Tuesday, 15 Nov 2016

Written Answers Nos. 425-438

Flood Risk Management

Questions (425)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

425. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his proposals to relocate families resident in flood prone areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34584/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

Last Tuesday, 8th November I announced a fund of €2m for a targeted humanitarian aid scheme for those primary residential properties that flooded during last Winter and had flooded in previous years to ensure those worst affected homeowners have a primary residence.

While the Government has agreed that the terms of funding for relocation will be in line with the previous scheme in 2009; I am to apprise Government of the ongoing review of the administrative arrangements from that earlier scheme, to ensure that the arrangements for this once-off scheme are reflective of its targeted objective and all relevant circumstances.

I want to ensure that the funding is targeted at those homeowners at greatest risk of future flooding and would gain greatest benefit from State support to relocate.

The Office of Public Works is working jointly with Local Authorities and the Department of Social Protection to identify and prioritise homeowners and review the administrative arrangements for this scheme. I hope to be able to apprise Government and subsequently make initial contact with a small number of targeted homeowners towards the end of this year.

Budget Measures

Questions (426, 427)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

426. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the way the €310 million of additional expenditure in 2016, as reflected in the expenditure report 2017, to cover the Christmas bonus, school building programme and flood repairs is accounted for under the fiscal rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34612/16]

Seán Sherlock

Question:

427. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if Dáil Éireann will vote on Supplementary Estimates to account for the additional €310 million added to the expenditure baseline to fund the Christmas bonus and increased capital expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34613/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 427 together.

As the Deputy has indicated, additional expenditure of €310 million was included for 2016 in the Expenditure Report 2017 published on Budget day. This amount reflects an additional €200 million of capital funding for necessary repair work to transport infrastructure arising from flood damage at the start of the year and payments for school building works. This was signalled in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report 2016. Separately, a further €110 million is provided for current expenditure. This amount reflects the estimated cost of €220 million relating to a Christmas Bonus for long-term Social Welfare recipients, net of anticipated offsetting year-end savings across a number of Departments. As outlined on pages 28 and 31 in the Expenditure Report 2017, the extent of any required supplementary estimate to make provision for the Christmas bonus and capital expenditure will be determined later in the year in accordance with normal procedures and practice. As the Deputy will be aware, Supplementary Estimates are an important feature of the management of a cash based accounting system, amounting to some €56 billion in 2016. In this context, Supplementary Estimates play an important role in achieving a proper alignment of funding allocations with planned expenditure that is subject to approval by the Dáil.

The additional amounts in 2016 are projected to be aligned with the requirements of the Preventive Arm of the Stability and Growth Pact. Compliance for 2016 will be formally assessed when the Stability Programme Update is submitted to the European Commission in April 2017.

Coastal Protection

Questions (428)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

428. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when he will make a determination on the application of Wexford County Council to co-fund coastal protection works at Rosslare Warren Middle, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34684/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

I am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that an application for funding under the Office of Public Works' (OPW) Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme has been received from Wexford County Council for a project at the location in question. This application is currently under consideration in the OPW and a response will issue to Wexford County Council as soon as possible.

EU Funding

Questions (429)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

429. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when letters of offer for the funding programmes PEACE IV and INTERREG VA for 2014 to 2020 will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34912/16]

Written answers

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that agreement has now been reached between my officials and their Northern Ireland counterparts on the terms of Letters of Offer to programme beneficiaries for the PEACE IV and INTERREG VA programmes.

My objective has always been to Brexit-proof Letters of Offer to the greatest extent possible and to give programme beneficiaries assurance as to the legal and financial commitments they are entering into so they can plan for the future with confidence. I believe that we have achieved that, and that it will be possible to proceed with the full implementation of the programmes on a firmer basis than would otherwise have been the case.

The Special EU Programmes Body has begun the process of making Letters of Offer to programme beneficiaries, and I expect project announcements to commence shortly.

