Written Answers Nos. 227-246
227. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health his plans to examine the issue of accountability, compensation and the provision of medical services in relation to children affected by foetal anti-convulsant syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14473/18]
View answerMedicines containing sodium valproate are approved in Ireland, and the rest of the EU, for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder. It has been well established that children exposed to valproate in the womb have an increased risk of congenital malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
In 2014, following a European Medicines Agency (EMA) review of valproate, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) circulated recommendations to further restrict the use of valproate in women and girls. The HPRA also recommended that the use of valproate be restricted to doctors experienced in managing epilepsy or bipolar disorder in female patients, and provided advice for situations where it was considered that valproate treatment needed to be continued during the pregnancy.
In March 2017, the Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) of the EMA initiated a new review of the use of valproate-containing medicines in the treatment of women and girls who are pregnant or of childbearing age. This review has now been completed, and the committee’s recommendations were published by the EMA in February. The key measures recommended by the PRAC are as follows:
- Valproate must not be used in pregnancy for the treatment of migraine or bipolar disorder.
- Valproate should not be used in pregnancy for the treatment of epilepsy. However it is recognised that for some women with epilepsy it may not be possible to stop valproate and they may have to continue treatment (with appropriate specialist care) in pregnancy.
- Valproate must not be used in female patients from the time they become able to have children – unless the conditions of a new pregnancy prevention programme (PPP) are met.
- The PRAC has also recommended that the outer packaging of all valproate medicines must include a visual warning about the risks in pregnancy. In addition to boxed text, this may include a symbol/pictogram, with the details to be adapted at national level.
- A patient reminder card will also be attached to the outer package for pharmacists to discuss with the patient each time the medicine is dispensed.
- Companies that market valproate should also provide updated educational materials in the form of guides for healthcare professionals and patients.
The PRAC’s position on sodium valproate has since been endorsed by an EMA regulatory committee, the Co-ordination Group for Mutual Recognition and Decentralised Procedures – Human (CMDh), and the recommendations will now be sent to the European Commission for a legally binding decision on all member states. Officials in my department are already working with other stakeholders, including the HPRA, HSE, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, to determine how these recommendations should be implemented in Ireland.
At my request, officials from my department met with representatives from FACS (Foetal Anti-Convulsant Syndrome) Forum Ireland in November. I have been briefed by officials as to the issues raised, and I am scheduled to hold a further meeting with this group today, 28 March.
228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a home care package will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14477/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
229. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health his views on the reason that since 2011 it has proved difficult to attract permanent specialists to the north west region, in particular to Sligo University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14479/18]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
230. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be transferred from County Galway to Dublin (details supplied) due to the exceptional medical circumstances; the reason for the delay in issuing the funding for this transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14483/18]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
231. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a knowledge transfer payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14285/18]
View answerKnowledge Transfer (KT) is one of a suite of measures included under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and involves the formation of knowledge transfer groups across the beef, dairy, equine, sheep, tillage and poultry sectors. Farmer participants attend group meetings and produce a Farm Improvement Plan in consultation with their KT Facilitator. For each year of the three year programme participants receive a reimbursement in the amount of €750 for a primary sector and €375 for a secondary sector where all requirements of the programme have been met.
According to my Department's records, the persons named did not complete the Animal Health Measures with a Department approved veternarian in Year One as required under the programme. Consequently a reduced payment is due in this case. The payment will, as required by the governing EU regulation, issue via the approved KT Facilitator shortly.
232. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on a basic payment scheme appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14305/18]
View answerMy Department actively investigates incidents of illegal burning as the lands affected are deemed ineligible for the purposes of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS).
As part of this process, the person named was notified by my Department in relation to burned land that formed part of their BPS application, and has submitted an appeal in relation to this matter.
The processing of this appeal is currently being finalised, and a decision in this matter will be communicated directly to the person named shortly.
233. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures to be implemented at national and or EU level to support pig producers in view of recent pressure on prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14336/18]
View answerPrice volatility is a significant challenge for the pig sector and developments over the last few years emphasise the cyclical nature of prices in the sector. Current prices, which stand at €138.7/100kg are 16% below prices at the same time in 2017, which was an exceptional year for pig prices, but remain above price in the same period in 2016.
My Department has made a concerted effort to support market diversification. The importance of this is illustrated by the significant expansion in Ireland’s pig meat exports to East Asia, and to China in particular. The uncertainty surrounding Brexit lends an even greater importance to the expansion of access to international markets.
In June of last year I visited Mexico, now the fourth largest global importer of chilled and frozen pork. With Mexican demand continuing to grow I have made access to that market a priority. I also travelled to Japan and South Korea last autumn to promote the development of further opportunities for Irish producers in these markets as I want to continue to diversify the range of markets to which Ireland has access. Exports to Japan more than doubled to €22m in 2017, putting it in second place in international markets. We can reasonably expect that the new free trade agreement with Japan (JEEPA) will further enhance trade opportunities. Growth in the Philippines was also strong, up 54 % making it the third largest international market for Irish pigmeat exports.
