Wednesday, 16 Nov 2016

Written Answers Nos. 204-213

HSE Staff

Questions (204)

Colm Brophy

Question:

204. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health if he will address the under-staffing at a health centre (details supplied). [35489/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (205)

Peter Burke

Question:

205. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite appointments for a person (details suppled); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35503/16]

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.

General Medical Services Scheme Administration

Questions (206)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

206. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if third level students may nominate a second or additional general practitioner to enable them to access GP services while attending educational institutions situated in areas which are not within reasonable travel distance from their homes, and thus, their local GPs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35504/16]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Patients who hold a medical card or GP visit card are registered with a single GP who holds a contract to provide services to eligible patients under the General Medical Services (GMS) scheme. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on a capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service. The amount payable in respect of certain supports is related to the doctor's panel size. As the fees and allowances payable to GPs under the GMS scheme are largely determined by the number of patients on their panel, it is not possible for a GMS patient to be registered on the panel of more than one GP.

Should a GMS patient wish to change their GP it is required that they submit a completed change of doctor form to the National Medical Card Unit, Exit 5 M50, North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11. Change of doctor forms are available from all HSE Local Health Offices or from the HSE's website.

Fishing Industry

Questions (207)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

207. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information regarding the liquidation of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35249/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

While I understand that the liquidator is currently undertaking a period of commercially sensitive negotiations, my Department has no involvement in or direct knowledge of these matters. However, Bord Iascaigh Mhara and Enterprise Ireland stand ready to offer any assistance they can.

A wide range of supports are available to the seafood processing sector through Bord Iascaigh Mhara under my Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme. The need for greater scale within the seafood processing sector has been recognised in that Operational Programme and in Food Wise 2025. The Seafood Scaling and New Market Development Scheme under the Operational Programme makes available generous supports for companies seeking to merge, or otherwise work constructively together. The Seafood Capital Investment Scheme provides supports for capital investment by companies wishing to grow and add value to their products, while the Seafood Innovation and Business Planning Scheme may assist companies wishing to innovate and develop new products.

Horse Racing Ireland

Questions (208)

Clare Daly

Question:

208. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 418 of 8 November 2016, if his Department or the chairman, board or the executive of Horse Racing Ireland are aware of any unresolved legal action or actions which remain active, awaiting a hearing or awaiting a decision of determination by any court within our jurisdiction as of 9 November 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35243/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.

HRI has informed me that currently it has an ongoing landlord tenant dispute in relation to Leopardstown Club Limited. There are also a small number of claims taken by HRI in relation to unpaid Foal Levy charges, with a separate Small Claims Court dispute about the precise amount of levy payable to HRI. I am also informed that at any given time there may be a number of personal injury claims arising from accidents on racecourses etc. – these are generally dealt with within the remit of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board or directly by HRI insurers.

These are operational matters for HRI.

Horse Racing Ireland Funding

Questions (209)

Clare Daly

Question:

209. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 416 of 8 November 2016, if he will provide a list of the nominating bodies which receive funding from the taxpayer, distributed by Horse Racing Ireland, including the amounts of such funding; if he will provide a list of the individual nominating bodies in receipt of funding; the amount or amounts of money each individual body receive in public funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35244/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The current HRI Board is made up of 14 members comprising:

a Chairman & two ordinary members – Appointed by the Minister

a representative of the industry in Northern Ireland – Appointed by the Minister

3 Racing Regulatory Body Nominees – the Racing Regulatory Body receives annual integrity funding directly from HRI as provided for under legislation. Details of this funding are published in the Annual Accounts of HRI.

Persons employed directly in the Industry – the Irish Stable Staff Association does not receive any direct funding from HRI but receives indirect funding as a prize money deduction.

Persons Employed in the Industry – this has been a nominee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) which does not receive any direct or indirect funding from HRI.

Authorised Racecourses – the Association of Irish Racecourses does not receive funding either directly or indirectly from HRI.

Racehorse Owners – the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners does not receive funding either directly or indirectly from HRI.

Racehorse Trainers – the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association does not receive any direct funding from HRI but receives indirect funding as a prize money deduction.

Racehorse Breeders – the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association does not receive any direct funding from HRI but receives indirect funding from the Foal Levy.

Authorised Bookmakers – the Irish National Bookmakers Association does not receive funding either directly or indirectly from HRI.

Horse Racing Industry Funding

Questions (210)

Clare Daly

Question:

210. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 421 of 8 November 2016, if he will provide a list of recipients who commercially and financially benefit from the spending of taxpayers' money on marketing activities by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing, while acknowledging this kind of marketing and promoting is a critical element in the development of the Irish thoroughbred sector; if he will explain in precise terms the way in which all taxpayers benefit from this expenditure of public funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35245/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing (ITM) is funded in part by an HRI grant (€1.275 m in 2016) and in part from outside sources totalling an estimated €834k in 2016 (Foal Levy €415k, sales companies €319k, stallion owners €100k).

You will be aware of the broad remit of ITM to promote and market the Irish Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry internationally, as well as in its role in promoting racehorse ownership in Ireland.

This ITM work produces significant financial return for the exchequer through direct inward investment into the country creating many jobs; all the subsequent taxation generated from the operation of training and breeding establishments; the related importance for the many connected ancillary bloodstock services; the positive impact on the broader local economy around Irish bloodstock sales; and the tax returns (VAT) on the sale of bloodstock.

Horse Racing Ireland

Questions (211)

Clare Daly

Question:

211. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to any official communications by letter, e-mail and telephone, including landline and mobile telephone, and including by a person (details supplied), with the chairman, board, the chief executive officer or any other executive member employed by Horse Racing Ireland at an emergency general meeting of the HRI board, held on 27 September 2016, prior to the board of HRI releasing a press release which supported the reappointment of the chief executive of HRI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35246/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I was advised by my department that it had been notified by HRI that there was to be an EGM of the HRI board on the date in question. 

I understood that the Board was meeting with a view to discussing the appointment of the CEO and that a further statement might be issued regarding the reappointment of the CEO. The issue of any such statement was of course entirely a matter for the Board and my Department had no role in the matter.

My Department received confirmation that a statement had been agreed after it was approved by the Board.

Horse Racing Ireland

Questions (212)

Clare Daly

Question:

212. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 415 of 8 November 2016, if his position as outlined in his reply still stands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35247/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My position as outlined in my earlier reply still stands.

The Chairman apologised in his opening address to the Committee for his handling of the matter stating that the CEO appointment process could have been done better and that he takes responsibility for this matter.

The Board of HRI has also indicated that it is satisfied that "the best result for HRI and the industry has been achieved with the successful completion of the new CEO contract".

Harbours and Piers

Questions (213)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

213. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to identify the person responsible for a pier (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35290/16]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department owns, manages and maintains the six State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl. In accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board Piers, Lights and Beacons Act, my Department also has responsibility for North Harbour Cape Clear, and a limited number of small piers, lights and beacons.

I can confirm that my Department does not have responsibility for Kilkeavagh Pier, Co Kerry and therefore is not responsible for the upkeep of same.

Furthermore, my Department holds no records on the title of this pier. However we have established that Kilkeavagh Pier is not owned by the Local Authority and is not accessible by public road.