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Wednesday, 14 Feb 2018

Written Answers Nos. 204-211

Ambulance Service Staff

Questions (204)

Hildegarde Naughton

Question:

204. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the number of paramedics that will be hired by the National Ambulance Service in 2018; the number of paramedics due to retire in the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7784/18]

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Written answers

As the question raised by the Deputy relates to a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.

Orthodontic Services

Questions (205)

Robert Troy

Question:

205. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the efforts being made and that have been made recently to recruit a suitably qualified orthodontist in order to reduce the waiting list for dental treatment in CHO 8. [7785/18]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Questions (206)

Robert Troy

Question:

206. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his views on the waiting lists for orthodontic treatment in CHO 8. [7786/18]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Questions (207)

Robert Troy

Question:

207. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for orthodontic services in CHO 8; and the actions being considered to reduce these waiting times and arrange urgent treatment for cases classified as severe. [7787/18]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.

Animal Slaughtering Data

Questions (208)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

208. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle slaughtered from feedlots in each of the years 2015 to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7552/18]

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Written answers

The information requested is not available. Data on animal movements is not recorded by my Department in a manner which would segregate distinct feedlot movements from other movements types.

Greyhound Industry

Questions (209)

Clare Daly

Question:

209. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the investigation by the Irish Greyhound Board, IGB, control board into a race (details supplied); if the win stands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7557/18]

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Written answers

Bord na gCon (BnG) is a commercial State body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.

Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon.

In line with Dail procedures this request can be made directly to BnG using the dedicated email address: oireachtasqueries@igb.ie. The Deputy's question has been passed on by Department via this mechanism.

Gender Recognition

Questions (210)

Joan Burton

Question:

210. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has prepared written guidelines for staff and the public on dealing with transgender matters; if they are published; if staff have received training in respect of this; if his Department is participating in or making a submission regarding the review being undertaken in respect of the operation of the Gender Recognition Act 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7561/18]

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Written answers

The Gender Recognition Act 2015 is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs & Social Protection, who I understand is currently undertaking a review of the Act.

In line with one of the goals of my Department's Statement of Strategy: "to continue to develop a highly skilled, diverse and gender-balanced workforce", my Department has initiated a staff-wide consultation on a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Policy due to be published shortly.

All staff in my Department are, of course, obliged to treat their colleagues and members of the public with dignity and respect in accordance with the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour. The Code, which is signed by all staff, provides for non-discrimination under the nine specified grounds as stated in the Equality Act 2004, which includes gender. In addition, my Department is committed to the Dignity at Work Policy for the Civil Service which aims to promote respect, dignity, safety, and equality in the workplace.

My Department has not prepared any written guidelines on dealing with transgender matters, but all staff are aware of their responsibilities in delivering high quality service to the broad and diverse range of customers served by my Department.

Knowledge Transfer Programme

Questions (211)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Question:

211. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7594/18]

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Written answers

The Knowledge Transfer Programme is delivered under Ireland's Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 by a network of approved Knowledge Transfer Facilitators. Facilitators who complete all of the requirements of the programme receive a payment of €500 per participant for each year of the three year programme. Facilitator payments under the Knowledge Transfer Programme have commenced on a rolling basis by sector.

The person named is an approved Knowledge Transfer facilitator running 5 groups in the Knowledge Transfer Beef Programme. Under EU Regulations, payments to participant farmers must be processed via the Knowledge Transfer Group facilitators. Facilitators are required to process the payment to the farmers in his/her group and to confirm the completion of this transaction to my Department within a specified timeframe via the online Knowledge Transfer system. The person named has not completed this confirmation process, and thus a penalty arose under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme.

An appeal in this regard was received from the person named and has now been completed. This appeal has been upheld, and the person named will be notified of this outcome.

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