Thursday, 7 Oct 2021

Written Answers Nos. 450-464

Hospital Facilities

Questions (450)

Holly Cairns

Question:

450. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the upgrade of Dunmanway hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49064/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.

Vaccination Programme

Questions (451)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

451. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the HPV vaccine. [49068/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation. It makes recommendations on vaccination policy to my Department. The NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.In 2009, the NIAC recommended HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination for all 12 to 13 year old girls to reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer when they are adults. In September 2010, the HPV vaccination programme was introduced for all girls in first year of secondary school.In June 2017, on foot of the NIAC’s recommendation that the HPV vaccine should also be given to boys, my Department asked the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to undertake a health technology assessment (HTA) to establish the clinical and cost-effectiveness of extending the immunisation programme to include boys in the first year of secondary school.The HIQA completed the HTA in December 2018, recommending that the HPV immunisation programme be extended to include boys. A policy decision was made to extend the HPV immunisation programme to include boys, starting in September 2019, with the introduction of a 9-valent HPV vaccine.The ages at which vaccines are recommended in the immunisation schedule are chosen by the NIAC in order to give each child the best possible protection against vaccine preventable diseases. As the HPV vaccine is preventative it is intended to be administered, if possible, before a person becomes sexually active, that is, before a person is first exposed to HPV infection.Therefore, the gender-neutral HPV vaccination programme targets all girls and boys in first year of secondary school to provide maximum coverage. All vaccines administered through the School Immunisation Programme are provided free of charge.My Department will continue to be guided by NIAC's recommendations on any emerging evidence on this issue in the future.Anyone not in 1st year of secondary school or age equivalent in special schools or home schooled during the 2020/2021 school year who wishes to get the HPV vaccine, must go to their GP or sexual health clinic and pay privately for the vaccine and its administration. This applies to everyone whether or not they have a medical card/GP visit card, as it is outside of the HPV immunisation programme.

In addition, as this question concerns service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Service Executive

Questions (452)

Sorca Clarke

Question:

452. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE to engage with a committee (details supplied) in a meaningful way to resolve the current issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49069/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As Minister for Health, I am aware of the valuable work of the hospice movement in Ireland and of the valuable contribution South Westmeath Hospice Committee has made over the years in responding to the needs of individuals receiving palliative care and their families in the South Westmeath region.

As this PQ relates to a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Assisted Decision-Making

Questions (453)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

453. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason section 83 of the Assisted Decision Making Capacity Act 2015 has not been commenced; the timeline for the commencement of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49085/21]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has overall policy responsibility for the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. Amendments are required to the Act before full commencement can take place and I understand work is actively underway in that Department on the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Bill with a view to its publication by the end of this year.

The Department of Health is responsible for Part 8 of the Act which provides a legislative framework for Advance Healthcare Directives. Some of the provisions in other Parts of the Act interconnect with Part 8 and work is continuing in respect of the outstanding matters which need to be addressed before Part 8 can be commenced.

Agriculture Industry

Questions (454)

Michael Lowry

Question:

454. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to introduce measures to address concerns raised by an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48770/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Further to the commitment in the current Programme for Government (PfG) to “fully explore the potential for growing fibre crops such as hemp, considering whether these crops have a viable market”, my Department initiated a consultation process with relevant stakeholders.

Concerns regarding the scope of the consultation were raised by the organisation (details supplied) and I am disappointed that the organisation declined the Department’s invitation to participate in the consultation as structured.

The Deputy should know that the consultation is being conducted on the basis of the economic viability of fibre crops such as hemp and is fully in line with the Programme for Government commitment. i.e. stakeholders were asked to examine the commercial viability of growing hemp or other crops for fibre. It was made clear to stakeholders that it was not the purpose of this consultation to deal with legislative issues that come under the Misuse of Drugs legislation or indeed hemp derived food products which do not primarily come under the remit of the Department.

The issues surrounding tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the Misuse of Drugs legislation were addressed in a consultation on hemp in 2018.

While the closing date for receipt of submissions under the consultation process has passed, officials in my Department are happy to engage with the organisation named on matters that fall within the scope and responsibility of my Department.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (455)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

455. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48773/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The named person submitted his Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application on 05/05/2021 in which he declared certain parcels eligible for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme. Following a review parcels by Satellite Imagery a parcel within this application was identified as being burned between 1st March and 31st August.

It is specified in the 2021 BPS Terms & Conditions that land burnt between these dates is not eligible for payment purposes under the Basic Payment Scheme. Accordingly, the burnt area has been deducted from the eligible area within the parcel leaving a reduced area upon which payment can be claimed for the 2021 BPS scheme year. The claiming of the ineligible area has resulted in an overclaim on this application.

