Written Answers Nos. 220-244
220. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if the HSE will re-examine the decision by the committee for physical and sensory disability to reduce the hours of a personal assistant for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45241/17]
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 an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
221. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Health the detail of the claim for medical expenses incurred by a person (details supplied); the person or body the HSE has been corresponding with in the Bulgarian health authorities on this matter; the action he will take to rectify this matter; if he will raise this case with the Bulgarian health authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45246/17]
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 HSE is the competent national authority in this case. The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45281/17]
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 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.
223. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 457 of 10 October 2017, the position regarding cancelled surgery for persons resulting from repairs being carried out at Merlin Park Hospital, Galway; the location to which staff are being deployed; the location to which the ten orthopaedic consultants are being deployed; and the timeframe, locations and waiting lists for priority surgery. [45295/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
224. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if a report (details supplied) has been completed; if he has received it; when it will be made available to the complainant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45316/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the HSE has responsibility for this matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue.
225. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to new 2012 procedures for the awarding of the renewal and awarding of medical cards (details supplied) and the impact of these in respect of payments to general practitioners; and the steps he is taking to address this matter. [45317/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Service is responsible for reimbursing GPs for a range of services they provide to medical card and GP visit card holders. I have therefore arranged for this question to be referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
226. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when ANC, GLAS and headage payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45130/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2017 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes application on 24 March 2017. 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 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
A GLAS 3 application in respect of the person named was submitted on December 13th 2016. The person named was approved into the Scheme with a contract commencement date of 1st January 2017. The payment of 2017 advances for all GLAS participants is expected to commence next month.
227. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the programme for Government commitment to support the creation of a further 23,000 jobs in the agrifood sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45133/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra232. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the programme for Government commitment to increase the value of exports by 85% to €19 billion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45224/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 232 together.
The agri-food commitments in the Programme for a Partnership Government align closely with Food Wise 2025, the ten year strategy for the agri-food sector, published in 2015. Food Wise 2025 identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectorial recommendations.
If these recommendations are implemented, the expert committee which drew up Food Wise 2025 believed that the following growth projections are achievable by 2025: increasing the value of agri-food exports by 85% to €19 billion; increasing value added in the sector by 70% to in excess of €13 billion; and increasing the value of primary production by 65% to almost €10 billion. With regard to employment, Food Wise foresees the creation of 23,000 additional direct and indirect jobs in the agri-food sector. Realising these growth projections will be challenging, but I am confident that they can be achieved.
In July this year, I launched the second annual progress report of Food Wise 2025: Steps to Success 2017. Food Wise Steps to Success showed that, of the 368 detailed actions which were due to commence by 2017 or are on-going actions, 46% have been achieved or substantial action has been undertaken, and a further 49% have commenced and are progressing well. This shows good progress but I will press on in getting as many actions as possible complete within the next year.
228. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding spent under the rural development programme 2014 to 2020, in tabular form; the underspend to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45134/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table shows expenditure on 2014-2020 RDP in the years 2014, 2015 and 2016
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
|
Expenditure |
Expenditure |
Expenditure |
|
|
Vote Total |
Vote Total |
Vote Total |
|
|
Gross voted allocation after supplementary estimates |
430,635,000 |
430,994,000 |
513,015,800 |
|
Total Expenditure |
396,870,447 |
367,654,660 |
422,944,328 |
|
Amount of allocation not spent in year |
33,764,533 |
63,339,340 |
90,071,472 |
The table shows the total voted allocation for schemes which are part of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. EU support for the RDP via the EAFRD amounts to an aggregate sum of €2.19 billion over the 7 year programme lifespan. This EU funding is supplemented by exchequer funding bringing the total allocation to some €4 billion. While expenditure for some demand-led schemes did not occur as originally programmed, much of this expenditure will arise at a later stage of implementation of these schemes. As is often the case with multi-annual programmes, drawdown can vary from year to year and expenditure is simply a matter of timing. The full level of funding is expected to be achieved.
With regard to 2017, the total voted allocation of RDP schemes is €605m. The majority of expenditure for nearly all RDP schemes takes place during the final quarter of the year and very substantial further expenditure will take place over the coming months particularly in GLAS, BDGP, Knowledge Transfer and TAMS. The final outturn for 2017 will be known at that point.
229. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if unspent funding under the rural development programme 2014 to 2020 can be allocated to the young farmers scheme and national reserve 2017 and 2018 in view of the fact that there has been an 80% decrease in support for farmers under these schemes since 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45135/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraArticle 14 of EU Regulation No 1307/2013 (Direct Payments Regulation) and Article 58 of EU Regulation No 1305/2013 (Rural Development Regulation) allow Member States to transfer up to 15% of Pillar 1 funds to Pillar 2 and vice versa on an annual basis. Member States with direct payments per hectare less than 90% of the EU average may transfer up to 25% from Pillar 2 to Pillar 1 on an annual basis. If any transfers were to be made between Pillar 1 and Pillar 2, the deadlines to notify the Commission were 1 August 2014 for calendar years 2015-2019 and 1 August 2017 for any revised transfers from calendar year 2018. Ireland did not avail of this provision as there were no funds available under the Rural Development Programme to transfer to Pillar 1. There will be no underspend under the RDP and the €4 billion of EU/exchequer funds provided for will be spent over the lifetime of the programme.
As regards the National Reserve, and in accordance with EU Regulations, Member States were obliged to apply a linear percentage cut to the Basic Payment Scheme financial ceiling in order to establish a National Reserve in the first year of implementation of the Basic Payment Scheme. Therefore in 2015 Ireland applied the maximum available linear cut of 3% in order to provide funding of some €24 million under the National Reserve. There was no National Reserve in 2016 as all available funding of €24 million had been utilised under the 2015 scheme in allocating payment entitlements to 6,250 successful applicants.
For subsequent years the relevant EU Regulations provide for the replenishment of funding in the National Reserve by the following means:
- Surrender of entitlements that remain unused by farmers for two consecutive years;
- ‘Clawback’ derived following the transfer of entitlements without land. In Ireland this clawback applied to the sale of entitlements without land;
- The Regulations also provide Member States with the option to impose a linear cut to the value of all farmers’ entitlements to replenish the National Reserve.
Following consultation with the Direct Payment Advisory Committee, which includes members of all the main farming organisations and education and advisory bodies a decision was made to apply a linear cut of 0.6% to farmers entitlements to provide funding a 2017 National Reserve. This funding of just over €5m will provide for an allocation of entitlements to young farmers and new entrants to farming.
The Young Farmers scheme is a separate EU funded scheme and funding for this scheme is provided on an annual basis. In accordance with EU Regulations governing the operation of the Young Farmers Scheme, Ireland opted to apply the maximum 2% of the national ceiling to provide funding of some €24 million for the Young farmers Scheme each year from 2015 to 2019, approximately €120m over the lifetime of the scheme.
230. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value in euro received by Teagasc, either nationally or through the EU, for farm safety initiatives in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45140/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the Health and Safety Authority has primary responsibility for Health and Safety on farms, my Department is fully supportive of their work and assists in the promotion of safe farming practices. Teagasc’s overarching role is to deliver advisory, research and training services to the farming and agri-food sector. Its activities are guided by an Authority that is representative of stakeholder groups including the farming organisations.
Teagasc advise that they have not received any 'specific funds' nationally or from the EU for its farm safety initiatives. However, my Department provides Teagasc with an annual grant in aid allocation to fund its activities and it earns additional own income from advisory fees etc. The allocation of funding to particular programmes is an operational matter for Teagasc management and its governing Authority. Its work in the area of farm health and safety is fully integrated in their education, training, advisory and research activities - estimates of the health and safety component costs are not available. For example, Teagasc provided training on farm health and safety to all Knowledge Transfer Programme Facilitators operated by my Department. This training was conducted in association with Health and Safety Authority staff and focused on adapting farms to make them safer places for all at work and who live on farms.
231. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers from the north west who miss the deadline for spreading slurry due to the wetter weather conditions in this region and that are given alternative dates to do so are being subject to prioritised Department inspections as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45194/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG) is the lead Department in relation to the nitrates regulations. The closed period for slurry spreading as provided for in the regulations commenced on 15 October. Taking account of the high rainfall in the lead up to the commencement of the closed period, the DHPLG and my Department recognised that there may be some concerns for animal welfare. Farmers with such concerns were advised to contact the Nitrates Section of my Department by Saturday 14 October. Farmers wishing to avail of flexibility for spreading slurry are advised:
- To spread only that volume of slurry necessary to ensure adequate storage capacity for the remainder of the closed period.
