Written Answers Nos 512-533
512. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if he plans to run a nationwide gambling and gambling addiction awareness campaign; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26015/17]
View answerThe Department of Health does not have a role in relation to the development of gambling awareness campaigns. I am informed by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality that it remains her intention to proceed with gambling legislation at the earliest opportunity. The preparation of a Gambling Control Bill continues on that basis and it is anticipated that the Bill will address consumer protection. However, it should be acknowledged that it will require some significant updating to take account of developments since 2013. The preparation of legislation will be a major and complex undertaking.
513. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health when home nursing support will be provided to a person (details supplied); if he will expedite same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26021/17]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
514. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that an ambulance service will continue to be based at Millstreet, County Cork; if he will address the recent reports that the ambulance service has been withdrawn from the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26022/17]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
515. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps which can be taken to provide extra support, preferably in the form of therapy, for a disabled person (details supplied) who is suffering trauma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26033/17]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's 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.
516. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the steps which have been taken to ensure the safety of disabled persons who are being transported to and from their homes to residential placement at weekends, with reference to either monitoring or chaperoning them on bus journeys. [26035/17]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's 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.
517. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase food exports to Israel; if he is providing support and information to businesses seeking to gain kosher certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25346/17]
View answerTrade for Ireland is very important given that we are a small open economy. The pursuit and development of new and existing markets such as Israel for Irish agrifood exports is therefore a central component of the strategic development of the agrifood sector, as evidenced by its placement at the centre of Food Wise 2025, the industry’s strategy for development over the coming decade. Indeed, this is all the more important against the backdrop of the UK’s decision to leave the EU, which presents significant new challenges for the agrifood sector in particular.
Irish agrifood exports to Israel have already increased in recent years, from €26m in 2014 to €34m in 2016. €27m of this related to dairy products.
The Israeli beef market re-opened for exports from Ireland in 2016. 350 tonnes of beef, to the value of €2.2 million, was exported to Israel in 2016. While my Department is responsible for issuing veterinary health certificates, the issue of Kosher certification and the export of product to any destination is ultimately a commercial matter for the food business operator involved in this transaction.
518. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that fisheries are a top priority in the Brexit talks and to further ensure that Irish fisheries interests are fully protected; his plans to link fisheries negotiations with the trade talks during the Brexit negotiations, thus ensuring that fisheries are central to the eventual negotiated outcome of the talks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25591/17]
View answerAt this stage it is impossible to say with certainty what effect Brexit will have on the Irish fishing industry. We do not know yet what changes the UK may seek to the current arrangements. We are, however, clear that our objective is to maintain current access to fishing grounds in the UK zone in the Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and north of Donegal and protect Ireland’s quota share for joint fish stocks.
Earlier this year, I hosted a dedicated Civic Dialogue on the potential impacts of Brexit for the seafood sector as whole. This was very well attended by stakeholders from across the industry and gave a clear insight into the real dangers that a 'hard' Brexit presents for our fishing communities.
I will remain in close contact with fisheries stakeholders as the issues develop and work with them and my fellow fisheries Ministers in the EU to ensure that we are all fully prepared for what are likely to be extremely complex negotiations.
I am also continuing to work closely with all of my European colleagues to ensure that fisheries remain a top priority in the negotiations to come.
As both I and An Taoiseach have stated before, we intend to ensure that fisheries remains high on the Brexit agenda in the EU and that Ireland obtains the best possible outcome from the negotiations.
During the recent visit of Chief Brexit Negotiator, Mr Michel Barnier to Ireland, I met with him and discussed the issues arising for the agri-food sector. On fisheries, I explained Ireland's perspective and that it was shared by a number of EU partners. I am satisfied that Mr Barnier understands the issues and the potential significance of Brexit for Ireland's fisheries sector. Mr Barnier agreed with me that fisheries negotiations must be inextricably linked to the wider trade negotiations.
