Written Answers Nos. 311-330
311. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he or the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disability have met with an organisation (details supplied) to discuss the ongoing delays in assessment of needs for the children of its members. [45352/22]
View answerSince becoming Minister with responsibility for Disabilities, I have met with a significant number of both Advocacy Groups and Parents Representative Groups to listen to their concerns regarding the Assessment of Need process and the challenges in accessing therapy services for their children.
However, I wish to advise the Deputy that I have not met with the group to whom she refers.
312. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the action that is being taken to ensure an adequate supply of general practitioners throughout north Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45357/22]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a place of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,522 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme.
Where a GP GMS vacancy is set to arise in a practice, the HSE is notified in advance and becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of August 2022, there were 25 GMS vacancies across the country, just under 1 percent of the total number of GMS panels; there were no GP GMS vacancies in Co. Kildare.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice and is working to ensure patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement, the Government is increasing annual investment in general practice by approximately 40% (€210 million) between 2019 and 2023. The Agreement provides for an increase in capitation fees for GPs, additional services, improved family arrangements as well as a targeted €2 million fund to support to practices in deprived urban areas. These changes and others make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice.
A steady increase has been seen in the number of doctors entering GP training over recent years, rising from 120 in 2009 to 258 in 2022. The transfer of GP training from the HSE to the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) which was concluded in 2021 will allow for the introduction of a new service model for GP training in Ireland and the further expansion GP training capacity in the years ahead. The ICGP aims to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
These measures will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
313. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the reason that a medical card was discontinued on foot of review in the case of persons (details supplied) who have heavy medication costs and whose circumstances have not changed since the previous review; if the card can be restored forthwith; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45358/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
314. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a full medical card restoration can be arranged in the case of a person (details supplied) whose case has been refused on review notwithstanding the fact that their circumstances have not changed and that they are 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45363/22]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
315. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of protected disclosures that he has received from 2018 to date in 2022; the number that have been closed with actions to be implemented and or issues to address; the number that were dismissed and the number that remain open in tabular form; the protected disclosures that were referred to a third party for investigation and or assessment; the costs of same; and the company that was engaged. [45216/22]
View answerAs required under the relevant legislation, my Department has a Protected Disclosures Policy in place under which a staff member who wishes to make a protected disclosure may do so to any of the following confidential recipients:
- Resolve, which is an independent confidential service engaged for this purpose,
- the Head of the Internal Audit Unit in the Department, or
- any member of the Department’s Management Board.
Contact details for all of the above confidential recipients, as well as procedures for making a protected disclosure, are contained in the policy document which has been circulated to all staff and which is also available on the Department's intranet.
The recipient carries out an initial review to establish whether a submission meets the criteria for a Protected Disclosure. If it meets the criteria, the case is then assigned to a senior official who will take the appropriate action, for instance an investigation, depending on the subject matter of the case.
With one exception, all the Protected Disclosures have been investigated by senior Departmental officials who have had no previous involvement in the matters being disclosed. In one case, in order to avoid any conflict of interest, the outside consultancy, Resolve, was asked to carry out the investigation.
The Department is committed to taking any necessary action should evidence of wrongdoing be found as a result of an investigation arising from a Protected Disclosure.
The numbers and status of Protected Disclosures received by my Department from 2018 to date are as follows:
|
Year |
Number |
Outcome/Status |
Cost of External Contractor |
|
2018 |
1 |
No wrongdoing found. |
NIL |
|
2019 |
2 |
No wrongdoing was found in either case. |
NIL |
|
2020 |
4* |
No wrongdoing found in three cases. One case is ongoing. |
€2,952.00 |
|
2021 |
1 |
No wrongdoing was found in this case. |
NIL |
|
2022 |
1 |
So far this year, one case has been received and is being investigated. However, please note that it can take time between initially receiving information from an individual, establishing that it is a protected disclosure and recording it as such. For that reason, it may not be apparent until later in a year that a protected disclosure was received. |
NIL to date |
*One of the four cases counted for 2020 was received in 2018 but was not acted on due to the discloser withdrawing another protected disclosure which covered the same topic. Following an internal review of the matter in 2020, the Department commenced an investigation into the disclosure. No wrongdoing was found.
316. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that are being put in place to safeguard wild bird populations against the risk of avian flu outbreak; if he will develop a surveillance, testing and safe disposal programme; if he will put measures in place to stop the unnecessary disturbance of wild birds that may be affected by the virus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45270/22]
View answerAs I’m sure the Deputy is aware, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 is currently circulating in breeding seabirds around Ireland. There have been unprecedented numbers of reports of sick and dead wild birds to my Department in recent days. Over the last two weeks in particular, large numbers of dead gannets have been detected at breeding colonies at sea and are now being washed up ashore.
My Department’s role is to conduct avian influenza surveillance, which forms part of my Department’s Early Warning System for the detection of circulating avian influenza viruses, thereby informing its assessment as to the level of risk the disease poses to Ireland’s poultry sector. While my Department is responsible for the protection of the health of Irish poultry, wildlife comes under the remit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Local Authorities are responsible for the collection and disposal of dead animals, including birds, on publicly owned lands e.g. beaches, I understand that they already have systems in place whereby such 'Category 1' material can be appropriately disposed of.
I am informed by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that, overall it is not possible to prevent HPAI from occurring in our wild bird populations. This summer a number of measures were instigated with a view to reducing transmission rates of AI within and between seabird colonies. These measures included a suspension of seabird ringing activities throughout the State and changes in practices of seabird conservation wardens and researchers at various seabird colonies around Ireland. Now that the breeding season is coming to an end and winter and passage migrant birds are arriving, further measures which may be of assistance to reduce impact on our wild bird populations from AI are under consideration by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
317. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of wild birds with avian flu that have been notified to his Department by county to date in 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45271/22]
View answerSince July of this year, over 80 wild birds were submitted to our laboratories for testing. Of these almost 60 positive avian influenza cases were confirmed, all are subtype H5N1. To date all but one have been seabirds. These include large number of gannets in Counties Cork, Kerry, Mayo, Dublin, Donegal and Louth, a raven in Kerry and a guillemot in Donegal. We still await results for a small number of other wild birds.
The table below sets out details of the number of submissions received by my Department’s Regional Laboratories since July. It should be noted that each submission may consist of a number of birds.
Wild bird submissions 1st July- 12.09.2022
|
- |
Negative |
Positive |
Total |
|
Carlow |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Cavan |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Clare |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Cork |
6 |
1 |
7 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
Dublin |
3 |
1 |
4 |
|
Kerry |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Limerick |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Louth |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Mayo |
1 |
7 |
8 |
|
Monaghan |
2 |
2 |
|
|
Offaly |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Sligo |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Tipperary |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Waterford |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Westmeath |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Wexford |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Grand Total |
27 |
17 |
44 |
318. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the additional funding that has been allocated for the purposes of dealing with the avian flu outbreak; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45272/22]
View answerDue to the unpredictable nature of Avian Influenza (AI) it is not possible to anticipate in advance the amount of funding that might be required to both control and stamp out the disease, and cover any compensation that might accrue to flock owners. As I’m sure the Deputy is aware there were six outbreaks in 2021, all in the Cavan/Monaghan area, in 2020 there was a single outbreak in Co. Wicklow and prior to that the most recent case of notifiable AI in poultry occurred in 2012.
Funding to deal with AI outbreaks in 2021 and 2022 were absorbed by the Department’s annual allocations. Any possible requirement for funding later this year will be monitored closely on an ongoing basis. A decision on the funding required for any possible outbreaks in 2023 will be made in the context of the ongoing 2023 Estimates process.
The presence of AI in wild bird populations currently poses a higher risk than previously present at this time of year. For that reason, anyone travelling from an area known or suspected to be affected with avian influenza or where wild birds have been found dead should not come into contact with poultry/captive birds without prior cleaning and disinfection of clothing and footwear. Furthermore, poultry owners and keepers of captive birds are urged to maintain the highest standards of bio-security to protect their flocks.
