Written Answers Nos. 184-200
185. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the amount recovered through the use of debt collectors and-or debt collection agencies in respect of the collection of fees and charges from patients attending hospital groups managed by St. Vincent's University Hospital in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17088/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
189. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if discussions are expected with the HSE to review the criteria required to access a medical card due to the increase in the cost of living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17093/22]
View answerEligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account, i.e. mortgage payments, which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. It should be noted that in November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. This increase ensures that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over now qualify for a medical card.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the current medical card income thresholds are kept under regular review and any changes are considered in the context of Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and other issues which may be relevant.
190. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the waiting times that women are experiencing in University Hospital Limerick for a gynaecology appointment after being given an irregular cervical smear test result (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17095/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
191. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17096/22]
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.
192. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure the targets set in the 2022 waiting list action plan are met in view of rising Covid-19 cases and their impact on elective care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17111/22]
View answerAs a response to the recent surge in both ED attendance and COVID-19 cases the CEO of the HSE has written to the CEOs of all hospital groups advising them of the need to prioritise unscheduled COVID-19 care and urgent time sensitive work for 14-day period. The resulting curtailment of elective care (and associated staff shortages) will likely negatively impact achieving waiting list reduction targets.
The HSE has confirmed to the Department that patient safety remains at the centre of all hospital activity and elective care scheduling. To ensure services are provided in a safe, clinically-aligned and prioritised way, hospitals are following HSE clinical guidelines and protocols.
The Waiting List Task Force continues to regularly monitor the impact of COVID-19 on waiting list reduction targets. Additional capacity is being sought through the Private Hospitals to minimise the impact of the current surge on core capacity.
With the onset of the 4th wave of Covid-19 at the end of December 2021 and January 2022 the HSE with the support of the Department negotiated a new amended Agreement with the Private Hospitals to run to the end of June 2022. The new Agreement sought to draw on the lessons from the operation of Safety Nets 2 and 3.
The most significant change from the previous Safety Net Agreements was the adoption of a dual approach to obtaining access to the private hospital capacity. As with the outgoing agreement it would allow access of up to 15% or 30% of the private hospitals’ capacity depending on which metrics were met. At each level, the HSE would have the option to seek access on either a reasonable endeavours basis i.e. voluntarily, or by issuing a guaranteed capacity demand, which would require the private hospitals to provide the capacity. Under the agreement payments for capacity unused by the public system i.e. retainer payments will not be payable where the agreement is invoked on a reasonable endeavours basis but will be payable where a guaranteed capacity notice is issued.
In August 2021 the HSE established a procurement framework to allow public hospitals to access services in private hospitals. The procurement framework that was put in place sought tenders from private hospitals, based on competitive pricing, for approximately 700 types of medical and surgical procedures for adult and paediatric inpatient, day care and critical care beds. A separate procurement framework was put in place for diagnostic services. The Framework is in place for a period of 4 years.
193. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of children who presented to emergency departments in Children’s Health Ireland with mental health issues; the number of referrals to liaison psychiatry services; the average length of wait time from referral to first appointment with liaison psychiatry services by hospital in each of the years 2018 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17113/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
194. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current review as to whether remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care should be continued post the Covid-19 public health emergency period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17115/22]
View answerAs part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to protect public health and limit the spread of Covid-19, the Department of Health and the HSE worked together in 2020 to put arrangements in place to allow termination of pregnancy services in early pregnancy to be provided remotely. For the duration of the Covid-19 public health emergency, where the need for social distancing, reducing personal contacts and reducing the burden on medical practitioners are paramount, it became possible for a woman to access a termination under section 12 of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 (i.e., before 12 weeks) from her medical practitioner by telephone or video conference consultation.
There is ongoing engagement between the Department of Health and the HSE to monitor service provision, facilitate the smooth-running of the service and resolve any issues that may arise. However, with restrictions eased, the Department is currently reviewing whether remote consultation as part of a blended approach to termination of pregnancy care should be continued post the COVID-19 public health emergency period.
