Arthur Spring
Ceist:206. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50744/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Consultations
Ceisteanna (206)
Freagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
Since January 2012, my Department has invited submissions from interested parties in respect of the following:
1. Review into certain aspects of the Irish Horse Industry
2. Food Harvest 2020 – Environmental Analysis process
3. Fishery Harbour Centres (Rates and Charges) Order 2012 S.I. No 214 of 2012 public consultation
4. Draft Deer Management Policy Vision – 2nd round of consultations
5. North Harbour, Cape Clear Island, Co Cork – Construction of Bull’s Nose and Storm Gate
6. Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre, Co Waterford – Construction of new steps and a ramp for disability access to the top of the wave wall, safety railings along the top of the wave wall and works to the lighthouse concourse area including walkway, viewing platform and safety railing
7. Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre, Co Cork – Construct a new pontoon and gangway at Dinish Island, Castletownbere, Co Cork
8. An Daingean Fishery Harbour Centre, Co Kerry – Erect perimeter fencing to a net storage area at Dingle, An Daingean Fishery Harbour Centre, Co Kerry
9. Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre, Co Cork – Construct a new road, car parking, access to pier, footpaths, public lighting and associated drainage works at Dinish Island, Castletownbere, Co Cork
10. Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour, Co Cork – foreshore lease application
11. 74 individual public consultations in accordance with the regulations governing aquaculture and processing
12. Nearly 2,500 public consultations in respect of forestry planting.
Commonage Division
Ceisteanna (207)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:207. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with reference to implementation of the Commonage Framework Plans, the way his Department intends to overcome absenteeism and dormancy in securing total agreement between commonage stakeholders; the way stocking requirements will be fulfilled on commonage areas where there is high absenteeism or dormancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50768/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
The Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels.
My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.
Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (208)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:208. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in REP scheme 4 has been told that the Department has been instructed to hold back payment to persons that joined in 2007; if this is true, the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50784/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
The person named commenced REPS 4 in December 2007 and has received payments for the first four years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. This administrative checks are well advanced for the 2012 REPS 4 scheme year and my Department is processing claims including those cases where there are penalty adjustments or outstanding queries. My aim is to finalise the process as quickly as possible and to commence payments in the near future. In the event that any issues arise on the file of the person named, officials in my Department will be in direct contact with the person named.
Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (209)
Heather Humphreys
Ceist:209. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive their disadvantaged area payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50789/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
The person named applied for derogation under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, processing of which has recently been completed. Payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account.
Commonage Division
Ceisteanna (210)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:210. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with reference to implementation of the commonage framework plans, the role that he will play in securing collective agreement regarding document and fencing issues, including in commonage areas where there are instances of dormancy and absenteeism. [50793/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
The Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels.
My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.
Departmental Contracts
Ceisteanna (211)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:211. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the name of the company that delivered the Government Referendum leaflet to each home here. [50791/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
An Post were awarded the contract to deliver the Department's Children's Referendum information booklet to all addresses throughout the State.
Children in Care
Ceisteanna (212)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:212. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children in foster care on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50704/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
I have been advised by the HSE that there were a total of 5,739 children in Foster Care at end of August 2012. Of these 3,936 were in general foster care and 1,803 were in relative foster care. The following is a breakdown of this information by HSE area:
|
HSE Dublin Mid Leinster |
Foster Care total care placements |
|
Dún Laoghaire |
103 |
|
Dublin South East |
79 |
|
Wicklow |
111 |
|
Dublin South City |
147 |
|
Dublin South West |
206 |
|
Dublin West |
188 |
|
Kildare/Wicklow |
180 |
|
Laois/Offaly |
203 |
|
Longford/Westmeath |
118 |
|
Total |
1335 |
|
HSE Dublin North East |
Foster Care total care placements |
|
Louth |
192 |
|
Cavan/ Monaghan |
168 |
|
Meath |
130 |
|
Dublin North West |
378 |
|
Dublin Nth Central |
314 |
|
Dublin North |
149 |
|
Total |
1331 |
|
HSE South |
Foster Care total care placements |
|
North Lee |
473 |
|
South Lee |
212 |
|
North Cork |
111 |
|
West Cork |
58 |
|
Kerry |
140 |
|
South Tipperary |
154 |
|
Carlow/Kilkenny |
182 |
|
Waterford |
255 |
|
Wexford |
198 |
|
Total |
1783 |
|
HSE West |
Foster Care total care placements |
|
Limerick |
274 |
|
Clare |
155 |
|
Tipperary North |
124 |
|
Galway |
261 |
|
Mayo |
126 |
|
Roscommon |
134 |
|
Donegal |
156 |
|
Sligo/Leitrim |
60 |
|
Total |
1290 |
Health Services Staff Numbers
Ceisteanna (213)
Joe McHugh
Ceist:213. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of social workers per head of population on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50705/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
My Department has sought the information requested by the Deputy from the HSE. I will provide the Deputy with the information when it becomes available.
