Written Answers Nos. 152-157
152. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will amend the conservation designation with respect to the River Blackwater special area of conservation in County Cork following her studies on the prevalence of the freshwater pearl mussel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16256/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe River Blackwater Special Area of Conservation (SAC) includes the main river channel and many tributaries from the headwaters to the sea. The SAC has many habitats and species which are qualifying interests in the Annexes to the Habitats Directive. The full list of qualifying interests is available at http://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/sac/002170.
One of the species originally included as a qualifying interest is the freshwater pearl mussel, which occurs in relatively small numbers at a number of locations along much of the length of the river.
My Department prepared a Strategy for Conservation of the Freshwater Pearl Mussel in Ireland in 2011, with the objective of ensuring the long-term survival of the species in Ireland, while maintaining its broad geographic range. The strategy sets out a prioritised approach to the implementation of measures necessary to conserve the species. The strategy seeks to ensure that the most important pearl mussel populations in Ireland, and indeed in the EU, will return to favourable conservation status in the short to medium term.
In developing the strategy it was noted that measures, irrespective of cost, would be likely to be ineffective in the River Blackwater, owing to the very large catchment and the intensity of pressures therein. For that reason my Department is currently working to amend the conservation objectives for the Blackwater SAC, so that there would no longer be the objective of maintaining or restoring mussel populations in the main channel of the river. However the conservation objectives for protecting the mussel will continue to apply in the Lickey and Allow tributaries of the Blackwater, which are included in the SAC.
It is also intended to amend the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Freshwater Pearl Mussel) Regulations 2009. (S.I. 296 of 2009) to give further effect to the alteration of the conservation objectives for the River Blackwater SAC.
These changes do not alter the boundaries of the River Blackwater SAC, and do not affect the protection afforded to the other qualifying interests therein.
153. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of persons who wish to register land in their own names (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16293/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe individuals referred to in the Deputy’s Question have applied to sell their interest in land, within a raised bog special area of conservation, under the voluntary bog purchase scheme administered by my Department.
Officials from my Department have recently been in contact with their solicitor in relation to this matter.
154. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will permit turf cutters to cut turf on a bog (details supplied) following the redesignation of 46 natural and heritage areas in the first 100 days in Government, as per the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16324/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area (NHA) Network, published in January 2014, has concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. This will entail the phasing out of turf cutting on certain natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017 and the partial or complete de-designation of certain natural heritage areas.
The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to publish new legislation to de-designate the natural heritage areas in question within the first 100 days of Government.
The site referred to in the Deputy’s Question is a raised bog special area of conservation. It is not a natural heritage area which is scheduled for de-designation. Therefore, the restrictions on turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation, including on the site referred to in the Deputy’s Question, will not be affected by the proposed de-designation of certain natural heritage areas.
155. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a direct payment system and personalised budgets for persons with disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16275/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe establishment of a Task Force on Personalised Budgets is a key element in the Programme for Government’s commitment to give people with disabilities more control in accessing services, greater independence and choice. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
While the concept of personalised budgets is not limited to health and personal social services, my initial view is that the Task Force should concentrate on personalised budgets for services for people with disabilities funded by the HSE in the first instance. Some work has already commenced on scoping how to introduce individualised budgets in health-funded disability services as part of the reform programme Transforming Lives.
The Government is keen to set up the Task Force as soon as possible and as first step will identify a suitable person to act as Chair and drive the project forward. The next actions will be to address the detailed arrangements including:
- Membership of the Task Force and Secretariat;
- Define the scope of the project/Terms of reference; and
- Develop a project plan and associated timelines.
156. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if he will reassess the assessment of a person (details supplied) under the nursing homes support scheme if the person's situation changes. [16372/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
157. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when he will schedule an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16093/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