Strict bio-security remains the number one preventative measure to introduction of avian influenza into poultry and captive bird flocks. I will be working closely with stakeholder again this year to ensure that we can work collaboratively and taken any measures necessary to protect our poultry industry. Further information on bio-security and other advice/guidance is available on my Department’s website.
319. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated tonnage of pig meat products that have been imported into Ireland to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45292/22]
View answer320. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of the total tonnage of pig meat products by category in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45293/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together.
According to the most recent Trade Statistics from the CSO, 42,333 tonnes of pig meat products were imported into Ireland in the period January to June 2022. By country of origin, the United Kingdom was the largest for imported pig meat products at 13,725 tonnes, with 7,662 tonnes originating in Northern Ireland and 6,063 tonnes originating in Great Britain.
Some 145,807 tonnes of pig meat products were exported over the same period.
A breakdown of the imported pig meat products by category, in tabular form, is attached.
|
- |
Jan-Jun 2022 |
||
|
Imports |
|||
|
Category |
cn |
CN_Descriptions |
Tonnes |
|
Pigmeat |
02031955 |
Fresh or chilled boneless meat of domestic swine (excl. bellies and cuts thereof) |
8,202 |
|
02101940 |
Loins and cuts thereof of domestic swine, salted or in brine |
6,284 |
|
|
16010099 |
Sausages and similar products of meat, offal or blood and food preparations based thereon (excl. liver sausages and uncooked sausages) |
3,513 |
|
|
16010091 |
Uncooked sausages, dry or for spreading, of meat, offal or blood (excl. liver) |
2,729 |
|
|
02032955 |
Frozen boneless meat of domestic swine (excl. bellies and cuts thereof) |
2,688 |
|
|
02101950 |
Meat of domestic swine, salted or in brine (excl. hams, shoulders and cuts thereof, bellies and cuts thereof, bacon sides or spencers, three-quarter sides or middles, and fore-ends, loins and cuts thereof) |
2,276 |
|
|
02031915 |
Fresh or chilled bellies "streaky" and cuts thereof of domestic swine |
2,021 |
|
|
02031913 |
Fresh or chilled loins and cuts thereof of domestic swine |
1,382 |
|
|
02032913 |
Frozen loins and cuts thereof of domestic swine, with bone in |
1,310 |
|
|
02101970 |
Domestic swine loins and cuts thereof, dried or smoked |
1,232 |
|
|
16024919 |
Meat or offal, incl. mixtures, of domestic swine, prepared or preserved, containing, by weight, >= 80% of meat or offal of any kind, incl. pork fat and fats of any kind or origin (excl. hams, shoulders, loins, collars and parts thereof, sausages and similar products, finely homogenised preparations put up for retail sale as infant food or for dietetic purposes, in containers of a net weight of <= 250 g, preparations of livers and meat extracts) |
1,191 |
|
|
02032990 |
Frozen meat of non-domestic swine (excl. carcases and half-carcases and hams, shoulders and cuts thereof, with bone in) |
958 |
|
|
16024110 |
Hams and cuts thereof, of domestic swine, prepared or preserved |
905 |
|
|
02031959 |
Fresh or chilled meat of domestic swine, with bone in (excl. carcases and half-carcases, hams, shoulders and cuts thereof, and fore-ends, loins, bellies and cuts thereof) |
872 |
|
|
02032915 |
Frozen bellies "streaky" and cuts thereof of domestic swine |
771 |
|
|
02032959 |
Frozen meat of domestic swine, with bone in (excl. carcases and half-carcases, hams, shoulders and cuts thereof, and fore-ends, loins, bellies and cuts thereof) |
661 |
|
|
02031211 |
Fresh or chilled with bone in, domestic swine hams and cuts thereof |
588 |
|
|
02101910 |
Bacon sides or spencers of domestic swine, salted or in brine |
535 |
|
|
02101211 |
Bellies "streaky" and cuts thereof of domestic swine, salted or in brine |
410 |
|
|
16024930 |
Prepared or preserved meat, offal and mixtures, of domestic swine, containing >= 40% but < 80% meat or offal of any kind and fats of any kind (excl. sausages and similar products, finely homogenised preparations put up for retail sale as infant food or for dietetic purposes, in containers of a net weight of <= 250 g, preparations of liver and meat extracts) |