With Irish production up almost 1% in 2017 and export value increasing some 14% to an estimated €712m, I intend to continue to work closely with the sector and, by focusing on insight-led growth strategies, to take advantage of opportunities for Irish pig meat exporters on international markets.
234. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if financial assistance is available from his Department, farming organisations or European funding for farmers who require underpasses to access their land which may be crossed by regional roads in cases in which local authorities will not allow entrances onto the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14343/18]
View answerThe suite of seven measures available under the TAMS Scheme provides support for a large number of investments for farmers in different sectors including tillage, pigs, poultry, beef and dairy.
Payments under the Scheme to date have exceeded €47.7m and continue to issue on a weekly basis as payment claims are submitted by approved participants. To date, approvals have issued to over 13,000 applicants under the scheme. Over 4,000 of these approved applicants have completed works and submitted a payment claim. Until the remaining outstanding approvals for works are completed and a payment claim submitted or the outstanding approvals lapse these cases represent potential payments and a budgetary provision must be maintained for their payment. No further items, including underpasses, can be considered for inclusion under the TAMS Scheme until the budgetary position becomes clearer as the Scheme progresses.
235. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of discussions at the recent EU agriculture Council of Ministers meeting in relation to the need to increase the CAP budget post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14378/18]
View answerAn EU Agriculture Council of Ministers was held on 19 March 2018. The main item on the Council agenda was the Presidency's draft council conclusions on CAP post 2020, which ran to 40 paragraphs. The aim of the draft Council conclusions is to provide guidance to the European Commission on the drafting of legislative proposals, which are expected to be published in early June 2018.
In the event, it was not possible to achieve the required unanimous agreement for Council conclusions, however Presidency conclusions were issued covering a wide range of issues that arise in CAP reform.
The determination of budgetary ceilings, including those of the Common Agricultural Policy, is a matter for Finance Ministers. Nonetheless Minister of State Doyle who represented Ireland at the most recent Council of Agriculture Ministers indicated that the EU will need as strong a budget as possible to deliver on the many objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy. Ireland has been very consistent on this issue in recent months especially as discussions around potential increases in GNI contributions have been floated. The Taoiseach, in his address to the European Parliament in January 2018, has already indicated that Ireland is open to contributing more to the EU budget, but only if it is spent on policies that contribute to the advancement of the European ideal.
Both I and my colleague Minister of State Doyle will continue to argue for as strong a CAP budget as possible as negotiations on CAP post 2020 intensify.
236. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive a GLAS payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14382/18]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full payments in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
The outstanding Nutrient Management Plan has now been correctly submitted to the system operated by Teagasc. The case is now being processed through the required validation checks. Once the application passes all the required validation checks it will be processed for payment. Payments continue to issue on a weekly basis.
237. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of persons employed in his Department that have a disability, expressed in wholetime equivalent terms and in head count terms; and the way in which the number of persons with disabilities employed compares with national targets. [14431/18]
View answerThe percentages of persons in my Department with a disability are as follows:
- Full Time FTE percentage = 4.28%
- Headcount Percentage = 4.08%
Under Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 (Section 47(4)), a public body shall ensure, unless there is good reason to the contrary for not doing so, that not less than 3% of the persons employed by it are persons with disabilities. In that regard I am pleased to state my Department has consistently exceeded the 3% target since 2008.
238. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the action he plans to take to deal with the price increases imposed by a company (details supplied) for recycling material with particular reference to areas in which no alternative provider exists. [14284/18]
View answerThe charges applied by waste management companies are matters for those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation.
In terms of environmental requirements, the charges applied should encourage householders to divert waste from the residual or general waste bin. For example, it would be expected that charges for the general waste bin would be higher than charges, if any, applied to the recycle bin.
The Government has funded a range of measures to support better recycling and reduce contamination of waste, including:
- a national, standardised list of items that can go into the recycle bin has been established, which is available at http://recyclinglistireland.ie/;
- this standardised list has been supported by a public education campaign run by the regional waste management authorities, comprising radio advertisements, social media, billboards/posters, etc., to promote the new list; and,
- a ‘master recycling’ programme, also run by the regional waste management authorities, in partnership with environmental NGOs, to roll out 650 workshops across the country training recycling ambassadors to bring the recycling message and understanding to a wide variety of communities.
Almost all paper and plastic packaging is governed by EU internal market and packaging legislation. In that context, as Minister, I have called on the European Union to urgently consider collectively banning single-use plastic items on foot of the EU Plastic Strategy to further protect the environment and to help alleviate the impact of the decision by China to restrict its intake of recyclable waste.
