Written Answers Nos. 206-225
206. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting a significant length of time for an operation; and if the person will be scheduled for surgery as soon as possible. [39370/16]
View answerUnder 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.
207. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the number of staff employed by him and each Minister of State including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisers, press secretaries and other positions, in tabular form; the pay rate for each assistant and the total cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39555/16]
View answerThe number of personal staff employed by me and the Ministers of State at my Department and whose salaries are paid by the Department of Health or the Houses of the Oireachtas is set out in the table below.
|
Minister |
No. of Staff |
Annual Rate of Pay |
|
Minister Harris |
7 |
|
|
Special Adviser |
€87,258 |
|
|
Press Adviser |
€91,624 |
|
|
Secretarial Assistants (2) |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Parliamentary Assistant |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€32,965 |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€32,965 |
|
|
Total paid by the Department of Health |
€244,812 |
|
|
Minister of State McGrath |
6 |
|
|
Special Adviser |
€79,401 |
|
|
Special Adviser |
€75,647 |
|
|
Secretarial Assistant |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Parliamentary Assistant |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€34,700 |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€34,700 |
|
|
Total paid by the Department of Health |
€224,448 |
|
|
Minister of State McEntee |
4 |
|
|
Secretarial Assistant |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Parliamentary Assistant |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€34,700 |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€34,700 |
|
|
Total paid by the Department of Health |
€69,400 |
|
|
Minister of State Byrne |
4 |
|
|
Secretarial Assistant |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Parliamentary Assistant |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€34,700 |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€34,700 |
|
|
Total paid by the Department of Health |
€69,400 |
|
|
Minister of State Corcoran Kennedy |
5 |
|
|
Secretarial Assistant |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Parliamentary Assistant |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Parliamentary Liaison |
Paid by Houses of the Oireachtas |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€34,700 |
|
|
Civilian Driver |
€34,700 |
|
|
Total paid by the Department of Health |
€69,400 |
208. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if any staff employed in the public and Civil Service are seconded to work with him or any Minister of State in their constituencies; the number of same and cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39570/16]
View answerNone of my constituency office staff or those in the Ministers of State constituency offices have been seconded from the public or civil service.
209. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the aggregate amount of employers’ PRSI paid in relation to Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39683/16]
View answer210. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the aggregate amount of employees' PRSI paid in relation to Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39690/16]
View answer211. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the aggregate net pay of Civil Service workers in gross income ranges (details supplied) in his Department for each of the years 2007 to 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39799/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 211, inclusive, together.
My Department is compiling the information requested which will be forwarded to the Deputy in the next few days.
213. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grain tonnage yield for each county for each of the years 2015 and 2016, in tabular form. [39160/16]
View answerThe table sets out estimates, provided by Teagasc of the number of hectares sown and amount of grain produced by county for the years 2015 and 2016.
|
- |
Cereal Output 2015 |
|
|
Cereal Area (Hectares) |
Grain Production (tonnes) |
|
|
CARLOW |
15888 |
137305 |
|
CAVAN |
166 |
767 |
|
CLARE |
92 |
633 |
|
CORK |
39397 |
330709 |
|
DONEGAL |
5437 |
38258 |
|
DUBLIN |
13454 |
135776 |
|
GALWAY |
3719 |
26576 |
|
KERRY |