I also made clear that transitional arrangements are likely to be important for the seafood sector.
In conclusion, I would like to assure the Deputy that I will be unequivocal in opposing any dilution of our existing EU quota shares, including protecting the benefit to Ireland of the Hague Preferences, and any limitations on our existing rights of access.
519. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of vacancies for Brexit-related posts within Bord Bia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25419/17]
View answerBrexit is a priority for Bord Bia, the state agency responsible for the marketing and promotion of agri-food and drink. Bord Bia's programmes and activities in this area are all directly relevant to expanding market penetration and diversifying outlets for Irish food and drink against the background of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
Bord Bia currently has a staff of 116 and is in the process of recruiting for four more positions.
My Department is currently considering the future workforce needs of both the Department and its agencies in relation to Brexit and will be keeping resource allocations under close review as the negotiations proceed.
520. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of meetings he has had with officials from Bord Bia on Brexit-related matters in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25416/17]
View answerI have met the CEO of Bord Bia and members of her management team on a number of occasions since the Brexit vote, most recently last Friday when we met with senior ASDA executives in Leeds as part of our ongoing engagement with retailers in the UK. During that meeting we outlined the challenges that the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union will present, the most immediate being the significant drop in the value of sterling against the euro.
I have also met with the CEO and her team on the international trade missions to China, Morocco, the Gulf Region and Germany, where Brexit was also a major focus of the discussions.
I and my officials work closely with the Bord Bia team and they are represented at senior management level on my Department's Brexit Stakeholders Consultative Committee (last meeting 11 April 2017) and the Interdepartmental Subgroup on Agri Food (next meeting 14 June 2017).
Given the critical role Bord Bia plays in helping to mitigate the impacts of Brexit, I also allocated significant additional resources to it in Budget 2017 in order to provide Brexit-related supports to affected companies, including through its new Brexit Barometer.
The CEO of Bord Bia sits on the FW2025 High Level Implementation Committee and Brexit is included as a standard item on the agenda of each meeting.
521. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25278/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified with the Low Input Permanent Pasture action. Department officials are examining the issue with a view to issuing payment as soon as possible.
522. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether Food Wise 2025 should be reviewed in view of the fact that his ministerial colleague in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has commenced a review of Enterprise 2025 and in view of the fact that its forecasts and targets were predicated on the UK remaining in the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25295/17]
View answerFood Wise 2025, the ten-year strategy for the agri-food sector published in July 2015, identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow it to grow and prosper. It includes more than 400 specific recommendations spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness, as well as specific sectoral recommendations.
Food Wise is a vision for the sector developed by stakeholders and facilitated by my department. As regards reviewing the strategy in the light of Brexit, it is important to understand that Food Wise 2025 is in fact, a living and evolving strategy. I chair quarterly meetings of the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with high level representatives from all the relevant Departments and State agencies. The committee reviews progress on detailed actions on a quarterly basis, in order to identify and solve problems quickly. Brexit has now been included as a standard item on the agenda of each meeting of the HLIC.
It is not yet clear what the final outcome of the UK's decision to leave the EU will be. While the value of agri-food exports to the UK declined in 2016 - primarily as a result of the reduction in the value of sterling - the overall value of exports increased. A so-called 'hard' Brexit, involving the imposition of WTO tariffs on trade, would have a more significant adverse effect on the value of exports, but our stated aim is to avoid such a scenario.
In either event, while recognising the challenges, I do not believe that it would be appropriate to reduce our ambition for the sector at this juncture. Furthermore, it is clear that the implementation of the Food Wise recommendations, particularly those related to market development, competitiveness and innovation, will assume even greater importance in the light of the UK decision, regardless of the ultimate outcome.
523. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information (details supplied) in respect of pillar 1 and 2 payments of the basic payment scheme, ANCS, disadvantaged areas scheme, AEOS, REPS, sheep grassland scheme, GLAS, beef data and genomics scheme on a county basis in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and, to date in 2017, in tabular form. [25296/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. It is being compiled for the schemes listed and the data will be furnished to the Deputy.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
524. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information (details supplied) regarding land eligibility and the basic payment scheme on a county basis in each of the years 2010 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [25297/17]
View answerThe detailed data requested by the Deputy is not readily available and it will take some time to retrieve it. Officials in my Department will collate the data and forward it directly to the Deputy.
525. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information (details supplied) on a county basis in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [25298/17]
View answerThe detailed data requested by the Deputy is not readily available and it will take some time to retrieve it. Officials in my Department will collate the data and forward it to the Deputy.
526. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information allocated for schemes (details supplied) regarding the value of penalties recouped on a county basis in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [25299/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and will take some time to retrieve. The data will be furnished to the Deputy as soon it is available.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
527. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information (details supplied) regarding the cross compliance and GAEC requirements on a county basis in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [25300/17]
View answerThe detailed data requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials in my Department will collate the data and forward it directly to the Deputy.
528. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information (details supplied) regarding the GLAS scheme on a county basis, in tabular form. [25301/17]
View answerThe information requested is set out in the following table:
|
County |
No. GLAS 1 |
No. GLAS 1 |
No. GLAS 1 |
Total Value |
No. GLAS1 + |
No.GLAS 1 |
|
Applicants |
Approved |
Paid |
of Payments |
Advance |
with Commonage |
|
|
Applicants |
Applicants |
Made |
Applicants |
Actions |
||
|
Carlow |
299 |
279 |
258 |
972,483.19 |
6 |
52 |
|
Cavan |
961 |
909 |
868 |
3,162,541.46 |
17 |
23 |
|
Clare |
1,685 |
1,617 |
1,535 |
5,504,473.71 |
224 |
85 |
|
Cork |
2,351 |
2,169 |
2,018 |
6,928,874.58 |
169 |
316 |
|
Donegal |
2,043 |
1,953 |
1,863 |
6,190,362.46 |
124 |
660 |
|
Dublin |
67 |
63 |
56 |
203,283.17 |
3 |
12 |
|
Galway |
3,252 |
3,096 |
2,868 |
10,279,764.10 |
159 |
666 |
|
Kerry |
1,855 |
1,778 |
1,699 |
6,016,924.93 |
279 |
597 |
|
Kildare |
305 |
248 |
228 |
848,927.30 |
0 |
5 |
|
Kilkenny |
474 |
433 |
409 |
1,490,723.37 |
0 |
8 |
|
Laois |
394 |
371 |
348 |
1,255,585.07 |
19 |
16 |
|
Leitrim |
1,069 |
1,023 |
969 |
3,479,993.04 |
40 |
138 |
|
Limerick |
1,130 |
1,055 |
1,001 |
3,596,073.19 |
153 |
16 |
|
Longford |
536 |
517 |
485 |
1,750,193.71 |
1 |
9 |
|
Louth |
160 |
148 |
131 |
476,399.77 |
0 |
36 |
|
Mayo |
2,685 |
2,565 |
2,375 |
8,394,559.71 |
155 |
781 |
|
Meath |
481 |
427 |
395 |
1,430,872.46 |
0 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
611 |
578 |
548 |
1,817,968.03 |
7 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
505 |
476 |
452 |
1,610,640.11 |
13 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
1,587 |
1,533 |
1,457 |
5,298,252.31 |
6 |
30 |
|
Sligo |
981 |
947 |
901 |
3,158,554.06 |
15 |
110 |
|
Tipperary |
1,234 |
1,139 |
1,061 |
3,891,794.20 |
76 |
90 |
|
Waterford |
393 |
364 |
322 |
1,157,662.10 |
30 |
64 |
|
Westmeath |
680 |
652 |
612 |
2,228,527.74 |
4 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
861 |
775 |
670 |
2,498,362.94 |
8 |
33 |
|
Wicklow |
362 |
332 |
301 |
1,139,522.51 |
10 |
68 |
|
26,961 |
25,447 |
23,830 |
84,783,319.22 |
1,518 |
3,817 |
|
|
County |
No. GLAS 2 |
No. GLAS 2 |
No. GLAS 2 |
Total Value |
No. GLAS2 + |
No. GLAS 2 |
|
Applicants |
Approved |
