Written Answers Nos. 219-238
219. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of COVID-19 Recovery Certificate requests that have been made from the time the application process for same began; the number that have been issued and rejected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57891/21]
View answerThe EU Digital COVID Certificate is a document which is issued to help facilitate enable the safe and free international movement of people across the EU during the COVID-19 pandemic through the issuing and verification of vaccination, recovery and test certificates as part of an interoperable trust framework.
To date 104,236 recovery certificates have issued in Ireland. The number of rejected applications is not available.
220. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health if personnel in his Department have been removed from their positions, have been transferred to another role or had their employment terminated from 2011 to date due to breaches of Departmental standards or professional misconduct or incompetence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57901/21]
View answerAll Civil Servants are required to comply with the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour and all policies relating to the terms and conditions of their employment. There are a number of formal policies, processes and procedures by which the performance, conduct, behaviour and attendance of Civil Servants is measured, including Guidelines for the Management of Probation in the Civil Service, the Performance Management and Development System, the Civil Service Management of Underperformance Policy and the Civil Service Disciplinary Code. These provide a fair and robust methodology for setting the standards of expected performance levels at each grade, for measuring and reviewing performance against those standards, and for raising concerns and approving any relevant sanctions where there is a failure to adhere to the required standards of conduct, work performance and attendance.
In line with best practice in terms of people management, the Department strives to resolve performance, conduct/behaviour, and time/attendance issues informally in the first instance through its line management structure. This is in order to maximise the chance of a successful resolution of issues where they may arise for a variety of reasons. On occasion, this may include the reassignment of an employee to a role which is better suited to their skills and competencies. Records of such informal engagements are not maintained unless a formal disciplinary process is initiated. In respect of formal disciplinary processes, there are specified timeframes for retaining disciplinary records depending on the particular case. The Department does not retain any such records outside of those timeframes.
Given the relatively small size of the Department of Health for the years in question and the Department's policy of supporting line managers to resolve issues informally where possible, there are limited if any cases in any of the years in question where a formal disciplinary process resulted in a sanction of the nature specified in the question. Where issues arise of this nature, they are generally identified during the probationary process and resolved in accordance with that policy.
221. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a hearing aid by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57942/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible
222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding a general practitioner service in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58022/21]
View answerWhere a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the selection process to find a replacement GP. The HSE are currently re-advertising to fill the GMS vacancy concerned.
Since the resignation of the two GMS GPs in partnership on the 31st of August last, the HSE has since provided a full medical service to the patients on both GP GMS panels. A new GP surgery was set up with a locum GP and full nursing and secretarial staff.
The combined size of both GMS panels is relatively small and would generally be served by one GP. The HSE previously advertised a single GMS post for both panels on two occasions, however these campaigns were ultimately unsuccessful. As mentioned, the HSE has now re-advertised the post for a third time nationally and in the UK, Australia and Canada.
Despite the increased demand for GP services associated with this time of year, the HSE has not received any complaints relating to access to the service currently provided.
223. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the advice and the plans for the provision of Covid-19 booster vaccinations to persons in their 60s who received a vaccine (details supplied) originally; the optimum timing of these boosters; the arrangements for scheduling these appointments; the locations being used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58023/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
225. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that paramedics are facilitated to both train and be stationed within the region in which they reside. [58034/21]
View answerAs this question relates to operational matters for the National Ambulance Service in the first instance I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
226. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of surgery for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58035/21]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
227. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an ecology felling licence in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57686/21]
View answerAn application for a tree felling licence for the person named, was received in February this year. A Harvest Plan has been submitted and the application is currently assigned to an Ecologist. The Appropriate Assessment Report is currently being compiled.
Once that is completed, the application will be opened for a public consultation period of 30 days. When that consultation closes, the application will be reviewed before final processing.
Subject to everyhting being in order, I expect a decision to issue in approximately two months.
228. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names of the factories that have been fined for excessive carcass trimming from 1 January 2016 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57713/21]
View answerCarcase classification and carcase presentation controls in 32 slaughter plants are carried out by a dedicated team of specialist staff in the Beef Carcase Classification Section within my Department.
Additional monitoring of carcase presentation by my Department’s veterinary public health inspection staff (VPHIS) in the factories is currently being implemented in all factories since 1st January 2019 and provide a supporting role for the Beef Carcase Classification staff.
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/1184 of 20th April 2017 governs the monitoring of carcase classification, carcase presentation and weighing. At each inspection, an average of 85 carcasses are inspected for correct classification and carcase presentation. The legal requirement is 40 carcasses per inspection.
