Written Answers Nos. 244-269
244. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of positions filled throughout the public health sector in the past two years at administrative level and other levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51211/18]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to you directly on this matter.
245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting orthodontic treatment; the length of time they have been on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51212/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
246. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the public health sector has prepared for all eventualities over the winter months with particular reference to the need for a reduction in waiting times and overcrowding at accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51213/18]
View answerI acknowledge the distress overcrowded EDs cause to patients, their families, and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country. This year has been characterised by high demand for unscheduled care, particularly among the over-75 age group, which was further exacerbated by Storm Emma and the extended influenza season earlier this year.
My Department has been working with the HSE throughout the year to ensure the most effective response to the pressures on our hospital system associated with the winter period. As part of this process, integrated Winter Preparedness Plans have been developed by Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations to meet the anticipated surge in demand for healthcare services during the winter months. The Plans are designed to optimise existing resources and encompass:
- planning and escalation;
- operational management of patient flow; and
- maintaining public health.
The Winter Plan, which was endorsed by the Emergency Department Task Force at its meeting on 26 November, is now in place and is due to be launched on the 6th of December. The Plan runs from 1 December 2018 until 31 March 2019 and includes a period of focused action from 17 December to 13 January targeting 9 sites of concern, identified on the basis of pressures experienced in previous winters.
A key component of the Plan, which is already underway, is the provision of an additional 550 home care packages over the winter period to help patients return home from hospital with the supports they need.
The Winter Plan will also seek to increase capacity and the Department of Health is currently in discussions with the HSE, in the context of the National Service Plan 2019, to identify the sites for investment and the associated number of beds, as part of an agreed capacity programme for 2019.
247. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he has monitored overcrowding at accident and emergency departments in various public hospitals throughout the country over the course of the past 12 months; his plans to address this issue and avoid a repeat in the winter of 2018-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51214/18]
View answerMy Department has engaged extensively with the HSE throughout the year to ensure the most effective response to the challenges faced by our hospital system in the provision of unscheduled care this winter.
Along with officials in my Department, I participated in meetings of the Emergency Department Task Force (EDTF) during the year, which had an ongoing focus on winter planning. I also attended the EDTF Unscheduled Care Forum on 4 September, which gathered a wide range of stakeholders from the Irish health system to provide perspectives from the frontline on initiatives to improve patient experience and overall system performance. These initiatives informed the winter planning process.
I met with Hospital Groups and Community Health Care Organisations to discuss their plans for winter preparedness during September and October. These meetings were attended by officials in my Department and senior management in the HSE.
The Winter Preparedness Plans, developed by Hospital Groups and Community Healthcare Organisations, are designed to optimise existing resources and encompass:
- planning and escalation;
- operational management of patient flow; and
- maintaining public health.
The Winter Plan, which was endorsed by the Emergency Department Task Force at its meeting on 26 November, is now in place and is due to be launched on the 6th of December. The Plan runs from 1 December 2018 until 31 March 2019 and includes a period of focused action from 17 December to 13 January targeting 9 sites of concern, identified on the basis of pressures experienced in previous winters.
A key component of the Plan, which is already underway, is the provision of an additional 550 home care packages over the winter period to help patients return home from hospital with the supports they need.
The Winter Plan will also seek to increase capacity and the Department of Health is currently in discussions with the HSE, in the context of the National Service Plan 2019, to identify the sites for investment and the associated number of beds, as part of an agreed capacity programme for 2019.
249. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason the hospital cannot be brought up to its full complement of patients with a view to alleviating pressure on hospital beds over the course of the winter months in view of the increasing requirement of nursing home beds as provided at St Brigid’s Hospital, Crooksling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51216/18]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which waiting lists for various procedures exist at various public hospitals throughout the country; the action taken or proposed to address such matters in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51218/18]
View answerImproving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for Government.
This year has seen ongoing improvements with the number of patients waiting for inpatient and daycase procedures (IPDC), now at 72,001 from the peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a 16% reduction in the overall number of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case procedure. The number of patients waiting over 9 months has reduced from over 28,100 to just over 17,500 in the same period equating to a 37% reduction.
The ongoing collaboration between the HSE and NTPF to maximise the number of patients treated in both a public and private capacity has resulted in over 21,200 patients accepting offers of treatment for a hospital procedure to the end of October this year.
