Thursday, 27 Sep 2012

Written Answers Nos. 166-172

Defence Forces Personnel

Ceisteanna (166)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

166. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No 180 of 20 September 2012, if a there is also such facilities available to a retired member of the Defence Forces [41052/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

The position as set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 180 of 20 September 2012 applies to serving Defence Forces personnel only. There are no similar provisions in respect of retired personnel.

Defence Forces Strength

Ceisteanna (167)

Thomas P. Broughan

Ceist:

167. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence the number of vacancies currently in the Defence Forces Medical Corps; if these vacancies will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41061/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Defence

Based on the medical requirement across the Defence Forces as a whole, there is a current requirement for approximately 32 doctors within the Defence Forces Medical Corps. There are currently 17 doctors serving in the Permanent Defence Force and the table below shows the locations where these doctors are currently posted.

Number	Location
Director/Deputy Director, Medical Corps	2
St. Bricin’s Hospital	3
Eastern Brigade *	1
Southern Brigade *	2
Western Brigade *	3
Defence Forces Training Centre	1
Naval Service	1
Overseas/Preparing for overseas	3
Leave of Absence	1
TOTAL	17

*The re-organisation of the Defence Forces into a 2 Brigade structure is currently being implemented.

A competition for the appointment of doctors to the Medical Corps remains open and further applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Unfortunately there has been and remains a limited response to this competition and therefore, it is accepted that it will take some time before the current target of 32 doctors in the Defence Forces can be achieved, if indeed it proves possible to reach this figure.

Against this background, it has been necessary to identify alternative options for the provision of medical services to the Defence Forces, including the consideration of the outsourcing of some or all Defence Forces domestic medical services. In this regard an integrated model for the provision of the required medical services, involving both the Medical Corps and outsourced service provision is being progressed. A Request for Information (RFI) from prospective providers was issued in June to assist in evaluating options. A total of 15 proposals were received and these are currently being evaluated.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals

Ceisteanna (168)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

168. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on an appeal for disadvantaged area scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41066/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number, whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011 and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. This application is currently under consideration and, immediately a decision is reached, the person will be notified in writing. However, should the decision be negative, a fully independent appeals procedure is available.

On a more general level, I can also confirm that payments under the 2012 Scheme began issuing yesterday, directly to the nominated bank accounts of Scheme applicants, whose applications have been determined at that stage. These payments include derogation cases where the applications have successfully met terms of the scheme and are fully processed for payment.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (169, 170)

Jack Wall

Ceist:

169. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if a company (details supplied) in County Wicklow is entitled to a payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41073/12]

Jack Wall

Ceist:

170. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if a company (details supplied) in County Waterford has received payments under the compensation scheme; if such payments included payments for subsidiary companies; if so, the names of such companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41086/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together.

The company referred to by the Deputy was not an applicant under the Pigmeat Recall Scheme but rather is a company trading in meat products. Any question of liability in respect of pigmeat products purchased by it is a matter to be resolved between International Food Services Ltd and its suppliers.

The Pigmeat Recall Scheme was introduced for the purpose of providing ex-gratia financial assistance to primary and secondary pigmeat processors affected by the 2008 dioxin contamination incident. It allowed such processors claim for financial assistance in respect of certain losses incurred as a result of the product recall. The purpose of the scheme was to ensure the survival of the pigmeat industry but it was not intended to compensate for all losses incurred. Payments under the scheme were subject to State aid rules and the provision of adequate supporting documentation. The scheme is now concluded and no further payments are anticipated.

Forestry Grants

Ceisteanna (171)

John O'Mahony

Ceist:

171. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their forestry grant payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41087/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Following reconstitution of a failed area of forestry plantation, the file has been forwarded to the Forest Service District Inspector for a site inspection which will take place in the near future. Subject to the site passing the inspection, the 2nd instalment of the forestry grant will be processed for payment and forestry premium payments will consequently resume. If the site fails the inspection further remedial works may be required by the applicant.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (172)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the way his counterparts in other countries in Europe deal with persons who have dyslexia (details supplied); if they provide particular assistance for example in Northern Ireland, England, Germany, Spain and France; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41166/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I cannot comment on the arrangements in place by Government agencies in other jurisdictions to assist farmers with dyslexia. My Department however, has responded to the concerns and specific requests made by farmers with dyslexia by putting in place the changes and improvements requested to assist them with the applications process under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme. Dedicated phone lines are published to provide assistance and advice on all Department schemes and services and the Department website has the “BrowseAloud” facility. Access Officers and an Inquiry Officer are also available to provide assistance to all customers with disabilities, as required by Section 26(2) of the Disability Act 2005.

This is an ongoing process and Department officials will ensure that future publications and information documents comply, as far as practicable, with the guidelines of the Dyslexia Association of Ireland to make information accessible for people with dyslexia.