The Department wrote to the person named on 19th August 2021 advising him of the position in relation to this application. This letter includes details of the applicant's right of review and the relevant steps to take to seek a review. An official from the Department will be in contact with the named person to provide assistance in relation to this matter.

Nitrates Usage

Questions (456)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

456. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding farmers in slurry derogation areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48841/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Nitrates Derogation applicants (as defined under Statutory Instruments 605 of 2017, 65 of 2018, 40 of 2020) are no longer eligible to apply and receive approval for Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment.

Statutory Instrument 40 of 2020 published February 2020 details how the use of Low Emission Slurry Spreading equipment is a statutory requirement for nitrates derogation farmers and is to be used for any application of slurry.

In accordance with the provisions of EU Regulation 1305/2013, LESS approvals cannot issue to such farms after 15th April 2021 as it is not permitted to provide grant aid in respect of a mandatory activity. This change was communicated to farmers a year in advance of this date to allow for any late applications in advance of the 15th April deadline.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (457)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

457. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48852/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was a participant in year four of the Sheep Welfare Scheme, which ran from 1st February 2020 to 31st January 2021. As clarified with the Deputy, the person named had complied with the sheep census requirements for the scheme year.

However, as set out in the terms and conditions of the scheme, participants are issued with a Scheme Action Record book which they are required to maintain and update to reflect the completion of their selected actions under the scheme. It is necessary for participants to also retain associated supporting documentation such as receipts and invoices.

In accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme, a number of participants are selected at random for an administrative check each year for which they are required to return the action record book and their supporting documentation to demonstrate that they have completed their actions as required.

The person named was one of the participants selected for this administration check for year four of the scheme. However, following this check it was determined that the selected actions were not completed as required. The person named was therefore deemed ineligible for payment under year four of the scheme and the application of a penalty for the scheme year

An appeal was received by the Department from the person named in relation to this issue. This matter has been reviewed by an official in the Department and a letter has been issued to the person named confirming the outcome and outlining the appeal options available to the person named following the decision.

Nitrates Usage

Questions (458)

Matt Carthy

Question:

458. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the engagements he has had regarding the draft nitrates action plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48857/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage are the competent authority for the Nitrates Regulations (SI 605 2017) and are conducting a review of the Regulations in line with the requirements of the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EC).

There have been two public consultations this year, the most recent closed on 20th September and received 600 submissions. There has been widespread discussions with stakeholders as part of the review.

These submissions will be reviewed by an Expert Review Group who will make recommendations to both Ministers on foot of this consultation. This group is made up of officials from the Department of Housing, Teagasc, the EPA and my own Department. It is expected that the outcome of the review will be made public before the end of the year.

I am committed to retaining our derogation while I am focussed on protecting and enhancing our water quality.

Departmental Data

Questions (459)

Matt Carthy

Question:

459. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in receipt of areas of specific constraint (islands) payments by county; the average payment by county; the number of persons receiving payments up to and including 20ha, 34ha and 40ha for the each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48863/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Please find the data requested by the Deputy in the tables below showing for each of the years 2016 to 2021

With regard to payments for the 2021 scheme year, please note that these payments reflect advance payments made to date at a rate of 85%. Balancing payments at a rate of 15% under ANC will issue in early to mid-December.

