Written Answers Nos. 463-475
463. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Health the reason community health workers, those working in disability areas and section 38/39 workers are being excluded from the proposed bonus payment to frontline healthcare workers as in the case of a person (details supplied); the criteria underpinning this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5730/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those frontline workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.
Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
464. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if it is envisaged that a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be in a position to access the relevant dental services which are no longer available to them. [5737/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
465. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to address a glitch in the Covid vaccination certificate system in which some booster doses that have been administered are not appearing on certificates some of which have subsequently expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5738/22]
View answerDigital COVID Certificates for booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines are now being issued for persons who received their booster dose in Ireland.
Under the current system Digital COVID Certificates for boosters are issued listing ‘3/3’ (or 2/1) as per EU guidelines.
Any individual who has not yet received an updated Digital COVID Certificate showing evidence of the booster dose, can contact their GP or pharmacy to confirm that their details have been forwarded to the HSE. Alternatively, the DCC helpline is available to assist any persons who received an incorrect or incomplete Digital COVID Certificate.
466. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if section 39 workers, such as workers in an organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry will be included in the €1,000 bonus scheme in recognition of their outstanding contribution during the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5793/22]
View answerFirstly I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
In recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and all workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on Wednesday 19 January, the Government announced a once-off public holiday will take place on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Government also announced COVID-19 recognition payment for frontline public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. The payment of €1,000 will not be subject to income tax, USC, or PRSI. The measure will be ring fenced to staff ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments within the period between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Those public sector frontline healthcare workers eligible for the payment will be directly employed public health sector staff working in clinical settings. A pro-rata arrangement will apply for eligible part time staff / equivalents and supernumerary students who were required to perform training in clinical sites.
The Department of Health will also introduce a measure for making a similar payment to staff in private sector nursing homes and hospices that were affected by Covid-19.
With reference to his specific question, I would like to assure the Deputy that work is underway to ensure fairness in the application of this measure as the Government intended.
The Department and the HSE are currently engaging in finalising arrangements to give effect to the Government announcement concerning the Recognition Payment. Full particulars, eligibility and terms and conditions that apply to this payment shall be made available shortly. It is important that this measure is applied fairly as intended and I welcome the work that is ongoing to ensure this is so.
There are many, many individuals in our country who did so much during the pandemic. I and the Government is sincerely grateful for this commitment but it is appropriate that these public sector frontline healthcare workers get particular recognition. They exposed themselves to particular COVID-19 risks that did not exist in other work environments or those working from home. I am also deeply appreciative of all those frontline workers who worked in our nursing homes and hospices during this pandemic and that they also get similar recognition.
Outside of the above recognition, the Government also notes that some private healthcare companies have recognised the work of their employees during the pandemic. I would encourage private healthcare companies that have not already done so to consider appropriate measures to recognise their own frontline workers for their work during this most trying period.
467. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will give precise details of the recruitment process that led to the hiring of a person (details supplied); the way notification of the available position was made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5795/22]
View answer468. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if there was an individual, group, organisation, private company or agency involved in the recruitment process that led to the hiring of a person (details supplied) and also involved in the recruitment process that led to the hiring of the radiologist at the centre of the scandal in University Hospital Kerry that became publicly known in late 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5796/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 468 together.
As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
469. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered a grant scheme open to all farmers and farm contractors to assist with the purchase of low-emission slurry spreading equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5518/22]
View answerThe Department does not provide direct supports for contractors but, as small businesses, they are of course eligible for the same supports as every other small business.
In relation to capital investments for on-farm developments, I would like to clarify that the EU regulations that provide for the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 – 2020, specify that TAMS II beneficiaries must be farmers or groups of farmers. Therefore, the Department is precluded from funding the purchase of equipment such as Low Emission Slurry Spreading (LESS) equipment by contractors under TAMS, unless they are also farmers.
