Written Answers Nos. 366-380
366. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a matter (details supplied) will be addressed regarding mental health in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20169/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
367. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused medication on a medical card. [20204/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMedicines play a vital role in improving the health of Irish patients. Securing access to existing and new and innovative medicines is a key health service objective. However, the challenge is to do this in a safe and sustainable manner. Treatment must be appropriate and proportionate and clinical decision-making, such as prescribing, should be based on both patient needs and sound medical evidence.
Lidocaine 5% medicated plasters are licensed for localised relief of post-shingles pain in adults. This is the patch's only licensed use in Ireland. It has been reimbursed in the community drugs schemes since 2010.
Clinical concern arose when, from 2012 on, usage increased significantly, to the point where more plasters were being used in Ireland than in the entire UK National Health Service. In such situations, it is important and appropriate for clinicians to review usage and, in 2016, the HSE Medicines Management Programme (MMP) reviewed the use of the plasters. The review estimated that only 5-10% of prescribing was for the licensed indication.
From September 2017, following the clinical review, the HSE introduced a new reimbursement approval system for the patches, to support appropriate use and patient care. Under these arrangements, the patient's GP or consultant applies to the MMP for reimbursement approval on behalf of the patient. The treating clinician may appeal a negative decision to the MMP, making a clinical case for reimbursement.
As of 1 May 2018, there have been 6,250 online applications from clinicians requesting the reimbursement lidocaine patches. Of these applications, 1,451 patients (over 23%) have been approved. Of 807 online appeals, over 70% of patients have been approved for reimbursement. The MMP has sought further information on another 71 appeals. Accordingly, since 1 September 2017, 2,019 patients have been approved for reimbursement of lidocaine plasters, based on the clinical case made by their GP or consultant.
This process supports appropriate use and prescribing and both post-shingles patients and other appropriate cases can continue to be treated with lidocaine plasters. While I cannot comment on individual cases, it is open to a patient's clinician to appeal a decision to refuse reimbursement.
Reimbursement decisions are a matter for the HSE. However, I fully support the objectives of the HSE Medicines Management Programme.
368. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the bilateral meetings he has had since 1 January 2018 with his EU counterparts in which he discussed CAP funding post-2020; and the date of each meeting in which this was raised in tabular form. [19780/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince January 2018, I have held six bilateral meetings with EU Agriculture Ministers. The shape of the CAP Post 2020 was a significant feature of the discussion on each occasion (see table for details). Recent meetings with the German Minister on 2 May and the French Minister on 3 May coincided with the publication of the European Commission's Multi Annual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals on 2 May. I used these meetings to outline my concerns these MFF proposals will have on the CAP.
Additional meetings are scheduled to take place with my counterparts from Poland, Romania and Belgium over the next few weeks.
In addition to these formal bilateral meetings, I regularly meet my Ministerial counterparts at the monthly Agri-Fish Council meetings, and will have a further opportunity to discuss the future of the CAP at the forthcoming informal Council meeting in Sofia on 5 June.
My Department officials are also having regular and constructive engagement with their EU counterparts.
Bilateral meetings since January 2018 where CAP Post 2020 was discussed
|
Date |
With |
Where |
|
02/02/18 |
France |
Paris |
|
19/02/18 |
Hungary |
Brussels |
|
16/04/18 |
Austria |
Luxembourg |
|
25/04/18 |
Netherlands |
The Hague |
|
02/05/18 |
Germany |
Berlin |
|
02/05/18 |
France |
Paris |
369. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to develop the harbour at Dunmore East, County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19932/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra372. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the development of Dunmore East harbour to facilitate a shared use of the harbour by fishermen, visiting cruise ships, the RNLI and the Coast Guard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19935/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 372 together.
Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. It is first and foremost a busy working fishery harbour which also provides for other complementary ancillary activities, seafood processing enterprises, cruise liner visits and other marine leisure enterprises.
