Written Answers Nos. 862-881
862. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a residential placement considering they have been on the waiting list for three years and have been deemed a high priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37109/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
863. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health the amounts paid to each general practitioner and practice in CHO 8 in 2018 and 2019 for the treatment of medical card patients under the GMS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37110/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
864. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who in previous years received the flu jab are unable to obtain it in spite of Covid-19; his views on whether the decision to acquire only 20% more doses of the flu jab compared with 2019 was short-sighted given, for example, that the UK has sought to double the number of persons vaccinated in 2020; if he regrets the decision not to make the flu jab available for all persons who require it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37111/20]
View answerThe expanded flu vaccination campaign underway represents a substantial advance on the campaigns of previous years. 1.95 million doses of vaccine, about twice as much as was administered last winter, has been procured. This includes 600,000 doses of the vaccine delivered via nasal drops to children aged from 2 -12.
The approach taken by the HSE and the Government is to ensure that all of those most vulnerable to the winter flu will have access to vaccination without charge. This includes all of those in the at-risk groups and healthcare workers. The extension of vaccination to all children aged from 2 to 12 years will provide additional protection, as younger children (along with the elderly) are among those most at-risk from flu.
1.35 million doses of the injected vaccine are being made available for those in the HSE-defined at-risk groups, including healthcare workers. For comparison purposes, just under 1 million doses were administered last winter. Notwithstanding the large increase in available vaccine this year, it is likely that the full supply will be used, representing an increase of 35% in uptake over last year. This is expected to increase the population health benefit from the vaccination campaign, as well as helping to reduce the pressure on the health service, particularly when combined with the uptake among children.
I can confirm that 1.3 million of the 1.35 million doses of flu vaccine available this winter have been distributed to GPs, pharmacists and other vaccination sites since early October. In addition, 420,000 doses of the LAIV for administration to children aged from 2 to 12 have been distributed.
Demand for vaccination remains strong at this point and may exceed available supply. It is likely that the full amount procured, 1.35 million doses, will be distributed and administered. As a consequence, from the fourth round of deliveries which started on 23 October, GPs and pharmacists have been asked that of remaining patients in at-risk groups, priority should be given to the over-65s and healthcare workers with direct patient contact, in line with WHO advice.
Vaccinations are ordered well in advance – the HSE placed its order for the vaccine for those in at-risk groups in February. The HSE order for the 2020/21 season was 20% greater than the order for the 2019/20 season and about 35% more than 2019/20 uptake. These figures do not include the additional 600,000 doses of vaccine ordered for children aged from 2 – 12, which would bring to almost 75% the additional number of doses of vaccine available this year. Given the demand on the international market for influenza vaccine, it is not likely that we will be able to procure more vaccine at this point.
When the vaccination programme is complete, we will have vaccinated more people in at-risk groups than ever before. Current trends suggest that at least 350,000 more individuals in the at-risk groups will receive the flu vaccine this winter than last, including those over 65 and healthcare workers. In addition, over 100,000 children have already received the vaccination which is being provided without charge this year for the first time. I expect this number to increase significantly in the coming weeks also.
865. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if the HSE altered the criteria and amount of refunds for the purchase of glasses and optical examinations that parents of children with disabilities can claim back in April 2020 as occurred in the case of a person (details supplied); if his attention or that of his officials was drawn to the change; the policy reason for the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37139/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
866. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the supports available from the HSE for parents of all children whose condition requires new glasses and ongoing treatment and examination each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37140/20]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
867. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason a request for an ASD assessment for a child (details supplied) made in 2012 has still not occurred; the reason requests from the paediatrician of the child in recent years have gone unanswered by the HSE; the length of time before they will be assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37141/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.
The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.
As this question relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
868. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding coursing-bred greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36134/20]
View answerHare coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC). Hare coursing is managed and regulated by the ICC.
Funding for ICC is derived from Stud Book registration fees and the sale of the ICC newspaper “The Sporting Press”. The ICC does not receive funding from Government or RCÉ.
Rásíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) 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. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Following suspension of racing activity in March of this year, RCÉ introduced a Covid-19 Greyhound Care Payment Scheme of €2 per day in respect of each active greyhound registered on RCÉ’s Racing Management System. Payments ceased on 8th June 2020.
869. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary allocations for BPS payments outlined in budget 2019; the actual amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36150/20]
View answerFinancial allocations for the Basic Payment Scheme are not set by the national budgetary process in the same way as, for example, schemes such as the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme and the Sheep Welfare Scheme that are financed by the Rural Development Programme. Rather, ceilings are set for Direct Payments Schemes by the EU Regulations.
For 2019, EU Regulations set out a total ceiling of €1,211,066,000 for the 2019 calendar year. This incorporates BPS, the Young Farmer Scheme, the Greening Scheme, and the Protein Aid Scheme. The ceiling is fully committed on the basis of payment entitlements for the BPS, and the allocations for the other three schemes. It is not the case, however, that all committed entitlements in a given year will be activated by farmers for payment.
A total of €1,202,742,529 was paid in the calendar year 2019 across the four Direct Payment Schemes. As 2019 applications continue to be cleared and paid, this expenditure will also be set against the 2019 ceilings.
870. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary allocations for ANC payments outlined in budget 2019; the actual amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36151/20]
View answerThe budget for the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme has received a number of significant increases in recent years, with an increase of €25 million being allocated to the scheme in 2018 and an additional €23 million being allocated in 2019.
These increases have brought the total budget for the scheme to €250 million per annum. This represents a recognition of the importance of the scheme to the rural economy and the farmers that farm lands designated as disadvantaged/constrained.
A total of €248.55m was paid out under the ANC scheme in the calendar year 2019.
871. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary allocations for GLAS payments outlined in budget 2019; the actual amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36152/20]
View answerThe allocation for the Green-Low Carbon Agri-environment Scheme in Budget 2019 was €203m. A total of €213.8m was paid out under that Scheme in the year 2019.
€202.7m was allocated to GLAS for payments in 2020. To date, €184m has been paid to GLAS participants. GLAS payments continue to issue on a regular basis as applications are cleared for payment.
872. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary allocations for AEOS payments outlined in budget 2019; the actual amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36153/20]
View answerThe allocation for the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) in Budget 2019 was €0.479m with a total of €0.568m paid out under that Scheme in the year 2019.
This amount covered residual payments due to legacy participation in the scheme.
873. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary allocations for BDGP payments outlined in budget 2019; the actual amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36154/20]
View answerThe BDGP forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. It involves funding of €300 million over the six year programme and addresses widely acknowledged weaknesses in the maternal genetics of the Irish suckler herd, makes a positive contribution to farmer profitability and reduces the greenhouse gas intensity of Ireland’s beef production. A second programme, BDGP II, was launched in 2017 and will run until 2022.
Budget 2019 allocated €45M for BDGP I & II. Payments made under both programmes in 2019 totalled €43.4M.
874. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary allocations for BEEP payments outlined in budget 2019; the actual amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36155/20]
View answerThe objective of BEEP was to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd through better quality data on herd performance supporting decision making on farm.
The 2019 budget allocated a total of €20 million for the Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot (BEEP)
A total of 16,556 farmers participated in the pilot with payments totalling €15.4m.
875. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary allocations for sheep welfare scheme payments outlined in budget 2019; the actual amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36156/20]
View answerThe Sheep Welfare Scheme was launched in December 2016, for a period of four years. The scheme reflected the commitment of the Government to the sheep sector in Ireland and was introduced as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme. The total budget allocated to the scheme in 2019 amounted to €18m.
A total of €17.38m was paid out under the Sheep Welfare Scheme in the calendar year 2019.
876. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary allocations for TAMS payments outlined in budget 2019; the actual amount paid out; the amounts paid out under each measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36157/20]
View answerThe indicative allocation for the TAMS II scheme over the course of the Rural Development Programme is €395 million. To date, over 33,350 approvals to proceed with investment works under TAMS II have issued. A total of €252 million has been paid to date.
