Wednesday, 3 May 2017

Written Answers Nos. 273-284

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (273)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

273. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in the maxillofacial department in St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8. [21099/17]

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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (274)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

274. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on whether income from the rent-a-room scheme should be included in the calculation of means for medical cards in view of the fact that this scheme has the potential to contribute to addressing the housing crisis. [21102/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Service Executive issues Income Guidelines to assist in determining entitlement to Medical Cards/GP Visit Cards. In revising the Income Guidelines, the HSE has regard to Government policy, increases in the Consumer Price Index and to other issues which may be relevant.

There are no proposals currently to amend the current Income Guidelines for the granting of eligibility under the GMS Scheme.

National Maternity Hospital

Questions (275)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

275. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify comments made in respect of the Government retaining a golden share in the new national maternity hospital in view of the 2010 European Court of Justice ruling against Portugal (details supplied) that found that this practice was illegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21104/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have been advised that the ruling the Deputy is referring to concerned a breach of Article 63 TFEU (Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), essentially a breach of the free movement of capital. I have also been advised that Article 63 TFEU will not apply to the new company - National Maternity Hospital at Elm Park DAC (limited by shares). Accordingly the ruling has no relevance.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (276)

Frank O'Rourke

Question:

276. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health if he will consider issuing guidelines to Naas Hospital to provide free parking for persons undergoing cancer treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21108/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.

Medicinal Products Availability

Questions (277)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

277. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate with the relevant HSE officials and a hospital (details supplied) if a drug can be made available publicly to a person (details supplied) in view of this person's health condition; if this drug will be made available to all public patients in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21130/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.

Horse Racing Industry

Questions (278)

Clare Daly

Question:

278. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the fact there is no unannounced out-of-competition drug testing of horses and that at least three days' notice must be given before a horse can be tested. [20898/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Turf Club (and INHSC) is the Regulatory Body for horseracing in Ireland and is responsible for the integrity of Irish racing.

The Turf Club has informed me that there is a rigorous out-of-competition testing regime consistent with international best practice in place in Ireland.

Under the Rule 20(xviii) of the Rules of Racing the Turf Club has power:

To make arrangements for any person appointed by them from time to time to enter without notice the Training Establishment of a Trainer or the establishment where a horse is stabled during the period specified under Rule 147(iii) whilst under the care of an Overseas Trainer for the purpose of:

- inspecting facilities and premises and any relevant documentation or records to determine whether the Rules of Racing, I.N.H.S. Rules, Regulations, Instructions and Orders issued under these Rules are being complied with and/or

- inspecting, examining or testing all Horses under the care of a Trainer or in a licensed Training Establishment whether or not returned in training, and whether or not such Horse has been entered for a race or has run in a race, which may include the taking of samples for subsequent analysis.

The Turf Club has informed me that the number of out-of-competition samples taken in recent years are as follows:

- 2016 - 231

- 2015 - 141

- 2014 - 151

- 2013 - 283

All these samples were taken at Trainer's yards during unannounced inspections.

Basic Payment Scheme Payments

Questions (279)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

279. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of 2015 and 2016 payments under the basic payment scheme for a person (details supplied). [20902/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Applications in respect of the 2015 and 2016 Basic Payment Scheme were submitted by the person named on 7 April 2017 and, while they were received outside the time frame allowed, the late penalty has been waived. The person named does not have any entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme.  However, the applications are currently being reviewed with regard to the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme. An official from my Department will be in direct contact with the person named to clarify the position.

TAMS Payments

Questions (280)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

280. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing TAMS payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20929/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

All TAMS II payment claims are being processed on an on going basis. The TAMS II IT system has been updated to allow for the correction of obvious errors and payment claims which are identified as having these obvious errors are being processed for payment.

Departmental Bodies Properties

Questions (281)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

281. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current usage of a building (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20930/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As stated in my response to the Deputy's  Parliamentary Question 16190/17 on 4th April 2017, the property referred to by the Deputy is under Bord Iascaigh Mhara’s (BIM) remit and is currently not part of my Department’s property portfolio in Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre. 

Whilst my Department has been engaged with BIM in regard to the property that position has not changed. 

In general properties owned by my Department, located in Fishery Harbour Centres are, when appropriate, offered for tenancy under lease agreements by means of open competitive tendering process in accordance with best practice and public procurement guidelines.

With reference to the specific case raised by the Deputy, my Department has not been approached in this regard, or made aware of the details.

Livestock Issues

Questions (282)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

282. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for livestock cattle dealer numbers his Department has received by county in each of the years 2009 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20944/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The following Table details the information requested by the Deputy.

Applications for livestock cattle dealer numbers received by county in DAFM 2009 to 2016 and to end April 2017

COUNTY	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017 to end April
Carlow	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cavan	2	0	2	2	0	1	1	0	3
Clare	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cork	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	1	0
Donegal	3	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	5
Dublin	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Galway	2	2	1	1	2	1	0	1	10
Kerry	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Kildare	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	2
Kilkenny	0	0	1	3	1	1	0	0	1
Laois	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	3
Leitrim	0	1	2	1	0	1	0	0	1
Limerick	1	0	3	2	0	2	1	1	0
Longford	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Louth	0	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	0
Mayo	0	1	2	0	0	0	1	1	0
Meath	0	1	0	0	1	0	1	1	1
Monaghan	1	2	0	0	1	1	2	0	3
Offaly	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
Roscommon	1	0	1	2	1	0	0	0	4
Sligo	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
Tipperary	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1
Waterford	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0
Westmeath	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0
Wexford	1	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	1
Wicklow	0	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Questions (283)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

283. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an outstanding farm payment will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20946/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named commenced their AEOS 2 contract on 1 September 2011. Payment issued in respect of the 2011-2015 Scheme years.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System must take place. As 2016 is the final scheme-year of payment for the person-named, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. This work is on-going and payments due for processed files are released on a weekly basis.

Teagasc Courses

Questions (284)

Eamon Scanlon

Question:

284. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the centres at which green cert courses will be delivered in 2017 in the Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20961/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Teagasc deliver the Green Cert on a full-time, part-time and distance education (online) basis at Teagasc Regional Education Centres, Local Offices and Agricultural Colleges. The scheduling of Green Cert courses in particular locations is an operational matter for Teagasc.

I understand that Teagasc is looking at starting 4 new part-time Green Cert classes in October 2017 in the Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal region in the following locations: Ballymote, Manorhamilton, Letterkenny and Ballybofey. The number of classes and locations will not be finalised until later in the year. The proposed classes will bring the total number of Green Cert classes in the Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal region to 16 and the total number of students enrolled to close on 500.