Written Answers Nos. 95-104
95. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite and forward payments under the single farm scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38638/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe above named person submitted a 2015 Transfer of Allocation Right and Reference Value application to my Department. An Official from my Department wrote to person named on 21 September 2015 requesting the submission of supporting documentation required to process the application. To date this documentation remains outstanding. Upon receipt of the relevant documentation the processing of the transfer application can be finalised and payment will issue shortly thereafter.
96. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments for 2015 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal under the single payment scheme and the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38641/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes was received from the person named on 8 April 2015. Processing of the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
Processing of the Basic Payment Scheme application has recently been completed. The payment due will issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
97. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish Harness Racing Association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38643/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll requests for meetings should be addressed to my Private Secretary’s Office who will liaise directly with the individuals seeking the meeting.
98. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will accept an invitation from the French governing authority for trotting (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38644/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm I have received an invitation as outlined by you and regretfully I will not be in a position to attend due to a prior commitment. I have conveyed my best wishes to the organisers of the event.
99. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will arrange for all outstanding payments for all applicants under the basic payment scheme to be made at an early date. [38647/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments began issuing in Ireland on 16 October 2015. This is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment was set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors. Ireland is among the earliest to pay the BPS in the European Union and, to date, 105,586 farmers have received payments totalling €661.1 million.
As outstanding cases are fully processed and are cleared of any outstanding error, they will be processed for payment. My Department is prioritising the processing of all such outstanding cases with regular payment runs continuing over the coming weeks for all fully processed cases. Balancing payments are scheduled to commence from 1 December.
100. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite the remote sensing eligibility inspection and the application under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will ensure that payments are made at an early date, as the person is currently under financial pressure, with low farming income coming into the winter months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38649/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 25 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due under the Direct Payments Schemes as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
101. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payment has not issued to a person [details supplied] in County Galway under the basic payment scheme; when will it issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38654/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to records held in my Department the person named changed their herd number for the 2015 Scheme Year from single name to joint names. In order to facilitate payment under the amended herd number it is necessary for the above named to submit an application to transfer the allocation right for entitlements from the single name to the joint names. An official from my Department has been in contact with the person named and the required Transfer form has been issued to him. Once the completed form has been received and processed by my Department payment will issue shortly thereafter.
102. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the funding allocated by his Department to organisations not audited directly by the Comptroller and Auditor General; the names of these organisations; the amount of funding allocated to each over the past five years; the process in place to ensure that value for money is achieved and that the funding allocated is audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38663/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the volume of the information requested by the Deputy, it was not possible to provide it in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
103. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence to set out the risk assessments the Defence Forces took to treat known side effects of Lariam from 2001 onwards. [38501/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the choice of medication for overseas deployment, including the use of Lariam, is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces, having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces are aware of the range of reported side effects attaching to all anti-malarial medications. Significant precautions are taken by the Defence Forces Medical Officers in assessing the medical suitability of members of the Defence Forces to take any of the anti-malarial medications. It is the policy of the Defence Forces that personnel are individually screened for fitness for service overseas and medical suitability, i.e. a medical risk assessment for Lariam is carried out on an individual basis.
All personnel have access to either an Irish military Medical Officer or to the UN provided medical service (depending on the particular mission) while overseas, to whom they could report any complaints, including potential side effects of any medications. Where a Medical Officer (MO) forms the opinion that the individual has developed a sensitivity to Lariam while overseas, the individual will be advised to cease taking the medication and substitute it with a ‘second-line’ chemoprophylactic agent. The individual will be monitored thereafter. Ultimately, if serious enough, repatriation could be necessary if the MO felt that the individual was either not responding satisfactorily or where the symptoms were so severe as to require treatment not readily available in the Mission area. The individual’s file will also be noted to indicate that the individual had developed sensitivity to Lariam, so that it should not be prescribed again. If the individual’s symptoms permit completion of the tour of duty, monitoring can be arranged on return to Ireland if required. In addition, it should be noted that all Defence Forces personnel are subject to a repatriation medical examination.
In relation to the general medical health of members of the Defence Forces, there is a wide range of supports available, including access to Medical, Psychiatric and Psychological specialists. In addition, Welfare services and information are provided by the Personnel Support Services and there is also a 24 hour confidential support helpline available to all Defence Force personnel.
Anti-malarial medications, including Lariam, remains in the formulary of medications prescribed by the Medical Corps for Defence Forces personnel on appropriate overseas mission, to ensure that our military personnel can have effective protection from the very serious risks posed by Malaria.
104. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Defence the names of persons registered in County Roscommon who have been awarded under the Military Services Pension Act 1924 together with the annual pension in each case from 17 February 1949. [38507/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI regret to advise the Deputy that the information sought by him is not readily available and would require a disproportionate amount of staff time and effort to provide; however, certain information of a similar nature is available and I will arrange to have it forwarded to the Deputy.
There are no pensions awarded under the Military Service Pensions Act 1924 still in payment as the last such pensioner died in 2006.