Waiting list data for the end of October shows that the total numbers on the Outpatient waiting list stand at over 516,000 and are continuing to grow. However, a targeted approach by the HSE and Hospital Groups in late 2017 and into 2018 has impacted on the level of growth. The period January-October 2017 saw growth of almost 49,000 while growth has reduced to 13,800 in the same period in 2018.
In addition, the NTPF is working closely with Hospital Groups inviting proposals to facilitate the trialling of funded interventions, and at the end of October had approved more than 13,500 outpatient appointments.
Budget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019.
The HSE National Service Plan 2019 will set out a planned activity level for 2019 which it is anticipated will be broadly in line with 2018 activity to deliver 1.14 million elective inpatient and day case discharges.
In addition in 2019, the NTPF plans to deliver 25,000 Inpatient Day Case treatments, 5,000 Gastro Intestinal Scopes and 40,000 Outpatient appointments. It is expected that a further 34,000 patients who no longer need treatment will be removed from the waiting lists by the NTPF Central Validation Unit. As a result, the number of patients waiting for a hospital procedure is projected to fall to below 59,000 by the end of 2019.
I recently met with the CEO's of all Hospital Groups and requested that they develop innovative proposals to address their outpatients lists in 2019.
My Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a Scheduled Care Access Plan for inpatient/daycase and outpatients for 2019.
In 2019, the NTPF and HSE will continue to work closely with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either inpatient/daycase or outpatient procedures.
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the treatment purchase scheme can be used to target waiting lists in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51219/18]
View answerImproving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for Government.
This year has seen ongoing improvements with the number of patients waiting for inpatient and daycase procedures (IPDC), now at 72,001 from the peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a 16% reduction in the overall number of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case procedure. The number of patients waiting over 9 months has reduced from over 28,100 to just over 17,500 in the same period equating to a 37% reduction.
The ongoing collaboration between the HSE and NTPF to maximise the number of patients treated in both a public and private capacity has resulted in over 21,200 patients accepting offers of treatment for a hospital procedure to the end of October this year.
Budget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019.
In 2019, the NTPF plans to deliver 25,000 Inpatient Day Case treatments. In addition, 5,000 Gastro Intestinal Scopes will be carried out, bringing to 9,000 the additional scope activity provided by the NTPF since the start of 2018. Furthermore, 40,000 Outpatient appointments will be arranged as part of 2019 activity. It is expected that a further 34,000 patients who no longer need treatment will be removed from the waiting lists by the NTPF Central Validation Unit.
As a result, the number of patients waiting for a hospital procedure is projected to fall to below 59,000 by the end of 2019.
My Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a Scheduled Care Access Plan for inpatient/daycase and outpatients for 2019.
In 2019, the NTPF and HSE will continue to work closely with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either inpatient/daycase or outpatient procedures.
253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in the regionalisation of the HSE with a view to improving its efficiency, continuity of services and greater sensitivity to the needs of the general population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51220/18]
View answerThe Sláintecare Implementation Strategy contains a series of actions to improve the governance, accountability and effectiveness of the health service. This includes a commitment to establish an independent Board for the HSE and to reconfigure the HSE to improve accountability and support integrated care. Legislation to establish a Board for the HSE is currently before the Oireachtas and I intend to establish the Board once the legislation has been passed. As you know, Ciarán Devane has been announced as Chair-designate of the new Board.
The task of identifying the optimal set of health structures including national and regional bodies, and the most appropriate governance, accountability and performance framework for the future health system will be an important stream of work under the Sláintecare programme of reforms. As set out in the Implementation Strategy, I am committed to the development of a new system of health structures comprising a leaner national centre with responsibility for national planning, strategy and standard setting, complemented by regional integrated care organisations with responsibility for the planning and delivery of services at a regional level.
As the Deputy is aware, hospital groups and community healthcare organisations (CHOs) have been in place for a number of years, and have responsibility for the planning and delivery of care in their catchment areas. However, these entities have been operating on an administrative basis only, and the geographies of the Groups and CHOs are not aligned. As a first step in this work programme, my Department has undertaken a public consultation regarding the geographical alignment of Hospital Groups and CHOs. I hope to bring proposals to Government on this shortly. In parallel, proposals are being developed in relation to the reconfiguration of health service structures, including the development of regional integrated care organisations. This will include consideration of the respective roles and responsibilities of the Department of Health, HSE national centre and new regional bodies. I expect to bring detailed proposals to Government in late 2019.
