Written Answers Nos. 481-502
481. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health when the review of the nursing home support, fair deal, scheme will be finalised; when the outcome of same will be revealed to the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16030/16]
View answerWhen the Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015. The Review included a general examination of the operation of the Scheme, as well as the balance between residential care and care in the community. A number of key issues have been identified for more detailed consideration across Departments and Agencies.
An Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group has been established to progress the recommendations contained in the Review. This Group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the Revenue Commissioners, and when required, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). These recommendations include the implementation of administrative reforms to the Scheme, and a review by the NTPF of present pricing arrangements in private residential facilities.
Significant progress has already been made in relation to the implementation of recommendations relating to the administrative reforms to the Scheme. A Steering Committee, which is chaired by the NTPF and includes representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the NTPF, has been established to oversee the NTPF review of the pricing system. The Committee has commenced its work in this area.
The Working Group is due to make a preliminary report on its progress to the Cabinet Committee on Health in June 2016.
482. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health to outline his views on using a community-based model for the development and improvement of eye care (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16040/16]
View answerThe Primary Care Eye Services Review Group, which was established by the HSE is currently preparing an implementation plan to support its Review. The Association of Optometrists Ireland has contributed as a stakeholder to this Review. The overall aim of the Review Group is to shift the management of many eye conditions from acute care services to primary care and community services, as appropriate. The government is committed to updating the national eye care plan, including evaluation of the Sligo model for cataract surgery. These are matters which I intend to consider in the context of the implementation of the Health commitments in the Programme for Government and having regard to the funding available to facilitate such measures.
483. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health for an update on the work of the steering committee set up to oversee the development of the new national drugs strategy; the names of the members and chairperson of the committee; the number of times the committee has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16063/16]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Department of Health is developing a new National Drugs Strategy, which will cover the period from 2017 onwards. A Steering Committee, chaired by John Carr, former General Secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation and with representatives from the relevant Statutory, Community and Voluntary Sectors, has been established to advise me on how a new Strategy should address problem drug use, including the structures through which this could be done.
A high level review of the current drugs policy has been undertaken by a panel of international experts, which will highlight the key issues that need to be addressed under the new Strategy. The Committee will also consider the approach to drug policy in other jurisdictions and a review of international evidence on interventions to tackle the drug problem. Focus Groups have been established to advise the Steering Committee on the relevance of the Strategy in tackling problem drug use in Ireland and to identify any gaps arising. I will shortly be announcing details of the consultation process on the new Strategy, which I intend to be as broad, comprehensive and inclusive as possible.
Details of the membership of the Steering Committee, which has met 5 times this year and on one occasion in December 2015, are set out in the following table.
|
Sector |
Body |
Number of Representatives |
|
Statutory Sector |
Department of Health |
3 |
|
Statutory Sector |
Health Service Executive |
2 |
|
Statutory Sector |
Department of Justice & Equality |
1 |
|
Statutory Sector |
An Garda Síochána |
1 |
|
Statutory Sector |
Department of Education & Skills |
1 |
|
Statutory Sector |
Department of Environment, Community & Local Government |
1 |
|
Statutory Sector |
Department of Children & Youth Affairs |
1 |
|
Statutory Sector |
Department of Social Protection |
1 |
|
Statutory Sector |
Health Research Board |
1 |
|
Community Sector |
Community Sector - represented by CityWide Drugs Crisis Campaign |
2 |
|
Community Sector |
National Family Support Network |
1 |
|
Voluntary Sector |
Voluntary Sector - represented by the Voluntary Drug Treatment Network |
2 |
|
Cross-sector Task Force network |
Local Drug and Alcohol Task Force Chairs Network |
1 |
|
Cross-sector Task Force network |
Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force Chairs Network |
1 |
|
Cross-sector committee |
National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol |
1 |
|
Total number of representatives: |
- |
20 |
484. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the number of opiate users in County Dublin has decreased over the lifetime of the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16067/16]
View answerThe HSE maintains the Central Treatment List, which is a register of all clients in receipt of methadone maintenance treatment for problem opiate use in Ireland. However, the information sought by the Deputy is not available as only individuals who come into contact with drug treatment services are recorded.