Under the terms and conditions for the LESS measure, the scheme is open to farmers who:
(i) hold a Department identifier
(ii) prior to submitting the online TAMS II application have a minimum of 5 hectares of land owned and/or leased or rented which have been declared under the Basic Payment Scheme or equivalent in the year of application or preceding year, or
(ii) are engaged in the breeding, rearing or fattening of pigs and have a minimum of 60 production units at the time of application in accordance with Annex B of the Scheme;
(iv) 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 LESS equipment. Furthermore, applicants farming at or above 170 kgs/N per hectare (as defined under Statutory Instrument 529/2020) in the year of application or the preceding year, will not be eligible for approval after 15 April 2022. Applicants farming below 170 kgs/N per hectare continue to be eligible for LESS equipment Or
(v) in the case of a co-operative, all the members of the co-operative have to each independently meet the eligibility criteria laid down in (i), (ii) or (iii) above.
It is proposed that a new Capital Investment Scheme under Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan will, if approved, provide support to the same category of applicants as TAMS II i.e. farmers or groups of farmers. While not yet finalised, Article 68 and Article 6 of the draft CAP regulations (12148/20) provide the legislative framework.
The Department is fully committed to encouraging the use of this equipment. The interest in the LESS measure of TAMS II has been very strong with over €55 million been paid to date for investments in LESS equipment under TAMS II.
470. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the hectarage of Coillte forestry in 2021; the hectarage of same that represented new afforestation; the percentage of each which is broadleaf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5519/22]
View answerCoillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and, as such, is operationally independent from my Department. I have, therefore, referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
471. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expected timeline on the proposed payment to a group of farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5520/22]
View answerI am committed to helping the Forgotten farmers cohort.
The Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future ’ contains a commitment to seek to resolve the issue of support for the category of farmers known as Forgotten Farmers.
I have asked officials in my Department to examine options to address the issue of forgotten farmers both through the next CAP and also through other measures to support this group.
I am committed to helping this cohort of farmers and I will bring forward proposals in the time ahead.
472. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 690 of 25 January 2022, if a mechanism exists within the contract of the new Chief Executive Officer of Horse Racing Ireland which could provide for a reduction in the salary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5521/22]
View answer473. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the basis on which it was decided that the salary of the new Chief Executive Officer of Horse Racing Ireland would provide for a single salary point rather than consisting of phased increments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5522/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together.
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI), established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, is a commercial State Body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The Irish Horse Racing Industry Act 1994 and The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016 (Remuneration and Superannuation) provide that the terms and conditions of the CEO of HRI are subject to the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and myself.
The final contract of employment provides for a single salary point of €190k. The salary was proposed by HRI and was consented by to myself and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following due consideration. NewERA were also consulted.
There is no mechanism in the contract for a reduction in salary.
474. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a response to correspondence (details supplied) will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5571/22]
View answerIreland's draft CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027 which lists the range of interventions currently being proposed, was submitted to the EU Commission on 31st December 2021.
As you may be aware, one of the intervention proposed therein is an agri-environment climate measure (AECM). This proposed measure includes a Rare Breeds action.
The details of the proposed scheme are still being developed including the specification for each proposed action. The specification will list the eligible breeds and also the requirements on herdowners when undertaking that action as part of their AECM contract. I note that the breed society in question made submissions to the Department as part of the public consultation processes.
I also note that representatives of the Irish Native Rare Breeds Society met with the Department officials dealing with the new AECM to discuss the proposed Rare Breeds action. A response to the points raised in the correspondence dated 27th January will issue to indicate that the issue raised will be considered when finalising the specification for the proposed Rare Breed action.
There is a real role to be played by Rare Breeds in the overall agricultural ecosystem and I am keen to explore further options.
475. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a beef suckler payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5575/22]
View answerThe objective of the 2021 BEEP-S was to further increase economic and environmental efficiency in the suckler herd though improvement in the quantity and quality of performance data that is collected. The scheme opened for applications on 16th March 2021 and closed without late penalty on 26th April 2021. It remained open, albeit with a late penalty from 27th April 2021 until 21st May 2021.
The opening and closing dates for the scheme were set out in the Press Release on the 16th March 2021 and in the farming media. A series of texts also issued to herd owners, including the person named, informing them of the deadline for applications for the scheme.
The person named did not create or submit an application for the 2021 BEEP-S programme and as such cannot be considered for payment under the scheme.
