Written Answers Nos. 217-242
217. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a facility (details supplied) in County Donegal has been fully taken over by a newly appointed service provider; if so, the date on which services were formally transferred to the new operator; the number of hours of respite services delivered at the facility in each week of 2019 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11238/19]
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.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
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.
218. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO awaiting a counselling appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [11271/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
219. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of beds and wards in all public and voluntary acute hospitals that were closed on 1 March 2019 or the latest date on which data for validated bed closures at hospital and ward level are available in tabular form. [11277/19]
View answerAccording to provisional data received from the HSE Acute Business Information Unit, there were on average 10,893 inpatient beds and 2,218 day case beds available nationally between January and December 2018.
Information relating to closed beds is collated at a particular date in time. The number of beds closed can fluctuate greatly from day to day for a variety of reasons, including on-going refurbishment, maintenance work, and infection control measures.
In relation to the particular data requested, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
220. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of bed days lost through delayed discharges in each public and voluntary hospital to date in 2019, in tabular form. [11278/19]
View answerEnsuring that patients who are clinically fit to leave hospital but require supports such as a home care package, transitional care, or a nursing home bed without delay is a priority this Winter.
A major strength of the Winter Plan is the integrated nature of the plan and the involvement and ownership of management and staff in local hospitals and community health organisations in both the development and roll-out of the plan in the months ahead. A key component of the Winter Plan 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.
In relation to the Deputy's specific question, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly with the data requested.
221. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the percentage of clinical status 1 ECHO incidents responded to by first responder in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less for each ambulance station in each month in the year to the end of February 2019 or the latest date available; and the percentage of clinical status 1 DELTA incidents responded to by a patient-carrying vehicle in seven minutes and 59 seconds or less. [11279/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
222. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients aged 75 years of age or over who experienced an emergency department wait time more than 24 hours to date in 2019; and the hospitals in which the wait occurred. [11280/19]
View answerI wish to acknowledge the distress overcrowded Emergency Departments (EDs) cause to patients, their families and frontline staff working in very challenging working conditions in hospitals throughout the country.
The hospital system is currently operating at close to full capacity. The number of patients attending Emergency Departments continues to increase year on year, with approximately 1.3 million attendances in 2018, up 3.5% on 2017. This reflects increasing demand for unscheduled care, especially by patients in the 75 years and over age group. Patients in this age group are the highest users of most health and social care services, have more complex needs and longer stays in our acute hospitals.
However, the National Service Plan 2019 includes an expected activity target that 99% of patients aged 75 and over are discharged or admitted within 24 hours of registration. Therefore, any breach of this target in respect of patients in this age cohort is unacceptable.
With regard to the specific question the Deputy has asked, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly.
223. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of home support hours being provided in each LHO area. [11281/19]
View answer224. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for home support hours in each LHO area; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to 12 and more than 12 months, respectively. [11282/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.
As these are a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
225. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance attendances at each emergency department nationally in January 2018; the number of such ambulances that waited longer than 20 minutes to hand over patients, get their trolleys back and return to responding to calls; and the number that waited longer than 40, 60, 90, 120 and more than 180 minutes for same, respectively in tabular form. [11283/19]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
226. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of spinal fusion patients waiting less than four months in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin and Temple Street Children’s University Hospital; the number waiting four to eight and more than eight months for treatment; and if the same information will be provided for other spinal patients in tabular form. [11284/19]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly.
227. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of public patients who were removed from outpatient lists each month in 2018 as a result of validation exercise and not as a result of having an appointment with a consultant in each public and voluntary hospital in tabular form. [11285/19]
View answerGood practice around the management of hospital waiting lists recommends periodic validation of waiting lists.
Validation is the process whereby hospital administration contacts patients on waiting lists at pre-planned intervals during the year to ensure that patients are ready, willing, suitable and available to attend a hospital appointment or wish to be removed.
Importantly, the validation process allows for situations where, if requested by the GP/referring clinician, patients can be reinstated back to their original place on to the Waiting List.
The HSE has advised that there has been no change to the figures provided to the Deputy in a letter dated 18 December, which I attach for convenience, and sets out details of the number of patients who were validated off the Outpatient Waiting List through the HSE validation exercise undertaken in 2018.
Last year, I approved the establishment of a Central Waiting List Validation Office within the NTPF. The new office delivers a standardisation of approach to validation across all waiting lists and all hospitals in line with the best patient-centred practices. The validation of waiting lists better informs the true demand for hospital services and enable improved efficiency and patient scheduling.
