Written Answers Nos. 188-197
188. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason the Civil Public and Services Union (details supplied) continues to be recognised under the conciliations and arbitration scheme for the Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12757/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe particular organisation referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied is not registered as a political organisation on the current Register of Political Parties in Ireland. It is therefore considered that no issue arises under the Civil Service Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy in respect of the civil service trade union concerned.
189. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of freedom of information requests received by his Department that the Chief State Solicitor's office has incurred expenses on dealing with for each of the past three years and to date in 2017; and the amount of fees for counsel and other legal costs incurred respectively for each of the past three years and to date in 2017. [12780/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question, my Department has not received any Freedom of Information requests over the past three years where the Chief State Solicitor's Office have incurred any expenses.
190. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of permits in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12485/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe individuals referred to in details supplied are commercial operators who have permission to operate on the lakes on the basis of a competitive tender process. It is intended that the Department will advertise tenders for the coming season shortly.
191. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her Department conducted an environmental impact study to ensure there would be no serious impact on a range of wildlife species and habitats here, especially highly threatened nesting birds and pollinators found in hedgerows and upland, before making the proposed changes to the Heritage Bill that will allow for the burning of vegetation in March and the cutting of hedgerows in August; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12545/17]
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 is included in the Heritage Bill 2016, which was published in January 2016.
The Bill is currently at Committee Stage in Seanad Éireann. In the meantime, the existing provisions relating to Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts remain in force.
192. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of freedom of information requests received by her Department that the Chief State Solicitor's office has incurred expenses on dealing with for each of the past three years and to date in 2017; and the amount of fees for counsel and other legal costs incurred respectively, for each of the past three years and to date in 2017. [12769/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that there were no Freedom of Information requests received by my Department during the period in question in respect of which the Chief State Solicitor's Office incurred expenses. My Department has not incurred any fees for counsel or other legal costs in respect of Freedom of Information requests during the period in question.
193. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the details of the new Government policy and regulations which are provided by health insurers as an explanation of increased insurance costs for young adults between 18 to 25 years of age, despite most children of 18 years of age still being in full time education (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12531/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUp to 30 April 2015, insurers had discretion to offer discounted premium rates to full time dependent students of a policy holder up to age 23. In practice, discounts were confined to students aged 18-20 years, and a dramatic price increase of 100% or more usually arose when student rates no longer applied (usually on 21st birthday).
From 1 May 2015, 'young adult rates' based on a sliding scale of maximum chargeable rates up to age 26 applies, thereby ensuring the phasing-in of full adult rates and easing the effect of the dramatic price increase for all young people, not just student dependants of policy holders.
The table beneath shows the impact of phasing-in young adult rates at various price points.
Examples of Young Adult rates in Practice
|
Age |
% of full adult rate |
Full adult Premium €800 |
Full adult Premium €1000 |
|
Age 18 to 20 |
Up to 50% |
(not more than) €400 |
(not more than) €500 |
|
Age 21 |
51%-60% |
€408 - €480 |
€510 - €600 |
|
Age 22 |
61%-70% |
€488 - €560 |
€610 - €700 |
|
Age 23 |
71%-80% |
€568 - €640 |
€710 - €800 |
|
Age 24 |
81%-90% |
€648 - €720 |
€810 - €900 |
|
Age 25 |
91%-100% |
€728 - €800 |
€910 - €1,000 |
|
Age 26 |
100% |
€800 |
€1,000 |
Insurers retain discretion whether or not to provide young adult rates, although where an insurer chooses to provide young adult rates, they must provide the full range of rates within the specified bands. All insurers confirmed that they are offering young adult rates on the majority of their products. A sustainable community-rated market requires a constant influx of young healthy members to balance the older, sicker members. This new structure of premium rates was designed to retain young people in the market and expand the cohort eligible to avail of discounted rates. Following a decrease of 3,267 in 2014, the market has benefitted from an increase of 6,951 in 2015 and a further increase of 6,221 in 2016 in the age group 18-25.
194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which continuous checks remain in place in regard to food labelling; if particular deficiencies or breaches have been discovered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12728/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, inspections to assess compliance with food labelling are carried out as part of the routine scheduled food safety official controls carried out in food businesses. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has service contracts in place with the official agencies performing official controls, to verify compliance with the extensive requirements of food labelling legislation. The official agencies performing these controls include the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), Local Authorities, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and National Standards Authority of Ireland. Authorised officers work with food businesses to raise standards and ensure compliance with food Regulations.
During 2015, 36,353 official control inspections were carried out in HSE Environmental Health Service supervised establishments; 15,011 inspections were carried out in DAFM supervised establishments; 5,033 inspections were carried out in Local Authority supervised establishments; and 2,015 inspections were carried out in SFPA supervised establishments.
During 2015, 25,649 labelling inspections were carried out in HSE-supervised establishments. 7,587 of these resulted in labelling infringements (Beef Labelling - 2,117; Country of Origin for Beef - 751; Fish Labelling - 237; and General Labelling - 4,482).
The FSAI monitors the Irish market to ensure that foods not authorised for irradiation are not offered for sale within the EU and that those authorised for sale are labelled correctly. In 2015, no breaches were identified in this regard.
In 2015, the FSAI coordinated the sampling and analysis of 48 food samples (maize, soya and rice) by the HSE's Environmental Health Service and the Public Analyst Laboratories respectively, for the authorised presence and appropriate labelling of genetically modified food ingredients. Four of the samples analysed (two containing maize and two containing soybean) were found to contain authorised GM ingredients at below the labelling threshold.
In other official agencies' inspections, food labels are checked at production and processor level as part of routine food controls.
The DAFM Egg and Poultry Inspectorate is responsible for controls in barn egg producers, free range producers and egg packing centres. This inspectorate is also responsible for verification of compliance with the marketing standards for eggs and poultry from primary production through to retail. DAFM, through its Animal Feed Division, is responsible for the enforcement of legislation in relation to eggs and poultrymeat marketing. Checks are carried out at primary production, retail and processor level to ensure compliance.
The FSAI advice line responds to consumer and industry concerns on food issues, including labelling. Labelling complaints amounted to 192 in 2015 and 221 in 2016. One of the most common queries in 2016 was in respect of legislation on food labelling requirements. A large proportion of the calls to the Advice Line in 2015 (1,900) sought advice on food labelling. The FSAI has also produced several guidance notes to inform the food industry of the legislation on food labelling and to assist them in meeting their legal obligations.
195. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of home help hours that were provided by the HSE in 2016 in the Dublin west HSE region; the number of home help hours it is intended to provide in this region in 2017; the budget spent on the provision of these hours in 2016 and the budget provided for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12445/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
196. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a date for a cataracts operation will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12449/17]
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.
197. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health his plans to put funding in place to provide additional residential places for persons living with a disability and over 18 years of age, in view of the number of persons awaiting such placement. [12454/17]
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 issues, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
