Written Answers Nos. 263-277
263. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health his views on the fact that there is a small cohort of persons who for underlying medical reasons are advised by their medical professionals not to take a Covid-19 vaccine; if this is accepted, the arrangements he considers appropriate to enable these persons to access areas for which an EU Digital COVID Certificate is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56454/21]
View answerThe current high level of COVID-19 infection and the dominance of the significantly more transmissible Delta variant poses a very substantial threat, particularly to those who are not fully protected through vaccination. Public health advice remains that those who are not fully vaccinated should avoid congregated indoor settings for their own and others safety.The National Public Health Emergency Team gave some consideration to the issues arising for those people that can’t receive a COVID-19 vaccine for medical reasons as part of its discussions on the 18th October 2021 on the continuing response to COVID-19 and the extension of Covid Pass arrangements. The matter is being given further consideration.The Deputy may wish to be aware that on 15 July, NIAC made a recommendation, which was endorsed by the Chief Medical Officer and accepted by the Minister for Health that while the preference was for homologous vaccination regimens (using the same vaccine as part of a two dose regime) that selective use of heterologous vaccination schedules (two different vaccines used as part of two dose regime) should be permitted where a second vaccine dose of a homologous regimen is contraindicated, irrespective of whether the first dose was an mRNA or adenoviral vector vaccine. NIAC in conjunction with the RCPI and the Irish Association of Allergy and Immunology have prepared a guide to aid vaccinators and other healthcare workers on how to advise allergic individuals in respect of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, this guide is available here: rcpi-live-cdn.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/FAQs-about-COVID19-Vaccines-and-Allergies_12August2021.pdf
264. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will request a review of the decision to refuse an application in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56472/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
265. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the current staffing levels in a centre (details supplied); the posts that are in place; and the number in each one. [56491/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
266. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the findings of a pilot service offering free at-home test kits for STI screening to Dublin, Cork and Kerry; and his plans to make this a permanent nationwide service. [56524/21]
View answerIntegrating an online STI testing service with established public STI clinics is an effective, efficient way to increase access to and capacity for STI testing services, allowing asymptomatic individuals to use the online platform and test for STIs in the comfort of their own homes. Individuals who require further testing and treatment, can be referred to and seen in the clinical setting, ensuring a seamless individual experience.
The integrated online STI testing service is in line with the "hub and spoke" model of care proposed for Sexual Health services in the national Sexual Health Strategy whereby the most complex cases are managed within the "hub" and less complex cases are managed in the "spokes". For this service, those with the least complex sexual health needs can appropriately self-manage and have control of their sexual health needs.
The pilot service offering free online STI testing in Dublin, Cork and Limerick that was funded by the Sláintecare Integration Fund was oversubscribed due to unprecedented demand. €3m of new funding has been provided in Budget 2022 to the HSE to expand the service on a permanent basis.
267. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will make the My Options unplanned pregnancy support services webpage available in the ten most common languages spoken in Ireland. [56525/21]
View answerAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
268. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of defibrillators in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56536/21]
View answerThe issue of defibrillators in schools is a matter for individual schools in the education sector.
My Department is committed to improving survival rates of those who suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest by implementing the recommendations of the Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) Steering Group. A National Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Steering Group was established in 2017. In 2019, this Group finalised an Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy for Ireland, “Putting Survival at the Heart of the Community” and submitted it to the Health Service Executive (HSE) Commissioners, who have accepted the recommendation of the Steering Group.
This work supports the National Ambulance Service (NAS) and Community First Responder Ireland (CFR Ireland) in their commitment to improve clinical outcomes for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and strengthens the ‘Chain of Survival’ across Ireland including the use of defibrillators in community settings and schools and on increasing CPR training.
I support increased public access to defibrillation, including in schools and will continue to explore the issue with regard to schools and will engage with my colleague the Minister for Education on it in due course.
269. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if a vaccination clinic will be available in Drogheda, County Louth for the application of booster vaccines in the months ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56541/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
270. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Health if he will consider making it mandatory for public bathrooms for men to have sanitary bins installed for men who use incontinence pads for safe disposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56543/21]
View answerAwaiting reply from Department.
271. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if psychological assessments of needs are being carried out in a centre (details supplied); the number carried out to date in 2022; the longest waiting time; and number on the waiting lists. [56544/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
272. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been contacted by HSE contact tracing teams as a result of close contact tracing in nightclubs and music venues since their reopening on 22 October 2021. [56554/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
273. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he proposes to address the issues raised in the horticultural sector with particular reference to the need to ensure the industry can be supplied with adequate moss peat to meet the full requirements of the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56212/21]
View answerI am very well aware of the concerns in relation to the licensing of peat extraction which are generating challenges (volume and price) for the horticulture sector. As the Deputy knows, my Department has no involvement in the regulation of peat extraction.
Minister for Heritage and Electoral Reform in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcolm Noonan T.D., established a working group, which includes a representative from my Department, to address the key issues raised in a Report on the Review of the use of Peat Moss in the Horticultural Industry. A final report from this working group has recently been submitted to Minister Noonan. The consideration of and timing of the publication of the report rests with Minister Noonan and his Department.
Separately, my Department is actively looking at alternatives to peat and has funded two research projects to date. Furthermore, the Department’s Research Call for 2021 included a call for further research on alternatives to peat based growing media for horticultural production.
Given the Department’s areas of responsibility and recognising the importance of the horticulture sector to the economy, my Department continues to provide sustained and significant support to the sector through the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector.
Additionally, fruit and vegetable growers who are members of recognised Producer Organisations (POs) can access EU funding up to 50% of the eligible costs of approved Operational Programmes through the EU’s PO scheme.
274. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the EU legislation that prohibits the extension of TAMS funding at a 60% grant rate to women over 55 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56213/21]
View answerSubject to the approval of the European Commission, it is proposed under a On-Farm Capital investment scheme under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) that a general grant rate of 40% will be available for eligible investments. It is also proposed in CSP that eligible female farmers, who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for grant aid at a rate of 60%.
The proposed eligible female farmers are those:
- Aged between 18 years of age and 55 at any time during the calendar year in which she submits an application for support;
- Meet the conditions for being head and having control of the holding;
- Meets the requirements for the appropriate training and/or skills required at the time of application.
Applicants who do not meet the criteria above will remain eligible to submit an application under the On-Farm Capital investment scheme at the standard rate of 40%.
The On-Farm Capital investment scheme, as is the case with all proposals under the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), is in the process of development and is subject to the formal approval of the European Commission. The public consultation is ongoing and I will be reviewing the proposal once that closes in advance of the submission of the proposal to the Commission.
275. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 355 of 20 May 2021, the amount of funding provided to pillar 2 schemes from the Exchequer and the amount through funds from the European Union by scheme in 2021 to date; the expected spend and allocation for 2021-2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56214/21]
View answerOfficials in my Department will collate the information requested and forward it directly to the Deputy.
276. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to pillar 1 payments in 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56215/21]
View answerDirect Payments in 2014 and 2015 amounted to:
2014 - €1.202bn
2015 - €1.143bn
The payment years 2014 and 2015 occurred in two different Common Agricultural Policy programmes and had two different payment ceilings. 2015 was the first year of the 2015 -2020 CAP which has been extended until 2022.
277. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated to pillar 1 funds for 2021-2022; the amount allocated to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56216/21]
View answerThe amounts allocated to Direct Payments in 2021 and 2022 is as follows:
2021 - €1.186bn
2022 - €1.186bn
Total Pillar I expenditure to date in 2021 is €799.5m.
The Deputy is aware that the Pillar I reduction could have been much more than the 2% finally agreed in the EU budget negotiations were it not for the strong defence put up by Ireland and other Member States. This reduction is more than made up for by the increase secured for Pillar II funding.
