Written Answers Nos. 234-245
234. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the conclusions of the final Agriculture and Fisheries Council during the Irish EU Presidency that took place in Luxembourg; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31313/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe last Agriculture Council of the Irish Presidency focused almost entirely on achieving political agreement across the three EU Institutions on the CAP Reform negotiations. I am very pleased to say that on the basis of compromise texts put forward and negotiated by the Irish Presidency team, I succeeded in achieving an adjusted negotiating mandate from my Ministerial colleagues across all the Member States that allowed me to take forward these negotiations to the final phase. The Deputy will be aware that, on the basis of this mandate, we achieved political agreement in the CAP Reform negotiations with the European Parliament and the Commission in Brussels yesterday.
The deal represents a package of measures that will set the framework for the development of the EU agri-food sector up to 2020. In terms of the detail of the agreement, I believe this is a well balanced package and is a very good outcome for Irish farmers. In relation to our key area of concern, the distribution of direct payments, Member States will have the option to apply the partial convergence model put forward by Ireland. As part of this model, farmers will receive a minimum payment of 60% of the national or regional average payment per hectare by 2019. Member States will also have the option to set a maximum payment level and to limit the redistribution effect on individual farmers to 30% of their overall payment. This agreement will limit the level of distribution that would have occurred under the Commission’s original proposals to about one third. In addition, the greening payment will be paid as a percentage of each farmer’s individual payment.
Now that we know the full outcome of the negotiations, the next step in the process is to determine the best options in terms of implementation from an Irish perspective. I intend to engage in extensive consultation with all stakeholders before I make any decisions as to the shape of future Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 measures.
235. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on trial planting of genetically modified potatoes by Teagasc (details supplied) in County Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31338/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraTeagasc operates as a separate non-commercial semi state body under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with their own management structure and governing Authority. The Act establishing Teagasc confers on it principal functions in relation to the provision of education, advisory and research services to the agriculture sector. It is a matter for Teagasc to prioritise activities in the delivery of these services and to allocate its resources in accordance with these priorities. Ministerial responsibility is confined to matters of policy in accordance with the Act and I have no function with regard to the day-to-day operations of Teagasc.
Accordingly, my Department’s sole responsibility with regard to the cultivation of GM crops is in relation to coexistence measures in the event that commercial GM crops are grown alongside conventional crops. With regard to the Teagasc field trials on a genetically modified potato, these trials do not constitute cultivation of a commercial crop. Responsibility for issues relating to the cultivation of genetically modified crops, including GM trials in Ireland, rests with my colleague, Mr. Phil Hogan TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
236. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an agri-environment scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31387/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme from the person named was received in my Department on 28th November 2012.
The process of ranking and selecting all AEOS applicants was clearly set out in the scheme documentation. Acceptance into the scheme was established using the pre-determined selection criteria as follows:
1. farmers in the Boora region of Co. Offaly who chose Wild Bird Cover Option B (Grey Partridge) as one of their selected options,
2. farmers with a minimum of 0.5 hectares of designated land,
3. farm partnerships,
4. farmers who previously participated in REPS commencing with smallest farms. and
5. others based on farm size (again favouring smaller holdings).
The person named was a previous participant in REPS. Based on the funding available farmers in category 4 with 22.06 hectares of utilisable agricultural area and below were successful. As the farm size of the person named is 25.92, the application was unsuccessful. On 27th May 2013, a letter issued to the person named informing him that he was not successful and setting out the reasons. The person was also informed of right of appeal to AEOS Section. An appeal was received from the person named and it is currently being considered. The person named will be notified in writing of the outcome of this appeal once a decision has been made.
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding supports that are available for a project (details supplied) in County Kildare, a project traditionally funded to provide two dedicated professional youth workers to support the needs of young persons who are at risk; if the group will be considered in view of forthcoming considerations in respect of the upcoming budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31370/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2013, my Department will provide some €53.498m to support the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. This funding will support youth work programmes and services serving some 400,000 young people, delivered by over 1,400 youth work personnel, who in turn support a large volunteer base of some 40,000
The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department funds the project referred to by the Deputy under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme and the allocation provided by my Department in 2013 is €89,625.
Having regard to the savings requirements identified in the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure which amount to €5.393m in 2013, and will amount to €2.976m in 2014, my Department has tried to ensure that in the determination process for the allocations the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people, are protected as far as is possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.
There is no doubt that the current budgetary situation is challenging for many organisations. In considering how best to manage within the allocations available organisations are being asked to consider the scope for reducing administration costs and other overheads and to work closely with their local VEC that administers the funding on behalf of my Department, in order to maintain the front line services for young people particularly for those young people who may be disadvantaged.
With respect to future funding provision, a Comprehensive Value for Money Review of youth funding has been commenced and this report is expected later this year.
