Written Answers Nos. 362-378
362. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards for persons over 70 years of age in circulation as of 31 October 2017 for each local health area, in tabular form. [51201/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra363. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards in circulation as of 31 October 2017 for each local health area, in tabular form. [51202/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 363 together.
As these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
364. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide more dedicated funding and assistance for those living with dyspraxia, or developmental co-ordination disorder; if he will ensure that sufficient funding is set aside in the HSE services plan for this purpose; if he will review his Department's decision to refuse funding for an education officer and information officer for a charity (details supplied); if he will provide a rationale for this refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51245/17]
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 a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
365. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of hiring additional Brexit staff in his Department; the cost by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50914/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the UK referendum in June 2016, my Department established a dedicated Brexit and International Trade Division. The Division co-ordinates the ongoing analysis, consultation and engagement activities being undertaken by a large number of administrative, technical and veterinary staff across the Department. An internal Brexit Response Committee comprised of expertise drawn from the wide range of Divisions affected by Brexit (including, for example, Meat and Milk Policy, Animal Health and Welfare, Food Industry Development, Economics and Planning, and Seafood Policy and Development) has also been established. The Brexit Unit feeds into the whole-of-Government co-ordination being undertaken by the Department of the Taoiseach.
The Unit comes under the responsibility of an Assistant Secretary and is led by an experienced Principal Officer with a team of both experienced and newly recruited staff. The cost of the unit has been accommodated within the existing sanctioned pay ceiling for the department. The current staffing complement is 3 Assistant Principal Officers, 3 Higher Executive Officers/Administrative Officers and 1 Clerical Officer. The estimated staffing and associated annual costs of the Brexit Unit are €856,685.50.
The function of this unit is to co-ordinate the Department’s preparations for Brexit. These extend across virtually every division in the department, from those dealing with veterinary and public and animal health, to plant health, border controls and the various sectoral policy divisions. Staffing requirements for Brexit associated functions across the Department are constantly under review and additional resources will be assigned to relevant functions as the need arises.
366. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of hiring additional Brexit staff for Bord Bia; the cost by grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50915/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department will be providing support to the State Agencies under its aegis in the context of the challenges arising due to Brexit.
All information relating to the costs of hiring additional staff are operational matters for the State Body concerned and I have asked my Department to forward the Deputy's question to Bord Bia for direct reply.
367. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of a review of Food Wise 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50918/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July this year, I launched the second annual progress report on Food Wise 2025: Steps to Success 2017. This showed that, of the 368 detailed actions which were due to commence by 2017 or are ongoing actions, 46% have been achieved or substantial action has been undertaken, and a further 49% have commenced and are progressing well.
As regards reviewing the strategy, it is important to understand that Food Wise 2025 is, in fact, a living and evolving strategy, driven by a High Level Implementation Committee, which I chair. My Department will host a Food Wise Conference in Croke Park next week (4 December) which will acknowledge the achievements of the Irish agri-food sector in terms of innovative, sustainable growth over recent years, and consider how the Food Wise process can lead a dynamic, collaborative response to the opportunities and challenges facing the sector, including of course Brexit.
368. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the costing of the development of further loan schemes for the agrifood sector and funding for Bord Bia promotion and development work in the context of Brexit in budget 2018. [50924/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI believe that supporting lower-cost, flexible finance is a key Government response to Brexit. The very successful “Agriculture Cashflow Loan Scheme” has provided a template for such schemes, including the new “Brexit Loan Scheme”, which makes up to €300 million of affordable, flexible financing available to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or who will be in the future.
This fund will be supported by €23 million in Exchequer funding, with €9 million from my Department and the remainder from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, by way of guarantee. At least 40% of this fund will be available to food businesses. The new Scheme will be delivered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) through commercial lenders. SBCI issued an open call on 21 November inviting lending institutions to participate.
I also announced in the Budget that I have secured funding of €25 million for my Department to facilitate the development of new Brexit response loan schemes during 2018 for farmers, fishermen and food businesses. My Department has had preliminary engagement with the SBCI in this regard and further details will be available in 2018.
Since the Brexit decision, my Department has placed great emphasis on enhancing its own capacity and that of Bord Bia’s in the area of market diversification and new market access. Following on from the extra €10 million that I allocated to Bord Bia since the Brexit vote, I will be providing an additional €4.5 million in Budget 2018 to assist the agency in its promotional and developmental work overseas.
Furthermore, my Department is working with the Department of An Taoiseach and other Government Departments on the expansion of the State’s Global footprint, to ensure that the future development of the Irish agri-food sector is incorporated into this strategy.
369. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department followed the entire EU Council regulations dealing in particular with persons who were under an agri-environment scheme contract such as REPS 1 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50738/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department automatically applied the provisions of art 40.5 of Council Regulation 1782/03 to all farmers whose sheep numbers were reduced during the reference period 2000-2002 by virtue of their participation in an Agri Environment Scheme.
If the Deputy has a particular case in mind he may contact my Department and my officials will carry out a full review.
370. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of appeals to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office; the number that were allowed, partially allowed and unsuccessful, respectively, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50740/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is currently being collated by the independent Agriculture Appeals Office and is not available within the timeframe given. A reply will issue directly to the Deputy.
371. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the case of a person (details supplied) regarding the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, will be re-examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50824/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named joined the AEOS3 scheme with a start date of 1 May 2013. He received payments in respect of the 2013, 2014 and 2015 scheme years. An AEOS inspection was carried out on 27 July 2016 and he was informed by letter dated 9 November 2016 that, as a result of the findings of that inspection, he was rejected from the scheme and was given the option of requesting a review by the Regional Inspector.
A review request was received and dealt with by the Regional Inspector, who upheld the decision of the inspector in a letter to the person named, dated 28 August 2017, giving the person named a right of appeal to the independent Agricultural Appeals Office.
It is understood that an appeal was submitted to the Agriculture Appeals Office. A decision will issue from that office to the person named in due course.
372. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request dairy co-operators to organise a scheme for the purchase of generators by dairy farmers; his plans to provide low interest loans for such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50850/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a challenging period, the dairy sector has experienced positive trends this year in terms of raw milk and specific commodity prices, particularly for butter. I am confident that, as market demand for safe, sustainable, high quality dairy products in expanding global markets increases, the Irish dairy sector, from the farm gate to the further reaches of the supply chain, will continue to grow and prosper.
I am very aware of the impact of Storm Ophelia, particularly of course the tragic loss of life. I would like to again pay tribute to the joined-up public service response, led by the National Emergency Coordination Group, including officials from my Department.
The main impact of the storm on the dairy sector was in terms of power outages. While this caused inconvenience and expense for some individual farmers, similar issues arose for small businesses across the country. ESB teams worked tirelessly to reconnect electricity supplies. Many farmers also benefitted from back up generators shared between neighbours and at co-op level.
This experience underlines the importance for dairy farmers to have a plan in place to access a back-up power supply in such circumstances.
373. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50858/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department fully examined the circumstances of the Force Majeure application of the person named and decided that the application did not satisfy the criteria laid down in Article 40 of Council Regulation EC No 1782/2003 determining Force Majeure. This decision also took into account the provisions of Article 40.5 of that Regulation.
In considering this decision particular regard was given to the circumstance surrounding the decision of the person named to sell suckler enterprise and suckler quota. It was however deemed that this was a management decision and therefore did not fall within the provisions of Force Majeure. The decision of the person named to join the REPS scheme was voluntary and all decisions thereafter, taken in order to comply with the conditions of the scheme, follow from this initial voluntary decision.
The person named appealed this decision to the Independent Single Payment Appeals Committee and submitted a complaint to the Office of the Ombudsman, who having re-examined all aspects of the case recommended that the original decision taken by my Department should be upheld.
374. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status and timeframe of the implementation of the recommendations outlined in the independent review of the aquaculture licence process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50862/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra375. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department is implementing recommendations 8.3(1), 8.3(2), 8.3(3) and 8.3(4) of the review of the aquaculture licence process on public notice; if they are not being progressed, the reason therefor; when they will be progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50863/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 374 and 375 together.
I received the Report of the Independent Aquaculture Licensing Review Group on 31st May 2017. The Group’s Report is published and available to view on my Department’s website at www.agriculture.gov.ie/seafood/aquacultureforeshoremanagement/aquaculturelicensing/. The overarching conclusion of the Report is for a root-and-branch reform of the aquaculture licence application processes to take place with a focus on both short-term immediate actions and longer term initiatives. There are a total of 30 recommendations in the Report.
Since receiving the Report my Department has engaged in detailed consideration of all 30 recommendations with a view to preparing a comprehensive implementation plan. This implementation plan will take account of legislative, environmental, technical and public interest issues that have a bearing on the sustainable development of the industry.
My Department’s work on the implementation plan is at a very advanced stage. However, as consideration of all relevant issues remains ongoing it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
376. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of environmental impact assessments, EIAs, he has commissioned for aquaculture licences in 2014, 2015 and 2016; the water bodies to which these EIAs applied; if this information publicly available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50864/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnvironmental Impact Assessments in respect of the years referred to by the Deputy were conducted by my Department under the provisions of Statutory Instrument 236 of 1998 as amended.
During this period one Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out in respect of an aquaculture licence application for the cultivation of finfish in the marine environment.
The water body in question was Bantry Bay.
This Environmental Impact Assessment, together with the Environmental Impact Statement submitted by the applicant, are available to view on my Department’s website.
377. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51165/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sheep Welfare Scheme was introduced in December 2016 to support the delivery of flock health benefits in the sheep sector. Under the terms and conditions of the scheme, applicants to the scheme are required to submit the annual Sheep Census return in accordance within the set deadlines.
In the case of this application, the Sheep Census Return for 2016 was not received within the required deadlines and thus the application for participation in the scheme was not accepted.
The applicants submitted an initial appeal on this decision to the Department. However, this appeal was unsuccessful. The applicants were advised at this time that they had the option to seek a review of this decision to a higher officer of the department.
This subsequent appeal was reviewed by a more senior officer of the Department but this appeal was also unsuccessful. The applicants were advised of this decision in a letter dated 24 November 2017. This letter has also advised the applicants that they have the right of further appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
378. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated amount the payment increase per hectare would be for proposals (details supplied), in tabular form. [51169/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is currently being compiled and will be forwarded as soon as it is available.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