Scheme Year	County	Number paid	Average Paid	Between 0 and 20ha	Between 20 and 34ha	Between 34ha and 40 ha
2016	Clare	23	€4,200.01	15	3	5
2016	Cork	109	€4,546.13	53	30	26
2016	Donegal	85	€1,981.98	81	3	1
2016	Dublin	1	€7,800.00	0	0	1
2016	Galway	320	€2,536.21	281	25	14
2016	Kerry	23	€3,160.50	15	2	6
2016	Mayo	163	€2,977.60	124	17	22
2016	Roscommon	1	€1,805.00	1	0	0
2016	Sligo	10	€4,182.63	6	0	4
2016	Wexford	1	€7,604.70	0	0	1
Scheme Year	County	Number paid	Average Paid	Between 0 and 20ha	Between 20 and 34ha	Between 34ha and 40 ha
2017	Clare	26	€4,678.24	14	6	6
2017	Cork	115	€4,576.20	58	28	29
2017	Donegal	89	€2,162.24	82	6	1
2017	Dublin	1	€7,800.00	0	0	1
2017	Galway	341	€2,442.73	297	30	14
2017	Kerry	22	€3,210.93	14	2	6
2017	Mayo	181	€3,094.93	133	24	24
2017	Roscommon	1	€1,805.00	1	0	0
2017	Sligo	14	€3,341.88	10	0	4
2017	Wexford	1	€7,604.70	0	0	1
Scheme Year	County	Number paid	Average Paid	Between 0 and 20ha	Between 20 and 34ha	Between 34ha and 40 ha
2018	Cavan	1	€222.50	1	0	0
2018	Clare	28	€4,368.53	16	7	5
2018	Cork	125	€4,243.71	71	25	29
2018	Donegal	103	€2,046.66	92	9	2
2018	Dublin	1	€7,800.00	0	0	1
2018	Galway	378	€2,335.38	329	31	17
2018	Kerry	25	€3,489.44	16	2	8
2018	Mayo	203	€2,951.80	153	27	24
2018	Meath	1	€2,057.50	1	0	0
2018	Offaly	1	€1,345.00	1	0	0
2018	Roscommon	1	€2,767.50	1	0	0
2018	Sligo	14	€3,306.21	9	0	4
2018	Wexford	1	€7,604.00	0	0	1
Scheme Year	County	Number paid	Average Paid	Between 0 and 20ha	Between 20 and 34ha	Between 34ha and 40 ha
2019	Cavan	1	€1,882.50	1	0	0
2019	Clare	27	€4,480.99	14	8	5
2019	Cork	126	€4,158.11	73	25	28
2019	Donegal	103	€1,929.81	95	6	2
2019	Dublin	1	€7,800.00	0	0	1
2019	Galway	379	€2,313.91	334	33	12
2019	Kerry	26	€3,541.50	16	2	8
2019	Leitrim	1	€1,390.00	1	0	0
2019	Mayo	199	€3,038.08	146	27	26
2019	Meath	1	€915.00	1	0	0
2019	Offaly	1	€1,345.00	1	0	0
2019	Roscommon	1	€2,767.50	1	0	0
2019	Sligo	15	€3,204.51	11	2	2
2019	Wexford	1	€7,506.00	0	0	1
Scheme Year	County	Number paid	Average Paid	Between 0 and 20ha	Between 20 and 34ha	Between 34ha and 40 ha
2020	Clare	26	€4,528.02	14	7	5
2020	Cork	126	€4,165.29	75	23	28
2020	Donegal	104	€1,917.73	94	8	2
2020	Dublin	1	€7,800.00	0	0	1
2020	Galway	362	€2,359.81	315	36	11
2020	Kerry	24	€3,416.12	15	2	7
2020	Leitrim	1	€1,300.00	1	0	0
2020	Mayo	195	€3,064.25	144	23	28
2020	Offaly	1	€1,342.50	1	0	0
2020	Roscommon	1	€1,807.50	1	0	0
2020	Sligo	13	€4,087.86	7	3	3
2020	Wexford	1	€7,506.00	0	0	1
Scheme Year	County	Number paid	Average Paid	Between and 20ha	Between 20 and 34ha	Between 34ha and 40 ha
2021	Clare	24	€3,963.02	14	5	5
2021	Cork	112	€3,640.76	65	19	28
2021	Donegal	86	€1,615.63	79	5	2
2021	Galway	326	€2,048.42	283	30	13
2021	Kerry	22	€2,999.24	13	3	6
2021	Leitrim	1	€1,185.75	1	0	0
2021	Mayo	167	€2,507.42	126	20	21
2021	Offaly	1	€1,147.50	1	0	0
2021	Sligo	8	€3,930.71	4	2	2
2021	Wexford	1	€6,380.10	0	0	1

Under this scheme the rate payable for each hectare is as follows:

Area Designation	Payment Rate	Payable Area
Island Farming	€250.00	Up to and including the first 20 hectares
Island Farming	€170.00	Greater than 20 hectares or less than or equal to 34 hectares
Island Farming	€ 70.00	Greater than 34 hectares or less than or equal to 40 hectares

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (460)

Matt Carthy

Question:

460. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding provided to knowledge transfer schemes for each year from 2016 to date in tabular form; the individual schemes involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48864/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Knowledge Transfer (KT) Programme was a three-year programme that ran from June 2016 and until July 2019. Payments in respect of the KT Programme commenced in quarter three of 2017 and are outlined in the below table per calendar year broken down per scheme as requested.

