Michael Healy-Rae
Question:154. 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. [46369/22]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (154)
Written answers
I fully acknowledge the distress and inconvenience for patients and their families when elective procedures are cancelled, particularly for clinically urgent procedures. While every effort is made to avoid cancellation or postponement of planned procedures, the HSE has advised that planned procedures and operations can be postponed or cancelled for a variety of reasons including capacity issues due to increased scheduled and unscheduled care demand.
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.
Under 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.
Primary Care Centres
Questions (155)
Róisín Shortall
Question:155. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the decision-making process for the selection of areas for State-funded primary care centres; if there is still a priority list; the prioritisation system for approving private sector centres; if he will provide details of the publicly-funded centres which have been built or approved over each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46372/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (156)
Gary Gannon
Question:156. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health if he will specify all children’s disability network teams that serve the HSE CHO 9 area. [46376/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Services
Questions (157)
Gary Gannon
Question:157. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Health the current average wait times for each children’s disability network team in CHO9. [46377/22]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Renewable Energy Generation
Questions (158)
Brian Stanley
Question:158. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the development of the biomass industry here; and the involvement of his Department. [46242/22]
View answerWritten answers
Biomass covers a wide range of materials and processes including purpose grown energy crops, forest thinning, waste material and timber by-products. My Department supports the development of the biomass sector by providing a range of supports for the growing of biomass supply and wood mobilisation.
The Afforestation Scheme 2014-2020 provides financial support to encourage the planting of trees on land and in turn supports the provision of biomass for energy production. The Woodland Improvement Scheme provides financial support to forest owners to encourage the generation of woody biomass by supporting the thinning of broad-leaved forests, including supports for continuous cover forestry.
The Forest Road Scheme also provides grants to help cover the cost of building forest roads and facilitates land owners mobilising forest biomass to markets.
The current forestry programme has encouraged a significant number of land owners to plant forests and Ireland now has over 23,500 different forest owners, all of whom are now invested in the future of our forest industry. As a result of increased private forest ownership, the national forest estate is set to become an increasing source of wood over the next 20 years. The annual potential supply of wood fibre for energy in Ireland is predicted to increase from 0.89 million cubic metres in 2021 to over 2 million cubic metres between 2031 and 2035.
An estimated total of just under 35 million cubic metres of wood fibre will be available out to the year 2040. As a result, forests and forest biomass will play an increasingly important role in both adaptation and mitigation to the impacts of climate change in the years ahead. A new Forestry Programme will launch in 2023 focusing on the importance of forests for climate change, including wood biomass for energy.
My Department also provides financial assistance to the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme which is an all-island scheme established to increase consumer confidence in wood fuel products sold in Ireland. Forest owners and forestry contractors, through sustainable forest management practices, produce renewable fuels such as firewood, wood chip, wood pellets, and wood briquettes. These fuels are certified to ISO and EU standards through the scheme. As the Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme continues to grow, members will provide consumers with a greater degree of confidence in providing quality certified wood fuel products available in Ireland.
My Department ensures that harvested areas are managed sustainably, and environmental requirements apply. Harvested products such as wood fuels and solid biomass provide low cost, continuous, high temperature heat at small, medium and large scales. The production of such indigenous biomass has a crucial role to play in helping Ireland meet renewable energy targets through fossil fuel substitution to generate heat and electricity.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 acknowledges the need for the solid biomass resource capacity to double in the next decade, and the need to support the mobilisation of timber for utilisation in the processing and biomass sector. DAFM will continue to encourage policies, steps and measures to increase the use of wood and wood products in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Common Agricultural Policy
Questions (159)
Johnny Mythen
Question:159. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the commitments that he has secured or obtained in the review of the CAP regarding fishers and the fishing process industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46181/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) Regulation (Regulation EU 380/2013) provides that the European Commission will report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the CFP by the end of 2022.