The development of the defining infrastructure in Dunmore East for the purposes of supporting the fishing industry commenced in the 1960's and was completed in the early 1970's. The infrastructure places limits on Harbour managements' ability to cater for and safely facilitate an ever increasing demand for diverse and additional usage.
At all times safety is a primary concern, and my Department, specifically local Harbour Management has and will continue to engage with stakeholders to ensure that the core fishing activity continues and is managed appropriately, while balancing this priority with the safe operation of all other Harbour activity.
In regard to developments in the Harbour, I am happy to advise the Deputy that in excess of €14 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Dunmore East FHC as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme from 2010 to 2017, most notably including the €6 million dredging project in 2015 which has improved conditions for fishing vessels in the harbour and manoeuvrability for fish landings.
In addition, I allocated further funding of €2.4 million this year for the ongoing maintenance and development of Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre. Significant works in this year’s capital programme include the continuation of the West Wharf upgrade works scheduled for completion in the coming months at a total cost in the region of €3 million.
I also expect that the development of the area known as Shanoon will be completed this year. This area has been used in recent years as a car park, the surface of the area has been in very poor condition and required work to bring it to a satisfactory standard for users. Ninety two car parking spaces will be provided in this development which is expected to cost in the region of €250,000. A new drainage network is being installed as part of these works, as well as new footpaths. Lighting columns will also be located at various locations throughout the parking areas. The existing earthen embankments will be retained where possible throughout the car parking areas. Visibility over the embankments out to sea is to be maintained.
These substantial investments demonstrate my ongoing commitment to the development of Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre. As the Deputy is aware, all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres will be considered under future Capital Programmes on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing national priorities.
370. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available to deepen the harbour at Dunmore East to facilitate visits from cruise ships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19933/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. It is first and foremost a busy working fishery harbour which also provides for other complementary ancilliary activities, seafood processing enterprises, cruise liner visits and other marine leisure enterprises.
The development of the defining infrastructure in Dunmore East for the purposes of supporting the fishing industry commenced in the 1960's and was completed in the early 1970's.
The infrastructure places limits on Harbour managements' ability to cater for large ocean going cruise liners. These vessels cannot berth in Dunmore East and consequently anchor in the channel and passengers are tendered into Dunmore East.
At all times safety is a primary concern, and my Department, specifically local Harbour Management has and will continue to work positively with the interested parties to ensure that this activity can continue to operate in a safe manner having consideration for other Harbour Activities.
As part of my Department's Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, a €6 million dredging project within the Harbour was completed in 2015. Responsibility for deepening the channel outside the confines of the Harbour boundary would be a matter for the Port of Waterford.
371. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to support the repair of a pontoon recently damaged and used by the RNLI at Dunmore East; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19934/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.
The pontoon the Deputy refers to is the property and responsibility of the the RNLI. The RNLI does have a conveyancing arrangement with my Department.
Unfortunately, the pontoon in question recently sustained some damage. I am aware that the RNLI has removed the pontoon from the Harbour to enable repairs be carried out. My Department will facilitate the reinstatement of the pontoon on the completion of the repairs.
373. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS 2 appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19615/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named has received the due GLAS payments for 2016 and also a payment for the 2017 advance. As the person named did not adequately demonstrate eligibility for a LIPP action the 2017 payment was made without payment for this action.
In the event that the applicant does not meet his or her obligations under the terms and conditions and is subsequently removed from the scheme, a review and appeals process is available and outlined in the terms and conditions.
The person named has been provided with the details on the procedures to appeal the decision made in this case.
374. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the deadline for basic payment scheme applications will be extended to 15 June 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19676/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing recent discussion at EU level, the EU Commission is currently drafting legislation in relation to an extension to the deadline for the submission of BPS applications. Any such extension would be voluntary for Member States. Ireland has not requested a deadline extension in respect of BPS applications.