- That any spreading should occur as soon as good spreading conditions exist.
- That the Nitrates Section of my Department will subsequently contact the farmers to confirm the dates on which this additional spreading takes place.
The farmers availing of the slurry spreading flexibility will be prioritised for inspection by Local Authorities. As you will be aware , we are currently negotiating the next Nitrates Action Programme and Nitrates Derogation and it is critical that these negotiations progress positively and we avoid the difficulties encountered in other Member states such as Holland. In this context and to ensure the protection of water, the course of action above is aimed at satisfying both objectives in a targeted way. Those farmers with the required storage capacity and who wish to avail of this flexibility should not have reason for concern.
As regards farm safety and slurry, both Departments stress the importance of farmers ensuring that safety is their number one priority as toxic gases are released when slurry is agitated and one breath at this time can cause instant death. All of those working with slurry should be aware of the dangers involved and make sure they work safely at all times.
233. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to propose changes to the length of time it takes to complete the green cert course (details supplied); if so, the nature of these changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45239/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Green Cert is delivered by Teagasc and has been developed to meet the training requirements for full-time and part-time farmers. It can be completed on a full-time, part-time or distance education basis. The content and duration is a matter for Teagasc and the awarding body Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). Typically it can take between 18 - 24 months to complete the Cert depending on the chosen learning option.
In 2016, Teagasc and QQI completed a comprehensive review of the Green Cert to ensure that it achieves its purpose and reflects the changing requirements of Irish farming. This review process was led by a Standards Review Group on behalf of QQI and included industry stakeholders. The Standards Review Group recommended strengthening the Green Cert in regard to grass production, livestock breeding and sustainable farming resulting in the credit value of the award being increased from 40 to 50 credits. It is expected that the new award criteria will lead to an increase in contact time depending on the programme delivery format.
234. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application for a basic farm payment by a person (detail supplied) under the first round of payments has been approved. [45315/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2017 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes application on 28 April 2017. 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 as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
235. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons participating in the beef data genomics scheme that have completed a beef carbon navigator, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45335/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme provides for six years of payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the Irish national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability. As part of the scheme, applicants must complete a carbon navigator with an approved advisor thereafter and provide data for an annual update to their carbon navigator.
There are currently 25,380 participants in BDGP I and BDGP II.
24,424 participants have thus far completed their Carbon Navigator broken down by County in the tables below. It should be noted that BDGP II participants have until 31st October 2017 to complete their carbon navigator .
A total of 13,096 BDGP I participants have returned their 2017 Carbon Navigator which is required for full payment to issue when payments commence in 2017.
|
County |
BDGP I |
BDGP I 2017 Updates |
BDGP II |
|
Carlow |
315 |
159 |
9 |
|
Cavan |
1156 |
647 |
33 |
|
Clare |
1800 |
1048 |
87 |
|
Cork |
1684 |
763 |
70 |
|
Donegal |
1310 |
774 |
50 |
|
Dublin |
58 |
28 |
1 |
|
Galway |
2527 |
1442 |
160 |
|
Kerry |
1255 |
697 |
36 |
|
Kildare |
306 |
159 |
5 |
|
Kilkenny |
576 |
342 |
16 |
|
Laois |
578 |
332 |
19 |
|
Leitrim |
910 |
563 |
45 |
|
Limerick |
774 |
425 |
33 |
|
Longford |
611 |
364 |
28 |
|
Louth |
222 |
119 |
11 |
|
Mayo |
2184 |
1319 |
119 |
|
Meath |
559 |
326 |
23 |
|
Monaghan |
810 |
475 |
37 |
|
Offaly |
568 |
268 |
19 |
|
Roscommon |
1323 |
759 |
61 |
|
Sligo |
919 |
539 |
38 |
|
Tipperary |
975 |
489 |
40 |
|
Waterford |
338 |
177 |
8 |
|
Westmeath |
708 |
356 |
24 |
|
Wexford |
567 |
307 |
18 |
|
Wicklow |
386 |
219 |
15 |
|
Total |
23419 |
13096 |
1005 |
236. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 248 of 18 May 2017, if the requested information has been compiled. [45337/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detailed information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following tables which set out a range of information as follows. The county breakdown table shows for each year from 2014 to 2017
- the number of applications with allocated entitlements in October of the scheme year in question and the number of these applications actually paid in October of that scheme year.
