Written Answers Nos. 475-498
478. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in need of residential care; the supports which will be made available to the person and their family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28646/16]
View answerThe 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's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
479. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is no longer eligible to have treatment carried out in Belfast children's hospital under the cross-Border health care directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28651/16]
View answerThe EU Directive 2011/24/EU on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare aims to ensure EU citizens may access safe and good quality healthcare services across EU borders. The Directive establishes a framework for cross border healthcare between EU/EEA states to facilitate patients to access care in another Member State in accordance with their entitlements in their own country. Under the Directive, known as the Cross Border Healthcare Directive (CBD), insured patients are entitled to have the costs of cross-border healthcare services reimbursed if the healthcare service in question is among the benefits to which they are entitled in their Member State of affiliation. As such, it allows Irish residents to avail of healthcare in other EU or EEA (excluding Switzerland) Member States that they would be entitled to within the public health system in Ireland, which is not contrary to Irish legislation.
Public patients may access the healthcare they require in either the public or private healthcare system of the country abroad under CBD. Access to healthcare abroad is based on patients following public patient pathways - i.e. patients must demonstrate they have followed the equivalent public patient pathways that a patient would follow if accessing public healthcare in Ireland. Referral for care under the CBD may be made by a GP, a hospital consultant and certain other HSE clinicians. The CBD excludes certain health services, e.g. services of public health, long-term care, organ transplantation, etc. All persons on public waiting lists, other than for such exempt health services, are eligible for the Scheme.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
480. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the number of home care hours and packages allocated by the State to independent and private home care providers, setting out the names of the companies or entities involved and the precise basis upon which each company receives its specific allocation; the details of such home care packages and home care hours, as provided by the private sector on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28728/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
481. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health the number of retired public sector employees in his Department, including bodies under its aegis, who are in receipt of a public sector pension who have been re-employed either part-time or full-time, temporary or otherwise by the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28981/16]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. In relation to Non-Commercial State Agencies under the remit of the Department, this information is being sought and will be forwarded to the Deputy when collated.
There are no retired staff from the public service employed in my Department.
482. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed by his Department or seconded to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28994/16]
View answerThe total number of staff currently serving in my Department is 411 (386.4 whole time equivalents). Of those, a total of 21 (19.9 whole time equivalents) are seconded into the Department.
483. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department expects to complete an examination of overstocking at fish farms operated by a company (details supplied); and if the examination will include potential damage to the marine environment and to the organic status of the fish produced at the sites. [28064/16]
View answerMy Department is currently examining possible overstocking in respect of a number of sites operated by the company referred to by the Deputy.
In relation to one of the sites, I have concluded my consideration of the issue and my Department will be following up with the company in relation to the matter.
Examination of the matter in relation to the other sites is ongoing and I will be giving consideration to those cases once the investigations are concluded.
484. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will conduct the proposed review of aquaculture licensing; and if he will suspend all aquaculture licensing pending the outcome of the review. [28065/16]
View answerIreland’s first National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development was published by my Department in December 2015. That Plan proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and sustainably grow production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes.
Action number 22 of the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development commits my Department to a review and revision of the aquaculture licence process, including the applicable legal framework. This Review is echoed by the recommendations of FoodWise 2025.
Aquaculture licences are determined by my Department having regard to the requirements of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Acts 1993-2011, the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, the Aarhus Convention, requirements relating to underwater archaeology and certain other regulatory requirements.
Thus, the process around aquaculture licensing is extremely complex and demanding. Nevertheless, my Department made 104 aquaculture licence determinations in 2015, some 53 licence determinations have been made so far this year and in the order of 150 determinations are expected for the year as a whole.
The National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development recognised the complexity of the present process and related legal framework. It committed to a review of the licensing process, including the legal framework. I am presently considering this commitment and the many other actions proposed in the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development and expect to progress the issue in 2016.
The purpose of the proposed review of the aquaculture licensing process is to identify ways to achieve more timely determinations. Suspending the licensing process would be entirely counter to that objective. In addition, the legislative framework for aquaculture licensing does not provide for the suspension of the licence determination process.
485. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of public money that has been spent by Bord lascaigh Mhara to date on its proposed licence application for a giant fish farm off Inishturk. [28066/16]
View answerBord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) is an independent statutory body and the matters raised by the Deputy are operational issues and are therefore matters for BIM itself.
I have referred the Deputy’s question to BIM and asked them to provide information on this matter directly to the Deputy.
486. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28067/16]
View answer487. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons now employed in the greyhound industry, in tabular form. [28068/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together.
The figures currently available from Bord na gCon (BNG) are based on a report entitled 'The Economic & Financial Significance of the Irish Greyhound Industry' commissioned by BNG and published in April 2011. These are the most up to date figures available to me.
While the compilation of this data was a major undertaking I am aware that the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has recommended that the exercise be revisited.
I think that this would be useful and I intend asking the Bord na gCon to conduct a further study of the economic contribution of the industry in due course.
488. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28071/16]
View answerIn October 2014 Bord na gCon (BnG) submitted an action plan to my department, with timelines for implementing the 27 recommendations in the Indecon Report. This report dealt with dealing with governance, finance, regulation and welfare. This action plan is published on the BnG website.
I am committed to implementing the Indecon recommendations and my Department has established processes to monitor BnG's progress in this regard.
I will shortly be bringing forward the heads of a Greyhound Amendment Bill to deal with issues relating to governance, regulation and enforcement. In the meantime a number of significant steps have already been taken.
Appointments to the board have been made through the Public Appointments Service process, and individuals with skill sets specifically identified by Indecon have been appointed. Bord na gCon is working to improve its financial position and reduce its borrowings over time through a combination of actions, including the disposal of assets, the calibration of race meetings at poorly performing stadia, the reconfiguration of its hospitality services and the development of new products.
With regard to regulation, I am advised by Bord na gCon that it has carried out an extensive review of procedures for regulatory control. I understand that many new operating procedures have been finalised or are close to finalisation. New secondary legislation is now in place requiring the publication of adverse analytical findings from greyhounds tested for prohibited substances after 1st October 2015. Greyhounds testing positive for these substances will be banned from racing until a further negative test result is obtained. The findings of cases initiated after that date which come before the Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee will be published, as will the reasons for the decision. In addition, a Scientific Committee on Doping and Medication Control was established to advise on these matters. I understand its report was published in July of this year and is available on the BnG website.
The power to take samples at the licensed premises of industry participants is being augmented and an intelligence led testing regime is being developed and rolled out. Furthermore, BnG is developing a collaborative strategy with other agencies, in so far as legislation permits, to ensure intelligence led mechanisms are in place with other agencies to make the best use of scarce resources in this area of risk for the industry.
BnG has commenced the process of strengthening the sanctions for animal cruelty and has launched its first prosecution under the legislation for failure to comply with a welfare notice. An on-line resource centre has been launched for inter alia the future publication of welfare information and notices as appropriate. A process has been commenced whereby BnG regulations will require that records are kept of all medication administered to greyhounds.
On the question of financial targets, it is the case that the BNG operating environment is difficult. Information relating to key performance indicators such as tote receipts, attendance figures, prize money etc. is contained in BnG's annual accounts which are published. In addition, the Indecon Report made a number of recommendations intended to improve the financial situation of BNG and its implementation is being carefully monitored by my department.
489. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28073/16]
View answerBord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation and development of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The issues to which the Deputy refers are an operational matter for Bord na gCon.
Bord na gCon has informed me that its annual report and accounts have yet to be audited by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. When this process has been completed the accounts will be published in due course and information regarding the tote growth will be available.
I also understand that the publication of mid-year performance at race tracks is currently under consideration by the Board.
490. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) who successfully appealed the inspection results of his Department by way of oral hearing, the result of which was communicated to them, has not received all payments now due to them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28075/16]
View answerThe successful outcome of the appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office in this case required my Department to update the Land Parcel Identification System to reflect the revised position for 2014. This involved a complex technical process, including the adjustment of previous digitising, to ensure complete accuracy in the area being deemed eligible for payment in respect of the 2014 Schemes.