Departmental Consultations
Ceisteanna (214)
Arthur Spring
Ceist:214. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of all public consultations her Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50746/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
My Department has carried out two Public Consultations since the start of 2012.
1) A public consultation on "Improving the lives of children and young people".
2) A public consultation on "National Children Detention Facilities".
Health Insurance Prices
Ceisteanna (215)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:215. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which his Department continues to monitor activity in the health insurance area with particular reference to the need to retain lower premium payments in the current economic climate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50806/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
The main legislative provisions for the regulation of the Irish private health insurance market are included in the Health Insurance Acts 1994 to 2011 and Regulations made under those Acts. Under this legislation, my Department fulfils an important ongoing role in the private health insurance market, by ensuring that the market is regulated appropriately and that access to health insurance cover is available to consumers of health services with no differentiation made between them.
The maintenance of a healthy and functioning private health insurance market by my Department is essential to facilitate the transition to a market-based Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system. In addition, there are a number of important stepping stones to achieving the Programme for Government commitment of UHI, one of which is the introduction of a robust risk equalisation scheme for the private health insurance market.
The introduction of a permanent scheme of risk equalisation is a key requirement for the existing private health insurance market and is designed to keep health insurance affordable for older persons and to maintain the stability of the market. I was pleased, therefore, to recently publish the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2012 on 18 October, to give effect to a new Risk Equalisation Scheme (RES) to be applied from 1 January 2013. Second Stage of this Bill is currently underway in the Dáil and is expected to conclude today, 15th November. An effective and robust RES is required in the Irish private health insurance market in order to protect affordability for those who need it most.
There can be little doubt that price increases will make it more difficult for persons who hold private health insurance to renew their policies. I have consistently raised the issue of costs with health insurers and am determined to address costs in the sector in the interests of consumers. I will continue to focus strongly on this issue.
I am keen to explore all available measures to limit the costs related to health insurance. In February of this year I established the Health Insurance Consultative Forum which comprises representatives from the country's main health insurance companies, the Health Insurance Authority (HIA) and the Department of Health. This Forum has been established with a view to generating ideas which would help address health insurance costs. Its core focus is on identifying ways of addressing costs throughout the industry, whilst always respecting the requirements of competition law. Bilateral meetings have taken place with each insurer where they have brought forward their own ideas for cost savings in the market. The Forum will also give a voice to the insurers in the development of the new Universal Health Insurance model. I have also made it clear to the health insurers that I believe that significant savings can still be made, the effect of which can be to minimise the need for increases in premiums.
In this regard, VHI has commissioned consultants to carry out an external review of their claims. The review is nearing completion and will look at the opportunities and costs involved in possible reductions in utilisation that can be achieved by implementing appropriate utilisation management approaches.
I would also strongly advise consumers to shop around for the health insurance plan that best suits their needs. Consumers have a legal right to switch between or within insurers to get better value and to reduce their premium costs. The HIA provides information to consumers regarding their rights and also on health insurance plans and benefits. The HIA's website www.hia.ie has a useful plan comparison tool which assists in finding suitable and competitive health insurance plans.
Departmental Strategies
Ceisteanna (216)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:216. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the progress made to date in developing a sexual health strategy; the target date for the finalisation and publication of this strategy; and if it will be completed by the end of this year as promised. [50580/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí ó Béal (1 píosaí cainte)
My Department commenced the development of a National Sexual Health Strategy earlier this year. This initiative is intended to formulate a strategic plan for the delivery of services in this area. This plan will focus on improving sexual health and wellbeing and address the surveillance, testing, treatment and prevention of HIV and STIs, crisis pregnancy, and sexual health education and promotion. The Strategy will be in line with the forthcoming Public Health Policy Framework.
A high level steering group has been established to lead the development of the Strategy. The steering group will oversee the drafting of the National Sexual Health Strategy, which will take the form of a high level strategic action plan. The steering group, supported by a number of working groups set up to address different areas, is making good progress and I expect the final draft strategy to be submitted by the end of the year or early in 2013 for my consideration.