Written Answers Nos 106-130
106. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will sanction works to alleviate silting and subsequent flooding of homes and agricultural working land at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33209/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Cashen estuary forms part of the River Feale Catchment Drainage Scheme, which was constructed by the Commissioners of Public Works under the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act. Construction commenced in 1951 with completion in 1957. An estimated 21,275 acres is deemed to have benefitted from the implementation of the scheme. OPW is statutorily obliged to maintain the scheme in proper repair and effective condition, in accordance with Section 37 of the 1945 Arterial Drainage Act.
Ballyduff is not part of the benefitting land of the above scheme and this Office is not aware of any properties flooding recently at this particular location.
I wish to advise the Deputy that earlier this year, tenders were invited for main design consultant to assess and develop a project to improve drainage outfall to the Cashen Estuary from low-lying lands protected by OPW flood defence embankments and to bring a viable scheme forward through environmental assessment, detailed design, tender and construction, subject to available funding. This Office is currently finalising the appointment of the consultant for this project.
107. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to revise the terms of employment for temporary clerical officers in the Civil Service in order to secure better pay and conditions; his plans to introduce a measure whereby clerical officers in the Civil Service who are on a temporary contract for three years or more will automatically be made permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33211/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn my role as Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I have overarching responsibility for recruitment to the Civil Service.
All such recruitment is governed by the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. Under the Act, the method of appointment to a permanent Civil and Public Service post is as a result of being successful in a competition run by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) or by another licence holder such as the head of a Department or Office. Selection processes are open to all eligible applicants who meet minimum entry criteria.
In the main, vacancies in the Civil service are filled on a permanent basis. However, temporary vacancies arise from time to time to cover such absences as maternity leave or shorter working year, and where a permanent vacancy will not exist. Temporary Clerical Officer (TCO) positions in the Civil Service are filled by an annual competition conducted by the PAS which is usually advertised in February of each year.
It is a matter for Human Resource Units in all Departments and Agencies to have procedures in place for dealing with the recruitment and employment of fixed-term employees and the management of their contracts. My Department issues Guidelines on "Best Practice for the Recruitment and Management of Fixed-term Employees in the Irish Civil Service". These are revised from time to time as required. The most recent version issued in April 2014 and took account of changes arising as result of the Single Pension Scheme and the Haddington Road Agreement. The Guidelines can be found on my Department's HR Management website http://hr.per.gov.ie/.
Temporary officers in the civil service are entitled to the same pay and pension rights and can apply for internal promotion competitions while in a temporary position if they satisfy the qualifying criteria in each case.
108. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the current time limits for hedge cutting and any changes that were made in recent times; the dates that will apply for 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33095/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August.
Following a review of Section 40, which involved, inter alia, consideration of submissions from interested parties, I announced proposals in December 2015 to introduce legislation to allow for managed hedge cutting and burning at certain times within the existing closed period on a pilot two year basis. The legislation required to allow for these pilot measures was included in the Heritage Bill 2016, which was published in January 2016 and subsequently completed Second Stage in Seanad Éireann.
It is proposed to commence Committee Stage of the Bill in Seanad Éireann on 9 November. In the meantime, the existing provisions relating to Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts are still in operation.
109. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the national Famine commemoration day will be held in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33093/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the 2016 National Famine Commemoration, led by President Michael D. Higgins, was held in Glasnevin in September. As in previous years, this was a solemn and dignified event. Also, in October, I was pleased to attend the International Famine Commemoration, which this year was held in Philadelphia.
Arrangements for the 2017 events will be considered by the National Famine Commemoration Committee, which I chair, and details of the venue and location will be announced early in the New Year.
110. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of the €3 million allocated nationally for the CLÁR programme that is designated for County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33108/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI announced the reopening of the CLÁR Programme on 6 October 2016, with funding of €3 million available for this year. The programme will provide funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.
The reopening of CLÁR is part of the Government’s programme to support rural development, which has also recently seen the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, a new phase of the REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zones) initiative, and funding for rural recreation infrastructure under the Rural Recreation Scheme.
CLÁR 2016 will see funding provided for three measures: Safety Measures for Schools and Community/Sports Facilities, Playgrounds and Multi-Use Games Areas, and Local Access Roads. Local Authorities have been invited to submit proposals for funding, with a closing date of 4 November for applications.
All funding will be dependent on Local Authorities having the capacity to implement the proposed projects immediately. Specific amounts of funding have not been assigned to either individual counties or individual measures, and Local Authorities are not limited in the number of project proposals they can submit for consideration.
Local Authorities have been notified that priority will be given to safety measures for schools and community/sports facilities, outdoor play facilities enhancements and local access roads measures in that order. In this context, Local Authorities have been asked to prioritise their proposals based on outlined need and on how the proposed project fits in with broader planning at a local level.
I have secured an allocation of €5 million for CLÁR for next year as part of Budget 2017. This funding will build on the 2016 scheme and further support the development of areas of particular disadvantage in rural Ireland.
111. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if funding will be made available for re-thatching in the Kildare area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33147/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy role, as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets.
As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant demands on public finances within the context of a recovering economy that is facing a challenging national and international environment.
My Department operates a Structures at Risk Fund to enable conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This fund is administered through the local authorities and seeks to encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and to help to secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost. The scheme for this year is now fully allocated.