2018 is the first year that all BPS applications are to be made online, and in 2017 114,000 BPS applications were made online. In order to support farmers in making the move to online applications my Department has put in place a range of supports for farmers. The Department is in ongoing contact with farmers in order to ensure that all applications are made online by 15 May. Over 90,000 farmers have already applied online, and the overall application rate is ahead of previous years.
It should be noted that any extension to the deadline for receipt of applications would have an adverse impact on the delivery of BPS payments in October 2018.
375. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding drawn down in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018 under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund 2014-2020, by county and fishing port, in tabular form; the details of funding in each of the seafood sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19753/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's €240 million European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme is the vehicle for financial supports to the seafood sector up to 2021. The Programme delivers a wide range of supports for aquaculture, fisheries and seafood processing through a suite of 17 schemes.
The following table provides information relating to expenditure under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme up to 2017. Information is not compiled on beneficiaries by county or fishing port. Data on 2018 expenditure is not yet available.
|
Union Priority |
Scheme |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
Total |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
UP1 |
Sustainable Fisheries |
0 |
0 |
776,537 |
2,656,152 |
3,432,689 |
|
UP1 |
Marine Biodiversity |
0 |
0 |
275,000 |
1,160,275 |
1,435,275 |
|
UP1 |
Inshore Fisheries |
0 |
0 |
335,598 |
472,774 |
808,372 |
|
UP1 |
New Fishermen |
0 |
0 |
0 |
55,800 |
55,800 |
|
UP2 |
Sustainable Aquaculture |
0 |
0 |
802,566 |
1,478,690 |
2,281,256
|
|
UP2 |
Knowledge Gateway |
0 |
0 |
932,683 |
1,462,582 |
2,395,265
|
|
UP3 |
Data Collection |
5,873,241 |
6,047,337 |
6,558,760 |
7,894,000 |
26,373,338
|
|
UP3 |
Control and Enforcement |
0 |
1,310,739.87 |
2,928,688 |
4,191,204 |
8,430,632
|
|
UP4 |
Fisheries Local Development |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1,774,563 |
1,774,563
|
|
UP5 |
Producer Organisation |
0 |
0 |
609,669 |
520,870 |
1,130,539
|
|
UP5 |
Seafood Promotion |
0 |
0 |
833,000 |
919,790 |
1,752,790
|
|
UP5 |
Seafood Processing Development |
0 |
0 |
3,516,191 |
3,800,397 |
7,316,588
|
|
UP6 |
Blue Growth & Marine Spatial Planning |
0 |
0 |
55,400 |
136,554 |
191,954
|
|
|
Technical Assistance |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1,098,995 |
1,098,995
|
|
|
Totals |
5,873,241 |
7,358,077 |
17,624,092 |
27,622,646 |
58,478,055 |
376. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quota regime in operation since 2009 pertaining to US hormone-free beef exports annually to the EU in terms of tonnage and value; and the amount of the annual quota that has been used each year in tabular form. [19754/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2009, the European Union and the United States concluded an agreement which provided for an interim solution to their long-standing WTO dispute regarding the use of certain growth-promoting hormones in beef production.
Under the agreement, in return for US assurances not to raise sanctions, the European Union opened a tariff rate quota, on an autonomous and MFN basis (open to all qualifying countries, including the US), for imports of 20,000 tons of high quality beef at zero duty, in line with all EU import requirements, including that it must be hormone-free. This tariff rate quota was increased to 45,000 tonnes after three years.