The Central Waiting List Validation Office has advised that no patients were removed from the Outpatient waiting list in 2018, as a result of their validation processes.
The figures provided to the Deputy on 18 December are contained in the following link.
228. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a podiatry appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [11286/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
229. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an ophthalmology appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [11287/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
230. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an audiology appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52, and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [11288/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
231. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for a dietetics appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52, and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [11289/19]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
232. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons in each LHO area waiting for an oral health appointment in primary care; and the number waiting zero to 12, 12 to 26, 26 to 52 and more than 52 weeks, respectively. [11290/19]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to change the regulations concerning the eligibility of donkeys as stock for minimum stocking densities under the ANC scheme 2013 to 2020 or 2021 to 2027; if so, the changes proposed; his further plans to have a public consultation on the proposed changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10965/19]
View answerUnder the Terms and Conditions of the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme applicants must fulfil stocking density requirements at a rate of 0.15 Livestock Units (LU) per eligible forage hectare. Applicants may use cattle, sheep, goats, horses, donkeys and deer to fulfil these requirements. Donkeys currently hold a value of 1.0 LU per hectare.
The 2019 Terms and Conditions for the ANC scheme signal to applicants that the stocking density value applied to the use of donkeys will be changed from 2020. This advance notice will give potentially impacted applicants time to adapt or changes practices. The terms and conditions are available online on the Department’s website and are also being posted to applicants. Specifically, the terms and conditions state:
“Please note that from 2020 only 50% of stocking density requirement can be fulfilled using donkeys. Applicants will be required to use other livestock to fulfil the other 50% requirement. “
This change to the 2020 ANC scheme has been introduced on the basis of stakeholder consultation and animal welfare considerations.
234. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farmers (details supplied) have not been issued agricultural grants for 2018; when these will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10968/19]
View answerRecords in my department show that the following 2018 payments were made under the herd number shown:
- 2018 Basic Payment scheme – advance payment made on 16th October 2018 and balancing payment on 3rd December 2018.
- Sheep Welfare Scheme – 2018 advance payment of 85% issued 20th November 2018, with the balancing payment due in quarter 2 2019.
- Areas of Natural Constraint – Paid in full in September 2018.
- Young Farmers Scheme – this payment is approved and will issue in the coming days.
This concludes the summary of direct payments for this herd number.
235. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an appeal to exclude a farmer (details supplied) from the young farmers scheme; the reason for the delay with the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10969/19]
View answerThe Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department. I have been advised that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that an appeal was received from the person named on 3 October 2018 and was assigned to an Appeals Officer. The Oral Hearing was held on 27 November 2018.
Subsequent to the oral hearing the appellant submitted further information and the Appeals Officer was recently in contact with the appellant’s nominated representative to obtain clarification on matters relating to that information. When all of the facts of the case have been fully assessed, a comprehensive decision letter will be issued by the Appeals Officer.
I am advised that every effort is being made to finalise the decision as quickly as possible.
236. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent on social media advertising and online promoted content (details supplied) in 2018 and to date in 2019, by campaign and social media platform used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11113/19]
View answer237. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged and-or consulted with a public relations online advertising agency regarding social media advertising and online promoted content in 2018 and to date in 2019; the amount spent by company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11130/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 237 together.
The 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.
The vast bulk of my Department's media expenditure 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.
Spark Foundry (formerly Mediavest) hold the central Governmental contract for the provision of the majority of advertising needs.
My Department spent €14,084 on online advertising in 2018 while there has been no similar expenditure to date in 2019.
My Department has not engaged or consulted with a public relations online advertising agency nor have they spent any money on social media advertising in 2018 or to date in 2019.
PQ 11113/19 - Online Advertising 2018
|
Event/Campaign |
Total € |
|
CAP 2020 Public Consultations |
€2,460 |
|
Clean Livestock Policy for Sheep |
€1,230 |
|
Closing date reminder Nitrates Record forms |
€4,305 |
|
Forestry Awareness |
€6,089 |
238. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific supports that will be made available to beef farmers in the immediate aftermath of a no-deal Brexit, if such a scenario should arise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11158/19]
View answerThe agrifood sector is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means it underpins the socio-economic development of rural areas in particular. Brexit, depending on the outcome, has the potential to have a very significant impact on farmers and on the agrifood sector.