The available budget allocated for all TAMS measures in 2019 was €70 million. However €76.516 million was received in payment claims and paid to TAMS applicants that year with the additional funding being found from within savings elsewhere in the Department's budget. A breakdown of the amounts paid under each measure of TAMS II in 2019 is outlined below.
|
Scheme |
Expenditure 2019 (€m) |
|
Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme |
13.703 |
|
Dairy Equipment Scheme |
13.030 |
|
Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme |
6.528 |
|
Organic Capital Investment Scheme |
0.531 |
|
Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme |
0.515 |
|
Young Farmers' Capital Investment Scheme |
36.871 |
|
Tillage Capital Investment Scheme |
5.338 |
|
Total |
76.516 |
877. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary allocations for organic farming scheme payments outlined in budget 2019; the actual amount paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36158/20]
View answerThe Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) is one of the most successful Schemes under our current Rural Development Programme (RDP). The Scheme has more than achieved its targets in terms of new land converted and the maintenance of organic land. The target for the RDP was to attract some 16,000 hectares of new land into production and to support 46,000 hectares of converted land. These targets have been more than exceeded.
A budget of €56m was allocated to fund the Scheme during the period 2014 to 2020 which was the largest allocation ever to an Organics support scheme. The budget allocation for the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) as outlined in Budget 2019 was €11 million. Organic Farming Scheme payments totalling €9.4 million issued in 2019. Residual payments to scheme applicants were made in early 2020 when their applications became eligible for payment.
878. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an afforestation licence application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36181/20]
View answerAs you may be aware, there is a backlog of license applications that require an Appropriate Assessment (AA). My Department has put in place a detailed project plan for dealing with this backlog which includes recruitment of additional ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff where required.
In this case, the licence application is waiting to be reviewed by a Department ecologist.
Submitting a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) for this licence would however significantly reduce the length of time it would take for the Department to complete the AA process for this application. On receipt of a satisfactory NIS, the length of time it would take to complete the appropriate process is estimated to be between 2 and 3 months.
If the applicant wishes to submit a NIS for this application, they should notify the Department by email to ecologyqueries@agriculture.gov.ie. A NIS is prepared at applicant’s own expense, by a suitably qualified person.
879. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if fogging is being used as a solution to Covid-19 in schools notwithstanding the WHO advice against this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36230/20]
View answerMy Department's position in relation to the use of fogging or misting products for the control of Covid-19 is in line with guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces in the context of Covid-19. Our position also reflects the views of the Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control group in the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre which does not recommend the use of fogging/misting devices to prevent transmission of Covid-19 in any setting.
Since the onset of the Covid-19 crisis, my Department has received a large volume of applications for registration of new biocidal disinfectant products. To date it has not approved any product for use for the control of Covid-19 via fogging or misting devices. There are a small number of products currently registered which have recommendations for use through fogging machines or vaporisation devices for general disinfection purposes. However, these products are not approved for control of Covid-19.
Requirements for the approval of fogging or misting products for use as biocidal disinfectant products have been disseminated to applicants who have recently applied for such product registrations. My Department has also published these requirements on the Pesticide Control and Registration Division website.
880. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of positions to be filled for the technical agriculture officer 2020 position as advertised on publicjobs.ie within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36247/20]
View answerAt present, my Department has 61 positions to be filled immediately from the Technical Agriculture Officer 2020 competition that was advertised on www.publicjobs.ie.
I understand that interviews will take place during November and a panel will be created in December. This panel will be in place for a period of two years. My Department continuously uses workforce planning processes as a tool to identify and prioritise vacancies in accordance with its business needs and the delivery of overall Government policy.
881. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the AEOS scheme is to be extended; if not, the scheme being introduced in its place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36252/20]
View answerThe Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) opened in three tranches commencing in 2015, following the prior closure of the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) to new applicants. All AEOS participants had the option of joining the GLAS scheme should they have wished to do so.
GLAS is now fully subscribed with GLAS 1 and 2 participants due to complete their five-year contracts at the end of this year while GLAS 3 participants are currently in their fourth year.
As CAP negotiations are ongoing, my Department is pressing for the earliest adoption of EU regulations to facilitate the operation of schemes in the period between the current CAP and the CAP Strategic Plan post-2020. The intention is to rollover the existing schemes from the current RDP. The Government made provision for this extension in the Budget with an allocation of €628m for 2021. This is to ensure that scheme participants have certainty on their scheme participation next year during the transitional phase.
My Department’s 2021 Budget estimate also includes provision of €79 million for a range of agri-environment and Farm Safety initiatives. This includes the development of a pilot project to examine the feasibility of implementing a results based agri-environment approach and a number of pilot environmental actions that will be available to farmers on a broader basis.
I expect these pilot actions to inform the development of a major new environmental scheme for agriculture following on from GLAS.