My Department is developing a new youth policy framework for publication later this year. The new youth policy framework will aim to enhance the provision of youth services and activities and it will, inter alia, promote co-ordination between government departments and youth sector organisations with a view to maximising the effectiveness of the State funding available to support services for young people in future years.
238. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made to date on ensuring all inspection reports of child care facilities will be uploaded online and available for all parents to examine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31198/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing on the commitment I made within the last 2 weeks, the HSE Pre-School Inspectorate is working with Pobal to put inspection reports on line. In the first instance the reports will be available from the Pobal website via a direct link on the HSE website. From 1 July current reports will start to be uploaded once completed and at the same time, work is ongoing with the aim of having reports on all services online by the end of the year. My Department is supporting the HSE and Pobal in this work.
239. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff in her Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number who will do so in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31201/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Civil Service Circular 14/2009 – Shorter Working Year, sixteen members of staff availed of term time averaging 6 weeks in 2012. Twenty seven members of staff have applied for the shorter working year to date during 2013 averaging at 6.5 weeks.
240. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of her Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number who will do so in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31217/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not generally hold information relating to individual employees of the various agencies operating under the Department's remit and, accordingly, the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials of my Department have requested that the specific information requested be supplied directly to you by the agencies involved.
241. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff in her Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number who will do so in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31233/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe granting of study leave in the Civil Service is governed under Circular 23/2007, which sets out the arrangements to facilitate the development of appropriate skill and expertise levels in Departments' and in supporting officers' efforts in the area of self-development and life-long learning. Consistent with Civil Service strategic management objectives, the approach of the circular is to maximise the discretion available to Departments in addressing post-entry education matters in ways that are most relevant to their own areas of responsibility and this includes provision for paid and unpaid study leave. During 2012, three people availed of paid study leave totalling 7.5 days. Due to timing of the academic year it is difficult to accurately estimate the numbers availing of paid study leave during 2013 at this stage.
My Department is committed to providing staff with training and development opportunities to ensure they have the skills necessary to deliver strategic objectives and this involves the use of a variety of training approaches, both formal and informal (e.g. coaching; on-the job training) and formal training sessions (e.g. IT skills). This would also include attendance at conferences, information sessions etc. The nature of this training does not lend itself to easy recording of time spent on it and as it is not considered as 'leave' my Department does not centrally record all of it. As a result, the information requested by the Deputy in relation to training leave is not available.
242. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of her Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number who will do so in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31249/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not generally hold information relating to individual employees of the various agencies operating under the Department's remit and, accordingly, the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials of my Department have requested that the specific information requested be supplied directly to you by the agencies involved.
243. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position in relation to the establishment of a bilateral agreement between Ireland and Russia for the purpose of inter-country adoption; if she intends to seek a date for continuation of further talks with the Russian authorities for this purpose; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31278/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn March of this year, I travelled to Moscow, accompanied by Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Chair of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, in order to discuss at a diplomatic level issues in relation to the potential for a bilateral agreement with Russia. During my visit I met with my counter part, Minister Dmitry Livanov, Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation. This meeting was productive and allowed for an exchange of views on the possibility of Ireland entering into a bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption with Russia. The Russian authorities acknowledged the satisfactory outcomes for Russian children adopted in Ireland and expressed a willingness to conclude an agreement with Ireland which will be subject to the approval of the Russian parliament. I stated that many Irish families were hopeful of completing future adoptions of Russian children.
During these meetings I reiterated to the Russian authorities that the Irish Constitution protects the integrity of family life and that once adopted in Ireland the child is treated in the same way as other Irish children. This means that the ability of the State to intervene in a family, when a child’s welfare and protection is not compromised, is limited. I highlighted the implications of this Constitutional imperative in instances where families, who had given commitments to the Russian authorities in regard to the provision of post placement reports, fail to adhere to those commitments. In these instances the State has no legislative power to enforce compliance with the commitments given by Irish families, legal or otherwise, to provide post placement reports.
However, in saying this, I emphasised the high standards of child protection that exist in Ireland for all children and the legislative basis under which these standards are enforced. I emphasised the commitment of the State to intervene in instances where the safety or welfare of any child, adopted or otherwise, is in anyway compromised. I outlined the total commitment of the Irish Government to the child protection and welfare.
My Department has undertaken an examination of the draft bilateral agreement on intercountry adoption proposed by the Russian Federation. In order to progress the development of a bilateral agreement the Department has focused on this issue of post placement reporting in relation to Russian children adopted in Ireland, which the Russian authorities have indicated is a necessary component of any bilateral agreement. To this end a draft wording of the sections of the bilateral agreement that relate to post placement reporting is being developed. My officials are in active discussions with officials in the Office of the Attorney General and in the Department of Foreign Affairs on advancing a draft agreement for consideration by the Russian authorities.
I have invited the Russian authorities to visit Ireland in September in order to finalise consideration of this aspect of the draft bilateral agreement.
244. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [31177/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
245. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if a special surgical bed will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31179/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
