementary payment for outstanding monies under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue to the person named shortly.
195. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the basic payment scheme. [13854/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Private Contract Clause application to my Department seeking the transfer of land and entitlements by sale as transferee. This application was rejected on the basis that the transferor did not submit a 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application on which s/he declares at least one hectare of eligible land.
The transferor in this case subsequently submitted a late 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application to my Department for consideration under appeal. This late application has been accepted and the Private Contract Clause application can now be processed. An official from my Department will contact the person named directly with an update on his application, including a likely date for payment.
196. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) has not received payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13898/16]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 30 March 2015.
Under the 2015 ANC Scheme, eligible applicants are required to have met a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of seven consecutive months and to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year. Payment under the ANC scheme has not issued in this case as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named to advise of the outstanding issues. I understand that further documentation in relation to this issue is now to be forwarded to the Department. On receipt of this documentation, the application will be further reviewed.
197. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to re-examine the case of a person (details supplied) regarding a rare breeds payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13921/16]
View answerFarmers selecting the Rare Breed action in GLAS were required to upload evidence of membership of the relevant Breed Society as part of the application process. The relevant acceptable bodies were published in the GLAS Specification document and officials from my Department did not advise that documentation from Horse Sport Ireland was not necessary.
All applicants were required to engage a professional advisor to prepare and submit their application and any required supporting documentation. A letter from the Irish Draught Horse Society was submitted in this case but was not acceptable as that body is not the recognised body as published in the GLAS scheme specification. Horse Sport Ireland section of the Irish Horse Board is the keeper of the Stud Book and the recognised body for the Irish Draught Horse. As no documentation from this body was submitted with the application the rare breed action was not approved.
The applicant in this case is entitled to request a review of the original decision to the GLAS Section of my Department and supply additional relevant information to support such a request.