There are on-going discussions with the Commission regarding the difficulties facing Ireland, and the assistance that might be required for its agriculture, food and fishery sectors. The UK is Ireland’s largest export destination for beef exports. In 2018, beef exports to the UK were valued at €1,206m, 49% of the total value of beef exports.
I and my officials have been working very hard for quite some time to sensitise other Member States and the European Commission to the potentially very severe impacts of Brexit on the Irish agrifood and fisheries sectors, in particular beef, and to the likelihood of specific supports being required in order to deal with these impacts. The institutions of the European Union are very well aware of the likelihood of a significant impact of a disorderly Brexit on Ireland’s economy because this has been part of the discussion from the beginning, and indeed this is explicitly recognised in the Commission’s own communication on contingency planning.
Most recently, I held a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Hogan to discuss the potential impact of a disorderly Brexit on the Irish agrifood and fisheries sectors. We discussed the unique exposure of these sectors to the threat of a disorderly Brexit, and the challenges that it could present. I stressed the need to be ready to deploy a range of measures to mitigate the potential impacts on farmers and processors, including through traditional market supports and exceptional aid under the CAP's Single Common Market Organisation regulation, and increased flexibility under State Aid regulations. Commissioner Hogan reiterated the EU’s readiness to respond and support Ireland, and we will remain in contact on these issues as the situation evolves.
239. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protocols and procedures a farmer must follow to get a carcass grade rechecked if they are unhappy with the grade awarded by the mechanical grading machine (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11201/19]
View answerCommission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184 of 20 April 2017 governs the monitoring of carcass classification, carcass presentation and weighing.
The role of my Department is clearly defined in the legislation in terms of monitoring and supervision of classification, weights and carcass presentation.
This legislation does not provide for any appeal mechanism by the competent authority in relation to the classification of carcasses by mechanical graders.
240. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the Defence Forces or his Department have conducted a national security assessment of technology provided by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11001/19]
View answer241. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if Cabinet committee F (National Security) or his Department has conducted a national security assessment of technology services provided by a company (details supplied); and the extent to which the State relies on the company. [11056/19]
View answer242. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to order a comprehensive review of structures, capabilities and fusion across all Departments in particular the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Justice and Equality and Defence in view of the fact that fundamentally cyber security is a three pronged approach on defence, security and crime; and the way in which overall capabilities are to be developed to address the growing risk to the digital economy. [11057/19]
View answer244. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the details of the initial national security assessment by a company (details supplied) to use technology provided by another company in its network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11018/19]
View answer245. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason the response to security queries in relation to a company (details supplied) was to highlight statutory obligations of network operators, the Commission for Communications Regulation responsibility and that State security is primarily a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality rather than taking responsibility for this risk to the digital economy; his views on whether this is a further admission of a failure to take the threat seriously in view of the recent report into the implementation of the national cyber strategy by the Comptroller and Auditor General; his further views on whether it is exposing the State to unacceptable risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11020/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 240 to 242, inclusive, 244 and 245 together.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which is part of my Department, has a number of roles, including leading in the management of major cyber security incidents, providing guidance and advice to citizens and businesses, and to manage cyber security related risks to critical infrastructure and services. Moreover, since the transposition of the EU Network and Information Security Directive, last year, the NCSC has a series of formal powers around securing a range of critical infrastructure, including internet infrastructure.
As the Deputy will be aware, there is also an existing statutory mechanism to deal with the security of telecommunications networks. ComReg has a series of statutory powers flowing from the Electronic Communications Networks and Services Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 333 of 2011) relating to the Security and Integrity of Telecommunications Networks.
The NCSC also cooperates with a variety of State entities, including the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána relating to managing risks to critical national infrastructure. The details of this work are obviously not for public release.
My Department is leading in the development of a new National Cyber Security Strategy. Stakeholder Consultations have begun, and a public consultation process will launch shortly. It is envisaged that this Strategy will set out how the State will work and cooperate with key State Agencies, industry partners and international peers in the interests of protecting critical infrastructure, improving situational awareness and incident management, as well as facilitating education, training and public awareness initiatives in respect of cyber security. The public consultation, which will launch shortly, will address these issues in a thematic manner, and will pose a series of questions around how we might better (1) protect critical national Infrastructure and services from Cyber Security related risks, (2) develop our skills base and industrial capacity in this field, and (3) engage nationally and internationally on cyber security matters, both to build awareness and to ensure that our international policy position takes cognisance of developments in cyber security.