341 |
|
|
02101981 |
Dried or smoked boneless domestic swine meat (excl. bellies and cuts thereof) |
337 |
|
|
02101219 |
Bellies "streaky" and cuts thereof of domestic swine, dried or smoked |
312 |
|
|
02031990 |
Fresh or chilled meat of non-domestic swine (excl. carcases and half-carcases, hams, shoulders and cuts thereof, with bone in) |
289 |
|
|
02101131 |
Domestic swine hams and cuts thereof, dried or smoked, with bone in |
278 |
|
|
16024911 |
Prepared or preserved domestic swine loins and parts thereof, incl. mixtures of loins or hams (excl. collars) |
275 |
|
|
16024950 |
Prepared or preserved meat, offal and mixtures of domestic swine containing < 40% meat or offal of any kind and fats of any kind (excl. sausages and similar products, homogenised preparations for put up retail sale as infant food or for dietetic purposes, in containers of a net weight of <= 250 g, preparations of liver and meat extracts and juices) |
256 |
|
|
02064900 |
Edible offal of swine, frozen (excl. livers) |
246 |
|
|
16024190 |
Prepared or preserved hams and cuts thereof, of swine (excl. domestic) |
215 |
|
|
02032219 |
Frozen shoulders and cuts thereof of domestic swine, with bone in |
198 |
|
|
02101111 |
Domestic swine hams and cuts thereof, salted or in brine, with bone in |
175 |
|
|
02031911 |
Fresh or chilled fore-ends and cuts thereof of domestic swine |
157 |
|
|
02031190 |
Fresh or chilled non-domestic swine carcases and half-carcases |
149 |
|
|
16024990 |
Prepared or preserved meat, offal and mixtures of swine (excl. domestic, hams, shoulders and parts thereof, sausages and similar products, finely homogenised preparations put up for retail sale as infant food or for dietetic purposes, in containers of a net weight of <= 250 g, preparations of liver and meat extracts and juices) |
111 |
|
|
02032211 |
Frozen hams and cuts thereof of domestic swine, with bone in |
103 |
|
|
02063000 |
Fresh or chilled edible offal of swine |
64 |
|
|
02101190 |
Hams, shoulders and cuts thereof of non-domestic swine, salted, in brine, dried or smoked, with bone in |
59 |
|
|
16010010 |
Liver sausages and similar products and food preparations based thereon |
55 |
|
|
16024210 |
Prepared or preserved shoulders and cuts thereof, of domestic swine |
47 |
|
|
02032911 |
Frozen fore-ends and cuts thereof of domestic swine |
32 |
|
|
02101990 |
Meat of non-domestic swine, salted, in brine, dried or smoked (excl. hams, shoulders and cuts thereof, with bone in, and bellies and cuts thereof) |
26 |
|
|
02031290 |
Fresh or chilled hams, shoulders and cuts thereof with bone in of non-domestic swine |
17 |
|
|
16024915 |
Prepared or preserved mixtures of domestic swine hams, shoulders, loins, collars and parts thereof (excl. mixtures of only loins and hams or only collars and shoulders) |
12 |
|
|
02101119 |
Domestic swine shoulders and cuts thereof, salted or in brine, with bone in |
11 |
|
|
02032290 |
Frozen hams, shoulders and cuts thereof of non-domestic swine, with bone in |
10 |
|
|
02101290 |
Bellies "streaky" and cuts thereof of non-domestic swine, salted, in brine, dried or smoked |
8 |
|
|
16024913 |
Prepared or preserved domestic swine collars and parts thereof, incl. mixtures of collars and shoulders |
6 |
|
|
02031110 |
Fresh or chilled domestic swine carcases and half-carcases |
5 |
|
|
02101930 |
Fore-ends and cuts thereof of domestic swine, salted or in brine |
3 |
|
|
02101920 |
Three-quarter-sides or middles of domestic swine, salted or in brine |
3 |
|
|
02101960 |
Domestic swine fore-ends and cuts thereof, dried or smoked |
2 |
|
|
02032190 |
Frozen non-domestic swine carcases and half-carcases |
1 |
|
|
02031219 |
Fresh or chilled with bone in, domestic swine shoulders and cuts thereof |
1 |
|
|
16024290 |
Prepared or preserved shoulders and cuts thereof, of swine (excl. domestic) |
1 |
|
|
02101989 |
Dried or smoked domestic swine meat, with bone in (excl. hams, shoulders and cuts thereof, bellies and cuts thereof, and fore-ends, loins and cuts thereof) |
0 |
|
|
02101139 |
Domestic swine shoulders and cuts thereof, dried or smoked, with bone in |
0 |
|
|
02032110 |
Frozen domestic swine carcases and half-carcases |
0 |
|
|
Pigmeat Total |
42,333 |
||
|
Grand Total |
42,333 |
321. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the pig exceptional payment scheme 2 will be paid to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45294/22]
View answer322. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers will receive the full funding allocation under the pig exceptional payment scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45295/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together.
One hundred and seventy-four (174) applications were received under Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme 2 (PEPS2) by the closing date of 11 July; of which 148 applications met the eligibility requirements set out in the scheme’s terms and conditions.
Payments commenced on 9th September 2022 and payments totalling €12.596 million to 148 eligible applicants to the scheme have now been made. Payment rates vary depending on the scale of the enterprise, up to a maximum of €100,000.
323. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the 38 activities requiring consent on designated lands have been included in the terms and conditions of the new CAP; if he will outline the consultation held with farmer representatives prior to its inclusion; if a request for inclusion came from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; if so, the impact that the inclusion of this condition will have on the payment of compensation through the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45308/22]
View answerIt is incorrect to suggest that there is a change in the requirements relating to Activities Requiring Consent (ARCs) and Notifiable Actions (NAs) under the new CAP.
Both of these matters are currently part of Cross Compliance, which requires compliance with the requirements of the Birds and Habitat Directives. Indeed, they have been requirements since the inception of Cross Compliance in the early 2000’s.
Under the new CSP Regulation (2115 of 2022) for the 2023-2027 period, these requirements have been continued, under the banner of what is now referred to as 'Conditionality'. They are listed under Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs) 3 and 4 in Annex III of the Regulation. As has been the case with cross compliance, these requirements will have to be satisfied by farmers in order to continue to qualify for the basic payment (or what will be known as the Basic Income Support for Sustainability) from 2023 onwards.
There have been no requests from colleagues in the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to change the approach in relation to the 38 activities requiring consent, and the approach to conditionality under the new CSP - which is framed by a new 'Green Architecture' across Pillars I and II of the CAP - has been the subject of extensive consultation with stakeholders over more than two years.
324. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons within his Department who received the special leave with pay for Covid-19 up to 1 July 2022; the number of workers who have availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more; the number of persons who availed of the special leave with pay for COVID-19 since 1 July 2022; the number of such persons who have been in receipt of this payment in excess of 14 days; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45311/22]
View answerIn line with Government guidelines, specific arrangements are applied to absences from the workplace as a consequence of COVID-19. Special Leave with pay is applied in lieu of sick leave for COVID-19 in order to assist in the prevention of possible onward spread of COVID-19 within the work premises. The application of such arrangements allows my Department to ensure delivery of our services while also having the potential to be flexible and responsive to any changes that may be needed based on public health advice.
Please note that there were several cases relating to COVID-19 that commenced prior to 1st July 2022 but lasted until after that date. For the purposes of this PQ these are included based on the date the absence commenced.
For the period to 1st July 2022, the Department recorded a total of 928 officers as having taken Special Paid Leave for COVID-19.
To date, two officers have availed of Special Leave for COVID-19 for a period of 12 weeks (60 days) or more. Both of these incidents occurred prior to 1st July 2022.