1711 |
15585 |
|
KILDARE |
26953 |
271572 |
|
KILKENNY |
14760 |
138712 |
|
LAOIS |
15181 |
138216 |
|
LEITRIM |
0 |
0 |
|
LIMERICK |
1031 |
8505 |
|
LONGFORD |
337 |
2571 |
|
LOUTH |
17953 |
177446 |
|
MAYO |
239 |
1569 |
|
MEATH |
28125 |
266606 |
|
MONAGHAN |
264 |
2265 |
|
OFFALY |
9256 |
76308 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
721 |
5210 |
|
SLIGO |
76 |
617 |
|
TIPPERARY |
20580 |
197679 |
|
WATERFORD |
6917 |
60330 |
|
WESTMEATH |
5119 |
42106 |
|
WEXFORD |
46028 |
393193 |
|
WICKLOW |
9308 |
81212 |
|
TOTALS |
282,711 |
2,549,725 |
|
-` |
Cereal Output 2016 |
|
|
Cereal Area (Hectares |
Grain Production (tonnes) |
|
|
CARLOW |
14633 |
123316 |
|
CAVAN |
368 |
2692 |
|
CLARE |
64 |
413 |
|
CORK |
36880 |
292394 |
|
DONEGAL |
4582 |
33031 |
|
DUBLIN |
12741 |
117012 |
|
GALWAY |
3193 |
17479 |
|
KERRY |
1826 |
12549 |
|
KILDARE |
25882 |
229914 |
|
KILKENNY |
13493 |
112227 |
|
LAOIS |
14507 |
119154 |
|
LEITRIM |
30 |
201 |
|
LIMERICK |
1103 |
8001 |
|
LONGFORD |
341 |
2171 |
|
LOUTH |
17524 |
154771 |
|
MAYO |
203 |
1261 |
|
MEATH |
25956 |
229590 |
|
MONAGHAN |
344 |
2606 |
|
OFFALY |
8664 |
67525 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
726 |
4622 |
|
SLIGO |
64 |
423 |
|
TIPPERARY |
19680 |
156524 |
|
WATERFORD |
5922 |
47312 |
|
WESTMEATH |
4695 |
36076 |
|
WEXFORD |
42718 |
338568 |
|
WICKLOW |
8364 |
68226 |
|
TOTALS |
264,503 |
2,178,056 |
214. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application under the basic payment scheme in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39161/16]
View answerAn application in respect of the 2016 Basic Payment scheme was received on 22 April 2016. The processing of this application is now complete and both the advance and balancing payments have issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
215. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the EU fishing waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39172/16]
View answerThe waters around Ireland (ICES Sub-areas VI & VII which extend from north of Scotland to Brittany and cover part of the Exclusive Fisheries zones of the UK and France also) contain some of the most productive and biologically sensitive fishing grounds in the EU. The management of the resources within this area come under the remit of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and a significant proportion are managed through a system of Total Allowable Catches from which quotas are allocated to individual Member States.
The overall fishing opportunities for 2016 for stocks to which the Irish fleet has access to is 1.1million tonnes of fish. These fish have an approximate point of landing value of €1.26 billion. Ireland’s total share of the TAC’s in 2016 amounted to 216,261 tonnes with a value of approximately €201million. This represents 20% by tonnage and 16% by value. These figures fluctuate depending on the state of the stocks and the markets from year to year. Also, they do not include valuable inshore fisheries e.g. crab, lobster, whelk which are not managed under the TAC system.
Ireland’s share of a particular TAC varies depending on the stock. For example, we have 86% of the Celtic Sea Herring stock and 15% of the Celtic Sea Cod stock.
It should also be noted that Ireland’s landings have substantially increased (from 85,700 tonnes in 1973 to 201,000 in 2016) since Ireland joined the EU in 1973.
The share out of stocks between Member States was established as a principle of the first CFP in 1983 and was based on the average catch of each Member State over a period of reference years. The reference period used to determine the allocation percentages (keys) for many of the traditional fish stocks around the coast runs from 1973 – 1978. This means that each Member State's share of each Community quota should remain constant over time.
Ireland successfully argued that recognition had to be given to the “special needs of regions where the local population is particularly dependent upon fishing and the industries allied to”. This gave rise to the Hague Preferences which can double Irelands fishing opportunities for certain stocks dependant on overall TAC level.
At the end of each year at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, Ministers set the total allowable catches (TACs) for a number of stocks important to Community fleets. Each TAC is then divided up among Member States in the form of quotas on the basis of “relative stability” after which Member States are free to manage their quotas at national level as they see fit.