Paid |
of Payments |
Advance |
with Commonage |
|
|
Applicants |
Applicants |
Made |
Applicants |
Actions |
||
|
Carlow |
142 |
128 |
122 |
442,270.65 |
0 |
25 |
|
Cavan |
524 |
432 |
419 |
1,509,628.81 |
16 |
23 |
|
Clare |
869 |
691 |
666 |
2,429,436.96 |
116 |
54 |
|
Cork |
1,248 |
1,012 |
952 |
3,368,475.26 |
125 |
238 |
|
Donegal |
1,212 |
1,011 |
959 |
3,119,906.88 |
128 |
482 |
|
Dublin |
19 |
17 |
15 |
53,606.73 |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway |
1,545 |
1,314 |
1,226 |
4,204,061.91 |
102 |
382 |
|
Kerry |
1,078 |
877 |
839 |
3,036,799.75 |
184 |
397 |
|
Kildare |
130 |
82 |
75 |
263,608.72 |
0 |
14 |
|
Kilkenny |
260 |
211 |
197 |
740,409.63 |
0 |
4 |
|
Laois |
259 |
197 |
185 |
653,150.85 |
10 |
10 |
|
Leitrim |
573 |
420 |
401 |
1,455,054.21 |
41 |
97 |
|
Limerick |
431 |
302 |
291 |
1,038,960.06 |
48 |
5 |
|
Longford |
392 |
349 |
338 |
1,241,901.61 |
4 |
9 |
|
Louth |
98 |
80 |
75 |
268,192.31 |
0 |
32 |
|
Mayo |
1,645 |
1,333 |
1,217 |
4,155,460.47 |
125 |
599 |
|
Meath |
256 |
204 |
184 |
667,035.73 |
0 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
224 |
146 |
139 |
479,051.19 |
5 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
317 |
280 |
262 |
988,112.64 |
23 |
4 |
|
Roscommon |
691 |
554 |
529 |
1,899,321.84 |
12 |
20 |
|
Sligo |
520 |
368 |
354 |
1,223,724.37 |
18 |
85 |
|
Tipperary |
654 |
512 |
478 |
1,767,467.31 |
45 |
55 |
|
Waterford |
160 |
132 |
112 |
406,414.61 |
9 |
27 |
|
Westmeath |
321 |
264 |
253 |
925,550.64 |
8 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
309 |
269 |
239 |
897,154.91 |
8 |
6 |
|
Wicklow |
185 |
155 |
145 |
560,930.13 |
15 |
68 |
|
14,062 |
11,340 |
10,672 |
37,795,688.18 |
1,042 |
2,637 |
|
|
County |
No. GLAS 3 |
No. GLAS 3 |
No. GLAS 3 |
Total Value |
No. GLAS3 + |
No. GLAS 3 |
|
Applicants |
Approved |
Paid |
of Payments |
Advance |
with Commonage |
|
|
Applicants |
Applicants |
Made |
Applicants |
Actions |
||
|
Carlow |
129 |
126 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
|
Cavan |
569 |
562 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
32 |
|
Clare |
844 |
837 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
75 |
|
Cork |
993 |
969 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
134 |
|
Donegal |
1,463 |
1,441 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
615 |
|
Dublin |
21 |
20 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
|
Galway |
1,670 |
1,628 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
417 |
|
Kerry |
801 |
773 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
265 |
|
Kildare |
131 |
122 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
|
Kilkenny |
204 |
198 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Laois |
250 |
245 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
19 |
|
Leitrim |
548 |
537 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
109 |
|
Limerick |
422 |
414 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
|
Longford |
342 |
333 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
|
Louth |
104 |
102 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
16 |
|
Mayo |
1,723 |
1,685 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
692 |
|
Meath |
287 |
278 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
372 |
370 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
319 |
313 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
10 |
|
Roscommon |
740 |
720 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
|
Sligo |
525 |
513 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
97 |
|
Tipperary |
534 |
521 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
|
Waterford |
130 |
128 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
23 |
|
Westmeath |
301 |
295 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
330 |
307 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
|
Wicklow |
212 |
207 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
68 |
|
13,964 |
13,644 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2,697 |
529. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, grant aid paid to persons in County Kerry over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25311/17]
View answerA total of €4.528m has been paid under the TAMS I Scheme (Rural Development Programme 2007-2013) and the TAMS II Scheme (Rural Development Programme 2014-2020) to applicants from County Kerry over the past five years. The breakdown between TAMS I and TAMS II is given in the table.