Since 1st July 2022, 118 officers have commenced Special Paid Leave for Covid-19.
Also, since 1st July 2022, only one officer received in excess of 14 days Special Paid Leave for COVID-19. While this absence commenced prior to 1st July, payment was received after that date.
325. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the industry stakeholders with whom his Department’s decision to introduce mandatory TB testing of bovines over 36 months of age at six-month intervals was decided; the fora at which this was discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45332/22]
View answerI am acutely aware of the financial and emotional stress caused by a TB breakdown on a farm and I am committed to driving down TB rates in the short term.
Introduction of the new TB testing requirements are as result of the EU Animal Health Law Regulations 2016\429. These regulations came into effect on 1st April 2021 and are directly applicable across all EU member states.
The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum which comprises of representatives from across the agri-food sector, leading researchers and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has agreed to the introduction of these mandatory requirements on a phased basis.
The regulations are being introduced in two phases. Phase one will begin on 1st February 2023. No date has yet been set for phase two which will see the rule applied to all animals. Phase two will only commence following engagment with farm organisations.
These new regulations require bovine animals, cows of all ages and males over the age of 36 months, moving farm to farm or through marts to have been tested for TB within a certain time frame.
The requirements of phase one are that:
1. cows of all ages and males over the age of 36 months moving farm to farm or through a mart must have been TB tested in the last 6 months, and
2. They must also be moving from a herd that has been tested in the last six months.
If the animal being moved does not meet the requirements, it must be TB tested 30 days prior to or 30 days post movement into the new herd. The animal is restricted to the herd until the test is complete and clear.
If the animal is alive and has not TB tested within the 30 days then the herd will be restricted and the animal must be tested within another 30 days. If the animal is alive and has not been TB tested within another 30 days then the herd will remain restricted and the herd will be scheduled for a full herd TB test.
These new requirements are aimed at reducing the level of transmissible disease in animals, including bovines. These requirements are applicable across all EU member states.
The responsibility to ensure that animals are tested in compliance with these requirements ultimately rests with the purchaser of the animals.
The majority of animals being moved currently satisfy these time intervals and so in such cases no additional testing will be required.
Herd owners either selling or buying animals can time their annual herd test to coincide with the sale or purchase of animals. If a herd owner wishes to re-schedule their annual herd test to an earlier date, to facilitate the sale or purchase of animals, they should contact their Regional Veterinary Office. Herd owners may test those animals that have been moved in as part of their annual herd test or as part of a Department-paid test where one is scheduled for completion, e.g., contiguous tests or post de-restriction check tests.
Discussions are currently on-going at the Financial Working Group (a TB Forum working group) about the payment for any additional testing required.
326. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); if this person is an employee of his Department, and if not, if he will outline the way in which they exited the service. [45341/22]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that as this query relates to an individual who is a former employee of the Department, it is not appropriate for me, as Minister, to comment on the situation.
327. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application (details supplied) to the reconstitution and underplanting scheme; the reason that it has not progressed in the past two seasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45344/22]
View answerA further information request issued to the forester and the applicant on 9th September in respect of this application. This request asked for a reforestation map, a harvest plan and harvest map to be submitted so that our Ecology team can assess the file.
328. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to expand broadband connection points across the country; the number of broadband connections by county to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27965/22]
View answerPublic Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) provide onsite connectivity for community use at publicly accessible premises, such as community centres and sports clubs. They are located in rural and isolated areas including on a number of off-shore islands and support remote working, digital skills training and a range of community initiatives.
In the coming months, in consultation with Public BCP stakeholders, my officials will draft a development strategy for the Public BCP Network. This strategy will set out a number of ambitions and opportunities and will guide decisions on future supports, partnerships and the scope to improve and broaden services. Among the items for consideration will be the issue of inviting additional premises, that have access to high-speed broadband, into the Public BCP network.