With regard to the Deputy's point concerning "foreign supertankers", all foreign fishing vessels, on the north-west coast, are precluded from Ireland’s 12 mile fishing zone, other than for transit purposes and all foreign pelagic fishing vessels, including pelagic factory vessels, are also precluded from Ireland’s 12 mile fishing zone on the west coast. In addition, Irish fishing vessels equal to or greater than 36.58 m (120 ft) in length, are precluded from Ireland’s 12 mile zone. Under the Voisinage arrangement Northern Ireland vessels were given access in respect of the 6 mile fishing zone. However, in light of the recent Supreme Court judgement on this matter, access for Northern Ireland vessels is not currently provided for in domestic law.
The SFPA and the Naval Service through the Fisheries Monitoring Centre monitor the movements of foreign and Irish vessels within our Exclusive Fisheries Zone, using the Vessel Monitoring System Automatic Identification System and declared catches through Electronic Reporting System. The SFPA is reliant on the seagoing fishery patrol activity of the Naval Service to verify compliance of vessels not landing into Ireland.
The monitoring and control of fishing vessels within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone are matters for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, all operational issues of this nature concerning sea fisheries control are, as a matter of law, exclusively for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority and the Naval Service. As Minister I am precluded from getting involved in operational matters including in relation to law enforcement.
216. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39196/16]
View answerThe person named was the subject of an inspection carried out by Kerry County Council in January 2016, the results of which were cross-reported to my Department as required under EU Regulations.
The inspection identified non-compliances with the cross compliance requirements under the Nitrates Regulations relating to the inadequate collection and management of soiled water. This resulted in an overall penalty of 20% being applied against the 2016 Direct Schemes payments.
The person named was notified of this decision on 18 April 2016. The person named requested a review of this decision from the District Inspector the outcome of which was to up-hold the inspection findings. The person named was notified of the outcome on 24 October 2016.
If 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. I understand that to date no such review request has been received.
217. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their 2016 GLAS payment; the reason for the ongoing delay despite numerous contacts from his Department to confirm payment is forthcoming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39233/16]
View answerAn application under Tranche 1 of GLAS (GLAS 1) was received in my Department on the 18 May 2015 and the person named was approved into GLAS 1 with effect from 1 October 2015. During the GLAS pre-payment validation checks in respect of the 2015 scheme year an issue was identified on two parcels on which the Hen Harrier (whole parcel) action was selected. Department Officials are currently reviewing this issue with a view to resolving and processing the 2015 payment as soon as possible. Following the issue of payment in respect of the 2015 Scheme year, the application of the person named will be processed in respect of the 2016 Scheme year.
218. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be granted a single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39244/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2016 basic payment/ Areas of Natural Constraint scheme's application on 16 May 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 is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
219. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a payment of €30,000 was withheld from a single farm payment for 2014 in the case of a person (details supplied); if he will investigate this matter and rectify it by allocating this money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39249/16]
View answerThe penalty applied under the 2012 Direct Payment Schemes relates to breaches of Cross Compliance requirements. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Direct Payment Schemes, an applicant is required to comply with EU regulatory requirements relating to Cross Compliance in addition to meeting the Scheme criteria.
A report detailing findings of an inspection carried out by Veterinary Inspectors from my Department’s ERAD Animal Health Division on 31 May 2012 was referred to my Department’s Cross Compliance Unit for attention. This report detailed breaches relating to Feed/Food Hygiene requirements as follows
- Reactor animals were left in the herd for over a year.
- Consequential herd test was six months overdue.
Due to the seriousness of the breaches identified this resulted in a 60% penalty being applied against the 2012 Direct Schemes payments. As payments had already issued in respect of these schemes, my Department was required to put in place a process to recover the amounts concerned.
The person named was notified of this decision on 12 February 2013. The person named appealed this decision, and the original inspection decision was upheld. The person named was notified of this outcome on 8 September 2014.
The person named appealed this decision to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office and an oral hearing was held. The Appeals Officer disallowed the appeal and the person named was notified of this decision on 20 January 2015. The person named was also advised that if they considered that they had been treated unfairly by that office it was open to them to raise the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman, 18 Lower Leeson St., Dublin 2.
220. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [39253/16]
View answerThe EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote rensing (Satellite) inspections be completed to confirm eligibility under the schemes.