In addition, I have also provided Government funding to support and encourage better separation of waste through a number of initiatives such as:
- the Stop Food Waste programme www.stopfoodwaste.ie, which is implemented under the Environmental Protection Agency’s National Waste Prevention Programme and is aimed at both householders and businesses, providing comprehensive information about the food that is wasted and how to prevent this, and,
- the development of a website www.brownbin.ie to provide the public with the information required to use the organic bin appropriately, including advice on the optimal methods for effective collection and storage of food waste.
In terms of pricing, I established a Household Waste Collection Price Monitoring Group (PMG) last year to monitor the rates charged by household waste collectors during the phasing out of flat rate fees. The PMG has met each month since September 2017 and has considered six months of pricing data trends. The PMG has indicated that, in the vast majority of cases to date, prices have remained stable. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is also currently conducting a separate study on the operation of the household waste collection market which it will complete in 2018.
The results from the PMG are being monitored, and in conjunction with the study being undertaken by the CCPC, will provide an evidence base for future decisions in relation to the need for further regulation of the waste market.
239. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if an impact statement has been commissioned in relation to the likely increase in illegal dumping as a result of the increase in bin charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14373/18]
View answerCharges applied by waste management companies are matters for those companies and their customers, subject to compliance with all applicable environmental and other relevant legislation, including contract and consumer legislation. In terms of environmental legislation, the charges applied should encourage householders to divert waste from the residual or general waste bin. For example, it would be expected that charges for the general waste bin would be higher than charges, if any, applied to the recycle bin.
The response from community and voluntary groups across the country to my Department’s anti-dumping initiative demonstrates that the vast majority of our people treasure and respect our environment and continue to manage their waste responsibly. That is why I have allocated €2 million to support the programme this year to build on the momentum that has now been created and to put an increased emphasis on identifying and initiating enforcement actions on those who facilitate the unauthorised movement and disposal of waste. My Department is also supporting the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities in commissioning a report on crime in the waste sector in Ireland including a root cause assessment of illegal dumping and best practice for outreach and prevention.
Penalties for serious dumping offences provided for under the Waste Management Acts are substantial. Persons who are found to be responsible for, or involved in, the unauthorised disposal of waste are liable to a maximum fine of €5,000 on summary conviction and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months, and to a maximum fine of €15 million on conviction on indictment and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years.
It should also be noted that, under new bye-laws, local authorities are establishing registers which record the details of households which are using the services of an authorised waste operator (whether a kerbside collector, pay to use compactor or civic amenity facility). In gathering these details from service providers, local authorities may use this information to target households which appear not to be managing their waste correctly or using the services of an unauthorised operator. This data will support a number of awareness, education and enforcement programmes already initiated by individual local authorities.
240. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason Inland Fisheries Ireland has banned salmon fishing on the lower River Shannon for conservation reasons in view of the fact that the amount of salmon caught in recent years on the river was well above the number required to allow this activity to continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14357/18]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) is the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources. IFI manages salmon stocks on an individual river basis as each of Ireland’s 147 salmon rivers (including river sections and estuaries) has its own genetically unique stock of salmon.
IFI is supported in its management role by the independent Standing Scientific Committee (SSC), comprising scientists from a range of organisations. Scientific and management assessments of each of the distinct stocks, including those on the River Shannon, are carried out every year with IFI engaged in an extensive stock monitoring which feeds into the scientific committee's annual reviews.
The SSC estimates the number of salmon likely to return to each river in the next fishing season based on estimates of salmon runs over the most recent five years. Each river has an individual conservation limit which is essentially the number of salmon required to spawn to maintain a healthy population. If the estimate of returning salmon is above this limit, then salmon from that genetically unique river population may be harvested commercially or by rod and line.
The lower Shannon region comprises not only the main river channel but also the other rivers, including the Fergus, Mulcair and Maigue for which assessments are carried out. No harvestable surplus of salmon is available in the Region as the catch and counter records indicate that wild salmon returns are very significantly below conservation limits. I will provide a detailed account of the scientific salmon stock assessment process and status for rivers in the Lower Shannon region for the Deputy.
The salmon assessment methodologies used in Ireland are considered internationally as best practice, with many other countries moving towards the development of similar scientific assessment models for salmon stock conservation.
241. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the percentage of persons employed in his Department that have a disability, expressed in whole time-equivalent terms and in head count terms; and the way in which the number of persons with disabilities employed compares with national targets. [14434/18]
View answerMy Department is committed to a policy of equality of opportunity for all staff and supports the “Code of Practice for the Employment of People with Disabilities in the Civil Service”, published by the Department of Finance in 2007. The latest statutory report under the Disability Act 2005 by my Department for end of 2017, reported that 3.1% of staff in head-count terms, and 3.27% in whole-time equivalents, have disclosed a disability. My Department currently meets the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities as set by the 2005 Disability Act.
242. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the 2017 or most recent electricity consumption level for the island of Ireland and in Northern Ireland; the most recent annual figure for the different energy sources used in the island and in Northern Ireland that generated this power; and the projected electricity needed in 2030 to supply the Island. [14478/18]
View answerDetails in relation to All-Island electricity system demand and fuel mix are publicly available on the EirGrid website at http://www.eirgridgroup.com/. EirGrid’s “All-Island Generation Capacity Statement” (pages 14 and 15) provides details of the 2016 generation fuel mix for both Ireland and Northern Ireland. The document is available at http://www.eirgridgroup.com/site-files/library/EirGrid/4289_EirGrid_GenCapStatement_v9_web.pdf
In Ireland in 2016, final consumption of electricity reached 29,413 GWh while the corresponding figure for Northern Ireland was 8,892 GWh. The following table provides a breakdown of 2016 generation in Ireland by technologies on a percentage basis.
|
Generation Technology |
Proportions of electricity generated (%) (2016) |
|
Oil |
1.0% |
|
Peat |
7.7% |
|
Coal |
15.6% |
|
Natural Gas |
50.6% |
|
Wind (normalised) |
20.4% (22.3%) |
|
Hydro (normalised) |
2.3% (2.5%) |
|
Other Renewables & Wastes |
2.5% |
|
Total |
100% |
Additional information can be found in section 2.6 of the latest version of the SEAI publication "Energy in Ireland" which is available at
https://www.seai.ie/resources/publications/Energy-in-Ireland-1990-2016-Full-report.pdf
In regard to future electricity demand, EirGrid have modelled a number of scenarios in their 2017 publication “Tomorrow’s Energy Scenarios". Each scenario predicts a different possible future for the generation and consumption of electricity out to 2040. A link to the document is available at
http://www.eirgridgroup.com/site-files/library/EirGrid/EirGrid-Tomorrows-Energy-Scenarios-Report-2017.pdf
243. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reasoning for his decision to appoint Fingal County Council as the competent authority in relation to the implementation of EU Regulation 5981/4; the way in which the local authority will play that role in Shannon, Cork and all the other regional airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/18]
View answerOnce it was clear that the option of designating the Irish Aviation Authority as the competent authority was no longer available, the decision was taken - following extensive discussions - that Fingal County Council was best suited to undertake the role. Fingal County Council already has responsibilities under the EU Environmental Noise Directive which encapsulates responsibilities relating to noise caused by conurbations and major transport infrastructures, including roads, railways and airports. In addition, having regard to its planning functions, it has considerable experience and expertise in the conduct of environmental impact assessments, appropriate assessments and in managing extensive public consultations. There are therefore considerable synergies arising from the assignment of this additional role.
As regards how this may affect airports other than Dublin, EU Regulation 598/2014 only applies to airports with more than 50,000 civil aircraft movements per calendar year, and so it only applies to Dublin Airport for now, and for the far foreseeable future.
The full details of how the Regulation will be implemented, including the role and responsibilities of Fingal County Council, will be set out in primary legislation, the drafting of which has commenced in my Department.
244. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the senior management person or persons designated by the DAA to act as community liaison representatives in view of substantial changes to the management team; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/18]
View answerI assume that the context of this question relates to the North Runway project at Dublin Airport, which is the responsibility of the daa.
The duties assigned to members of the senior management team at daa in relation to this project are a matter for the company, and as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have no function in this matter.
However, in order to be of assistance, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to daa for attention and direct reply. If you do not hear from daa within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
245. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if upgrade works will be carried out along a stretch of the Royal Canal cycleway and walkway between Laurel Lodge and the bridge at Porterstown, which is in a poor state of repair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14326/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public and sustainable transport. In Budget 2018 I have secured over €110 million which is being allocated to develop cycling and walking infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, and in the cities of Galway, Limerick, Cork and Waterford over the period 2018-2021. This programme will provide safe alternative active travel routes to help alleviate congestion by providing viable alternatives and connectivity with existing public transport infrastructure.
I am not, however, involved in the day-to-day delivery of walking and cycling infrastructure. This falls to the National Transport Authority who have advised that works under the Royal Canal Greenway project are included in this year’s programme of works.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply with regard to this particular project. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
246. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which lottery grants and other capital grants are administered and awarded by his Department; the specific rules that apply; if a voluntary community group (details supplied) will be considered for a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14341/18]
View answerThe Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and physical recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. It is part funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery and the full terms and conditions of the SCP are available on my Department's website.
It will be open to any organisation, including the organisation referred to by the Deputy, to apply for funding under any future rounds of the SCP. In this regard, my Department is undertaking a review of the 2017 round with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the process for future calls. This work is also examining what is feasible in terms of the scale and timing of the next round. I expect this review to be complete in the coming months and an announcement regarding the next round will be made at that stage.
