Tuesday, 16 Jan 2018

Written Answers Nos. 1112-1133

Nursing Home Beds Data

Questions (1112, 1113)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1112. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of public nursing homes beds available in each of the years 2005 to 2017, in tabular form. [2022/18]

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

1113. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of private nursing homes beds available in each of the years 2005 to 2017, in tabular form. [2023/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1112 and 1113 together.

Between 1997 and 2013 the Department of Health carried out a survey of long-stay units each year. Each long-stay unit (public, private and voluntary) was sent a questionnaire and the responses were collated by the Department. The aim of the survey is to provide statistics on the number of beds available for long-term care, how these beds are used and the types of residents who occupy these beds.

The results of the surveys were used to prepare the Long-Stay Activity Statistics Reports which are published on the Department's website and can be accessed at www.doh.ie. Each report provides a breakdown of the data by Local Health Office and Category of Unit. The Deputy should be mindful however that these are self-reported survey results and have variable response rates.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent statutory authority established to drive high quality and safe care for people using health and social care services in Ireland. Since 2009 HIQA have maintained a register of all nursing homes whether public or private. The register can be accessed at www.hiqa.ie. HIQA has provided the Department with the following breakdown of the number of beds registered with the Authority between 2013 and 2017.

DCOP Registered Beds by Classification	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Private: A Nursing Home as per Health (Nursing Homes) Act 1990	21332	21713	22809	23084	23440
Public: The Health Service Executive	6151	6046	6178	6140	6094
Health Act 2004 Section 38 Arrangement / Section 39 Assistance	1302	1301	1119	1172	1198
Total	28785	28705	30106	30396	30732

I will arrange to have details of the beds registered with HIQA between 2009 to 2012 forwarded to the Deputy when they become available.

Hospital Services

Questions (1114)

Brendan Smith

Question:

1114. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health when additional capacity will be approved for a hospital (details supplied) in the delivery of a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2028/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

A National Review of Specialist Cardiac Services is being undertaken. It will incorporate rigorous reviews of evidence and data, international peer review and stakeholder consultation. Any proposal for additional capacity in hospitals would need to be made in context of the findings of this review.

In relation to the specific query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly.

Orthodontic Services Provision

Questions (1115)

Robert Troy

Question:

1115. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for orthodontic work for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [2032/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Question No. 1116 answered with Question No. 919.

Health Services Data

Questions (1117)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1117. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have availed of the provision of ambulatory blood pressure measurement for the diagnosis and assessment of hypertension; if an analysis has been carried out of the impact of the provision of same; his plans to monitor and evaluate the provision of this service in view of its importance and given that the Institute of Public Health in Ireland has predicted a 40% increase in hypertension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2068/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this relates to the numbers of patients with a diagnosis of hypertension by ambulatory monitoring, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Obesity Strategy

Questions (1118, 1119, 1120, 1121)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1118. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if terms of reference for the subgroups of the obesity policy implementation oversight group have been agreed; if so, if they will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2071/18]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1119. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 24 October 2017, the status of the work of the reformulation subgroup of the obesity policy implementation oversight group; the work being carried out to put in place an effective methodology to monitor and evaluate the impact of the sugar-sweetened drinks tax in advance of its commencement on 1 April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2072/18]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1120. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 235 of 24 October 2017, when the subgroup on reformulation will make recommendations on addressing reduction of portion sizes and on monitoring and validation procedures; the resources required for independent testing of foods, including by external laboratories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2073/18]

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

1121. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if minutes of meetings of the obesity policy implementation oversight group will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2074/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1118 to 1121, inclusive, together.

The sub-groups of the Obesity Policy Implementation Oversight Group (OPIOG) have agreed to meet and agree their draft Terms of Reference, which in the interim remain under active consideration in the Department. The work of the Reformulation sub-group - including work that feeds into a methodology for measuring the efficacy of the Sugar Sweetened Drinks (SSD) Tax - is therefore at an early stage. The roadmap for its reformulation work is likely to involve a framework for monitoring and evaluating reformulation targets and engagement with the food industry in this regard. I expect that the elaboration of methodologies will evolve over the course of this work while keeping in mind the proposed date for the introduction of the SSD Tax. The OPIOG also agreed to establish a sub-group for Healthy Eating. Its work is at an early stage and it is expected to meet shortly and agree its draft Terms of Reference.

My Department liaises with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) on a regular basis. The FSAI has been validating food industry salt reduction work for many years. It has carried out this work by sampling foods from the market and having them analysed in the HSE Public Analysts Laboratory in Galway. This data is published annually and is available on the FSAI website. The FSAI is exploring the validation of FDI sugar and fat reduction work. In the first instance, it has been developing baseline data on specific foods based on food labelled data and a report on this work is expected in the coming weeks.

The Deputy may wish to note that the FSAI has also advised my Department that this year, it is funding the analysis of breakfast cereal and yoghurts for sugar, fat and salt by an external laboratory as part of its reformulation validation work.