The number of inspections, number of carcasses inspected, the total number of non-compliant carcasses and the respective factories are summarised in the table below:
|
- |
Number of |
Total Number of |
|
|
Year |
Carcasses Inspected |
Non Compliant Carcasses |
Names of Factories Fined |
|
2016 |
52,360 |
28 |
Kildare Chilling Company (1); Traditional Meats (1); Meadow Meats (10) ; KEPAK Kilbeggan (16) |
|
2017 |
53,380 |
0 |
|
|
2018 |
46,750 |
19 |
Emerald Isle Foods (5) ; Kildare Chiling Company (3) ; KEPAK Clare (11) |
|
2019 |
49,300 |
3 |
Kavanagh Meats (3) |
|
2020 |
34,425 |
2 |
Ballon Meats (2) |
|
2021 |
23,545 |
0 |
Details of the factories discovered to be non-compliant under carcase presentation legislation are published on the Department's website annually.
229. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of reviews or appeals sent to his Department that are successful; if the percentage of these reviews or appeals which are being decided in the client’s favour has decreased in recent years; his views on whether clients seeking a review decision are having their cases reviewed in a fair and compassionate manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57720/21]
View answer230. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of appeals received by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2020 not including appeals to the agriculture appeals office; the percentage of those which were successful in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57721/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together.
It is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy in the required time. The information is currently being compiled and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
|
Year |
Number of Reviews/Appeals |
% Successful |
|
2016 |
1,791 |
42 |
|
2017 |
2,231 |
36 |
|
2018 |
2,146 |
37 |
|
2019 |
2,017 |
36 |
|
2020 |
1,757 |
46 |
|
Year |
Number of successful Reviews/Appeals |
|
2017 |
197 |
|
2018 |
252 |
|
2019 |
133 |
|
2020 |
137 |
|
Year |
Number of Reviews/Appeals |
|
2019 |
1,699 |
|
2020 |
1,405 |
231. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of appeals received in the agriculture appeals office in each of the years 2016 to 2020; the percentage of those which were successful in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57722/21]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
I have been advised that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate the following for the years 2016 to 2020:
|
YEAR |
No of Appeals Received |
Percentage of Appeals Allowed/Partially Allowed or Revised by the Department* |
|
2016 |
598 |
41% |
|
2017 |
638 |
37% |
|
2018 |
556 |
39% |
|
2019 |
570 |
44% |
|
2020 |
760 |
39% |
The Agriculture Appeals Office publishes an Annual Report each year which includes more in-depth statistical information. The reports can be found at the following link: http://www.agriappeals.gov.ie/publications/annualreports/
*Please note that the percentage figures include closed appeals that were received in the year in question and in previous years. It is not a percentage of the appeals received and closed in the year.
232. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a felling licence for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57727/21]
View answerA felling licence issued to the persons named in January 2021. There are no other applications awaiting decision.
233. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the difference between parlour washing and soiled water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57764/21]
View answerThe Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage are the competent authority for the Nitrates regulations (SI 605 2017). When a milking parlour is washed down and the washings are stored in a separate tank to livestock manure, this is considered to be soiled water. Teagasc research shows this material contains four units of nitrogen per 1,000 gallons in comparison to slurry which contains 9 units of nitrogen per 1,000 gallons.
Soiled water may be spread during the closed period for spreading livestock manure as long as weather and ground conditions are suitable. As soiled water contains valuable nutrients, every effort should be made to optimise its use in order to facilitate a reduction in the need for chemical fertiliser.
234. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the remainder of a 2021 basic payment will issue to a farmer in County Kerry for claimed lands at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57770/21]
View answerAn application under the 2021 Basic payment Scheme (BPS) scheme was received from the person named on 14th April 2021.
A dual claim (one parcel of land claimed on two separate applications) was identified on this application. In order to resolve this dual claim, further documentation is required from the above named applicant, which has not yet been received.
My Department will contact the applicant regarding the outstanding documentation. Once the documentation is received, it will be examined and a decision will then be made in relation to the application.
235. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the injuries at track scheme for greyhound racing only covers injuries sustained at official trials and not unofficial trials; and if the scheme is only open for race-ending injuries. [57798/21]
View answerRásaíocht 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.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
236. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications for the greyhound injuries at track scheme made since the scheme commenced; and the amount paid out under the scheme. [57799/21]
View answerRásaíocht 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.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
237. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual breakdown of the number of greyhounds that have received money from the greyhound injuries at track scheme. [57800/21]
View answerRásaíocht 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.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
238. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the data collected by the control stewards and racing managers at official greyhound trials; if that data will be extended to the collection of injuries sustained at official trials; and if there are control stewards or racing managers present at unofficial greyhound trials. [57801/21]
View answerRásaíocht 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.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
