Written Answers Nos. 240-257
240. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the continuation of supply to patients of the drug Respreeza; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this drug has successfully treated alpha1 antitrypsin deficiency. [39142/16]
View answerThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In reaching its decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision (including the information /dossier submitted by the Company) and will take into account such expert opinions and recommendations which may have been sought by the HSE at its sole discretion (for example, from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics).
In considering an application, the HSE will also have regard to Part 1 and Part 3 of Schedule 3 of the 2013 Act. Part 3 requires the HSE to have regard to the following criteria:
1. the health needs of the public;
2. the cost-effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services;
3. the availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement;
4. the proposed costs, benefits and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks;
5. the potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item;
6. the clinical need for the item or listed item;
7. the appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety;
8. the efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies); and
9. the resources available to the HSE.
I am informed that the HSE received a request and economic dossier from the manufacturer of Respreeza for maintenance treatment of emphysema in adults with documented severe alpha1-proteinase inhibitor deficiency.
In June of this year the HSE asked the NCPE to carry out a health technology assessment on the cost effectiveness of this treatment. This assessment is still on-going. Once the assessment is completed, a summary report will be published on the NCPE website.
The HSE will then consider the NCPE assessment, and other expert advice, as part of its decision-making process for reimbursement. This decision will be made on objective, scientific and economic grounds by the HSE in line with the 2013 Act.
As the Deputy will appreciate, I cannot comment on the case of any individual, or intervene in individual patient cases.
242. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farmers who purchased entitlements in 2014 to try and make their farm holdings viable are not able to draw down payments on these entitlements now; the reason there was a change in 2015 relating to criteria for such transfer of entitlements; if he proposes to reverse those changes and enable such persons to draw down full entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38927/16]
View answerUnder the new CAP reform which came into effect on 1 January 2015, the Single Payment Scheme was replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme. All existing Single Payment entitlements expired on 31 December 2014.
The EU Regulations governing the Scheme provide that an automatic right to receive an allocation of entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme was confined to farmers who were in receipt of a direct payment in 2013. The number of Basic Payment Scheme entitlements allocated to a farmer in 2015 was based on the number of eligible hectares declared by them in 2013 or 2015, whichever was the lesser.
The value of entitlements allocated to a farmer in 2015 was based on a fixed percentage of the value of entitlements held by the farmer in 2014 and any payment received under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme. In this regard, if an existing farmer purchased entitlements under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme, this value was included in the calculation of their Basic Payment Scheme entitlements.
During 2013 and 2014 it was widely advertised in the Media, CAP booklet, at farmer meetings and published in the Terms and Conditions of the 2014 Scheme that persons who did not hold an allocation right should not purchase entitlements under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme. While such entitlements would be eligible for payment under the 2014 scheme year, they would not carry forward to the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015.
The EU Regulations governing the allocation of entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme is determined at EU level and binding on all Member States, therefore I do not have discretion on this matter.
243. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the situation on commonages whereby under GLAS 3 a person has to have made an application in 2014 for those lands under BPS and ANC to qualify; and his views on whether this is fair, when, if a person farms prove hill or lowland this does not apply to 2014 and in fact if a person has made application in 2016 to lowland or hill private lands, they qualify. [38991/16]
View answerThe commonage eligibility requirements for GLAS 3 applications have been updated from those which applied in GLAS 1 and GLAS 2. For GLAS 3 commonage land declared for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2015 whether declared in previous years or not is eligible for the Scheme. This update was notified to all GLAS advisors and also published the circular on the Department’s website.
In addition new entrants to farming in 2016 who declared commonage in their first BPS application in 2016 will also qualify. Farmers with commonage receive priority access to the GLAS Scheme.
Farmers with privately owned hill or lowland are not automatically afforded priority access to the scheme unless they have a Priority Environmental Asset (PEA) on their holding.
244. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he proceeds with the rule of application on commonages of 2014 to qualify for GLAS, his views on whether a person who does not fit criteria and puts as many sheep as they like on a commonage, then that will leave other farmers uncompliant even though they may have BPS applications in 2014. [38992/16]
View answerThe commonage eligibility requirements for GLAS 3 applications have been updated from those which applied in GLAS 1 and GLAS 2. For GLAS 3 commonage land declared for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2015 whether declared in previous years or not is eligible for the Scheme. This update was notified to all GLAS advisors and this information was also made available on the Department’s website.