Finally, the draft minutes of the first OPIOG meeting held at the end of October last will be submitted for approval at the next meeting of the OPIOG after which they will be available. Its next meeting is expected to take place in February.

HSE Reports

Questions (1122)

Seán Fleming

Question:

1122. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of hours that went into producing the report in the HSE, entitled "Development of an Action Plan For a New Model of Clinical Service Delivery in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group", which was submitted to his Department on 5 December 2016 and was revised and submitted on 8 December 2017; the number of hours spent by the HSE staff in drawing up this action plan; the number of hours spent by his Department's officials in reviewing and discussing the matter; the number of hours spent by others outside of the HSE and his Department who contributed to this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2077/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has been working for some time on a draft plan for a new model of clinical service delivery at Portlaoise Hospital. A draft plan was submitted to my Department in December 2016. This draft report was reviewed in detail and was the subject of detailed engagement between Department officials and the HSE over the course of a number of months. Significant additional work was also undertaken by the HSE on foot of this engagement resulting in a revised draft plan that was submitted to my Department in September 2017.

It remains the case, as outlined at my meeting with you and the other Laois Oireachtas members in December 2017, that no decision has been made yet on the draft Action Plan for Portlaoise Hospital.

I have asked my Department to conduct a consultation process in this regard early this year involving local clinicians and the community.

Departmental Communications

Questions (1123)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

1123. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his Department uses anti-profanity software on its email systems and online contact forms; if so, the level of human oversight that is applied to the monitoring of this software and its effectiveness; his views on whether persons' legitimate right to petition Government may be blocked unintentionally by errors in the use of such software in determining that which qualifies as profanity being communicated in email or online contact forms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2088/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My Department uses automatic content filters on its email system to check incoming and outgoing mail. It does not use any software in online contact forms. If an email is deemed to be inappropriate, it is quarantined and both the sender and intended recipient are notified. This notification message provides the reason for quarantining and provides details on how the message may be delivered if it was stopped incorrectly or is business related. Releasing of appropriate messages is managed by Help Desk staff. I am satisfied that these measures provide a balance between allowing legitimate contact while protecting against inappropriate messages.

Hospital Services

Questions (1124)

Brian Stanley

Question:

1124. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if his Department and the HSE have reached an agreed position on the future of Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise; and the timeframe for the promised public consultation. [2100/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

It remains the case, as outlined at my meeting with you and the other Laois Oireachtas members in December 2017, that no decision has been made yet on the draft Action Plan for Portlaoise Hospital.

I have asked my Department to conduct a consultation process in this regard early this year involving local clinicians and the community.

Departmental Strategies

Questions (1125)

Niall Collins

Question:

1125. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the Government's initiatives in his Department in 2017 that promoted State services or welfare payments, public awareness of regulatory changes and public consultations that involved advertising and promotion on television, radio, in newspapers and online, in tabular form; and the level of expenditure for each such initiative. [2264/18]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Full information requested by the Deputy is not immediately available; I will collate this information and provide a comprehensive response to the Deputy in due course.

Details in relation to newspaper advertising expenditure on public consultations held during 2017 are presented as follows:

Date	Campaign	Cost (ex VAT)
October 2017	Public Consultation Task Force on Personalised Budgets for People with Disabilities.	€5,013.56
September 2017	Public Consultation Human Tissue Legislation, Newspaper Ads	€5,013.57
July 2017	Public Consultation Home care, Newspaper Ads	€5,517.59

Fishery Harbour Centres

Questions (1126)

John Deasy

Question:

1126. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions Enterprise Ireland has had with his Department to enhance commercial activity at the State's fishing ports, including Dunmore East, County Waterford, as recommended by a report by the Committee of Public Accounts in 2015. [54607/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The six State owned Fishery Harbour Centres at Killybegs, Ros an Mhíl, Dingle, Castletownbere, Dunmore East and Howth are managed and operated by my Department under Statute.

Following publication of the Public Accounts Committee Report on the Fishery Harbour Centres in June 2015 my Department began an engagement with Enterprise Ireland to explore the possibility of making suitable Fishery Harbour Centre properties available to potential clients of the agency to facilitate the delivery of appropriate Enterprise Ireland projects.

There has been regular contact with Enterprise Ireland in the interim, most recently in December 2017.

Fishing Licences

Questions (1127, 1148)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

1127. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent Supreme Court decision (details supplied) in which the procedure to impose points on a fishing licence was deemed contrary to fair procedures; if he will withdraw the new statutory instrument he plans to publish regarding fishing points in order to reflect on this court decision; and his plans to consult with fishing representative bodies to decide on the best course forward. [2659/18]

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Question:

1148. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the recent Supreme Court ruling (details supplied) in which the procedure to impose points on a fishing licence was deemed unfair; if the new statutory instrument he plans to publish regarding fishing points will be withdrawn in order to reflect this decision; and if fishing representative bodies will be consulted to decide on the best course forward. [54702/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1127 and 1148 together.

The Supreme Court judgments were delivered on 12th December 2017 in relation to the 2014 SI implementing a points system for licence holders. My Department is currently examining the implications of the judgments on an urgent basis.