The annual use of quota over the period in question, as per information from the European Commission, is attached. The detail on the value of these imports is not available.
|
2009 |
% Use of Quota |
2010 |
% Use of Quota |
2011 |
% Use of Quota |
2012 |
% Use of Quota |
|
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
||||
|
9330 |
47 |
14377 |
72 |
16090 |
80 |
17389 |
39 |
|
2013 |
% Use of Quota |
2014 |
% Use of Quota |
2015 |
% Use of Quota |
2016 |
% Use of Quota |
|
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
Tonnes |
||||
|
17014 |
38 |
17664 |
39 |
18311 |
40 |
15518 |
34 |
|
2017 - |
%Use of Quota |
||||||
|
Tonnes |
|||||||
|
15432 |
34 |
377. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 765 to 769, inclusive, of 20 March 2018, if all the data requested has been compiled. [19755/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponses to the individual listed Parliamentary Questions will issue directly to the Deputy this week. Please note, Department records indicate that the response to Parliamentary Question No. 766 has previously issued. A copy of this reply will now issue again to the Deputy.
378. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on EU regulation 1306/2013 (Art. 75(1)(4)); and the way in which from 2018 payments will be made by 30 June the following year. [19756/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe provisions of Article 75 of Regulation 1306/2013 were amended by Article 2 of Regulation 2017/2393. Consequently, the deadline of 30 June of the following calendar year for payments to beneficiaries of rural development measures, as defined in Article 67 of the amended regulation, will now apply in respect of aid applications or payment claims submitted from claim year 2019 rather than claim year 2018 as previously stipulated.
This amendment was introduced to address issues arising from the harmonisation of payment deadlines for area-related payments between the EAGF and the EAFRD and the additional flexibility provided by the extension of the transitional period by another year is to be welcomed.
379. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulations that apply to the yellow card approach for land eligibility inspections and cross-compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19757/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraArticle 99 of Regulation (EU) No. 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council provides that where a Cross Compliance breach is deemed to be minor in nature and remedial action is taken, no monetary sanction will apply.
The "Yellow Card" provision in relation to land eligibility checks is prescribed in Article 19a of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No. 640/2014 and applies to those cases where a determined over-declaration in area is greater than 3% or 2 hectares, but does not exceed 10%. For such cases the penalty will be further reduced by 50%, subject to specific additional criteria. This provision applies to the applications under the Basic Payment Scheme, the Young Farmers Scheme and the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme only.
My Department applies both of these provisions.
380. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average support per hectare under the BPS and greening scheme nationally and by county based on 2017 data; the value per farm holding in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19758/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested is not normally published in the format requested by the Deputy. Material is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy when available. Not all the data requested may be available.
|
County |
BPS AVERAGE PAYMENT PER HECTARE: |
GREENING AVERAGE PAYMENT PER HECTARE: |
|
CARLOW |
€284.54 |
€124.79 |
|
CAVAN |
€223.85 |
€98.41 |
|
CLARE |
€211.90 |
€93.13 |
|
CORK |
€261.51 |
€114.84 |
|
DONEGAL |
€176.87 |
€77.73 |
|
DUBLIN |
€217.81 |
€95.79 |
|
GALWAY |
€207.30 |
€91.03 |
|
KERRY |
€180.90 |
€79.38 |
|
KILDARE |
€247.75 |
€108.59 |
|
KILKENNY |
€281.78 |
€123.74 |
|
LAOIS |
€280.33 |
€123.06 |
|
LEITRIM |
€174.37 |
€76.69 |
|
LIMERICK |
€230.78 |
€101.45 |
|
LONGFORD |
€238.19 |
€104.73 |
|
LOUTH |
€265.91 |
€116.44 |
|
MAYO |
€179.92 |
€79.11 |
|
MEATH |
€266.69 |
€117.09 |
|
MONAGHAN |
€256.35 |
€112.76 |
|
OFFALY |
€255.16 |
€112.01 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
€223.28 |
€98.19 |
|
SLIGO |
€184.94 |
€81.32 |
|
TIPPERARY |
€265.60 |
€116.63 |
|
WATERFORD |
€259.24 |
€113.94 |
|
WESTMEATH |
€241.74 |
€106.18 |
|
WEXFORD |
€277.20 |
€121.28 |
|
WICKLOW |
€221.49 |
€97.19 |
