Written Answers Nos. 449-466
449. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adolescent mental health intellectual disability teams that have been set up nationally in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40037/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
450. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of children with complex intellectual needs awaiting assessment appointments in CHO 2 by age and length of time waiting (details supplied) in tabular form. [40038/18]
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 service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
451. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health his plans to reinstate the motorised transport grant further to the review committee set up in 2013; when recommended conditions will be attached to the grant; if the primary legislation has been drafted; if the policy proposals have been brought to Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40042/18]
View answerThe Deputy will be familiar with the background to the closure of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant schemes in February 2013.
My colleague, the Minister for Health and I brought a Memorandum to Government on proposals for a new Transport Support Payment Scheme towards the end of the last Dáil session. Following consideration of the matter, it was decided to withdraw the Memorandum from the Cabinet Agenda at the time. A new Transport Support Payment Scheme remains a priority and we intend to revert to Government with revised proposals to reflect the discussions at that Cabinet meeting and further discussions between ourselves, in due course.
With regard to the Motorised Transport Grant, this scheme operated as a means-tested grant to assist persons with severe disabilities with the purchase or adaptation of a car, where that car was essential to retain employment. The maximum Motorised Transport Grant, which was payable once in any three-year period, was €5,020. Following closure of the scheme in February 2013, no further Motorised Transport Grants have been payable.
It is important to note that the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners, remains in place. This scheme provides VRT and VAT relief, an exemption from road tax and a fuel grant to drivers and passengers with a disability, who qualify under the relevant criteria set out in governing regulations made by the Minister for Finance. Specifically adapted vehicles driven by persons with a disability are also exempt from payment of tolls on national roads and toll bridges. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has responsibility for this particular scheme.
There are improvements in access to a range of transport support schemes available to persons with disabilities in the State and on-going work is being carried out by Government Departments, agencies and transport providers to further improve access to public transport services. Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has responsibility for the continued development of accessibility and availability of public transport for people with a disability.
453. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will allocate the necessary funding in 2018 to the management of Letterkenny University Hospital to enable it to reopen the 19-bed short-stay ward in order to alleviate the serious pressure on its emergency department. [40044/18]
View answerAs previously outlined to the House, my Department has engaged with the HSE this year to identify the location and mix of beds across the hospital system, which can be opened and staffed this year and into 2019 in order to improve preparedness for Winter 2018/2019.
The proposal from the HSE to increase acute and community bed capacity, which identifies 609 acute beds and 290 residential care beds to be phased in between 2018 and 2020, includes a 20-bed short stay ward in Letterkenny University Hospital. This proposal is currently under consideration.
454. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will continue to resource adequately the recruitment of advanced nurse practitioners across the health service as agreed with the various unions. [40045/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
455. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health when the 2017 review of the 2012 report, National Review of Autism Services Past, Present and Way Forward, (details supplied) will be published. [40046/18]
View answerIn September 2017, the Minister for Health requested that the HSE conduct a review of Autism services with a view to identify existing models of best practice.
The Department of Health also completed an epidemiological/research study into the prevalence and future projections for Autism Spectrum disorder.
Both reports were completed and submitted to the Minister earlier this year.
While there are no current plans to publish the HSE review, the findings and recommendations serve to inform the development of current and future Autism policy and services.
456. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the renal dialysis unit at Letterkenny University Hospital, LUH, is operating over capacity and that patients from County Donegal are being referred to the health service in the Northern Ireland at considerable additional cost; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the renal dialysis team at LUH, through the management at the hospital, submitted a business plan in 2015 (details supplied); and his plans to act on the proposal. [40047/18]
View answerIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
457. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in the HSE finalising its review of hospital car parking charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40050/18]
View answerEarly this year I requested the HSE to undertake a review of car parking charges in public hospitals. This report is currently being finalised by the HSE and will be submitted for my consideration shortly. My Department will then liaise with the HSE on the next steps to be undertaken.
458. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) has not been seen by an ear nose and throat specialist. [40056/18]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, a standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, since January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
459. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if there is a vacant position in the Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar (details supplied), the measures being taken to fill this position; the person to whom the patients are being referred to that would ordinarily be served by the consultant in Mullingar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40098/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly, as soon as possible.
460. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the cost of his Department's stand at the National Ploughing Championships 2018; the number of staff deployed from his Department for the week; and the cost of same. [40355/18]
View answerFive staff from the Department attended over the three days of the National Ploughing Championship 2018, primarily in support of a stand located in the marquee hosted by the Department of Rural and Community Affairs and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. In addition, a public presentation and discussion on Healthy Ireland - Healthy Counties was held in the Government of Ireland marquee. Staff attended for an average of one day each. The attendance at the National Ploughing Championship provided a valuable opportunity to engage with citizens and provide information on various Healthy Ireland initiatives at both national and local level.