254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the number of patients on waiting lists for hip replacements at various hospitals throughout the country; the longest period of time a patient has been on this waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51221/18]
View answerImproving access to hospital treatment is a key priority for Government.
This year has seen ongoing improvements with the number of patients waiting for inpatient and daycase procedures (IPDC), now at 72,100 from the peak of 86,100 in July 2017. This represents a 16% reduction in the overall number of patients waiting for an inpatient or day case procedure. The number of patients waiting over 9 months has reduced from over 28,100 to just over 17,500 in the same period equating to a 37% reduction.
The Inpatient/Daycase Action Plan 2018, published earlier this year, placed a particular focus on hip and knee replacements, with €9.8 million allocated by the NTPF for such procedures. The Plan committed to offering procedures to all patients waiting more than 9 months for a hip replacement in 2018, if clinically suitable for treatment.
Waiting list data provided (and attached for the information of the Deputy) by the National Treatment Purchase Fund shows that there are 1,509 patients waiting for a hip replacement. The data shows that there has been considerable progress towards meeting the targets of the Action Plan with 1,334 (88%) patients waiting less than 9 months. The data shows that the longest wait for a hip replacement is 1,215 days.
Budget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019.
My Department is working closely with the NTPF and the HSE to finalise a Scheduled Care Access Plan for inpatients/daycase and outpatients for 2019.
In 2019, the NTPF and the HSE will continue to work with Hospital Groups, inviting proposals to improve access for patients waiting for either Inpatient/Daycase or Outpatient procedures.
Hip replacement waits as at Nov 29th 2018
|
Sum of Count |
Column Labels |
|||||||
|
Row Labels |
0-3 Months |
3-6 Months |
6-9 Months |
9-12 Months |
12-15 Months |
15-18 Months |
18+ Months |
Grand Total |
|
Beaumont Hospital |
16 |
5 |
8 |
4 |
33 |
|||
|
Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital |
209 |
102 |
35 |
8 |
2 |
3 |
359 |
|
|
Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown |
9 |
9 |
||||||
|
Croom Orthopaedic Hospital |
30 |
14 |
2 |
1 |
47 |
|||
|
Galway University Hospitals |
27 |
21 |
13 |
5 |
6 |
3 |
8 |
83 |
|
Letterkenny University Hospital |
45 |
30 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
85 |
|
Lourdes Orthopaedic Hospital Kilcreene |
72 |
15 |
2 |
1 |
90 |
|||
|
Mater Misericordiae University Hospital |
2 |
6 |
2 |
10 |
||||
|
Mayo University Hospital |
44 |
30 |
26 |
13 |
8 |
2 |
6 |
129 |
|
Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore |
52 |
31 |
13 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
7 |
116 |
|
Our Lady's Hospital Navan |
56 |
28 |
16 |
3 |
1 |
104 |
||
|
Sligo University Hospital |
13 |
6 |
3 |
22 |
||||
|
South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital |
55 |
25 |
8 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
100 |
|
|
St. James's Hospital |
13 |
7 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
35 |
|
St. Vincent's University Hospital |
3 |
2 |
5 |
|||||
|
Tallaght University Hospital |
70 |
47 |
31 |
27 |
10 |
3 |
5 |
193 |
|
Temple Street Children's University Hospital |
1 |
1 |
||||||
|
University Hospital Kerry |
29 |
27 |
24 |
2 |
82 |
|||
|
University Hospital Waterford |
4 |
1 |
1 |
6 |
||||
|
Grand Total |
749 |
397 |
188 |
80 |
40 |
15 |
40 |
1509 |
Longest wait 1215 days.
255. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of public sector staff from his Department seconded to work in the public sector in other EU member states; the schemes available for such secondments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50981/18]
View answerNo staff from my Department are seconded to work in other EU Member States administration. However, nine staff from my Department currently work as Seconded National Experts (SNEs) in other UN and EU institutions.
256. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51026/18]
View answerAn application under the 2018 Basic Payment Scheme was received in respect of the person named on 8th May 2018. On this application the claimed area on a commonage parcel was increased considerably. Letters requesting clarification in relation to this have issued on 11th September and 1st October and to date no reply has been received. An official from my Department will contact the person named to discuss this matter.
257. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of injured and killed dogs racing at greyhound tracks here over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51086/18]
View answerBord na gCon 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.
I have requested officials in my department to refer the question to Bord na gCon for direct reply to the Deputy.
258. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51098/18]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, I undertook an extensive public consultation from 30 April to 11 June 2018 in relation to trawling activity inside the 6 nautical mile zone. A consultation paper was made available on the Department's website setting out the background to this issue and an analysis of the various options available. There were over 900 submissions to the Consultation, including the one referred to by the Deputy, comprising a wide diversity of views.
Taking into account the submissions received and following any necessary further analysis, I will carefully consider any possible measures to be introduced. My decision will be published on the Department's website as early as possible.
259. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress his Department has achieved in reducing its carbon footprint; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51123/18]
View answerIrish agricultural production is recognised by international independent analysis as having one of the lowest carbon-footprints internationally. The European Commission’s JRC Report of 2010 “Evaluation of the livestock sector's contribution to the EU greenhouse gas emissions (GGELS)” recognised that Ireland (with Austria) had the lowest cow milk emissions as well as the lowest emissions per kilo of pork. The FAO has also recognised the efficiency of our temperate grassland based production systems.
Production efficiency improvements are a core part of the efforts being undertaken by the agricultural sector. At farm level, my Department and its agencies are actively engaged with the farming sector through initiatives such as the Origin Green Farm Sustainability and Quality Assurance schemes, Knowledge Transfer Schemes, Beef Data and Genomics Programmes, the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) and the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS).
As example of my continued focus on ensuring the lowering of the carbon footprint of the agriculture sector I have recently introduced a Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot scheme that builds on the success of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme. This new scheme will be targeted at suckler farmers and specifically aimed at further improving the carbon efficiency of beef production.
Sequestration has also a key role to play in reducing the carbon footprint of the sector and my Department has made significant investment under the Forestry Programme. In 2018 €106 million has been made available by my Department to support afforestation and other forest initiatives with significant improvements in grant and premium rates under the agroforestry and forestry for fibre options.
Higher ambition on environmental and climate action are part of the new CAP, post 2020, and it is proposed that 40% of the overall CAP budget will contribute to climate action. This will require farmers to achieve a higher level of environmental ambition through both mandatory and incentive-based measures.
As we look towards defining measures and targets under the new CAP regime the recently published Teagasc report “An analysis of Abatement Potential of Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Irish Agriculture 2021-2030” is key to informing the type of abatement measures we need to focus on to continue to reduce the carbon footprint of the sector.
My Department will continue to actively engage in the whole of government approach on climate policy to examine the best means of encouraging sustainable intensification of food production, while optimising the sectors contribution to greenhouse gas mitigation and sequestration including through afforestation and other forest sector activities. It is clear that the sector will have to deliver its part in achieving what is a significant overall national target of reducing emissions in the years ahead.
260. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51146/18]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017 and has received payments for 2017 and the 2018 advance payment.
The 2018 advance claim was underpaid for the Low Input Permanent Pasture action and is due a correcting payment. This payment is expected to issue shortly.
261. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time and part-time staff working in the dedicated market access unit established within the meat and milk policy division by staff grade in tabular form; and the annual cost of the unit including staffing costs. [51176/18]
View answerOne of my key priorities is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drinks internationally. This principle of market development is already a key component of Food Wise 2025, but is particularly important now in the context of Brexit.
My Department's market access effort includes work at political, diplomatic and technical levels. The work of staff across the Department impacts on market access and development. This includes veterinary services, laboratory staff, inspectorate staff, Brexit/International Trade Division, Meat and Dairy Policy Division and others, in completing market access questionnaires, facilitating incoming inspection visits, participating in diplomatic meetings, agreeing export health certificates and so on. All of this closely inter-connected work facilitates the accessing of new markets and the maintenance of existing markets.
