Written Answers Nos. 2076-2095
2076. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the payment of the pandemic bonus payment to nursing home staff (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44289/22]
View answerFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
The HSE and the Department are currently examining progressing the rollout to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments.
Information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help/home care/home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in frontline Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place.
Rolling out the payment to eligible employees of those specific non-HSE/Section 38 organisations covered by the government decision is a complex task, particularly as these employees are not normally paid by the public health service, duplicate payments need to be avoided, and there are many organisations to be covered, but this work is being given priority attention. Once this process is published, the Department is keen that payments to eligible workers will be made as soon as possible thereafter.
I assure you that it is the intention of the Department to have all eligible healthcare workers paid without delay, and all possible efforts are being made to achieve this. I want to reassure you that the Government is prioritising this payment and remains extremely appreciative for all our healthcare workers’ efforts in the fight against Covid-19.
2078. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure all student social workers on placements receive proper remuneration reflecting the work they are undertaking during mandatory placement. [44312/22]
View answerStudent social workers like many other healthcare students do not receive remuneration or an allowance to support time spent on clinical placements as part of their training.
There are only a small number of healthcare courses where the students receive allowances to support clinical placements during training. These allowances have been in place for a number of years and based on specific requirements of the individual training program.
Across the health and social care disciplines, there are approximately 7,330 Health and Social Care Professional students in training who will, at different stages, require clinical placement in hospital and healthcare settings. The length of placements and the activities performed during these placements varies between disciplines. Students are not employees and in many cases the nature of the placement can, in the main, be limited to participation in an observing and a learning capacity. This is a key part of the learning in all undergraduate programs.
The HSE will continue to support the training of student social workers and to seek ways to improve their training experience including considering ways to support student placement closer to the college in which they train.
2079. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the average annual cost of remuneration of student nurses on mandatory placement. [44313/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I've asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2080. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44321/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2081. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the State’s contribution to nursing homes under the nursing home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44329/22]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as 'Fair Deal', is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. The primary legislation underpinning the NHSS is the Nursing Home Support Scheme Act 2009. Participants in the NHSS contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.
I am acutely aware of the specific challenges faced by the Nursing Home sector related to price inflation and increased energy costs. I am currently working on proposals to support smaller and voluntary nursing homes in relation to the specific challenges they are experiencing.
I engage consistently on an ongoing basis with Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), the representative organisation for private and voluntary nursing homes. I have met directly with NHI and updated them in detail on progress being made in relation to this matter. I have also met with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to request that they consider the matter alongside departmental officials. I have visited a number of Nursing Homes to discuss this issue with management of both public and private/voluntary nursing units. It is imperative that nursing homes manage potential cost pressures in line with their regulatory and contractual responsibilities, maintaining their quality of care so that residents’ lived experience and comfort is not affected.
The Government has also provided substantial supports to the nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €143 million has been claimed by nursing homes under the TAPS scheme since spring 2020, and the scheme continues in effect. Substantial additional supports have been provided by the HSE in terms of serial testing, PPE, the deployment of specialist teams and other services. Many of these supports continue.
The Department published a review of the NTPF pricing system in June 2021. This review was conducted by the NTPF with input from stakeholders and external experts. It recommended several actions to improve the pricing system. The department continues to work with the NTPF to take forward the recommended actions that emerged from this review. The Department is also taking forward the nine recommendations of the Value For Money Review on Nursing Home costs published last December.
Given the size and scope of the NHSS, which is expected to cost the State more than €1.053 billion this year, any changes must be delivered carefully and with due consideration to their impact and any unexpected consequences.
2082. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent staff by job title vacancies that are currently in the accident and emergency department of Galway University Hospital; and when each of these vacancies will be filled, in tabular form. [44339/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2083. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Health the estimated full-year cost of recruiting two additional full-time surveillance scientists and two additional full-time epidemiologist posts for the HSE national anti-microbial resistance team. [44340/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
2084. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on banning or restriction the use of glyphosate. [43794/22]
View answerThe EU process to consider the renewal of the current approval for glyphosate is ongoing. This process involves a comprehensive evaluation of all relevant scientific data and a rigorous peer review process led by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).
Following this process, the European Commission will draft a proposal which will be voted on at the EU Standing Committee dealing with pesticides legislation. My Department will finalise its position on glyphosate taking account of EFSA’s and ECHA’s scientific opinions and conclusions, as it does for all pesticide substances.