This process has now been completed and payments due will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
491. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the agricultural appeals office has found against his Department, the procedure in place to ensure that the applicant receives payment as soon as possible to avoid further hardship being inflicted on the applicant, who often has had payments withheld for years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28076/16]
View answerUpon receipt of an appeal outcome from the Agriculture Appeals Office officials in my Department give effect to a decision without delay. Every effort is made to ensure that all appeal outcomes are processed in an efficient manner taking account of the need for, in some cases, significant additional processing.
492. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine where his Department has not made payments to successful applicants to the schemes, the steps available to enforce the decision of the agricultural appeals office against his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28077/16]
View answerA decision of the Agricultural Appeals Office is binding on my Department. Upon receipt of an appeal outcome from the Agriculture Appeals Office, officials in my Department give effect to a decision without delay. Every effort is made to ensure that all appeal outcomes are processed in an efficient manner taking account of the need for, in some cases, significant additional processing.
493. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a íocfar deontas faoi scéim na limistéar faoi shrianta nádúrtha do 2016 le feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí leis seo); cén fáth go bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [28084/16]
View answerFuarthas iarratas ón duine ainmnithe faoin Scéim um Limistéir faoi Shrianta Nadúrtha 2016 ar 10 Bealtaine 2016. Próiseáladh an t-iarratas agus eisíodh íocaíocht faoin scéim díreach chuig cuntas bainc ainmnithe an duine ainmnithe.
494. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person's (details supplied) herd number can be reactivated urgently. [28085/16]
View answerMy Department has not received an application from the person named for reactivation of this herd number. The person named has confirmed that the application has not yet been submitted. My Department will process the application on receipt.
495. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has established the standard to enable other bovine tag suppliers to compete in the market for the benefit of farmers; and his views on same. [28088/16]
View answer496. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether having only one supplier of bovine tags is not in keeping with the EU ethos of competition and free market. [28089/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together.
The current contract for the supply of bovine identification tags, which will expire on 31 October 2016, was awarded to a single supplier following a public procurement competition in 2012. Under this public procurement competition, it was open to any tag supply company within the EU to submit a tender application.
My Department has recently published an approval process for the supply of bovine identification tags to cover the period commencing on 1 November 2016. The approval process, which will permit multiple suppliers to supply bovine ear tags, will be based on a robust approval system both of tags and suppliers. Applications from tag suppliers will be assessed against the requirements of EU regulations relating to bovine identification, as well as the ancillary requirements which have been in place for many years (secure premises, ability to interact with the Department's IT system etc.) and which are designed to ensure that the supply of ear tags comply with all of the requirements of these regulations. These requirements have been notified to all tag suppliers who had previously indicated an interest in supplying tags on the Irish market. They have also been published on my Department's website.
497. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28092/16]
View answerAn application under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received from the person named on 20 April 2016.
Processing of the application has identified that the holding of the person named has not, as yet, met the stocking requirements as per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. On completion of this requirement, the application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
498. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) has been approved for the national reserve and the young farmers schemes; the other financial supports available for young farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28117/16]
View answerAccording to records held by my Department, no application for the 2015 National Reserve or Young Farmers Scheme was received from the person named. The person named submitted an application under the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme to my Department.
The Young Farmers Scheme payment is calculated based on the number of entitlements activated by the successful applicant. While the person named meets the eligibility conditions for the Young Farmers Scheme in all other respects, he holds no active entitlements upon which payment can be made. On this basis the person named does not meet the eligibility criteria under the Young Farmers Scheme.
There was no National Reserve in 2016 as all available funding had been utilised under the 2015 scheme. In order to provide for a National Reserve in 2017 funding is required to replenish the Reserve. EU Regulations governing the scheme provide that funding may be obtained from three sources. These sources are the surrender to the Reserve of entitlements that remain unused for two consecutive years, the clawback derived following the sale of entitlements without land, or the application of a linear cut to the value of all farmers’ entitlements. Decisions in relation to the National Reserve for 2017 will be considered once the position on potential funding has been established. Under the National Reserve priority access for an allocation of entitlements is given to the two mandatory categories of ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant to farming’.
