Written Answers Nos. 159-167
159. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the stretch targets for private income for each hospital in 2017; and if he will provide further details of these targets that were set for each of the past three years in each case. [14761/17]
View answerThe HSE assigns an income budget, including a private patient income budget, to each hospital as part of the annual budgetary process. The 2016 private patient income budget allocated to the acute hospital system was €649 million.
As regards the overall 2017 private patient income budget and the income budgets allocated to individuals hospitals for 2017 and each of the past three years, I have referred this matter to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
160. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14764/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
161. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 648 of 7 March 2017, if he will source some level of State funding towards the remuneration of a centre manager and full-time office administrator for a cancer support centre (details supplied) in County Galway in view of the fact that over 140 persons a week use the centre and a range of vital therapies and support is provided on an entirely voluntary basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14774/17]
View answer162. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 649 of 7 March 2017, the reason a cancer support centre (details supplied) in County Galway did not receive funding under the national lottery grant scheme despite the fact that a full-time service is run on an entirely voluntary basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14775/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.
The Department of Health does not provide on-going funding to support centres to cover staff salaries.
The East Galway Cancer Support submitted an application for funding under the National Lottery grant scheme to the Department in 2014. Unfortunately, applications for National Lottery grants far exceed the available resources and the grant was not awarded on that occasion. My Department does not have a record of any other National Lottery grant scheme applications from East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support Centre.
163. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in each county that applied for the green low carbon agri-environment scheme that have received or are awaiting payments, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14593/17]
View answerThe information requested by the deputy is set out in the following table.
|
- |
GLAS 1 |
GLAS 1 |
GLAS 1 |
GLAS 2 |
GLAS 2 |
GLAS 2 |
|
County |
Number |
Number |
Number of |
Number |
Number |
Number of |
|
sent for |
with PPV |
Unpaid |
sent for |
with PPV |
Unpaid |
|
|
Payment |
Pass |
Cases |
Payment |
Pass |
Cases |
|
|
Carlow |
245 |
2 |
32 |
115 |
1 |
12 |
|
Cavan |
813 |
16 |
84 |
403 |
2 |
27 |
|
Clare |
1,453 |
26 |
142 |
646 |
2 |
43 |
|
Cork |
1,833 |
40 |
297 |
894 |
4 |
116 |
|
Donegal |
1,661 |
29 |
265 |
859 |
4 |
148 |
|
Dublin |
50 |
1 |
12 |
14 |
1 |
2 |
|
Galway |
2,581 |
52 |
471 |
1,099 |
13 |
201 |
|
Kerry |
1,554 |
32 |
194 |
768 |
4 |
105 |
|
Kildare |
213 |
4 |
34 |
69 |
2 |
11 |
|
Kilkenny |
374 |
12 |
48 |
183 |
0 |
29 |
|
Laois |
315 |
9 |
48 |
179 |
0 |
18 |
|
Leitrim |
912 |
6 |
108 |
383 |
1 |
36 |
|
Limerick |
913 |
14 |
129 |
275 |
0 |
27 |
|
Longford |
466 |
5 |
46 |
328 |
0 |
21 |
|
Louth |
120 |
1 |
28 |
73 |
0 |
7 |
|
Mayo |
2,163 |
9 |
397 |
1,100 |
5 |
228 |
|
Meath |
363 |
3 |
62 |
175 |
0 |
29 |
|
Monaghan |
517 |
2 |
60 |
131 |
0 |
15 |
|
Offaly |
422 |
3 |
51 |
248 |
1 |
31 |
|
Roscommon |
1,361 |
20 |
154 |
507 |
1 |
46 |
|
Sligo |
858 |
4 |
87 |
340 |
1 |
28 |
|
Tipperary |
972 |
12 |
161 |
437 |
3 |
73 |
|
Waterford |
289 |
4 |
71 |
106 |
1 |
25 |
|
Westmeath |
586 |
4 |
64 |
243 |
2 |
19 |
|
Wexford |
636 |
2 |
138 |
236 |
0 |
34 |
|
Wicklow |
278 |
7 |
47 |
126 |
0 |
29 |
|
Totals |
21,948 |
319 |
3,230 |
9,937 |
48 |
1,360 |
164. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite a green low carbon agri-environment scheme payment for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14599/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases. Department officials are actively working to resolve this issue with a view to further processing the application for the 2016 payment as soon as possible.
165. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the townlands of Culleenmore, Portnashangan, Ballinagall, part of Taughmon and any land around Mullingar to the north is always excluded when the disadvantaged area or areas of natural constraints scheme review is taking place within his Department. [14652/17]
View answerUnder the Rural Development Regulation each Member State must designate areas eligible for payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme. The ANC scheme replaces the previous Disadvantaged Areas Scheme / Less Favoured Areas Scheme. The designation of eligible areas under these schemes to date has been based on a range of socio-economic factors. From 2018 eligible areas must instead be designated using a set list of bio-physical criteria. In cases where a Member State does not introduce this new system for payment, the old scheme remains in place but payments must phase out on a digressive basis.
The biophysical criteria set out in the legislation to underpin the new system of designation are:
- Low temperature
- Dryness
- Excess soil moisture
- Limited soil drainage
- Unfavourable texture and stoniness
- Shallow rooting depth
- Poor chemical properties
- Steep slope.
My Department has commenced work on this project, and relevant technical experts are currently working on sourcing and analysing the data in relation to the new criteria. Department officials have also been in contact with the Joint Research Centre and DG Agri in the EU Commission in relation to technical issues arising.
Over the coming months this analysis will identify areas deemed to be facing natural constraints, which will in parallel be subjected to a refinement process. The categorisation of designations, such as hill/mountain areas, and linked payment levels will be examined based on the outcome of the technical work I have outlined. It is envisaged that stakeholders will be consulted as this process develops.
167. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the investigations which have been undertaken by his Department regarding complaints made by a person (details supplied) relative to various matters concerning alleged fraud and contaminated milk; if correspondence sent to his Department regarding these matters had been processed; if the person has been informed of the outcome of any investigation or the status of their complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14659/17]
View answerMy Department received correspondence in 2012 from the named individual in which allegations were made against a certain company. At the time the Minister asked officials in the Investigations Division of my Department to examine the situation and meet with the person who submitted the correspondence.
Following their meeting, the investigating officers concluded that there was no evidence available to warrant an investigation under my Department’s legislation and advised the complainant in writing of this view. They also advised the person alleging the offences that a number of allegations appear, of their nature, to involve matters for consideration by the Garda Síochána. My understanding is that the Garda Síochána were subsequently contacted.
I am satisfied that my Department examined the allegation to the fullest extent of its remit and that the complainant has been advised of the outcome.