Obtaining a reliable view of the extent of illicit drug use in the population can be difficult, because opiate users in particular are largely a hidden population due to the illegal nature of their activity. There is currently no up-to-date estimate of the prevalence of opiate users in Ireland. However, the Deputy may wish to note that the National Advisory Committee on Drugs and Alcohol plans to release results of its research to estimate the prevalence of opiate use in Ireland before the end of the year. This report will provide an estimate for 2014.
485. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if there has been a reduction in the number of persons engaged in poly-drug use or in the level of drug misuse reported by school students, as targeted in the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16068/16]
View answerGovernment's response to the problem of drug misuse in our society is set out in the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016. The overall objective of the National Drugs Strategy is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research.
The nature and scale of drug misuse has changed in recent years, with an increased prevalence of polydrug use which is the problem use of more than one drug, including alcohol. Polydrug use can make treating the person more difficult and often increases the complexity of the case. It can also make the treatment of overdose more complicated. Health Research Board figures indicate that polydrug use is a common issue among those presenting at drug and alcohol treatment services. Between 2009 and 2013, 63% of those treated for a drug as their main problem substance also reported problem use of other substances, mainly alcohol, benzodiazepines and cannabis. Figures from the Health Research Board for recent years also indicate that the number of polydrug deaths has overtaken the number of single drug deaths. This highlights the need to have an integrated public health approach to substance misuse.
The 2011 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD), which contains data on substance use among 15-16 year old students, confirms that there was no change in lifetime use of cannabis among Irish students and a decrease in the lifetime use of other illicit drugs between 2007 and 2011. The 2015 wave of the survey, which will also feature data on Irish students, will be published in September 2016.
The Department of Health is developing a new National Drugs Strategy, which will cover the period from 2017 onwards. A Steering Committee has been established to advise me on how the new Strategy should address problem drug use, including the structures through which this could be done, and incorporating performance indicators to measure the future effectiveness of the new Strategy.
486. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if 100% of problem drug users are accessing treatment services within one month of assessment, as targeted in the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16069/16]
View answer487. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if 100% of problem drug users under 18 years of age are accessing treatment services within one week of assessment, as targeted in the national drugs stategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16070/16]
View answer488. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health whether there has been a 25% increase in residential rehabilitation places based on 2008 figures, as targeted in the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16071/16]
View answer489. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health whether there has been a 25% increase in hepatitis C cases among drug users based on 2008 figures, as targeted in the national drugs strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16072/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 486 to 489, 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 replies from the HSE within 15 working days he should contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
490. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health to set down how many of the targets or stated aims the national drugs strategy has met and not met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16073/16]
View answer491. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health if the national drugs strategy 2009-16 has been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16074/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 491 together.
The overall objective of the National Drugs Strategy is to tackle the harm caused to individuals and society by the misuse of drugs through a concerted focus on the five pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and research. Periodic reviews of progress of the actions across the five pillars of the current Strategy are carried out through the Oversight Forum on Drugs, which I chair. The 2015 progress report on the implementation of the actions of the National Drugs Strategy is available on the Department's website at www.health.gov.ie.
As the Deputy will be aware, a Steering Committee has been established to advise me on the development of a new National Drugs Strategy, which will take effect in 2017 when the current policy expires. A high level review of the current Strategy has been undertaken by a panel of international experts as part of this process. The aim of the review is to examine the progress and impact of the Strategy across the five pillars in the context of the objectives, key performance indicators and actions set out in the Strategy and to comment on Ireland’s evolution in tackling the drug problem in the light of international trends.
The final report of the expert panel, which is expected shortly, will assist the Steering Committee in determining how the new Strategy should address problem drug use to meet the challenges ahead.
492. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will meet the financial commitments made by the last Government in respect of the clean-up on the site of the former Irish Steel works on Haulbowline Island, Cobh, County Cork, given the environmental and physiological impact it has on the lower harbour. [15672/16]
View answerI have Ministerial responsibility for the remediation of Haulbowline Island and Cork County Council is acting as my agent to deliver the project. The Government has agreed to provide a total of €61m to complete all aspects of the Haulbowline Remediation Project. Total spending by my Department in the period 2012-15 has amounted to €6.77m and funded (in full) the following key preparatory aspects of the remediation project:
- Regularisation of planning and licensing aspects
- Detailed site investigations
- Repair, including partial reconstruction, of key infrastructural access points, Haulbowline Bridges & Bridge access road from mainland
- Detailed quantitative risk assessment (DQRA) study of the former steel factory site and
- Project team salary reimbursements to Cork County Council.
The resource intensive core remediation phases of the project are due to commence later this year (2016) and intensify in 2017, with all aspects of the project due to be completed by mid 2018. In accordance with Government Decisions taken in May 2015 & January 2016 respectively, which broadened the scope of the project and authorised a ‘whole of island’ approach, this project will now deliver the following key aspects:
- Remediation of the former waste deposit site (East Tip) including the provision of a public amenity park on the site
- Ground level basic remediation of the former steelworks factory site (South Tip) and
- Weather proofing of three former military listed stone buildings.
While funding for the remediation project is included in my Department’s estimate, the Government Decisions specify that the funding is ringfenced and provided in addition to the funding requirements of my Department’s core activities. A total of €8m has been provided in my Departments estimates for this year (2016). It is anticipated that €40m may be required to fund the next intensive phase of the planned programme of works. The amount to be included for the project in my Department’s estimate for 2017 will be a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to determine in consultation with my Department having regard to the specific ringfenced nature of the remediation funding.
493. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received clarification on getting farm land under solar farm installations recognised as an agricultural activity and, therefore, eligible for European Union direct payments and qualifying for retirement and agricultural reliefs at European level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15336/16]
View answerSupport under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) is payable upon activation of an eligible hectare per payment entitlement. In general terms an eligible hectare is one that is used for an agricultural activity, or, where the area is also used for a non-agricultural activity, is predominantly used for such activities. An area is predominantly used for agricultural activity if that activity can be exercised without being significantly hampered by the intensity, nature, duration and timing of the non-agricultural activity.
While cases involving solar panels will be examined on an individual basis, the European Commission advises that area covered by the solar panels will be deemed ineligible for the purposes of claiming BPS. Furthermore, in line with the Department’s current approach on land eligibility, where the area of a parcel covered by solar panels is 70% or greater of the overall parcel, that parcel will be wholly ineligible. If less than 70% is covered by solar panels and the agricultural activity is not hampered by the presence of the solar panels, the area not covered by solar panels may be eligible.
With regard to entitlements it is important to note that a farmer must use all entitlements every 2 years. Therefore if the land is deemed ineligible for BPS the farmer would lose the entitlements after 2 years unless he (a) got more land (b) leased out his entitlements or (c) sold the entitlements.
Finally it is important to note that all agricultural land used to claim BPS must be owned/leased, used and managed by the applicant. If the applicant is not the owner of the land, they must have a lease or rental agreement in place with the owner of the land. There must be independent and suitable access for animals and/or machinery for the farming enterprise being conducted. Independent access means access by public or private roadway or by a defined right of way. Access over adjoining landowners land, or over land which is subject to a lease or rental agreement to another person, is not acceptable.
494. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the status of the investigation of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and his Department into elevated polybrominated diphenyl ethers concentrations in milk samples, as outlined in the Environmental Protection Agency 2010 and 2012 dioxin reports on dioxin levels in the Irish environment; if he has identified the source of the contamination and whether milk from the sites affected was allowed into the food chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15350/16]
View answerThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carries out routine national monitoring for a range of environmental contaminants through measuring the levels in cows’ milk. In addition, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has carried out a number of studies to check for the presence of PBDEs. The results of this monitoring confirm the low levels of such contaminants in the Irish environment.