- the number of applications with allocated entitlements currently, and the number of these actually paid currently.
For example, in October 2015 119,679 applicants had entitlements under the BPS and 105,583 of these were paid an advance BPS payment in that month. Given the nature of the scheme, the number of 2015 applications with an allocation of entitlements currently stands at 126,894. Of these, 126,482 have received a BPS payment.
The second table sets out the annual ceilings and expenditure to date. The expenditure to date figures from 2015 onwards include the BPS, Greening, Young Farmer Scheme and Protein Aid payments which are included under the global ceiling. In the case of 2014, Ireland took up the EU regulatory option to assign unspent Single Payment Scheme funds to schemes such as the Grassland Sheep Scheme, the Dairy Efficiency Programme, and the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme. Where the ceilings have not been utilised in full, these amounts remain available to pay applicants who may subsequently become eligible/cleared for payment. The nature of these remaining cases is that they can be protracted in nature - for example, legal issues and inheritance cases.
2014
|
County |
Number Eligible Oct 14 |
Number Paid Oct 14 |
Number Eligible October 17 |
Number Paid October 17 |
|
CARLOW |
1,583 |
1,487 |
1598 |
1591 |
|
CAVAN |
4,616 |
4,375 |
4660 |
4652 |
|
CLARE |
5,900 |
5,372 |
5971 |
5960 |
|
CORK |
12,617 |
11,097 |
12725 |
12696 |
|
DONEGAL |
7,810 |
6,719 |
7903 |
7890 |
|
DUBLIN |
604 |
500 |
607 |
606 |
|
GALWAY |
11,607 |
10,401 |
11696 |
11659 |
|
KERRY |
7,453 |
6,635 |
7514 |
7485 |
|
KILDARE |
2,002 |
1,757 |
2027 |
2025 |
|
KILKENNY |
3,356 |
2,939 |
3397 |
3396 |
|
LAOIS |
2,836 |
2,496 |
2878 |
2878 |
|
LEITRIM |
3,276 |
2,787 |
3321 |
3307 |
|
LIMERICK |
4,922 |
4,652 |
4984 |
4976 |
|
LONGFORD |
2,265 |
1,999 |
2300 |
2298 |
|
LOUTH |
1,440 |
1,265 |
1464 |
1462 |
|
MAYO |
11,112 |
9,923 |
11229 |
11175 |
|
MEATH |
3,604 |
3,250 |
3664 |
3659 |
|
MONAGHAN |
3,852 |
3,419 |
3899 |
3891 |
|
OFFALY |
2,936 |
2,618 |
2968 |
2962 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
5,527 |
5,020 |
5573 |
5562 |
|
SLIGO |
3,822 |
3,360 |
3856 |
3854 |
|
TIPPERARY |
6,769 |
6,314 |
6809 |
6783 |
|
WATERFORD |
2,335 |
2,180 |
2368 |
2359 |
|
WESTMEATH |
2,840 |
2,514 |
2870 |
2864 |
|
WEXFORD |
3,894 |
3,220 |
3947 |
3942 |
|
WICKLOW |
2,039 |
1,734 |
2052 |
2048 |
|
Total |
121,017 |
108,033 |
122,280 |
121,980 |
2015
|
County |
Number Eligible Oct 15 |
Number Paid Oct 15 |
Number Eligible Oct 17 |
Number Paid Oct 17 |
|
CARLOW |
1,560 |
1,321 |
1,658 |
1,651 |
|
CAVAN |
4,551 |
4,115 |
4,823 |
4,819 |
|
CLARE |
5,818 |
5,364 |
6,093 |
6,076 |
|
CORK |
12,336 |
10,563 |
13,141 |
13,095 |
|
DONEGAL |
8,028 |
7,150 |
8,451 |
8,454 |
|
DUBLIN |
599 |
488 |
640 |
643 |
|
GALWAY |
11,480 |
10,190 |
12,077 |
12,061 |
|
KERRY |
7,415 |
6,569 |
7,752 |
7,745 |
|
KILDARE |
1,991 |
1,684 |
2,117 |
2,116 |
|
KILKENNY |
3,207 |
2,718 |
3,473 |
3,457 |
|
LAOIS |
2,743 |
2,355 |
2,986 |
2,981 |
|
LEITRIM |
3,265 |
2,930 |
3,472 |
3,456 |
|
LIMERICK |
4,771 |
4,386 |
5,120 |
5,129 |
|
LONGFORD |
2,267 |
2,032 |
2,393 |
2,392 |
|
LOUTH |
1,449 |
1,235 |
1,543 |
1,539 |
|
MAYO |
11,042 |
9,809 |
11,623 |
11,545 |
|
MEATH |
3,590 |
3,201 |
3,849 |
3,831 |
|
MONAGHAN |
3,860 |
3,543 |
4,060 |
4,055 |
|