In December 2021, as the first step in the consultation process, the Commission launched online questionnaires relating to the review of both the CFP and the Regulation on the Common Organisation of Markets. In April 2022, the Commission published an analysis of the results of the online surveys. Meetings of regional groups of Member States and Advisory Councils have also taken place. The Commission closed the consultation process with a stakeholder event on 10 June.
The Commission has recently indicated that its report on the functioning of the CFP will take the form of a Communication, analysing the dimensions of the CFP (including governance, conservation measures, fleet management, landing obligation, data collection, control and the external dimension of the CFP). The Commission's Communication will look at the interaction between fisheries management and the objectives of the European Green Deal. In addition, the Communication will also address the social dimension of the CFP and consider how to improve the delivery of the CFP policy objectives. The Commission has indicated that the results of its consultation process will be factored into the preparation of the Communication.
I have consistently made clear over the past year the Irish Government’s assessment that the substantial changes brought about in fisheries policy as a result of the adoption of the EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement requires that internally within the EU, a comprehensive review be carried out of the CFP that would support changes to deliver a fair and equitable policy.
Earlier this year, I established a national Common Fisheries Policy Review group of relevant stakeholders to examine the issues that arise for Ireland in the context of the CFP Review, to advise me on priorities for the negotiations and to identify strategies most likely to influence the outcome of the review. The Group was chaired by Mr. John Malone, former Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, and assisted by a steering committee comprising Mr. Micheál Ó Cinneide, former Director of the MI and EPA and Mr. Donal Maguire, former Director in BIM. The Group involved representatives of key stakeholders, including industry representative groups and the environmental NGOs.
To clarify the update I provided to the House in response to a previous question on this issue, the CFP Review Group submitted its final report to me on 5th August. The stakeholders have set out a number of recommendations on aspects of the CFP which need to be addressed in order to adapt to the monumental changes of recent years and ensure a sustainable future for the sector.
I have forwarded a copy of the report to the Fisheries Commissioner, Virginijus Sinkevicius. I have made clear that I am fully satisfied that this report demonstrates that there is need for legislative changes in the current policy to address the disproportionate impacts of the TCA and in the context of the new environmental challenges we are all facing. I have asked him to review the report's findings and recommendations and consider how these can be taken forward to support a fair and balanced CFP. I will also be bringing the report to Government for its information.
Forestry Sector
Questions (160, 161, 162)
Michael Lowry
Question:160. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 14 September 2022, in stating that removing lop and top or brash from site is not described in the standards for felling and reforestation, if harvesting lop and top and brash from forestry harvesting sites is outside of the scope of the standards for felling and reforestation of October 2019 and that the standards for felling and reforestation do not apply to such standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46215/22]
View answerMichael Lowry
Question:161. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 14 September 2022, in stating that there is no licence requirement if a landowner wishes to remove some of this material from a site, if this is an unlicensed activity and that harvesting lop and top or brash from forestry harvesting sites is outside the scope of the felling licence system and requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46216/22]
View answerMichael Lowry
Question:162. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 14 September 2022, if he will confirm the Department's standard or guideline or guidance document that forest owners should review when harvesting lop and top or brash from harvesting sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46217/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 to 162, inclusive, together.
Lop-and-top or brash are terms given to the side branches and tops of trees that are normally cut from the main stem and left on site during harvesting operations. There is no licence requirement if a landowner wishes to remove some of this material from a site.The Department's 'Standards for Felling and Reforestation' specifies the use of brash in creating and maintaining dense mats of brash and branch wood on all machine routes, to avoid soil damage, erosion and sedimentation. Brash mats are typically concentrated on primary routes and in the junction of extraction paths and landing sites.
Removing lop on top or brash from site is not described in the Standards for felling and reforestation. Like any non licensed activities it is important that it is done in such a way that it does not interfere with the licence conditions being met.
I understand lop and top or brash is sometimes removed from sites and used as a biomass for wood fuel. This should only be done on certain sites where the operation will not have any adverse effects on water quality.
Question No. 161 answered with Question No. 160.
Question No. 162 answered with Question No. 160.