2085. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action that he will take following the discovery in August 2022 of the remains of several greyhounds in a bog close to a stadium (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44330/22]
View answerRásaíocht con Éireann officials accompanied by veterinary officials from my Department visited the site when the finding was reported. As the matter is now the subject of an investigation it would not be appropriate to comment further at this point.
2086. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to information given by his Department on 13 April 2022 at a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture meeting, if all licence applications predating 2021 have been processed by the Forestry Service of his Department by the end of the second quarter of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41933/22]
View answerMy Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has committed to issuing 5,250 licences in 2022, an increase of 30% on the number issued in 2021.
As part of that output we intend to clear older files, where a valid application with all necessary information is on hand.
Licence applications with full information are being processed by my officials. Once the second period of 30-day consultation has been completed, and following the consideration of any submissions received, the applicants can move to decision.
According to Departmental records, on 31st August 2022 there are approximately 323 felling applications predating 2021 that are still to be decided upon. These include 95 applications where further information is required from the applicant, 60 applications where further information has been received from the applicant and can now be processed, 133 applications where ecologists have completed ecology reports and they are going through the system (including the 30 day Appropriate Assessment consultation period) and 35 applications are with District Inspectors.
My Department will continue to prioritise the processing of these older files until all older files on hand have been decided upon.
2087. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Department inspections that have been carried out on farms during Covid-19 level 5 lockdowns; the number of these inspections which resulted in penalties; the level of penalties incurred following these inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41971/22]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine undertakes a wide range of inspections for both EU and nationally supported schemes. It also carries out inspections to check for compliance with national and EU legislation - for example disease eradication and animal identification and movement.
The data provided below relates to some of the inspections undertaken during COVID-19 Level 5 lockdowns which were in place from 19th October 2020 to 27th November 2020, and again from 24th December 2020 to 12th April 2021. In the time available it has not been possible to assemble details relating to all the other schemes.
Land Eligibility Inspections
|
- |
Inspections Carried out during COVID-19 Level 5 lockdowns |
|
Number of inspections |
196 |
|
Number with no reduction |
151 |
|
Number with a penalty |
45 |
|
Value of Penalties Incurred |
€30,901.10 |
Cross Compliance Inspections
|
- |
Inspections Carried out during COVID-19 Level 5 lockdowns |
|
Number of inspections |
2,508 |
|
Number with no reduction |
2,051 |
|
Number with a penalty |
457 |
|
Value of Penalties Incurred |
€498,533.96 |
Sheep Welfare Scheme (SWS) Inspections
|
- |
Inspections Carried out during COVID-19 Level 5 lockdowns |
|
Number of inspections |
396 |
|
Number with no reduction |
304 |
|
Number with a penalty |
92 |
|
Value of Penalties Incurred |
€35,769.67 |
Beef Data Genomics Programme (BDGP) Inspections
|
- |
Inspections Carried out during COVID-19 Level 5 lockdowns |
|
Number of inspections |
279 |
|
Number with no reduction |
265 |
|
Number with a penalty |
14 |
|
Value of Penalties Incurred |
€10,541.31 |
2088. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will assist a company (details supplied) in obtaining a larger premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41997/22]
View answerMy Department owns, operates and maintains the six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl, under statute.
Properties located at the six Fishery Harbour Centres including Dingle are, when appropriate, offered for tenancy under lease agreement by means of an open competitive tendering process, in accordance with good practice and public procurement guidelines.
Such tenders are open to all interested parties and are advertised in the press and in the Harbour Master’s office and online at www.gov.ie/en/collection/351d2-tenders-and-notices/.
2089. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the small-scale tree planting proposal as outlined by him in the Forestry Licencing Plan 2022 is regarded as afforestation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42038/22]
View answerForests are defined as areas which are 0.1 hectares or more in size and which have the capacity to reach at least five meters in height and with a minimum canopy cover of at least 20%. Ireland uses this definition, as set out in the LULUCF regulation, Regulatiopn (EU) 2018/841, to account for all forest plots that meet these criteria.
