Written Answers Nos. 212-232
212. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health when the post of child psychologist within the primary care psychology services in the Wexford Waterford LHO will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31787/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service issue, this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
213. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of directly employed home help staff employed by the HSE in County Offaly in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31791/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the number of directly employed home help staff employed by the HSE in County Laois in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31792/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding HSE home help staff in County Laois who obtained a holiday premium based on shift work in the past two years; if this premium will be backdated to an earlier date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31805/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra216. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help staff employed by the HSE in County Laois who are required to pay a pension levy but some of the persons on whom this levy is being deducted are not in a pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31807/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 213 to 216, inclusive, together.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
217. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of general practitioner vacancies in each local health area in tabular form. [31808/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
218. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the HSE to reverse a decision (details supplied) which impacts breast cancer survivors by reducing the supports provided through post-mastectomy products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31809/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI became aware through media reports on 30 June of the HSE’s intention to introduce revised arrangements for the provision of supports to patients who are being or have been treated for cancer and other illnesses. I understand that the HSE’s objective was to develop more equitable arrangements for the provision of post-mastectomy products, wigs and hairpieces and to extend these supports to a broader cohort of patients. Neither my Department nor I were involved or consulted in the course of this process. At my request, the HSE has deferred introduction of the proposed changes. I have asked the Executive to re-examine the matter with a view to devising a plan which will achieve an equitable outcome but not lessen the level of provision for patients who are already coping with serious illness. The HSE has confirmed that the status quo will operate pending further consideration of the matter, including discussions with my Department.
219. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help staff employed by the HSE in County Laois and their entitlement to overtime payments after 39 hours of work per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31821/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter.
220. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 21 of 22 June 2017, if he will define the phrase "carbon neutral" in respect of agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31693/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra221. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 21 of 22 June 2017, if he will define the phrase "sustainable" in respect of agriculture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31694/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 21 of 22 June 2017 (details supplied), the European forms of food production against which the family farm is ranked; the position of the family farm in that ranking in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31695/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 222, inclusive, together.
The long-term ambition for the agriculture, forest and land use sector is to move towards an approach to carbon neutrality which does not compromise capacity for sustainable food production. This effectively means that we are aiming to achieve neutrality by reducing agricultural emissions, increasing carbon-sequestration, reducing emissions from the land sector and increasing fossil fuel and energy intensive materials displacement.
Article 4.1 of The Paris Agreement 2015 also introduces the concept of a ‘balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases’. However, neither process provides robust definitions of these concepts therefore, my Department together with the EPA and Teagasc will use opportunities in research to explore science based approaches to define indicators and metrics which could be used to define balance and neutrality in terms of the long term impacts on climate of contemporary emissions and removals of greenhouse gases which ensure sustainable food production is not threatened.
An action relating to this research has been included in the agriculture, forest and land use chapter in the National Mitigation Plan.
In relation to defining sustainability and the sustainability of the Irish family farm Food Wise 2025 sets out Ireland’s future agriculture growth to 2025 and beyond.
The Strategy is predicated on a “sustainable growth” scenario across all sectors including beef, dairy, sheep and pigs with a view to securing greater efficiencies with consequent reductions in emissions intensity. Sustainable intensification is defined as “..improving productivity while using natural resources in a manner which protects them into the future.”
As part of the implementation phase of Food Wise 2025, the Environmental Sustainability Committee was established to evaluate and assess the delivery of the sustainability and mitigation actions. This Committee includes representatives of key Government Departments, State agencies and academia.
As the deputy will be aware from previous replies the Department is undertaking a number of actions to translate this concept of sustainability into reality, including through the Rural Development Programme, worth almost €4 billion over 7 years.
Regarding the sustainability of the Irish family farm, I refer the deputy to the findings of the EU Joint Research Centre (JRC) report “Evaluation of the livestock sector's contribution to the EU greenhouse gas emissions (GGELS)” which states that Ireland’s food production systems provide for some of the lowest carbon footprint profiles across the EU on a per unit basis. In relation to Irish dairy production the JRC found Ireland (with Austria) had the lowest cow milk emissions (1 kg per kg of product). This compares with an EU average of 1.4kg/kg.
The Report also stated that Ireland had the lowest emissions per kg of pork (4.8 kg/kg) – EU average 7.5kg/kg and Ireland’s emissions per kg of beef were 18.4 kg/kg – EU Average 22.2kg/kg.
It also recognised with regard to dairy systems in Europe, intensive systems create less methane and nitrous oxide emissions than extensive ones, but this is countered by higher emissions from land use and land use change. Lowest emissions are created by extensive grassland systems, such as those in Ireland.
The efficiency of our temperate grassland based production system has also been recognised by the FAO.
My Department continues to actively engage in the whole of government approach on climate policy to examine the best means of encouraging sustainable intensification of Irish food production, while optimising the sectors contribution to greenhouse gas mitigation and sequestration including through afforestation and other forest sector activities.
223. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31739/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named has received the first instalment of his Organic Farming Scheme payment in respect of 2016. However, payment in respect of parcels that were originally in the Agriculture Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) could not be processed at that time. The payment due on these parcels will be included in the balancing payment due to the person named.
224. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding a review of river management at the river Slaney near Clohamon, Bunclody, Enniscorthy, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31819/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current salmon status of the river Slaney is based on the information provided by the Standing Scientific Committee on Salmon (SSCS) and the advice and proposals provided by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) to me as Minister. In contemplation of the 2017 fishing year, three scientific assessments of the salmon stock status on the river Slaney were undertaken based on recent fish counter data, rod catch data, and catchment-wide electro-fishing data. All three assessments indicate that the Slaney is not meeting conservation limits for both one sea winter or multi sea winter salmon stocks.