Coastal Protection

Questions (430)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

430. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason for the decline in funding for the installation of rock armour at Maghery Strand in west Donegal; if his attention has been drawn to the increasing rates of coastal erosion and sand; if he will meet with representatives of the Maghery coastal erosion committee to discuss this further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34964/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform

The application received from Donegal County Council under the Minor Flood Mitigation Works and Coastal Protection Scheme for funding to undertake a project comprising coastal erosion defence repairs at Maghery Strand is not eligible for funding under the scheme as it did not meet the criteria of the scheme for a number of reasons which have been notified to the Council by the Office of Public Works. One important reason is that no economic consideration or justification of the proposed measures was presented in the application. It would be more appropriate that representatives of the Maghery coastal erosion committee meet with Donegal County Council to discuss the application.

Urban Renewal Schemes

Questions (431)

John Curran

Question:

431. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs following the publication of the action plan for housing and homelessness four months ago the progress made to date on action 5.12; the details of the funding that has been made available as part of the town and village renewal initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35111/16]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Action 5.12 of the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness contains a commitment that my Department and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government will work together to provide funding for a range of demonstration projects across the country as part of the Town and Village Renewal Initiative. The objective of this action is to support the revitalisation of towns and villages and increase their attractiveness and sustainability as places to live and work.

On 9 August 2016, I launched the Town and Village Renewal Scheme with an allocation of €10 million in funding for this year. A sum of €380,000 was made available to each of the 26 counties for 2016 under this initial phase of the scheme. Local Authorities, in conjunction with local communities and businesses, were invited to submit up to 8 proposals to my Department by the end of September for approval.

Following an assessment of the proposals received, on 4th November I announced the details of 172 towns and villages which will benefit from the funding available under this year’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme for a range of demonstration projects. The full list of towns benefiting under the scheme is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/more-than-170-towns-and-villages-benefit-from-funding-under-e10m-town-and-village-renewal-scheme-minister-humphreys/

I have secured increased funding of €12 million for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme as part of Budget 2017. This represents a trebling of the original 2016 baseline allocation of €4 million. As part of an enhanced scheme in 2017, I intend to include a pilot initiative to encourage increased residential occupancy in town and village centres in line with commitment 5.12 in the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. My Department will work closely with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in finalising the details of this initiative.

Forestry Sector

Questions (432)

Clare Daly

Question:

432. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 634 of 1 December 2015 and the reply to the question (details supplied), if she received the report; if so, when she will publish it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34483/16]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Officials of my Department visited the site in question and met with relevant individuals late last year and subsequently reported on the matter. Targeted tree planning has been carried out at the site - originally a plantation which had become neglected over the past 25 years - as part of a ten year management plan for the woodland to encourage natural regeneration. The activities undertaken were carried out under license from the Forest Service and the works have been assessed and approved by my Department. The felling included a thinning out process to encourage continuous woodland cover and natural regeneration.

Large numbers of invasive species such as Rhododendron, Sycamore and Laurel had become well established within the woodland. These species were rampant in the areas selected for thinning.

As part of the conditions agreed to secure the thinning license for the woods, the entity involved agreed to carry out the removal of all invasive species from the selected area. In addition, standing dead wood and veteran trees were selected for retention for conservation purposes.

From the selected thinning, some Oak were removed, as were all Sycamore, most Beech, some Ash, all Rhododendron and all Laurel, as well as Willow from dry areas only, with wet Willow being left in situ. Most Oak trees selected were between 60-80 years old, with the occasional older tree. Contrary to some reports, I am advised that there were no 400 year old Oak trees on the site.

Trees were removed to allow natural regeneration of the Oak woodland, to promote continuous woodland cover and to help in the conservation of this important site. The removal of the alien species and the thinning of the woodland assist in this management by allowing the light to reach the forest floor, encouraging the natural regrowth of the woodland. This had not happened over the last 25 years, so no natural regeneration had occurred.

Expert personnel from my Department have met the personnel involved to walk the site and assess the works carried out to date. My Department remains satisfied that the work was carried out in accordance to the conditions set out in the thinning/felling license. A further assessment was made recently to ensure that completion of the licensed works would be beneficial to the long-term recovery of the woodland.