At the request of the Department, the HSE conducted a review of the Revised Model of Care for Termination of Pregnancy. The findings of this review are currently being examined.
It is important to reflect that COVID-19 is still with us and Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidance on Managing Risk of Transmission of Respiratory Viruses including COVID-19, continues to advise, amongst other things, to limit footfall in General Practice settings and support telephone consultations where care that meets the needs of the patient can be delivered - this helps to eliminate the risk of transmission of viral infection. As such the arrangements for remote access to this service in the context of COVID-19 remain in place.
195. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if existing tillage farmers will be included in some way in the new scheme announced by the Department; if financial supports will be provided for farmers to assist them in meeting the substantial increases in most farm inputs; if he will outline the way that these costs will be monitored by the Department and if there will be support given by the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16834/22]
View answerThe Targeted Intervention Package I announced on 22nd March is framed around three pillars which seek to support our vital Irish farming families arising both from events in Ukraine and wider global price volatility. The total package is projected to cost in the region of €12.2 million and is open to existing tillage farmers.
The package seeks firstly to incentivise the planting of additional tillage crops for this coming planting season through the Tillage Incentive Scheme. The Scheme encourages farmers to grow more tillage crops in 2022 versus 2021 and for crops to be eligible, the land must not have been in tillage production in 2021. A payment of €400 per hectare is proposed. The proposed budget for the Scheme is €10 million and is aimed at encouraging an additional 25,000 hectares of tillage crops.
Secondly, the package introduces supports to encourage farmers to grow protein crops (i.e. peas, beans, lupins and combi-crops) in 2022. Supporting domestic production of protein crops will reduce Ireland’s reliance on imported feed materials. €3 million is provided for under the EU funded Protein Aid Scheme and a further €1.2 million is proposed to be provided in order to guarantee a payment of €300 per hectare for beans, peas and lupins and €150 per hectare for combi-crops (cereal/protein mix).
And finally, a Multi-Species Sward Scheme to include support for red clover to promote environmentally sustainable methods of farming, and thereby greatly reduce nitrogen fertiliser, while maintaining forage yields.
The financial supports outlined in the package of measures will assist farmers in offsetting the significant increases in farm inputs experienced by farmers presently.
In addition, I have tasked a National Fodder and Food Security Committee to prepare an industry response to the emerging crisis in feed, fodder, fertiliser and other inputs, and to develop contingency plans and advice to assist farmers in managing their farm enterprises.
Lastly, a Rapid Response Team has been established in my Department to actively monitor the impacts on agri-food supply chains and to contribute to the whole of Government response to this crisis.
196. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the submission made by those in the pig industry for financial and other supports; his views on the submission and the range of actions likely to be considered; and if he will expedite the matter. [16837/22]
View answer200. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if urgent consideration will be given to the issues outlined in correspondence (details supplied) in view of the serious difficulties facing the pigmeat sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17112/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 200 together.
The Department is currently reviewing the proposal referred to and is engaging with stakeholders in this context, and on the situation in the pig sector in general.
Our pig farmers have always been remarkably resilient but I am acutely aware of the unprecedented challenges that Irish pig farmers are facing at present. The continued development of the pigmeat sector is a priority for me given the pivotal role the industry plays in the national economic context. It is the third largest agri-food sector, and supports approximately 8,000 rural jobs.
Last month, I announced the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme (PEPS), with a fund of up to €7 million, for commercial pig farmers. This is an urgent, short-term response to assist producers that would be viable but for the extreme current circumstances, and allow space for a more medium-term adjustment to market signals.
This scheme is a once-off, exchequer funded scheme open to commercial pig undertakings which had produced more than 200 pigs in the period 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021 inclusive. This includes pigs sent to slaughter, exported or sold commercially from a breeding herd.
The scheme was notified to the European Commission under the agriculture de minimis rules, which provide for a maximum payment per undertaking of €20,000.