SECTOR	Calendar Year 2017	Calendar Year 2018	Calendar Year 2019	Calendar Year 2020	Calendar Year 2021
KT Beef	€7,898,625	€11,647,171	€10,484,374	€1,210,861	€37,108
KT Dairy	€1,998,125	€3,418,797	€5,589,817	€638,463	€1,238
KT Equine	€153,250	€407,746	€365,979	€92,558	€0
KT Poultry	€65,000	€238,502	€273,079	€28,714	€0
KT Sheep	€3,212,250	€5,063,854	€4,460,638	€366,450	€16,154
KT Tillage	€456,375	€895,115	€987,582	€107,646	€1,000
TOTAL PER YEAR	€13,783,625	€21,671,185	€22,161,469	€2,444,692	€55,500

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (461)

Matt Carthy

Question:

461. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of equine related funding that has been provided under TAMS in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48865/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

There are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS. Grant aid is available for horse stocks under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme and the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme. To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of the TAMS, including transitional expenditure, has reached in excess of €312m with commitments of an additional €145m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those grants.

Some 44,574 applications have been approved under the scheme. All outstanding approvals issued represent potential outstanding liabilities for the Department and we must have a budget in place to pay these claims.

TAMS is a demand-led scheme and it is open to applicants to select the investments they wish to make from the extensive list available. Expenditure on Horse Stocks from 2016 to date is detailed in the table below;

Year	Amount Paid
2017	€480.00
2018	€1,065.92
2019	€2,785.44
2020	€528.64
2021	€2,425.10
Total	€7,285.10

Horse Racing Industry

Questions (462)

Matt Carthy

Question:

462. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provided to Horse Sport Ireland from 2016 to date in tabular form; the purpose of the allocation by year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48866/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Monies provided to Horse Sport Ireland by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are as follows:

Year	Grant	Equine Technical Support
2016	€1,870,000	€543,066
2017	€2,000,000	€559,970
2018	€2,500,000	€465,698
2019	€2,995,923	€368,889
2020	€3,985,921	€252,259.36
2021	€5,000,000 ( Approved)

Horse Sport Ireland receives two sources of funding from the Department :

- An annual block grant, in recognition of its work in promoting, developing and maximising the potential of the Irish sport horse industry.

- Equine Technical Support Scheme, which is aimed at organisations in the overall equine sector. The total fund is €850,000. Funding is targeted at the organisations that represent and service the industry. It seeks to improve the facilities and services and supports the work of these organisations.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (463)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

463. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if equal recognition and opportunities will be provided for equine farmers through access to TAMS schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48870/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

There are a wide variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS. Grant aid is available for for horse stocks under the Animal Welfare and Nutrient Storage Scheme and the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme.

To date, total expenditure under the seven measures of the TAMS, including transitional expenditure, has reached in excess of €312m with commitments of an additional €145m made to scheme participants who have yet to draw down those grants.

Some 44,574 applications have been approved under the scheme.

All outstanding approvals issued represent potential outstanding liabilities for the Department and we must have a budget in place to pay these claims.

As a result, it is not possible to consider adding additional items such as investment items for equine farming to the comprehensive list of investment items already available under TAMS.

No decision has been made in relation to the interventions to be included in the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP)(2023-2027). To allow for the submission of the draft CSP by 1st January 2022, the Department facilitated a public consultation on the draft CSP and written submissions were invited from interested parties by the closing date of 3rd September 2021. These submissions are currently being evaluated and ongoing stakeholder consultations are continuing to take place.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (464)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

464. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will be implementing the Knowledge Transfer, Horse Production Pathway; if he will invest in regional training and production facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48871/21]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I am committed to assisting in the promotion and development of equine breeding and production systems in the country. This is achieved through working closely with Horse Sport Ireland (HSI). The sector has had tremendous successes in the Eventing discipline over many years with the Irish Sport Horse Studbook being first in the world rankings for 22 out of the last 25 years.

In recent years, there have been major successes for our young horses in the show-jumping discipline in World Studbook championships with these horses excelling at international venues like Lanaken in Belgium.

Building on the key principles of good breed improvement programmes and developing the skills of breeders to access young horses early and produce them early for their appropriate market, Horse Sport Ireland proposed the National Equine Production Pathway which is a knowledge transfer programme, as part of their Strategic Plan. This programme supports horse assessments, health screening, young horse production and educational days for breeders. This is clearly a programme I can support.

My hope for the sector is for Ireland to be in the top division of the World Breeding Federation of Sport Horse Studbook ranking for show-jumping in 10 to15 years, producing horses that fit with market demands, properly produced for that market. I will continue to work closely with HSI so that this can be achieved.