In relation to meat, this effort is co-ordinated by a dedicated meat market access unit in the Meat and Dairy Policy Division. This unit’s staffing complement currently comprises a team of six people, across different administrative grades, led by an Assistant Principal Officer including the salary scales as follows:
|
Grade |
Number involved |
Salary Scale |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
1 |
€66,495 - €77,460 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
€48,028 - €56,441 |
|
Executive Officer |
2 |
€29,316 - €46,891 |
|
Clerical Officer |
2 |
€23,338 - €37,204 |
The meat market access unit works on expanding market access for beef, sheepmeat, pigmeat, poultry and cooked meats across a range of markets, and is also working to simplify certification procedures in a number of markets to which Ireland already has access. The work of the unit supports a meat industry with exports of around €3.8 billion in 2017. My Department has made significant progress in recent years in increasing market access opportunities for Irish meat exports including in 2018 opening the Chinese beef market and meat markets in Kuwait and Qatar.
262. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the requirements for farmers operating in a locked-down system for the purposes of TB eradication (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51200/18]
View answer263. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of beef herds operating in a locked-down system for the purposes of TB eradication here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51201/18]
View answer264. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of feedlots operating here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51202/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 264, inclusive, together.
The number of feedlot herds currently restricted under the TB Eradication programme is 337.
When a herd meets the criteria to be regarded as a ‘Feedlot’ under the TB Eradication Programme, the herd is restricted under the TB Regulations and a special official supervisory and testing protocol is established. Such herds are not exempted from testing, reactor removal or disinfection requirements. Restricted Feedlots are TB tested at least once a year. Since Ireland attained officially Brucellosis Free Status herd level testing for Brucellosis is no longer carried out.
In the context of the TB eradication programme, a feedlot’ herd is a herd that comprises a ‘non-breeding’ unit which disposes of all cattle direct for slaughter and fulfils at least one of the following three criteria:
(i) the cattle are permanently housed (never on pasture) or
(ii) there are no contiguous holdings/lands with cattle i.e. must not have any neighbour contacts either through cattle being confined exclusively in yards/building or if intending to graze cattle the land is secured so there can be no contact with cattle e.g. surrounded by tillage, residential industrial/recreational units or impenetrable rivers, roads or walls or
(iii) the boundaries are walled, double fenced or equivalent so as to prevent any direct contact with cattle on contiguous lands/premises/holdings
Furthermore, there must be no evidence of within herd acquisition or spread of TB.
Thus a Feedlot herd, is a herd that poses minimal risk of infecting other cattle because of effective isolation from other herds.
In addition the following conditions apply:
- The land used to graze animals must be nominated in advance and inspected and passed by a veterinary inspector.
- A Feedlot, being a TB restricted herd, is not permitted to sell cattle on the open market other than directly to slaughter.
- Feedlot herds that fatten females must have the capability of rearing any unplanned calves until slaughtered or the herd has been de-restricted.
- If animals are being put on grass, the herd must be tested before being ‘let out’.
- Animal Identification and Movement Notification procedures must be complied with.
- All testing requirements must be complied with.
- If TB is diagnosed but following an epidemiological inspection there is no evidence of within herd spread the feedlot may continue to buy in.
- When TB is diagnosed specific conditions with respect to disinfection of premises and equipment and also storage and spreading of manure/slurry must be respected.
- Any manure and slurry on the holding must be stored for at least two months prior to being moved off or spread on the holding.
- Manure/slurry may not be spread on ground to be grazed within the succeeding 4 weeks.
- Test reactor animals are removed for slaughter under permit.
- Inconclusive reactor animals that are being slaughtered before re-test must be moved to slaughter on foot of a movement permit to ensure they are subject to appropriate post mortem examination.
- If it is ascertained that infection was acquired within the holding, permission to buy in is suspended. The herd is only de-restricted and allowed to buy in again if all the animals are free from clinical signs of tuberculosis, cleansing and disinfection of the premises and utensils has been completed and all animals on the holding have reacted negatively to at least two consecutive tuberculin tests, the first no less than 60 days and the second no less than four months and no more than 12 months after the removal of the last positive reactor. The herd may apply for feedlot status again should the need arise.
The term ‘locked down herds’ is not a term used under the TB Eradication Programme.
265. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 247 of 14 November 2018, when a reply will issue. [51203/18]
View answerThe information is still being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy urgently.
|
Year |
Quantity of Animals |
|
2015 |
331,753 |
|
2016 |
431,837 |
|
2017 |
491,551 |
|
2018* |
467,005 |
266. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of public sector staff from his Department seconded to work in the public sector in other EU member states; the schemes available for such secondments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50984/18]
View answerMy Department does not currently have any staff seconded to work in the public administrations of other EU Member States.
267. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when high speed broadband will be available at a location (details supplied); the reason the latest installation did not go as far as this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51029/18]
View answerAs outlined in my response to Parliamentary Question Nos. 2074 and 2082 of 24 July 2018, this premises is in an AMBER area according to the High Speed Broadband Map, which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. High speed broadband will therefore be delivered through the proposed State led Intervention under the NBP, which is the subject of an ongoing procurement process.
I note that there is deployment of infrastructure by eir as part of that company’s rural fibre rollout in the area referred to by the Deputy.
eir’s rural investment in high speed broadband is an entirely commercial undertaking, and not part of the planned State Intervention network. Although the deployment is monitored under the terms of a Commitment Agreement signed between the company and my Department, it is not funded by the State and it is not planned, designed or directed by my Department in any capacity.
The selection of what premises are to be served under eir’s deployment is an internal and commercial decision for that company. My Department has no statutory authority or function to intervene in the company’s commercial decisions, nor in any decisions relating to the roll out and siting of infrastructure throughout Ireland by service providers operating in a liberalised market.
The procurement process to appoint a bidder for the State intervention network is now at the final stage. My priority is to bring the procurement process to a fair and impartial conclusion as quickly as possible. My Department will now conclude its assessment of the final tender submission received from the bidder on 18 September 2018 and I will bring a recommendation to Government in the coming weeks on how to proceed.
For those premises currently awaiting access to high speed broadband, practical initiatives will continue to be addressed through the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce to address obstacles and improve connectivity in respect of existing and future mobile phone and broadband services.
Under this Taskforce, engagement between telecommunications operators and local authorities through the Broadband Officers is continuing to strengthen. These Broadband Officers are acting as single points of contact in local authorities for their communities. The appointment of these officers is already reaping rewards in terms of ensuring a much greater degree of consistency in engagements.
268. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason he has not appointed a regulator to regulate and monitor the market for home heating oil; if he will provide the last market monitoring report, competition report, consumer protection code or consumer survey report produced by his Department or by a body under the aegis of his Department on the market for home heating oil; and the way in which he plans to promote competition, protect consumers and ensure sustainability in the market. [51073/18]
View answerThe Irish retail oil sector, including the supply of home heating oil, is an open and competitive market.
The retail price of home heating oil is determined by a number of factors, including the price of crude oil and refined product on the international markets, market supply and demand levels, and as oil is traded almost exclusively in US Dollars, the strength of that currency against the Euro.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC, under the aegis of the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation) is responsible for ensuring that the market is functioning correctly and that consumers are not being unfairly disadvantaged.
269. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the timeline for the opening of RESS-1 and RESS-2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51097/18]
View answerThe high level design of the new Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) was approved by Government in July 2018. The RESS has been designed to deliver Ireland’s contribution towards an EU-wide renewable energy target of 32% out to 2030, within a competitive auction-based, cost effective framework. The RESS will deliver a broad range of policy objectives including: the provision of pathways and supports for communities to participate in renewable energy projects; broadening the renewable electricity technology mix and increasing energy security, energy sustainability and ensuring the cost effectiveness of energy policy.
The Scheme will provide for a renewable electricity (RES-E) ambition of up to a maximum of 55% by 2030 subject to determining the cost effective level which will be set out in Irelands first National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP).The High Level Design proposed that the first RESS auction would take place in 2019 with the second auction to be held the following year in 2020. The ultimate auction timetable and volumes to be procured will be determined based on the analysis carried out as part of the NECP, the trajectory targets for renewables under the Governance Regulation, as well as assessment of the supply pipeline of eligible projects to ensure competitive outcomes for consumers.
My Department is progressing the RESS design across three main work streams: the EU state aid approval process; the development of an enabling framework for community participation; and the detailed design of the first auctions. Engagement with relevant stakeholders will continue in the coming months.