OFFALY |
2,921 |
2,552 |
3,113 |
3,098 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
5,448 |
4,864 |
5,763 |
5,748 |
|
SLIGO |
3,834 |
3,505 |
3,992 |
4,001 |
|
TIPPERARY |
6,566 |
5,785 |
7,035 |
7,017 |
|
WATERFORD |
2,286 |
1,912 |
2,440 |
2,423 |
|
WESTMEATH |
2,849 |
2,483 |
2,992 |
2,980 |
|
WEXFORD |
3,796 |
3,141 |
4,121 |
4,102 |
|
WICKLOW |
2,007 |
1,688 |
2,167 |
2,159 |
|
Total |
119,679 |
105,583 |
126,894 |
126,482 |
|
County |
Number Eligible Oct 16 |
Number Paid Oct 16 |
Number Eligible Oct 17 |
Number Paid Oct 17 |
|
CARLOW |
1,603 |
1,396 |
1,613 |
1,610 |
|
CAVAN |
4,700 |
4,351 |
4,749 |
4,737 |
|
CLARE |
5,944 |
5,607 |
5,998 |
5,992 |
|
CORK |
12,799 |
11,854 |
12,887 |
12,835 |
|
DONEGAL |
8,232 |
7,468 |
8,306 |
8,278 |
|
DUBLIN |
622 |
565 |
630 |
629 |
|
GALWAY |
11,767 |
10,916 |
11,885 |
11,867 |
|
KERRY |
7,581 |
6,923 |
7,657 |
7,635 |
|
KILDARE |
2,035 |
1,821 |
2,076 |
2,065 |
|
KILKENNY |
3,357 |
2,996 |
3,400 |
3,387 |
|
LAOIS |
2,894 |
2,657 |
2,926 |
2,915 |
|
LEITRIM |
3,392 |
3,083 |
3,404 |
3,382 |
|
LIMERICK |
4,980 |
4,676 |
5,034 |
5,012 |
|
LONGFORD |
2,335 |
2,185 |
2,349 |
2,345 |
|
LOUTH |
1,503 |
1,345 |
1,511 |
1,505 |
|
MAYO |
11,296 |
10,033 |
11,412 |
11,343 |
|
MEATH |
3,743 |
3,354 |
3,773 |
3,753 |
|
MONAGHAN |
3,956 |
3,608 |
4,002 |
3,993 |
|
OFFALY |
2,998 |
2,702 |
3,032 |
3,030 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
5,575 |
5,111 |
5,640 |
5,623 |
|
SLIGO |
3,894 |
3,592 |
3,924 |
3,914 |
|
TIPPERARY |
6,804 |
6,110 |
6,872 |
6,858 |
|
WATERFORD |
2,366 |
2,167 |
2,399 |
2,391 |
|
WESTMEATH |
2,906 |
2,613 |
2,950 |
2,942 |
|
WEXFORD |
4,015 |
3,578 |
4,044 |
4,032 |
|
WICKLOW |
2,117 |
1,829 |
2,138 |
2,129 |
|
Total |
123,414 |
112,540 |
124,611 |
124,202 |
|
County |
Number Eligible Oct 17 |
Number Paid Oct 17 |
|
CARLOW |
1,590 |
1,441 |
|
CAVAN |
4,664 |
4,253 |
|
CLARE |
5,903 |
5,524 |
|
CORK |
12,702 |
11,588 |
|
DONEGAL |
8,164 |
7,522 |
|
DUBLIN |
618 |
536 |
|
GALWAY |
11,701 |
10,912 |
|
KERRY |
7,513 |
7,010 |
|
KILDARE |
2,016 |
1,804 |
|
KILKENNY |
3,326 |
2,998 |
|
LAOIS |
2,844 |
2,642 |
|
LEITRIM |
3,348 |
3,096 |
|
LIMERICK |
4,938 |
4,599 |
|
LONGFORD |
2,295 |
2,055 |
|
LOUTH |
1,477 |
1,344 |
|
MAYO |
11,186 |
10,280 |
|
MEATH |
3,697 |
3,332 |
|
MONAGHAN |
3,929 |
3,756 |
|
OFFALY |
2,944 |
2,566 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
5,551 |
5,107 |
|
SLIGO |
3,843 |
3,544 |
|
TIPPERARY |
6,673 |
5,994 |
|
WATERFORD |
2,341 |
2,015 |
|
WESTMEATH |
2,902 |
2,634 |
|
WEXFORD |
3,950 |
3,326 |
|
WICKLOW |
2,089 |
1,866 |
|
Total |
122,204 |
111,744 |
|
Year |
Net Ceiling |
Total Expenditure to Date |
|
2014 |
€1,216,500,000.00 |
€1,169,928,750.79 |
|
2015 |
€1,214,800,000.00 |
€1,211,770,513.14 |
|
2016 |
€1,213,500,000.00 |
€1,205,177,813.00 |
|
2017 |
€1,211,900,000.00 |
€718,698,247.03 |
|
2018 |
€1,211,500,000.00 |
|
|
2019 |
€1,211,066,000.00 |
237. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on putting the farmers charter on a statutory basis with respect to ensuring payments are paid on time to farmers under the rural development programme. [45338/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Farmers' Charter of Rights is effectively an agreement between farm representative organisations and my Department. It sets down, inter alia, agreed target timelines for delivery of payments in respect of the schemes operated by my Department.