The target of 8,000 hectares of new afforestation per year as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2021 includes all of my Department's tree planting measures that are 0.1 hectares or more in size. This includes the small-scale tree planting referred to in the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022
As the Deputy may be aware, an amendment to the Forestry Act 2014 has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas through the vehicle of the Animal Health and Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022. On 4th April 2022, the new legislation was signed into law by the president. This amendment was necessary to remove the licensing requirement for the planting of native woodland in areas not greater than one hectare. It is my objective to increase and encourage interest in small scale planting and I am confident that this change to the Act will remove a barrier to such planting.
The exemption for the creation of up to one hectare of native woodland would be available through a scheme which my Department now intends to design and implement. The development of the scheme will be undertaken following the completion of a Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment, subject to the findings of both assessments.
2090. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants to, and members of, the results–based environment agri pilot programme who have applied for afforestation approval under his Department’s afforestation grant and premium scheme for the month of June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42039/22]
View answerThe Results Based Environment Agri Pilot Programme (REAP) was designed to trial the results-based approach on a national basis and to test the upscaling potential of the model for inclusion in the next national agri-environment scheme to follow GLAS. REAP incentivises farmers to maintain and improve the environmental condition of their land.
The number of applicants to and members of the results–based environment agri pilot programme that have applied for afforestation approval under my Department’s afforestation grant and premium scheme for the month of June 2022 is zero.
It is important to note that REAP is not a whole-of-farm project and that afforestation opportunities continue to exist for REAP participants on parcels that have not been selected for the project.
Communication and positive messaging about the benefits of afforestation is crucial. On most farms, planting can comfortably co-exist with livestock enterprises and can significantly increase the net income from the holding. We must work together to communicate this positive message consistently.
2091. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the methodology and exact workings behind the environmental grant, as detailed in circular 13/2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42040/22]
View answerThe Makinnon report (confirmed by the O'Hara report) recommended a new requirement for an environment report supported by an associated planning grant. The aim is to increase the quality of afforestation applications in particular as they address environmental aspects, to increase the throughput of applications by DAFM, and to ensure that applicants and their agents are reasonably reimbursed for the additional costs associated with the required standard and scope of environmental reports.
It is anticipated, as indicated in Circular 8 of 2021, that most reports that are required for afforestation, in addition to the current mandatory application requirements, may include:
- A pre-screening report
- A Habitat description and map
- An ecology report covering non-Appropriate Assessment ecology requirements
- A Natura Impact Statement.
Other reports, such as bird surveys, archaeology reports and environmental Impact Assessment Reports are occasionally required, but the four above will be the most common required by DAFM, in line with EU & National Regulations.
As detailed in Circular 13/2022, an environment grant is now paid if a report from an external ecologist or external archaeologist is submitted and on file.
It is paid at Form 2 stage.
The amount of grant aid is weighted towards the first few hectares. So, an additional €450/ hectare for the first hectare, €400 for the second hectare, €350 for the third hectare and €50/hectare from 4 hectares capped at 20 hectares is introduced.
This would work out as follows.
|
Hectares |
Environment Grant (amount per hectare) |
Cumulative Environment grant |
|
1 |
450 |
450 |
|
2 |
400 |
850 |
|
3 |
350 |
1200 |
|
4 |
50 |
1250 |
|
5 |
50 |
1300 |
|
6 |
50 |
1350 |
|
7 |
50 |
1400 |
|
8 |
50 |
1450 |
|
9 |
50 |
1500 |
|
…etc to max 20 hectares |
50 |
|
2092. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether stricter laws should be put in place to bring about the closure of large-scale puppy farms (details supplied); and his views on whether dogs from commercial puppy farms should not be allowed to be advertised using images that imply that they were bred in a home environment. [42045/22]
View answerThe requirement to register with my Department as a seller or supplier of pet animals under the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019 does not apply to a person who is required to register with their local authority under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. Dog breeding establishments are regulated under that Act and fall under the remit of the Minister for Rural and Community Development. Controls relating to these establishments rest with that Department and the relevant local authorities.
Concern for the safety and welfare of pet animals was one of the primary reasons behind the introduction by my Department of the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 681/2019).
These Regulations put into law certain requirements for sellers and suppliers of pet animals, including minimum ages for sale of certain mammals; record-keeping; registration with the Department; and the provision of certain information about the pet being advertised. The Regulations have been widely welcomed by welfare organisations.