Merchandise and supporting material for the stand, which was provided primarily in support of the Get Ireland Walking initiative, cost €10,940. The cost of staffing is estimated at approximately €1,500 for the week.
461. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure on advertising Irish dairy products outside the EU in each year since 2011. [39609/18]
View answerBord Bia is the State Agency under my remit charged with the marketing and promotion of Irish agri-food and drink both at home and abroad. Should the Deputy require further details on the marketing and promotion activities of Bord Bia in the years requested, the Deputy is referred to the agreed Oireachtas contact address: info@Bordbia.ie or the Bord Bia website www.bordbia.ie where the annual reports from 1998 to 2016 are available.
462. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding available to provide a safe landing facility on Inishmurray Island; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the landowners (details supplied) have no objection to works and will give way for works to proceed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39650/18]
View answerMy Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons Act.
My legislative remit does not extend to Inishmurray Island.
The pier on Inishmurray Island is the responsibility of Sligo County Council and responsibility for its maintenance and development rests with that Local Authority in the first instance and its parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government thereafter.
My Department does however provide limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of Local Authority-owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
Sligo County Council successfully secured a funding allocation of €147,000 under the 2018 Programme for development works; however no application for funding was made to my Department in relation to Inishmurray Island.
Any application submitted by Sligo County Council in relation to Inishmurray Island in the future would be given due consideration in the context of the criteria set out, available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
463. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding agriculture budgeting measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40077/18]
View answerThe discussions on the 2019 Budget are currently underway in the Department and all budget lines in the Vote are being examined as part of that process. My intention is to ensure that all resources available to my Department will be managed to advance Government priorities and provide optimum benefit to economic activity in the agriculture, food, fisheries and forestry sectors, including farm incomes.
464. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the communications, press and public relations budget allocated to his Department for 2018; the way in which it is being spent; if it is behind or ahead of profile; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39364/18]
View answerThe Press and Communications Office in my Department is the primary point of contact between the Department and members of the media, as well as members of the general public. The office is responsible for communicating with media and members of the public regarding the work of the Minister, the Minister of State and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Department's social media presence is also managed by the Press and Communications Office.
My Department has a budget of €270,000 for communications, advertising, press and public relations. The vast bulk of my Department's advertising is in respect of press notices in the specialised farming press, provincial and national newspapers. This expenditure includes the publication of Statutory Notices that are required to comply with various national and EU legislative requirements. Decisions on the placement of notices are made on a case by case basis, depending on the nature of the advertisement and the target audience.
To date, almost €137,500 has been spent and I expect the remainder will be spent by year end.
465. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares planted annually with Sitka spruce in each of the years 2007 to 2017, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39398/18]
View answerMy Department’s afforestation scheme offers landowners twelve different planting options and the most popular is made up of Sitka spruce planted with a second species. Sitka spruce grows well in Ireland because it is suited to our soils and climate. It has been grown successfully for over 80 years and it has proven itself to be one of the most productive coniferous species grown in Ireland and as such has become the industry’s mainstay in terms of timber processing and end markets. As one of our fastest growing tree species, Sitka spruce has an important role to play in carbon sequestration. A typical productive plantation of Sitka spruce will result in removals of 10 tonnes of CO2e per annum per hectare on average over a full rotation.
The table below shows the area planted under Sitka spruce from 2007 – 2017, by County.