Rural Schemes
Questions (163)
Cormac Devlin
Question:163. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will urgently review the provision of funding to an association (details supplied) to ensure that the services can continue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46150/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 2,000 positions in more than 430 community organisations to provide a vast range of local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP supports a range of services and activities that enhance the quality of life of older people and those most vulnerable within our communities, including the provision of transport services.
CSP funding is currently provided as a fixed annual contribution of €19,033 for each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, provides €32,000 towards the cost of employing a manager, focusing on communities where public and private sector services are lacking, either through geographical or social isolation or because demand levels are not sufficient.
Qualifying organisations must be social enterprises capable of generating income from their activities in order to meet the full salary costs of the supported posts, for example, from income received from the public use of facilities and services.
The organisation in question received a CSP contribution of €288,945 during 2021 towards staffing costs and were approved the same allocation for 2022. In addition, my Department provided the organisation with CSP Support Funding of €27,904 during 2021 and the organisation were also successful under their application for Covid Stability Funding, with the organisation receiving €57,901.
Pobal has had ongoing engagement with the organisation in recent years to support them to reach financial sustainability. However, the organisation withdrew their service recently without providing any prior notification to Pobal or to my Department.
My Department has no involvement in the internal operations of CSP supported organisations, which are solely a matter for the boards of those organisations to consider and manage, as a private company.
However, while the organisation have now withdrawn their transport services, the Department would be willing to support the continuity of service through the provision of additional wage contributions to other CSP supported organisations in the vicinity who may now be in a position to meet this need and service demand.
Domestic Violence
Questions (164)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:164. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to confirm receipt of a submission (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46065/22]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to acknowledge receipt of the Safe Ireland pre-Budget 2023 submission. It will be considered in the pre-budget negotiations.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), referenced in the submission, is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. The programme provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion at a local level through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.
Funding is not currently ring-fenced within SICAP to tackle Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, which is an issue not confined to those experiencing disadvantage.
The Department of Justice has responsibility for the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy and my Department will continue to assist where it can with the important work of this strategy into the future.
Community Development Projects
Questions (165)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:165. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will support an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46095/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Community Centres Investment Fund application closing date was Thursday 14th July 2022, and I can confirm my Department received an application from the group the Deputy refers to.
The appraisal process is currently ongoing. All applications will be subject to a competitive assessment process based on the assessment criteria as set out in the fund guidelines.
Due to the high level of applications to the fund, it is expected to be quarter 4 of 2022 when applicants are notified of the outcome of the application and appraisal process.
Local Development Companies
Questions (166)
Cathal Crowe
Question:166. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on plans to establish exclusively independent community-led Leader groups, as committed to in the Programme for Government. [46166/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to the LEADER Programme, many of which have already been implemented by my Department.
The new CAP Strategic Plan, which includes the LEADER programme, was recently approved by the EU Commission.
The details of the delivery model for the new LEADER programme are based on extensive consultation with stakeholders in relation to all aspects of the programme including the LAG structure.
The process of selecting a LEADER group for the new programme will be open, transparent and competitive. Central to the formation of the Group will be a clear partnership approach, with public and private interest groups coming together to deliver the programme.
Groups who wish to apply to implement LEADER will also be required to clearly demonstrate strategic direction and coherence with existing EU, regional and national rural development policies such as Local Economic and Community Plans, as well as demonstrating their connection to communities and the bottom up approach, and the financial capacity to deliver the programme to a high governance standard.
The open selection process for this round of LEADER does not prescribe a delivery model and it is open to any group to apply to become a LEADER group once they can satisfy the core elements of the selection process.
This overall approach has been developed to ensure both coherence with the principles of the LEADER model and conformity with the relevant EU regulations. All LAGs selected will be independent of my Department in carrying out their functions.
I expect to be in a position to announce the commencement of a two stage selection process for the new LEADER programme in the coming weeks, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with stakeholders to ensure we can build on the success of the LEADER programme over the last 30 years.