In addition, new entrants to farming in 2016 who declared commonage as part of their first BPS application in 2016 will also qualify. Farmers with commonage receive priority access to the GLAS Scheme.
Farmers with privately owned hill or lowland are not automatically afforded priority access to the scheme unless they have a Priority Environmental Asset (PEA) on their holding.
All shareholders farming a commonage are obliged under the Basic Payment Scheme to ensure that the land is maintained in an eligible condition as part of their commitments to support their annual Basic Payment Scheme payment. Under the GLAS scheme payment for commonage action is justified on the basis that individual shareholders sign up to and implement a management plan prepared by an approved commonage advisor.
245. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department introduced a 2014 rule application for commonages to qualify for GLAS while lowland or hill private lands are treated differently; and his views on whether it is another attack on hill commonage farmers. [38993/16]
View answerMy Department revised commonage eligibility requirements for GLAS 3 applications from those which applied for GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 and issued a circular to all advisors and also published the circular on the Department’s website. This update states that for GLAS 3 commonage land declared for the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) in 2015 whether declared in previous years or not is eligible.
In addition new entrants to farming in 2016 who declared commonage in their first BPS application in 2016 will also qualify. Farmers with commonage receive priority access to the GLAS Scheme.
Farmers with privately owned hill or lowland are not automatically afforded priority access to the scheme unless they have a Priority Environmental Asset (PEA) on their holding.
246. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an agency (details supplied) will publish its annual report for 2015; the reason the report has not been produced to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39018/16]
View answerBord na gCon is a commercial State body, established in 1958, under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
Bord na gCon has informed me that the 2015 annual report was passed by the Board on 6 December 2016 and anticipates that same will be forwarded to my office within the coming week.
247. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any investments, either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, are held in tobacco companies by his Department, any agency within the remit of his Department, or any agency or entity in receipt of departmental funding; if his Department has any guidelines relating to such investment; if his Department intends to introduce any policies or guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39024/16]
View answerMy Department does not have any investments, either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, in tobacco companies.
As regards future policy I have no plans for any investments, directly or indirectly, in tobacco companies.
In relation to the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, as the information requested is an operational matter for the Bodies themselves they have been requested to forward the relevant information directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
248. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the semi-State companies under the aegis of his Department which have absorbed the private pension levy and those companies which have passed the cost of the levy onto their pension funds. [39091/16]
View answerInformation relating to the private pension levy in respect of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is considered to be an operational matter for the State Bodies concerned.
249. Deputy Peter Burke 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. [39146/16]
View answerThe persons named submitted an application under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme with the last named person as the young farmer. The Young Farmers Scheme application was successful and payment has since issued. The National Reserve application was not successful as the applicants were deemed to have exceeded the off-farm income limit of €40,000. A letter issued to the persons named informing them of the decision in relation to this application and offering the opportunity to submit an appeal.
My Department subsequently received an appeal from the persons named in relation to their National Reserve application. This appeal was considered by my Department based on the information set out by the applicants and the original decision regarding the status of the on farm and off farm income was upheld. A letter issued to the persons named on 4 July 2016 informing them of the decision in relation to their appeal and offering them the opportunity to submit a further appeal to the Basic Payment Scheme Appeals Committee. The persons named have submitted a further appeal. The Agricultural Appeals Office is currently dealing with this appeal and the persons named will be notified in writing of the outcome of their appeal once completed.
250. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a basic payment scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39134/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2016 basic payment/ Areas of Natural Constraint scheme's application on 24 April 2016. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a remote sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection has now been completed and the results have been finalised. Payments due under the Basic Payment Scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 8 November 2016 and 1 December 2016.
251. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39133/16]
View answerAn application in respect of the 2016 Basic Payment scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2016. Advance and balancing payments have issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
252. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the national grants that are available for persons who wish to build either solar farms or wind farms on their property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39056/16]
View answerGrants or grant aid are not provided for the construction of wind or solar farms on (private) property. The convention to date is that the Renewable Energy Feed-in-Tariff (REFIT) schemes support the development of a range of renewable electricity technologies including hydro, biomass combustion, biomass combined heat and power, landfill gas and onshore wind.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to facilitate the development of solar energy projects in Ireland. This builds on the Energy White Paper published in December 2015 and recognises that solar also has the potential to provide a community dividend, thereby also enhancing citizen participation in Ireland's energy future. With this in mind, Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is one of the technologies being considered in the context of a new support scheme for renewable electricity generation which is under development.