A further review of the salmon stocks will be undertaken prior to the 2018 fishing season.
225. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress made on the removal of grids at the tailrace situated on the River Slaney at Clohamon, Bunclody, Enniscorthy, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31820/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) that they have powers under Section 123 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959 in relation to the requirements for gratings in watercourses diverted from rivers to prevent entry therein of salmon or trout.
While the gratings in question meet the legal requirements of Section 123 of the Fisheries (Consolidation) Act 1959, IFI is aware, however, that there exist significant issues for the free passage of fish at Clohamon. IFI is particularly anxious to improve fish passage at Clohamon but many of the issues at this location are beyond the powers and remit of IFI.
IFI has worked and will continue to work with all stakeholders in an attempt to address issues at this location and is currently in contact with the operator of the site to investigate options to benefit the river and which are also satisfactory for the operator of the site.
226. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent by his Department on outside contract and or third party public relations communications for the purposes of raising awareness of the implications of changes to domestic waste collection pricing structures in the past three years to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31638/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra227. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent by his Department on internal communications campaigns for the purposes of raising awareness of the implications of changes to domestic waste collection pricing structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31639/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together.
The announcement of the phase out of 'flat rate fees' was made on 27 June. The phasing out of flat rate fees will come into effect for kerbside household waste customers when their flat rate contracts expire over the 12 month period between Autumn 2017 to Autumn 2018. It is worth noting that the measure is not ‘new’ for the more than half of kerbside household waste customers who are already on an incentivised pricing plan, i.e. a plan which contains a per lift or weight based charge element.
The review around the introduction of incentivised pricing has evolved over the last 12 months. I clearly signalled in December 2016 that a 'one size fits all' approach would not be introduced and that I was determined that the market should be allowed to continue to offer a range of options to householders. A campaign developed by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices focusing on reducing food waste generation and also encouraging the use of brown bin and focusing on food waste generation was run in March 2017, comprising radio and cinema advertisements and backed up by a social media campaign. Following last week's announcement, further campaigns will be rolled out over the second half of 2017 addressing issues such as food waste, waste prevention, explaining how per lift and weight based charging models work and increasing and improving recycling.
In terms of moneys spent to date, a grant of almost €28,000 was paid to the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices in preparation for the proposed introduction of a per kilogramme pay by weight model in 2016. An allocation of €1.6 million has been made for education and awareness in 2017, which will be used to fund the continued roll out of a comprehensive waste campaign by the Regional Waste Management Planning Offices.
228. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent by his Department on external consultancy contracts for the purposes of reviewing a company's (detail supplied) plans to roll out broadband services to 300,000 homes that were previously in the State intervention area of the national broadband plan map. [31640/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra229. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent on outside contract and or third party public relations communications on the national broadband plan in the past three years to date in 2017. [31641/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.
My Department, to date, has not incurred any expenditure on outside contracts and/or third party public relations communications in relation to National Broadband Plan.
Details of external consultants commissioned by my Department for the purposes of reviewing eir’s plans to roll out 300,000 premises are set out in the following table:
|
Consultancy Name |
Title |
Cost |
|
Analysys Mason |
Provision of Technical Advisory services |
€23,942 |
|
Pricewaterhouse Cooper |
Provision of Economic and Strategy Advisory Services |
€10, 875 |
|
KPMG |
Provision of Financial and Procurement Advisory services |
€45,360 |
230. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the process by which his Department determined that a €75 waiver would be paid to persons with long-term incontinence issues under the new domestic waste collection pricing structure; and the factors, considerations and informational sources that his Department considered in reaching this decision. [31642/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFrom analysis conducted in consultation with the HSE, it was estimated that the average weight of used incontinence wear is 650 kg per annum (0.65 tonnes) per person with medical incontinence. I have indicated the provision of a support of €75 per person per annum for persons with long term or lifelong medical incontinence availing of a kerbside household waste collection service. This amount is to cover the disposal cost of dealing with 650kg per year of waste. Officials from my Department have engaged with stakeholder groups representing those with medical incontinence and the waste industry on the issue.
231. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to make changes to the PSO levy system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31647/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra232. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has considered calculating the PSO levy on the basis of the kilowatt hours of electricity used per month rather than the maximum import capacity of each user. [31648/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together.
I currently have no plans to make changes to the PSO Levy scheme.
The Public Service Obligation (PSO) levy has been in place since 2001 and is the overall support mechanism for generation constructed for security of supply purposes, including peat generation, as well as the development of renewable electricity. It is designed to compensate electricity suppliers for the additional costs they incur by purchasing electricity generated by these producers. The Council of European Energy Regulators, in its 2017 Status Review of Renewable Support Schemes in Europe, found Ireland’s level of RES supports, although rising, continues to be one of the lowest per unit in Europe.
I am very conscious of the impacts of energy prices on industry and households alike. However, the PSO levy is vital to enable Ireland to meet its 40% target for electricity generated from renewable sources by 2020, which in turn is important for the achievement of Ireland's 16% EU 2020 target for renewable energy. The PSO levy has supported the connection of over 3,000 MW of renewable energy to the electricity grid and will continue to support further renewable energy connection so that the 40% target for renewable electricity penetration by 2020 is met.
The calculation of the level of the PSO levy is a matter for the Commission on Energy Regulation (CER). With regard to changing the current method for charging the PSO levy to a kWh rate, the EU Commission has made clear in the State Aid notifications related to the PSO for peat and renewables that it is not permissible under the Treaty of the Functioning of the European Union to impose the levy as a consumption per kWh.