I launched a new €2 million scheme - the Built Heritage Investment Scheme - for the repair and conservation of protected structures on 21 October 2015. This scheme is operating in 2016, via the local authorities, on the same model as the very successful Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which ran in 2014. It is supporting a significant number of projects across the country and creating employment in the conservation and construction industries, while helping to regenerate urban and rural areas. The scheme for this year is also fully allocated.
While no decision has been made on schemes for 2017, announcements, if any, will be made towards the end of 2016 or early in 2017 and are again likely to operate via the Local Authorities. The Conservation or Heritage Officer in the local authority will be able to advise regarding funding available for projects such as thatching, and it is advisable for interested parties to remain in contact with their local authority on an ongoing basis.
The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. It is a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports annually having regard to competing priorities for limited resources. In 2016 the Council awarded funding of over €880,000 to 171 heritage projects nationwide under its 2016 Heritage Management Grant Scheme. Further details of grant schemes available from the Heritage Council can be found at www.heritagecouncil.ie.
112. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a condition (details supplied) is not classed as a disability when trying to obtain a primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33063/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis issue is a matter for the Department of Finance. The Revenue Commissioners operate a tax relief scheme for the purchase of adapted vehicles for disabled drivers and disabled passengers, which falls under the remit of the Department of Finance. To be eligible to apply for tax relief under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme, the applicant must be in possession of a Primary Medical Certificate. To qualify for a Primary Medical Certificate, an applicant must be permanently and severely disabled within the terms of Scheme and satisfy a range of conditions. The assessment process for obtaining a Primary Medical Certificate is undertaken by Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) for the relevant local Health Service Executive (HSE) administrative area, on behalf of the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners. An unsuccessful applicant can appeal the decision to the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal, an independent body, which is under the auspices of the Minister for Finance.
The HSE SMOs have no role in setting or amending the criteria for a Primary Medical Certificate, as these are set out by the Department of Finance. Further details about the scheme may be found at www.revenue.ie.
113. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Health if he will request the HSE to expedite a case (details supplied) brought against the executive and other companies, for damages for negligence, breach of statutory duty and breach of contract, in respect of a surgical procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33064/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not appropriate for me to intervene in legal cases which are in progress before the courts. I do not have a role in the management of clinical claims.
114. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for specialised shoes in respect of a person (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33067/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
115. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of an art assist machine in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [33068/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
116. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a medical card can be reactivated while an application is processed for a person (details supplied), as a change of address resulted in their review form not having been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33074/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the legislation, determination of eligibility for a medical card is the responsibility of the HSE and, I have no role in this process, it would be inappropriate for me to interfere.
The 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 was issued to Oireachtas members.
117. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment at Galway University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33075/16]
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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
118. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be transferred to the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33076/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. 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.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
119. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment at Crumlin hospital following a referral from another hospital on the instruction of the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33077/16]
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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
120. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Health the funding allocation for sequential cochlear implants for 2017; if he will confirm that this funding will not be reduced or removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33079/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraBeaumont Hospital is the national centre for delivering Ireland's national cochlear implant programme, with surgical procedures for children under 6 carried out in Children's University Hospital, Temple Street. €3.22M was provided in the 2014 National Service Plan to provide sequential and bilateral implants, and the 2015 and 2016 National Service Plans provided for the continuation of development of the service.
The 2016 level of funding and service will continue in 2017.
121. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health his Department's plans for the provision of additional physiotherapy services at a district hospital (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33088/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
122. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will meet with Members of the Oireachtas from County Laois and Laois county councillors on 9 November 2016 to discuss the future services of the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33097/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has recently produced a draft plan which sets out a proposed service design for a new model of clinical service delivery at Portlaoise Hospital. The draft plan has been discussed with the Department and is currently the subject of further work and consideration within the HSE with a view to finalising it for submission to the Department. I will then be briefed in advance of further necessary consultations with stakeholders, including GPs, Consultants and Councillors.
Therefore, no decisions have been made in relation to Portlaoise Hospital at this stage, but once the work I have outlined is completed I would be happy to meet with the Laois Oireachtas members and members of Laois County Councillors in the context of the consultation process.
123. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health further to previous parliamentary questions if a person's appointment and hip replacement will be expedited (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33099/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
124. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33101/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for reply to the Deputy.
125. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of discussions with his counterparts in Northern Ireland on the introduction of minimum unit pricing there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33106/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMinimum Unit Pricing (MUP) is one of a package of measures to be implemented in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill. MUP sets a minimum price per gram of alcohol, where the minimum price is based on the number of grams of alcohol in the product. This is a targeted measure, aimed at those who drink in a harmful and hazardous manner, and designed to prevent the sale of alcohol at very cheap prices. MUP is able to target cheaper alcohol relative to its strength because the minimum price is determined by and is directly proportional to the amount of pure alcohol in the drink.
My Department is in contact with its counterparts in the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on the matter. MUP is one of the issues which will be discussed at the upcoming North South Ministerial Council.
126. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the old community hospital in Dingle, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33110/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
127. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the costs in maintaining and securing the old community hospital in Dingle, County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33114/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraYour question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply as the management of the healthcare property estate is a service matter.
128. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the status of the national clinical programme for rheumatology's pathway for fibromyalgia; the way this will impact on persons (details supplied) with fibromyalgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33115/16]
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.
129. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for surgery. [33121/16]
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.
130. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an operation in respect of a person (details supplied), in view of a serious decline in their condition. [33128/16]
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 scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