The current focus of the Public BCP project is to complete the rollout of the 300 sites which are already within the project plan. It is expected that all 300 Public BCPs will be completed and live in Quarter 1 of 2023. When completed, the Public BCP network will have a presence in every county in the State and in some of our most rural and isolated communities, including many off-shore islands. As the site connection rate grows, my Department will work with local authorities and the committees that manage the Public BCPs to improve services and drive demand for use of the sites.
There are a number of pilot programmes currently underway, or recently completed, that explore the potential for Public BCPs to provide additional public benefit. Among these are programmes related to remote working, arts and culture, eHealth and education and training. A number of these programmes have been provided with additional support to ensure they continue past the pilot stage, including coding for primary school children, painting classes and eHealth pods offering remote access to medical appointments.
The county breakdown of the network is as follows:
|
County |
Total |
Installed |
Planned |
|
Cork |
25 |
24 |
1 |
|
Galway |
22 |
19 |
3 |
|
Tipp |
21 |
19 |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
17 |
16 |
1 |
|
Limerick |
16 |
15 |
1 |
|
Mayo |
16 |
14 |
2 |
|
Meath |
16 |
16 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
13 |
13 |
0 |
|
Donegal |
12 |
12 |
0 |
|
Leitrim |
12 |
10 |
2 |
|
Westmeath |
8 |
7 |
1 |
|
Kerry |
10 |
10 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
10 |
10 |
0 |
|
Roscommon |
10 |
9 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
10 |
10 |
0 |
|
Longford |
9 |
9 |
0 |
|
Louth |
9 |
7 |
2 |
|
Sligo |
9 |
9 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
9 |
9 |
0 |
|
Carlow |
8 |
7 |
1 |
|
Clare |
8 |
7 |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
8 |
8 |
0 |
|
Fingal |
7 |
7 |
0 |
|
Laois |
6 |
6 |
0 |
|
Waterford |
4 |
4 |
0 |
|
Kildare |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
DLR |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
SDCC |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
Total |
300 |
282 |
18 |
329. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of persons within her Department who received the special leave with pay for Covid-19 up to 1 July 2022; the number of workers who have availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 weeks or more; the number of persons who availed of the special leave with pay for COVID-19 since 1 July 2022; the number of such persons who have been in receipt of this payment in excess of 14 days; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45324/22]
View answerCircular 02/1976 Special Leave provides that a civil servant who has been in contact with an infectious disease must absent themselves for work for as long as is advised by their doctor or the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Special Leave for Covid-19 is allowed for civil servants where there is a confirmed case of Covid-19, or a need for civil servants to self-isolate.
The information as requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below:
|
Count |
Description |
|
54 |
Number of persons who received special leave with pay up to and including 30June, 2022. |
|
0 |
Numbers of these workers who availed of this payment for an extended period of 12 or more weeks. |
|
5 |
Number of persons who availed of special leave with pay with effect from 1 July 2022 to date. |
|
0 |
Number of such persons who have been in receipt of this payment in excess of 14 days. |
330. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will meet with representatives for the island of Inis Meáin, Contae na Gaillimhe as a matter of urgency to discuss their concerns regarding the proposed development of the pier on the island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45334/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands. The Development of Caladh Mór Pier on Inis Meáin is included in the National Development Plan and Galway County Council is responsible for the development of stage 3 of this project.
Officials from my Department and Galway County Council met with the local committee on 18 February 2022 to discuss the progress to date, along with the next steps in the development plan. It was agreed at this meeting that a further meeting would be convened when the project advanced to the next stage.
As part of the preparatory works, the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) was instructed by Galway County Council to develop a model simulation for the harbour.
My Department has been advised that a demonstration of this model simulation is scheduled to take place at the NMCI this week, with the skippers of the relevant vessels in attendance to provide feedback.
I understand that Galway County Council extended an invitation to representatives from the island community to attend this demonstration.
Once the data from the simulation has been compiled, along with any feedback received from the vessel operators, Galway County Council will incorporate the findings into a draft business case. Following on from this, my Department will be in a position to evaluate the next steps in the process.
At this point my Department will, as previously agreed, arrange another meeting with the local committee and Galway County Council.