I expect this process to be completed shortly and thereafter I intend to sign a new Statutory instrument to revoke the European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations 2016 (S.I. No. 125 of 2016), which establishes a point system, which will apply to the Licence Holder of a sea-fishing boat when a serious infringement of the Common Fisheries Policy is detected.

In relation to stakeholder consultation, I discussed with industry representatives my plans to bring forward a new SI at the Sea Fisheries Liaison Group meeting on 20 October 2017 and explained some key amendments I am planning and the justification for these amendments.

GLAS Payments

Questions (1128)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

1128. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for a green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, payment by a person (details supplied). [54317/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved into GLAS with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.

The applicant subsequently requested to withdraw from GLAS 1 and be included in GLAS 3. The Department has been in direct contact with the applicant and has confirmed acceptance of this request. The Department has also outlined to the applicant the financial implications of the change. The case will be finalised shortly and processed for payment of the 2017 advance.

Sheep Census

Questions (1129)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1129. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a sheep census appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54359/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In my reply to the previous PQ on this matter (46356/17) I confirmed that the applicant’s initial appeal to the Department was unsuccessful and that the applicant was advised that he had the option to seek a review of this decision to a higher officer of the Department and also a subsequent right of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.

Since then the applicant has submitted an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office who have been in contact with the applicant to arrange an Oral hearing at the end of January 2018.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (1130)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1130. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a disadvantaged area payment will be sanctioned for a person (details supplied) following their successful appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54407/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under the 2017 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received by my Department from the person named on 9th May 2017. This application has been fully processed and payment has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Food Industry Development

Questions (1131)

Joan Burton

Question:

1131. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 960 of 7 November 2017, his plans to develop satellite food innovation hubs throughout the State to work in conjunction with the national food innovation hub in Fermoy; if so, if consideration has been given to Naas, County Kildare, as a suitable location for such a satellite food innovation hub; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54426/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The primary objective of the National Food Innovation Hub is to create a business innovation network at Moorepark involving dairy companies, Moorepark Technology Ltd (MTL), incubator companies and public-private partnership-based R&D programmes. It will be directly linked to both the Teagasc Food Research Centre and MTL to engender close collaboration between the research centres and the companies located on the Moorepark campus.

My Department is providing €8.8m to support the development of this strategically important project for Ireland’s agri-food sector. When realised it will be a national centre of excellence for the whole agri-food sector involving food companies and research organisations with a focus on food, health and nutrition.

Whilst my Department has no plans to fund similar projects at other locations, a major package of measures was announced in Budget 2018 to help the food industry navigate the current challenges arising from Brexit and to advance the growth objectives of Food Wise 2025.

In the areas of innovation, research and new product development, an investment of €5m is proposed to fund research and innovation in the Prepared Consumer Foods Sector. This critically important sector, which is responsible for exports valued at more than €2 billion, is particularly challenged by Brexit. My Department, working with the sector and with State Agencies, will use this funding to invest in capital equipment to support innovation in the sector.

Transfer of Entitlements

Questions (1132)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

1132. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress to date on finalising a case (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54439/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

As outlined to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question number 880 in November 2017, the case has been prioritised by my Department. This is a complex case involving a number of interested parties and a number of legal issues which are being progressed with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office who have been in correspondence with the solicitors for the persons referred to by the Deputy.

Scéimeanna Talmhaíochta

Questions (1133)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1133. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoin scéim buníocaíochtaí agus faoi scéim na limistéar faoi shrianta nádúrtha le duine (sonraí tugtha) i gContae na Gaillimhe; cén fáth a bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [54446/17]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Chuir an té atá ainmnithe iarratais isteach faoi Scéim na hÍocaíochta Bunúsaí 2017 (BPS) agus faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Shrianta Nádúrtha (ANC) an 16 Márta 2017.

Léiríodh i litir dar dáta an 6 Nollaig 2017 a seoladh chuig an té atá ainmnithe gur lasadh píosaí talún a bhí fógartha aige ar a iarratas BPS agus dá bhrí sin nach raibh sé i dteideal íocaíochta faoin BPS. Léiríodh sa litir chomh maith na roghanna a bhí aige ina dhiaidh sin lena n-áirítear go raibh sé de cheart aige athbhreithniú a lorg. Má lorgaíonn an té atá ainmnithe athbhreithniú, ba chóir dó a chinntiú go gcuireann sé aon cháipéisí tacaíochta a mheasann sé a bheith tábhachtach isteach. Déanfaidh mo Roinnse na cáipéisí sin a athbhreithniú dá réir sin.

Tá Iarratais 2017 i leith na nÍocaíochtaí atá i gceist próiseáilte ag mo Roinnse, faoi na scéimeanna BPS agus ANC, gan na píosaí talún atá neamhcháilithe san áireamh, agus rinneadh na híocaíochtaí sin a íoc isteach sa chuntas bainc a bhí ainmnithe ag an duine ainmnithe dá réir sin an 14 agus an 19 Nollaig faoi seach.