The EPA also carries out additional testing in areas that might be viewed as areas of potentially higher risk of containing these substances. One of these monitoring samples in a raw milk sample from a farm in Co. Cork showed somewhat elevated levels of PBDEs, though the level was not high by European comparison. The levels found do not constitute a risk for public health.
Notwithstanding this, an inter-agency group of experts from the EPA, the FSAI and my Department was established to investigate the cause of the elevated levels in this case. Following considerable investigation, including a comprehensive testing regime of a number of matrices, including milk, various feed materials, water and other substances in the animal housing, the source of the problem was established. The source was identified as coming from a particular old matting material used as bedding in the cow cubicles in the animal housing on the farm. Accordingly the source of the problem did not have its origins in the surrounding environment.
495. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the reason he has not provided a conclusive answer to a query - apart from two interim responses - which was lodged for his attention nearly seven weeks ago detailing emergency circumstances in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15405/16]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was received in my Department from the person named on 29 May 2015. During the processing of this application, an issue arose in relation to the eligibility of a forestry parcel claimed under the BPS. The person named was subsequently written to about this matter and replied confirming that he did not have the right to claim payment under the BPS on this parcel. A reduced payment issued following the removal of the parcel in question from the application.
The person named requested a review of the case. This review has now been completed and the person named was notified in writing on 2 June 2016 that the initial decision has been upheld. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this review the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
496. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the amount of money his Department spent on purchasing copies of the Public Sector Times magazine in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15409/16]
View answer497. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the amount of money spent on daily newspapers in 2015; if this is appropriate expenditure given the available and far cheaper online alternatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15425/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 496 and 497 together.
The Public Sector Magazine is a quarterly publication which is distributed free of charge to all departments in the public sector and semi state bodies.
My Department’s expenditure, in 2015, for daily newspapers was €20,840.
My Department is currently conducting a review of the provision of newspapers versus on-line subscriptions.
498. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the number of staff working in his human resources section. [15441/16]
View answerThe number of staff currently working in the Personnel and Training Unit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as of 31st May 2016 is 65 (58.32 Full-Time Equivalents). The Personnel and Training Unit of my Department deals with the following Key functional areas: Human Resources Strategy, Competitions, Training & Development and Secretary General’s Office.
499. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set down the number of staff who work exclusively on constituency matters for him. [15457/16]
View answerOn the commencement of each Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices including the permitted staffing levels in the private and constituency offices of Ministers and Ministers of State.
My Department is currently awaiting these guidelines in order to finalises contracts to persons allowing them to work on constituency matters.
500. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the changes in the numbers employed in his human resources section following the introduction of PeoplePoint. [15473/16]
View answerThe numbers (and Full-Time Equivalents) for the Personnel and Training unit for 12th April 2013, the date just prior to the Launch of Peoplepoint and then for 31st May 2016 are outlined in the following table.
|
Time |
Headcount |
FTE |
|
12/04/2013 |
95 |
84.40 |
|
31/05/2016 |
65 |
58.32 |
The Personnel and Training Unit of my Department deal with the following Key functional areas, Human Resources Strategy, Competitions, Training & Development and Secretary General’s Office.
501. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15494/16]
View answerThe applicant in question has applied under a company in the second tranche of the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme. The application has been checked and the applicant has been requested to submit the Articles of Association details which is a requirement under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. When these details are received the application will go through the ranking and selection process and will then be sent to the local office for final technical checks before approval issues.
502. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive pig sector crisis funding. [15497/16]
View answerThese payments are the final tranche under the package agreed at EU level in September of last year, which allocated €0.5m for the pig sector for Ireland. The Government subsequently matched this funding to provide an overall aid package of €1m.
Eligible beneficiaries for the scheme were defined as current pig herd owners who produced a minimum of 200 pigs in 2015. The individual concerned did not meet the beneficiary requirements and therefore was not entitled to an aid payment under the conditions of the scheme.
