Tuesday, 5 Dec 2017

Written Answers Nos. 400-413

Occupational Therapy Staff

Questions (400)

Peter Burke

Question:

400. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 200 occupational therapists. [52028/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Physiotherapy Provision

Questions (401)

Peter Burke

Question:

401. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 200 physiotherapists. [52029/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Dental Services Staff

Questions (402)

Peter Burke

Question:

402. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting an additional 50 dental surgeons. [52030/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.

Ambulance Service Funding

Questions (403)

Peter Burke

Question:

403. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated capital cost of providing an additional emergency ambulance fleet; and the full-year cost of additional personnel required for its staffing. [52031/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Questions (404)

Peter Burke

Question:

404. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of providing an additional 100 critical care beds. [52032/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.

Hospital Transfers

Questions (405)

Robert Troy

Question:

405. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a hospital transfer for a person (details supplied) will be arranged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52048/17]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Departmental Funding

Questions (406)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

406. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provided by his Department to each member of a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51429/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not provided funding to any of the groups referenced.

TAMS Eligibility

Questions (407)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

407. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grants available to persons to build a shed to store potatoes or grain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51546/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The TAMS II Scheme provides generous grant rates for a comprehensive range of investment items, including grain stores. In addition potato stores may also be funded under TAMS as part of the Organic Capital Investment Scheme. The suite of seven measures available under the Scheme have proved to be very popular with Irish farmers with over 15,000 applications to be approved into the Scheme received to date. Payment claims for approved works that have been completed have been received from 2,838 farmers and just under €30m has been paid to date under the Scheme. Full details of all items grant aided under TAMS II are available on the Department's website.

Foreshore Licence Applications

Questions (408)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

408. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of foreshore licences his Department has issued for Lough Foyle in each year to date in 2017; the persons or bodies these licenses were granted to; the geographical positions of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51549/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department does not issue foreshore licences in respect of Lough Foyle. The management of aquaculture and associated foreshore licensing functions in Lough Foyle gives rise to legal and jurisdictional complexities. Negotiations regarding the jurisdiction of the Lough Foyle area are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

My Department organises and participates in an inter-departmental working group which is pursuing a way forward in terms of the future management of aquaculture and associated foreshore activities on Lough Foyle, in parallel with a workable resolution to the complex jurisdictional issues involved.

Fodder Crisis

Questions (409, 410)

Shane Cassells

Question:

409. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to deal with the pending fodder crisis within the farming community; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51622/17]

Shane Cassells

Question:

410. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has carried out an analysis to identify the areas which will be most affected by the pending fodder crisis within the farming community; the areas identified to be at risk as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51623/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 409 and 410 together.

It is clear that weather conditions for much of the autumn and into early winter have been challenging for farmers, particularly in the Western and North-Western regions and on heavier land types. The poor weather resulted in cattle being housed earlier than normal in places, and it also affected late cut silage making operations.

My Department in conjunction with Teagasc have been closely monitoring the winter fodder situation across the country. The current position is that there appears to be adequate supplies of fodder in the form of silage and hay available across the country. However, there are particular areas in the Western and North-Western regions experiencing fodder scarcities as a result of the earlier housing and silage making difficulties.

My Department actively engaged Teagasc to work locally in these areas experiencing fodder difficulties. Teagasc has been providing support and advice to farmers on fodder budgeting for the winter ahead, including how best to address where stocks are inadequate.

The European Commission agreed to my request for an increase in the advance payment of the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme as well as an increase in the advance payments under our Rural Development Programme. This has been prompted by the inclement weather conditions and also market difficulties caused by currency fluctuations. This means an increase from 50% to 70% in the rate for the BPS to those applicants whose applications were confirmed fully clear and an increase to 85% in the case of RDP schemes.

Issuing of these BPS advance payments commenced after the 15th October and balancing payments are issuing this week. The Roll-out of balancing payments brings the total paid under the Basic Payment Scheme to €1.106bn to approximately 121,000 farmers. Payments on RDP schemes are also ongoing and last week we paid out close to €100m on our main agri-environment schemes which follows significant payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, the Sheep Welfare Scheme and the Knowledge Transfer scheme. Overall, at this stage, over €1 billion has issued to Irish farmers in recent weeks. These payments will make a significant improvement to farmers’ cashflow at this time of year and will undoubtedly help to finance additional fodder and feed purchase where necessary.

My Department and Teagasc are continuing to closely monitor the situation.

Common Agricultural Policy Reform

Questions (411, 412)

Brendan Smith

Question:

411. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent CAP reform proposals outlined by the new European Agriculture Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51756/17]

Brendan Smith

Question:

412. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent CAP reform proposals outlined by the European Agriculture Commissioner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51768/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together.

On the 29 November 2017, the Commission released its Communication on CAP entitled “The Future of Food and Farming”. The document comes against the backdrop of the Commission White Paper on the Future of Europe published on 1 March 2017, and the public consultation on the future of the CAP carried out in the first half of 2017.

The Communication proposes a simpler CAP, with significantly more flexibility for Member States, and a sharper focus on objectives and results, particularly in the environmental area. The document acknowledges the solid performance of the CAP since 1962, but recognises that further work can be done in certain areas.

My Department is currently in the process of examining the implications of this communication. However, we welcome the fact that it recognises the importance of direct payments, that it refers to the importance of EU and other risk management tools, and that a number of important themes, including R& D, technology transfer and investment feature in its analysis. It is also clear that the CAP of the future will need to be configured to assist member states in meeting their climate change and other environmental obligations and the Commission communication makes it clear that the environment will be a key feature of any reformed CAP.

The communication appears to be a reasonably good platform from which to initiate discussions on the future of CAP. However, the real detail will only emerge when we see specific legislative proposals, and this is unlikely to happen until mid 2018.

The Communication covers many of the key issues and challenges for CAP post 2020. However in order to be able to deliver on these challenges, a strong CAP budget will be required. In that regard, I note that the Communication does not address budgetary matters. This is understandable as proposals under the Multi-annual Financial Framework (MFF) post 2020 are not due until May 2018. I will be working closely with my EU counterparts to achieve the best possible outcome on CAP funding in order to provide a solid and effective foundation for the development of the agrifood sector into the future.

TAMS Applications

Questions (413)

Tom Neville

Question:

413. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a TAMS application by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51773/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The applicants submitted an application for the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme on  6 October 2017. The application has been examined and has passed all administrative checks. It will now be forwarded for the necessary final technical checks before approval issues. Subject to all technical checks being passed, approval will issue shortly.