Applications for the PEPS closed on 20th March 2022. The first tranche of payments was made last week, with the remaining applications due for processing as soon as possible. All information on the scheme can be found on my Department's website.
This scheme is part of a wider package of measures to support the pigmeat sector, including intensified efforts by Bord Bia to promote quality assured Irish pigmeat in the domestic and export markets with dedicated media advertising campaigns underway nationally, as well as EU-funded pigmeat promotion programmes running in key export markets.
Teagasc has also intensified its dedicated, ongoing advisory supports being provided to pig farmers and is actively engaging with pig farmers to explore the options potentially available to them.
There is also support for access to finance through the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), particularly the Brexit Impact Loan Scheme and the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme. Both of these SBCI finance products, which are part-financed by my Department, can be used for working capital and include features which will assist the current financial needs of pig farmers.
Furthermore, the Department continues to engage at EU level to ensure a joined-up EU approach to the challenges arising from Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine, including through the European Food Security Crisis preparedness response Mechanism (EFSCM). Last week, the Commission announced the adoption of exceptional support measures across the agriculture sector, along with a communication on Food Security. In addition, the Commission in view of the particularly difficult situation in the pig meat sector has opened a new private storage aid scheme to assist in stabilising the sector.
My Department is currently examining the detailed requirements and conditionality attached to the exceptional aid allocation to Ireland of €15.8 million in EU funding.
197. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the research that has been carried out by his Department with regard to marine carbon sinks in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16942/22]
View answerAs the issue referred to in the Deputy's question relates to research activities undertaken by the Marine Institute (MI), I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Marine Institute for direct response, in relation to research undertaken by the MI only, in that regard.
198. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the balance of a TAMS grant payment for a mower will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16944/22]
View answerThe person named applied under the Organic Capital Investment Scheme in October 2015 for a Mower - Mounted without conditioner. Approval was granted, however when processing the claim, no receipts for the purchase of the mower were submitted. It was discovered the applicant purchased the mower with cash.
A cash sale without other supporting evidence of payment is ineligible under TAMS as per the scheme’s terms and conditions. As a result, a penalty and reduction were applied to the applicant’s claim totalling €673.76, thus reducing his payment to €1,744.60. Payment issued on 16th December 2019. The payment calculation is outlined below.
|
Payment |
€ |
|
Total Eligible Payment Cost |
€6,045.90 |
|
40% grant aid on Eligible Payment |
€2,418.36 |
|
Reduction applied 13.93% |
€336.88 |
|
Penalty Applied 13.93% |
€336.88 |
|
Total Payment |
€2,418.36 – €673.76 = €1,744.60 |
A letter was issued to the applicant on the 22nd of November 2019 advising them of the penalty and reduction and their right to appeal.
199. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of felling licence applications delayed with the current backlog; the measures that are being taken to progress these licence applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17066/22]
View answerThe Department has, through Project Woodland, established a definition of the backlog, which is anything on hand over 120 days. Therefore, the current licences on hand, broken down by category and those over 120 days is indicated in the table below.
These cohorts of applications have reduced by 29% since the end of last August, which is a significant reduction in the number of applications awaiting decision.
Our plans for licence issue in 2022 are contained in the Forestry Licensing Plan with a target of 5,250 licences issues, which is a year-on-year increase of 30%. This includes an increase of 36% in private felling licences to 1,830, while Coillte felling licences at 1,530 will maintain the levels achieved in 2021.
The Licensing Plan 2022 may be found here gov.ie - Forestry Licensing Plan 2022 (www.gov.ie).
Week ending 25th March
|
- |
<=120 days |
>120 days |
Overall |
|
Afforestation |
86 |
672 |
758 |
|
Roads |
169 |
336 |
505 |
|
Felling (private) |
401 |
1,481 |
1,883 |
|
Felling (Coillte) |
0 |
868 |
868 |
|
Total |
656 |
3,375 |
4,014 |