|
County |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Cork |
465.85 |
487.92 |
364.9 |
505.01 |
536.87 |
636.07 |
460.58 |
503.39 |
490.66 |
489.01 |
351.21 |
|
Clare |
389.44 |
388.86 |
445.65 |
226.73 |
297.9 |
344.08 |
275.38 |
329.61 |
452.9 |
470.79 |
439.99 |
|
Cavan |
130.07 |
69.79 |
100.37 |
95.02 |
100.56 |
113.79 |
124.9 |
171.22 |
212.2 |
332.59 |
236.86 |
|
Carlow |
26.01 |
9 |
8.41 |
23.09 |
17.69 |
19.41 |
14.46 |
12.03 |
60.96 |
31.01 |
49.94 |
|
Dublin |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.9 |
7.02 |
5.96 |
8.15 |
0.00 |
8.87 |
6.91 |
1.13 |
6.89 |
|
Donegal |
214.02 |
181.33 |
93.78 |
85.82 |
43.56 |
75.08 |
29.45 |
23.29 |
52.79 |
26.72 |
37.76 |
|
Galway |
240.67 |
123.92 |
160.68 |
273.5 |
157.15 |
220.48 |
283.45 |
243.13 |
274.59 |
246.12 |
300.15 |
|
Kildare |
2.27 |
4.6 |
8.88 |
11.04 |
11.34 |
33.32 |
15.64 |
8.85 |
3.01 |
0.00 |
6.11 |
|
Kilkenny |
126.72 |
51.13 |
88.09 |
150.88 |
137.52 |
150.11 |
109.73 |
142.56 |
123.84 |
98.36 |
65.60 |
|
Kerry |
307.56 |
310.53 |
320.91 |
452.5 |
369.91 |
243.17 |
351.72 |
454.4 |
319.41 |
284.32 |
234.10 |
|
Longford |
29.28 |
18.86 |
12.67 |
68.64 |
71.53 |
88.28 |
114.41 |
125.94 |
155.18 |
165.59 |
141.98 |
|
Louth |
0.00 |
7.78 |
17.92 |
13.22 |
10.75 |
29.11 |
2.67 |
0.00 |
2.94 |
34.25 |
3.80 |
|
Limerick |
177.07 |
238.88 |
168.62 |
239.14 |
242.52 |
182.22 |
191.26 |
91.79 |
158.87 |
262.98 |
83.20 |
|
Leitrim |
102.91 |
218.18 |
267.04 |
89.55 |
171.24 |
185.33 |
262.89 |
219.1 |
440.06 |
336.41 |
453.07 |
|
Laois |
76.93 |
47.57 |
9.33 |
73.47 |
24.95 |
69.95 |
54.33 |
93.82 |
127.06 |
115.66 |
75.85 |
|
Meath |
3.26 |
20.86 |
12.88 |
47.47 |
16.44 |
39.5 |
101.2 |
27.06 |
43.03 |
40.62 |
42.62 |
|
Monaghan |
36.23 |
43.86 |
30.54 |
48.01 |
37.36 |
63.75 |
41.59 |
96.18 |
33.65 |
70.72 |
45.05 |
|
Mayo |
225.27 |
211.49 |
279.73 |
303.21 |
203.53 |
220.38 |
255.27 |
330.53 |
341.74 |
345.42 |
436.14 |
|
Offaly |
80.74 |
12.58 |
32.08 |
22.92 |
2.04 |
10.39 |
7.98 |
21.46 |
14.12 |
28.03 |
17.53 |
|
Roscommon |
199.47 |
161.09 |
217.97 |
230.38 |
210.45 |
184.7 |
345.1 |
365.42 |
254.56 |
321.13 |
314.11 |
|
Sligo |
123.74 |
52.29 |
267.49 |
51.09 |
55.02 |
125.33 |
263.15 |
309.04 |
222.61 |
245.49 |
153.96 |
|
Tipperary |
176.62 |
190.13 |
216.63 |
184.76 |
220.01 |
285.68 |
277.19 |
189.39 |
264.89 |
227.3 |
139.16 |
|
Waterford |
143.32 |
52.26 |
113.94 |
95.69 |
102.29 |
82.96 |
95.41 |
80.51 |
84.84 |
234.41 |
146.95 |
|
Westmeath |
18.95 |
12.63 |
29.63 |
47.52 |
41.94 |
55.44 |
40.45 |
19.62 |
40.6 |
88.28 |
33.86 |
|
Wicklow |
30.31 |
72.59 |
64.38 |
32 |
55.59 |
108.11 |
96.56 |
152.07 |
109.34 |
142.31 |
97.13 |
|
Wexford |
43.02 |
21.71 |
0.00 |
168.85 |
149.12 |
82.06 |
121.95 |
86.01 |
94.02 |
56.39 |
71.74 |
466. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of hectares planted annually with deciduous trees in each of the years 2007 to 2017, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39399/18]
View answerThe midterm review of the Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020, completed in February this year, provided my Department with an opportunity to take stock of the existing planting strategy. The review found that some targets were not being met including the 30% planting target for native broadleaves.
Following an extensive consultation process with stakeholders, my Department implemented a series of actions to promote native broadleaves. The grants and premiums for broadleaves were increased by 7 % and 5% respectively and the minimum mandatory percentage of broadleaves in any individual afforestation project was increased from 10% to 15%. Last week Minister Doyle also launched the Woodland Environmental Fund (WEF) which is a Corporate Social Responsibility project, aimed at corporate entities, to promote and encourage the planting of broadleaves.
The increases in premiums and grants, the increase in the minimum mandatory percentage of broadleaves in all afforestation projects, the promotion of Agro-forestry and Forestry for Fibre and the launch of the WEF is expected to lead to an increase in the planting of native broadleaves.