The first Technology Review public consultation on a new renewable electricity support scheme was published in 2015 and following the completion of detailed economic analysis on the viability and cost effectiveness of supporting a range of renewable technologies - including Solar (PV) and on-shore wind - a second public consultation will be published in 2017. Details of the next public consultation will be advertised on the Department's website www.dccae.gov.ie.
Before any new scheme is introduced, it will need to secure Government approval and State aid clearance from the European Commission. The new support scheme for renewable electricity is expected to become available in late 2017.
The Deputy might also be interested to know that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland currently provides supports for the use of solar thermal heating technology to both large industry and SMEs. Households can also avail of grant support for investment in renewable energy installations, including solar thermal, under the Better Energy Homes Scheme.
253. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if investments, either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, are held in tobacco companies by his Department, any agency within the remit of his Department, or any agency or entity in receipt of departmental funding; if his Department has any guideline relating to such investment; if his Department intends to introduce any policies or guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39027/16]
View answerMy Department does not invest in company stocks or shares either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds. Civil Service pensions are funded directly from the Superannuation and Retired Allowances Vote (Vote 12) of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as part of current expenditure, voted in the annual estimates.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
254. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the options open to a person (details supplied) who has been refused an SEAI grant despite their home having been built in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39059/16]
View answerThe Better Energy Homes Scheme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under the Better Energy Programme. Better Energy Homes provides a financial incentive to private homeowners who wish to improve the energy performance of their homes. Fixed grants are provided towards the cost of a range of measures including attic insulation, wall insulation, heating systems upgrades, solar thermal panels and accompanying Building Energy Rating (BER).
SEAI's policy is that to be eligible for grant aid, a home must be built and occupied before 2006. Homes built from this point onwards have been constructed to the 2003 Building Regulations and so should not require significant insulation or heating system upgrades. Proof of construction and occupancy is taken as the date the ESB meter is installed. These procedures are detailed in the Better Energy Homes Application Guide.
If an application were received that does not meet the criteria set out in the application guide, then SEAI have an appeals process that applicants can avail of. If a homeowner can provide sufficient evidence to prove that their home was built and finished in 2005, then SEAI have the authority to re-consider an application, provided that the homeowner meets all the other conditions of the scheme.
In general, I have no function in relation to individual grant applications and queries in relation to individual grant applications are an operational matter for the SEAI. A dedicated hotline to deal with questions about applications is available at 1800 250 204. In addition, the SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members: oireachtas@seai.ie. Such queries will be dealt with promptly.
255. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will work with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to install a footbridge from Santry to Coolock Lane (details supplied). [38920/16]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
256. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a matter regarding the licensing system of coaches (details supplied) in Killarney, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38994/16]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.
I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
257. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if investments, either directly or indirectly through pension or other investment funds, are held in tobacco companies by his Department, any agency within the remit of his Department, or any agency or entity in receipt of departmental funding; if his Department has any guideline relating to such investment; if his Department intends to introduce any policies or guideline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39039/16]
View answerMy Department does not hold any investments either directly or indirectly in tobacco companies.
Investments by agencies of the Department, and other entities in receipt of funding from the Department, is a matter for the agencies and other entities themselves and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to them for their direct response. If the Deputy does not receive a response within 10 working days he should contact my private office.
In relation to guidelines on investing in the tobacco industry, Ireland has ratified and is a party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Article 5.3 of that legally binding Convention states the following:
“In setting and implementing their public health policies with respect to tobacco control, Parties shall act to protect these policies from commercial and other vested interests of the tobacco industry in accordance with national law”.
Guidelines for the implementation of the above-mention Article 5.3 were developed to assist parties. Paragraphs 4.7 and 7.2 of the guidelines state the following:
"4.7 Government institutions and their bodies should not have any financial interest in the tobacco industry, unless they are responsible for managing a Party’s ownership in a State-owned tobacco industry.
7.2 Parties that do not have a State-owned tobacco industry should not invest in the tobacco industry and related ventures.”