2093. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assessment process involved in determining the amount of ex-gratia funding that is allocated for individual animal welfare organisations annually; the reason that an organisation (details supplied) did not receive any increase in ex-gratia funding between 2020 and 2021 [42119/22]
View answerApplications for annual funding from animal welfare organisations are assessed carefully and awards are made on the basis of objective criteria. These include the level and type of assistance provided by the organisation in the delivery of care and welfare services to animals and the level of funding raised by organisations from other sources to support welfare activities.
To be eligible for funding, applicant organisations must be registered charities and must supply detailed information on their governance arrangements and financial records.
In 2021, to further enhance the impact of public funding for animal welfare bodies nationwide, my Department aligned our funding model with the animal welfare policies, objectives and priorities outlined in Together for Animal Welfare, Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025. Consequently, the assessment of funding placed emphasis on the ‘One Health, One Welfare’ approach to education and dissemination of knowledge to improve animal welfare delivered by the organisations.
As with all applicants the organization in question was assessed under the robust process and criteria outlined above and was awarded €48,500 in 2021.
2094. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if grants will be distributed earlier in the year to assist animal welfare organisations in meeting the substantial bills many are faced with throughout each year; if he will consider addressing funding increase deficits among smaller organisations and those organisations in rural localities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42120/22]
View answerAnimal welfare is a high priority for my Department and considerable resources and funding are provided to organisations involved in rescuing and rehoming animals.
In December 2021, I provided record funding of €3.7million to 98 animal welfare bodies throughout the country, including smaller organisations and those based in rural localities.
This funding for animal welfare organisations was evidence of my own and the Government’s ongoing commitment to animal welfare and acknowledges the important role played by animal welfare organisations. These organisations play a crucial role in ensuring all our animals are cared for and protected.
The Programme for Government includes an undertaking to provide additional funding in support of animal welfare again this year, to which I am fully committed.
The call for grant applications for this year's awards was launched in June this year and applications received are now being evaluated by my officials. The application process has been revised this year to reflect the importance of the provision of education on animal welfare by grant applicants to a broader range of citizens, with the goal of improving the understanding of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership by the public.
All applicants are encouraged to provide these services regardless of size or location. The evaluation process must be robust and takes some time, to ensure the appropriate distribution of public funds.
The purpose of the 2022 Animal Welfare Grant Programme for Registered Charities is to provide funding to animal welfare organisations for the direct provision of care to animals throughout 2023. These awards will be announced and funding provided to successful applicants before the end of 2022.
2095. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of completing an audit of each farm in the State that would identify the current carbon sequestration, storage and emissions on a farm-by-farm basis; the methodology that would be utilised to carry out this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42123/22]
View answerThe recent publication of the Commission's Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles has sent a clear signal to European Member States on the need to increase the ambition and participation of our land managers in the area or carbon removals and reductions and outlines that “every land manager should have access to verified emission and removal data by 2028 to enable a wide uptake of carbon farming”, as a long term objective.
The long term nature of this target is reflective of the complexity that is involved in calculating a trustworthy carbon balance at farm level due to the multitude of variables, both natural and man-made, that can affect carbon emissions/removals.
I recognise the importance of establishing a national baseline data for a range of activities at farm level and we are working to ensure we can have an accurate dataset in this space.
To this end and taking a proactive approach, I have provided core funding for a number of relevant initiatives such such as the National Agricultural Soil Carbon Observatory (NASCO) infrastructure, the Pilot Soil Sampling Programme and the Farm Environmental Study (FES), while also providing funding to European Innovation Projects such as the Farm Carbon EIP and FarmPEAT EIP which will provide specific information not only on the baseline data but also on how we can influence land use management change in these areas.
In addition, my Department continues to support Bord Bia’s Origin Green programme and their work with 1,000s of Irish farmers to embed sustainable environmental practices within their businesses.
These national research and demonstration activities will have key learnings for future policy in this area while also leading to a refinement of data to the National Inventory Reporting framework for greenhouse gas emissions.
In demonstration our recently launched country wide network of Teagasc supported Signpost Farms will showcase how best practice management techniques can be adopted on a wide range of enterprises and soil types.
These research and demonstration activities along with the recent establishment of the Carbon Farming Working Group, chaired through my department, will allow us to address a number of requirements around carbon farming mainly in the areas of establishing baseline data, auditing, governance and address the need for the Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of carbon removals/reductions.
It is important that we align with EU direction and I look forward to the forthcoming proposals from the European Commission on a regulatory framework for Carbon Farming.