Homeless Persons Supports

Questions (433, 434)

John Curran

Question:

433. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health following the publication of the action plan for housing and homelessness four months ago the status of the progress made to date on action 1.15; the specific details of the improvements to be made to mental health and primary care for homeless persons as a result of increased funding of between €2 million and €6 million in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35044/16]

John Curran

Question:

434. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health following the publication of the action plan for housing and homelessness four months ago the status of the progress made to date on action 1.16; the progress being made in identifying and meeting the rehabilitation needs of homeless persons with addiction issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35045/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together.

Over €30m in HSE funding is used, on an annual basis, to provide targeted interventions aimed at improving health outcomes for homeless persons, who are more likely to experience health inequalities and difficulties in accessing services and present with multiple, complex health and support needs. Additional funding of €1.715m has been allocated from the €2m available to the HSE in 2016 to address mental health needs of homeless persons in the Dublin region. This funding is being used to provide care and case management to homeless persons in a number of supported accommodation settings in Dublin City Centre. In-reach GP, nursing and mental health nursing services provided to these settings have also been enhanced as a result of the additional funding.

I am committed to ensuring that improvements in mental health and primary care services for homeless persons achieved during 2016 are sustained over the course of the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness. The priority for 2017 will be to ensure that the health-related needs associated with the provision of homeless accommodation and tenancies are addressed, with a view to ensuring that vulnerable homeless people have access to primary care and mental health services, where required. To this end, the HSE has been asked to provide the appropriate level of resources in the 2017 Service Plan to deliver on Action 1.15 of the Government's Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness.

As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is developing a new National Drugs Strategy which will cover the period from 2017 onwards. The rehabilitation needs of homeless people with addiction issues, many of whom have comorbid mental health problems, will be addressed through the development of the new National Drugs Strategy.

EU Directives

Questions (435)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

435. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 455 of 25 October 2016, the status of his Department's examination into the fact that the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA, has stated that it is currently unable to enforce the European medical devices directive (93/42/EEC) for the provision of custom made devices due to the fact there is no link between the EU legislation and Ireland's current dental legislation; if a decision has been made as to whether he will ensure that the new dental Bill will include the provisions necessary for the HPRA to enforce the European medical devices directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34417/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department, in conjunction with the Health Products Regulatory Authority, is currently examining the issues raised by the Deputy. No decision has been made on whether amending the Dental Act is the appropriate action.

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (436)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

436. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34418/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

National Children's Hospital

Questions (437)

John Curran

Question:

437. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information in relation to the design and infrastructure for the new children's hospital and, in particular, whether it will provide for dedicated ward space and services for young persons with inflammatory bowel disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34422/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The number of inpatient beds needed in the new children's hospital has been determined by detailed clinical activity analysis and health planning. Current clinical activity in the three Dublin children's hospitals, population growth, innovation and developments in treatments, waiting lists and unmet need have all been factored into the calculations for the inpatient bed numbers planned for the new children's hospital. All clinical specialties were considered in this health planning work.

With a very few exceptions, beds are not allocated or ring-fenced for particular conditions or services. The reason for this is to maximise the efficient use of beds depending on need. The number of children with inflammatory bowel disease requiring an inpatient bed at any one time is not constant and while one month a small number of beds might be required, in another month a greater number of beds might be required.

In contrast to the current situation, in planning the new children's hospital, the Children’s Hospital Group (CHG) has allocated beds to acute care, that is, beds for children admitted with an acute illness, the majority of whom are likely to require only a short in-patient stay. As a result of separating this cohort of children from those with chronic conditions who might require either planned or emergency admission, the CHG can allocate a group of beds for children with conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease which will be available to them when the bed is required but will be available to others also.

From an outpatient service viewpoint, the accommodation in which the gastroenterology outpatient department is situated includes clinical examination rooms, allocated rooms for the specialist nurses, rooms for the multi-disciplinary team, support rooms for children with gastrostomy feeding and rooms for outpatient investigations.

Within the theatre department, there are two endoscopy rooms which provide very significant extra capacity in terms of gastrointestinal endoscopy.

This allocation of resources has been developed with the GI team in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin.

HSE Properties

Questions (438)

Anne Rabbitte

Question:

438. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the reason St. Brendan's Community Care Unit Mortuary was closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34429/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.