TAMS II Schemes have been open for online application since mid 2015 and payments are issuing to applicants in respect of their completed approved investments on an ongoing basis.
|
Year |
TAMS I |
TAMS II |
|
|
2012 |
€482,296.47 |
||
|
2013 |
€886,033.36 |
||
|
2014 |
€913,281.97 |
||
|
2015 |
€1,551,234.98 |
||
|
2016 |
€227,266.67 |
||
|
2017 |
€478,726.50 |
||
|
Total |
€3,832,846.78 |
€695,993.17 |
€4,528,839.95 |
530. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a forestry premium payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25358/17]
View answerThe 2017 Forestry Premium for the person named has been processed for payment. It is expected that this payment will be lodged to his bank account within the next week.
531. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Bord na gCon obtained a valuation of Harold's Cross stadium from the Valuation Office or another valuer prior to its sale; the valuation arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25359/17]
View answerBord na gCon (BNG) is a commercial State body, established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and improve and develop the greyhound industry.
Harold’s Cross Stadium is the property of BnG and its sale is a matter for it although consent for the sale is required from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The Chairman of Bord na gCon (BNG) wrote to this Department on 10 May seeking my consent and that of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to the sale of Harold’s Cross stadium to the Department of Education and Skills for the sum of €23m, in line with a valuation carried out by the Valuations Office.
532. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's budget allocated to hiring staff on a Department-wide basis; the specific allocations provided to each State agency under his auspices in each of the years 2014 to 2016; and the budget allocation for 2017. [25370/17]
View answerFollowing the easing of the moratorium on recruitment in the Public Sector in late 2014, my Department secured delegated sanction from DPER in relation to overall staffing resources in May 2015. This sanction provided my Department with the flexibility to fill critical resource needs subject to adherence to specified pay ceilings which are fixed and binding for 2015-2017. The pay ceiling for the agriculture Group (including the six agencies that come under the responsibility of my Department - Bord Bia, Teagasc, National Milk Agency, BIM, SFPA and Marine Institute) as set out in the delegated sanction arrangements for each of those years was:
|
2015 - (€m) |
2016 - (€m) |
2017 - (€m) |
|
231.575 |
235.297 |
235.297 |
My Department, working closely with our recruitment partners, the Public Appointments Service, has recruited in the region of 200 staff since May 2015 across a broad range of skill sets. My Department continuously monitors our resource needs to ensure we have the right mix of skills to deliver our core functions and address challenges such as Brexit negotiations. I am satisfied that my Department has sufficient funding available to meet current needs, however this will be closely monitored over the coming months as Brexit negotiations intensify and the outcome of those negotiations becomes clearer.
Recruitment allocations for the Agencies is a matter for themselves, provided each Agency operates within the pay allocation as agreed in the estimates process.
533. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment application by a person (details supplied); if he will review same; and when payment will issue. [25373/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has been paid in full in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified. The Department has resolved the issue and the 85% payment for 2016 is currently being processed.