A Farmers’ Charter of Rights Monitoring Committee is in place under an independent chair to monitor these agreed targets. This Committee is comprised of representatives of the main farm organisations and staff of my Department. The Monitoring Committee has met on eight occasions since its establishment under the current Charter (including on three occasions this year), with a further meeting scheduled for 14 December.
The operation of a number of schemes covered by this Charter is governed by EU/National legislation while others are governed by national law only. The very ambitious targets that my Department strives to achieve under the Charter - targets which compare extremely favourably with the payment timeframes of our EU counterparts - cannot legally supersede national or EU law. The Charter cannot grant rights which would affect or change the operation of those laws in so far as they apply to the Schemes in question. Accordingly, it is not possible to put the Farmers’ Charter of Rights on a statutory footing.
238. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which the €25 million will be allocated to the ANC scheme in 2018 with regard to the current land types. [45339/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme is a very important source of financial support for farmers across the country, paying over €200 million each year to over 95,000 farmers. The Programme for a Partnership Government provides for a commitment of a €25 million increase in funding for the Scheme in 2018, and this commitment has now been confirmed as part of Budget 2018.
There are a number of options in relation to how this additional funding can be allocated under the ANC scheme. My Department is currently examining the options in this regard. The implementation of this increased allocation will require formal agreement with the EU Commission via an amendment of the Rural Development Programme, 2014 - 2020.
The 2017 ANC scheme payments commenced on 19th September and payments are continuing on a rolling basis as more farmers satisfy eligibility and stocking rate requirements. To date, some €184 million has been paid to over 85,000 applicants.
239. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 12 October 2017, the exact amendment process involved with the European Commission for seeking a revision to the 20% rule under the forestry programme 2014 to 2020. [45340/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe legal basis for the current afforestation programme is the European Commission’s State aid approval of Ireland’s Forestry Programme 2014 – 2020. Under Article 108 (3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), any plans to alter aid must be notified to the Commission. Removal of the 20% rule could be considered an alteration to an existing plan which could affect the Commission's initial evaluation of the afforestation scheme in terms of its compatibility with the common market. Whether or not this is the case will most likely be determined in the context of Ireland’s compliance with minimum environmental requirements as set out in paragraph 509 of the European Union Guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas 2014 to 2020.
My Department has engaged in a process with the Commission on this issue and a further bilateral is planned for November in Brussels.
240. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the value of increase in the energy efficiency measures allocation for 2018 compared to the allocation for 2017 that was announced in budget 2017; if the 2017 budget allocation was revised at some point; if so, the detail of same; and the allocation to be given to residential, commercial and public sectors. [45185/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI anticipate the 2017 outturn for capital expenditure on energy efficiency schemes will reach €80m. In this year's Budget I have secured approximately €107m in capital funding for energy efficiency schemes in 2018, a 34% increase. This capital increase is complemented by an increased current expenditure allocation that will allow the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to support the expansion of our highly successful energy efficiency schemes bringing the total allocation for energy efficiency schemes to €117m. These figures will be confirmed in the Revised Estimates for Public Services which I understand will be published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in December.
241. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to introduce legislation to ensure producers of plastic packaging for food goods use recyclable packaging material; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45235/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Packaging Directive is transposed in Ireland by the European Union (Packaging) Regulations 2014. Article 18 of the Packaging Directive states the following: “Member States shall not impede the placing on the market of their territory of packaging which satisfies the provisions of this Directive”.
Therefore, I am not in a position to introduce the type of legislation suggested by the Deputy.
However, we are tackling this waste stream at a national level. Repak is the approved producer responsibility compliance scheme for packaging in Ireland and is tasked with meeting recovery and recycling targets established under the EU Packaging Directive. Repak members pay fees based on the amount of packaging they place on the market and this incentivises them to reduce packaging.
A lot of work has been done by Repak members to prevent and minimise the amount of packaging they require. With the assistance of the EPA, Repak’s Prevent and Save initiative funded under the National Waste Prevention Programme, has worked with Irish business to reduce packaging and to promote packaging improvements across industry. Under the initiative, specialist packaging technologists look for ways to optimise the packaging used and to minimise any resulting packaging waste. Further information can be found on www.repak.ie/preventandsave.
In accordance with the Packaging Directive, at least 60% of packaging waste must be recovered and 55% must be recycled. The most recent Waste Packaging Statistics for Ireland published by the EPA in August 2017 show that Ireland has met and exceeded the overall packaging waste recovery rate and the recycling rate targets since they came into force.
In addition, under the EU’s Circular Economy Package, the Commission published a Strategy on Plastics in a Circular Economy. Plastic is one of the five priority areas addressed in the strategy and my Department will continue to engage on this matter at EU level.
242. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to make it compulsory for walkers to wear high visibility vests when walking at times of reduced visibility such as during bad weather and in the evenings and night-time due to the danger they cause to themselves and motorists; the steps his Department is taking to encourage the use of high visibility vests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45125/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo create a statutory obligation on the wearing of reflective clothing would entail making it a criminal offence under Road Traffic legislation for any person guilty of not wearing high visibility clothing. A person in breach of such a provision would fall to be issued with a fixed charge notice or summonsed to court, depending on what procedure would be put in place for the processing of such offences.
I believe that the wearing of such clothing is best pursued by way of educational and publicity campaigns run by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) rather than by pursuing a punitive approach to the issue.
Indeed, the RSA, which has responsibility for the promotion of road safety awareness, advertising and the dissemination of road safety information, has already undertaken a number of campaigns to promote awareness among pedestrians and cyclists of the need for visibility on our roads.
Almost four million high visibility vests, armbands, rucksack covers and other such items have been distributed by the RSA, an Garda Síochána, Road Safety Officers, Age Action and the Vintners Federation over the past four years. A number of measures have also been included in the Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020 aimed at increasing the wearing of high visibility clothing among pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The Rules of the Road also include a strong recommendation supporting the wearing of light, and preferably high-visibility, clothing.
243. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding that has been allocated in budget 2018 for the construction of the N22 Macroom bypass. [45174/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
244. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress between the RSA and his Department on action 107 of the road safety strategy 2013 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45223/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Road Safety Authority (RSA), following a number of years' extensive research, submitted a detailed paper to my Department earlier this year, proposing the introduction of two separate rehabilitation and driving awareness courses targeted specifically at intoxicated drivers, dangerous drivers, repeat offenders, and for learner/novice drivers.
This paper has been under active consideration by my officials for the last number of months. A number of issues remain to be considered, including finding a balance between punishing dangerous and illegal behaviour on the one hand, and rehabilitating offenders and reducing recidivism on the other.
The introduction of these courses as an option for the Courts to use on conviction of a motorist would involve a change to primary road traffic legislation, and this will only be considered following legal advice.