The 2014 Single Farm Payment/ Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application of the person named was selected for a remote sensing inspection. This inspection identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area determined resulting in an over-declaration in area of greater than 50%. Based on the terms and conditions of the scheme this resulted in no payment being due under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme and the application of an administrative fine to be offset against any future EU payments. The person named was notified of this decision on 19 November 2015.
The person named sought a review of the inspection findings and a field visit was arranged to verify the eligibility of the land on the ground. This field visit, while reducing the ineligible area, resulted in an over-declaration in area of greater than 20%, which under the terms and conditions of the scheme resulted in no payment being due under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme to the person named.
The person named sought a review of this decision the outcome of which was to uphold the inspection findings. The person named was notified of this decision on 4 May 2016 and of their right to seek a further review of the inspection decision.
In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of any such further review the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
221. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers to date that have applied to join GLAS III, and in each respective tier, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39301/16]
View answerTo date some 14,000 applications have been created on the GLAS 3 online system. The information requested by the Deputy on the breakdown of applications will not be available until after an assessment has been carried out on all of applications submitted to the Scheme in advance of the Scheme closing date of 15 December 2016.
Given the large volume of applications being created by applicants I would again urge them to adopt higher priority environmental actions that will promote them from Tier 3 to a higher tier, thus increasing their chances of selection into the Scheme.
222. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers participating in the beef data genomics scheme that have completed a beef carbon navigator, per county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39302/16]
View answer23,218 participants in the BDGP completed the carbon navigator by the deadline, which I had extended by one month to 30 November, and the number per county is set out in the table below.
|
County |
|
|
Carlow |
317 |
|
Cavan |
1138 |
|
Clare |
1771 |
|
Cork |
1671 |
|
Donegal |
1298 |
|
Dublin |
57 |
|
Galway |
2510 |
|
Kerry |
1252 |
|
Kildare |
297 |
|
Kilkenny |
577 |
|
Laois |
576 |
|
Leitrim |
892 |
|
Limerick |
754 |
|
Longford |
602 |
|
Louth |
216 |
|
Mayo |
2152 |
|
Meath |
550 |
|
Monaghan |
812 |
|
Offaly |
570 |
|
Roscommon |
1306 |
|
Sligo |
917 |
|
Tipperary |
982 |
|
Waterford |
344 |
|
Westmeath |
706 |
|
Wexford |
574 |
|
Wicklow |
377 |
|
Total |
23218 |
223. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers to date enrolled in GLAS that have had their applications approved and are still waiting for their 2016 payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39303/16]
View answerThe first two tranches of GLAS resulted in almost 38,000 farmers being approved into the scheme in its first year of implementation, some 26,300 in GLAS 1 and 11,700 in GLAS 2. The first full year of GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 contract payments are due in 2016 and the prepayment checking process is currently under way for both schemes with a view to commencing payment of the first instalment representing 85% of total payment due before the end of 2016.
224. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers that enrolled in the ANC scheme broken down by each respective area designation, mountain type land, more severely handicapped lowland, less severely handicapped lowland and areas of specific constraints (islands), in tabular form; the payment rate for each respective area designation; the total amount of funds under the scheme that have been drawn down to date under each area designation in each of the years 2014 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39304/16]
View answerThe range of data requested by the Deputy is not readily available.
Officials in my Department will compile the data requested and forward it directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
225. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of Irish beef exports to the United States in monetary value and volume to date in 2016; the total amount of manufacturing beef per this breakdown; the original 2016 targets for this market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39305/16]
View answerEight Irish plants are currently approved to export beef to the US and Ireland remains the only EU Member State exporting beef to this market to date. An estimated 1,800 tonnes of beef, valued at €14 million, was exported in 2015. This trade will be surpassed in 2016 because 2,000 tonnes have already been exported so far this year. Sales are expected to increase as the trade becomes more established and trading relationships become bedded down.
This trade is entirely composed of intact cuts for now as plants here are not yet approved to export manufacturing beef. Beef plants that wish to be approved to export manufacturing beef to the US must implement in full the criteria agreed with the US before trade may commence and interested plants are currently working on completing these steps.