The number of hectares planted with broadleaves in each of the years 2007 to 2017, is given in the table below and is available on my Department's website:
|
County |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Carlow |
17.35 |
10.04 |
22.46 |
54.51 |
4.41 |
22.96 |
13.60 |
3.04 |
19.06 |
13.82 |
12.57 |
|
Cavan |
46.23 |
72.42 |
83.96 |
106.63 |
75.32 |
48.56 |
57.90 |
50.17 |
57.17 |
89.13 |
68.59 |
|
Clare |
232.28 |
273.33 |
225.94 |
189.63 |
153.56 |
90.62 |
58.01 |
65.24 |
106.43 |
73.08 |
63.73 |
|
Cork |
418.8 |
366.78 |
311.06 |
523.97 |
468.97 |
344.54 |
185.26 |
182.28 |
147.59 |
110.81 |
81.70 |
|
Donegal |
49.41 |
26.30 |
53.09 |
41.56 |
22.58 |
17.33 |
9.78 |
3.66 |
10.16 |
7.14 |
14.56 |
|
Dublin |
10.12 |
9.73 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1.28 |
8.56 |
0.00 |
2.01 |
1.51 |
1.30 |
4.16 |
|
Galway |
72.79 |
58.56 |
111.37 |
204.22 |
127.88 |
108.50 |
92.90 |
103.34 |
114.97 |
55.75 |
91.98 |
|
Kerry |
200.35 |
223.27 |
190.71 |
276.46 |
224.19 |
95.35 |
114.75 |
104.90 |
103.82 |
113.81 |
130.51 |
|
Kildare |
28.35 |
10.00 |
41.50 |
27.66 |
53.87 |
91.45 |
27.03 |
48.89 |
4.77 |
4.40 |
23.12 |
|
Kilkenny |
90.68 |
91.49 |
80.65 |
180.24 |
117.72 |
131.23 |
61.84 |
51.33 |
72.65 |
66.11 |
24.23 |
|
Laois |
37.06 |
54.98 |
33.78 |
57.43 |
43.69 |
69.86 |
27.40 |
34.91 |
22.17 |
31.64 |
15.13 |
|
Leitrim |
73.4 |
47.62 |
50.44 |
63.15 |
114.91 |
79.33 |
71.21 |
40.91 |
70.77 |
72.68 |
81.69 |
|
Limerick |
134.14 |
176.33 |
125.64 |
110.74 |
122.00 |
78.43 |
50.84 |
25.76 |
24.35 |
65.34 |
10.89 |
|
Longford |
25.23 |
38.19 |
29.14 |
80.25 |
61.24 |
37.12 |
54.03 |
49.75 |
88.31 |
44.93 |
28.85 |
|
Louth |
28 |
27.54 |
27.07 |
28.80 |
6.70 |
16.49 |
19.50 |
0.00 |
17.74 |
4.75 |
19.62 |
|
Mayo |
77.06 |
99.37 |
112.36 |
129.05 |
45.69 |
36.63 |
58.53 |
75.50 |
62.40 |
59.23 |
78.32 |
|
Meath |
18.83 |
42.59 |
89.91 |
178.08 |
50.45 |
116.12 |
60.82 |
33.34 |
25.20 |
30.90 |
61.47 |
|
Monaghan |
13.29 |
18.33 |
38.36 |
61.08 |
29.82 |
37.06 |
31.59 |
32.72 |
8.46 |
16.05 |
14.08 |
|
Offaly |
21.4 |
88.72 |
185.76 |
128.64 |
95.11 |
96.03 |
32.25 |
27.71 |
28.98 |
29.50 |
50.46 |
|
Roscommon |
63.97 |
99.35 |
102.94 |
83.70 |
59.07 |
56.48 |
67.09 |
69.11 |
59.92 |
81.73 |
75.43 |
|
Sligo |
43.46 |
38.48 |
80.42 |
16.18 |
20.81 |
35.81 |
69.21 |
49.29 |
28.19 |
41.99 |
29.01 |
|
Tipperary |
223.67 |
172.78 |
175.17 |
202.87 |
204.01 |
167.07 |
77.95 |
64.29 |
72.58 |
39.04 |
27.81 |
|
Waterford |
112.95 |
62.68 |
94.46 |
96.66 |
89.18 |
38.68 |
25.29 |
36.38 |
26.11 |
35.50 |
25.45 |
|
Westmeath |
43.53 |
42.59 |
84.63 |
83.61 |
98.44 |
104.26 |
105.63 |
81.40 |
44.13 |
102.05 |
54.50 |
|
Wexford |
81.56 |
40.73 |
79.52 |
187.79 |
116.14 |
69.25 |
66.03 |
59.24 |
28.57 |
42.44 |
39.66 |
|
Wicklow |
17.89 |
34.94 |
42.86 |
36.41 |
39.67 |
47.69 |
53.76 |
52.89 |
17.03 |
37.18 |
33.62 |
