Written Answers Nos. 163-182
163. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children's disability network teams he plans to provide in each local health office area; and the number of such teams in place in each local health office area in tabular form. [23037/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
164. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health his views regarding the HSE’s implementation of the standard operating procedure for the assessment of need (details supplied). [23038/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra165. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health his views on concerns being expressed regarding the HSE’s implementation of the standard operating procedure for the assessment of need, specifically the limited time allocated for the assessment of need, and that this may result in ineffective intervention pathways being imposed on a child. [23039/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if with regard to the HSE’s implementation of the standard operating procedure for the assessment of need he is of the view that to make a decision on whether a child may require further diagnostic assessment, for example, for ASD, based on one clinic visit without seeing the child in other settings and environments is not in line with good practice and could also lead to incorrect indicative diagnosis, delays in appropriate intervention and increased distress and frustration for children and their families. [23040/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to the HSE’s implementation of the standard operating procedure for the assessment of need, he is of the view that 90 minutes is not a sufficient period of time to adequately assess the needs of children with disabilities. [23041/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to the HSE’s implementation of the standard operating procedure for the assessment of need, he is of the view that the requirement in the standard operating procedure for occupational therapists to provide all families with strategies to support their child based on a 90-minute preliminary team assessment is not in keeping with standards of good practice in occupational therapy. [23042/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 to 168, inclusive, together.
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
169. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adolescents waiting for an appointment for child and adolescent mental health services in CHO1 at the end of April 2018, by periods (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23086/18]
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.
170. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on concerns expressed by an organisation (details supplied) that the preliminary team assessment model to be used under the HSE’s new standard operating procedure for the assessments of need is contrary to the spirit of the Disability Act 2005 which was developed as rights-based legislation. [23093/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra171. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on concerns expressed by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the HSE’s new standard operating procedure for the assessments of need. [23094/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra172. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health his views on concerns expressed by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the HSE’s new standard operating procedure for the assessments of need that it conflicts with HIQA standards. [23095/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 170 to 172, inclusive, together.
The 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 questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
173. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of the fair deal scheme as it is currently applied to farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23097/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) was published in July 2015. Arising out of the review, a recommendation was made to examine the treatment of business and farm assets for the purposes of the financial assessment element of the scheme. The Programme for a Partnership Government also committed to reviewing the NHSS to remove any discrimination against small businesses and family farms.
At present, the capital value of an individual's principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care. This is known as the three year cap. This cap does not apply to productive assets such as farms and businesses except in cases of sudden illness or disability where specific conditions are met.
It is proposed to amend the scheme to treat farm and business assets in the same manner as the principal private residence where a family successor commits to working the farm or business, i.e. to cap contributions at three years.
The Department of Health has been examining the potential for changes to the treatment of business and farm assets under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. Any changes to the scheme, if approved by Government, will require amendment of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009.
A Memorandum for Government setting out the details of the proposed policy change and seeking Government approval to draft the General Scheme of a bill to amend the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009 has been prepared and will shortly be circulated to other Government Departments for observations.
174. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial details and contributions of all service level agreements between the Marine Institute and SEAI since 2012 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22981/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is an operational matter for the State Body themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Marine Institute and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
175. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a payment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22910/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review by the Director of Agriculture Appeals Office of the decision of the Appeals Officer has been requested in this case in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001. The Agriculture Appeals Office has indicated that requests for reviews are generally dealt with in order of receipt and that both the Department and the person named will be advised of the outcome when the review has been completed.
176. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the quantities of pig, poultry and cattle manure imported and exported between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland in each of the past five years in tabular form. [22928/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe quantities of poultry, pig and cattle manure traded between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland as recorded on the TRACES system is set out in the following tables for the years 2016 and 2017. The information for the previous three years is archived and is not immediately available and must be sought from the TRACES office in Brussels. The trade details for 2013, 2014 and 2015 will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as the requested information is provided to the Department.
Movement of unprocessed manure from Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland
|
|
Aves (Poultry) |
Suidae (Pigs) |
Bovidae (Cattle) |
|
2016 |
2475 |
2250 |
50 |
|
2017 |
75 |
1850 |
25 |
Movement of unprocessed manure from Northern Ireland to Republic of Ireland
|
|
Aves |
Suidae |
Bovidae |
|
2016 |
6571 |
0 |
0 |
|
2017 |
6870 |
258 |
0 |
177. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1144 of 17 April 2018, the reason the person has not been contacted since the cattle were removed in April 2018; if his Department will discuss the options for disposing of the herd in view of the fact that it has been locked into TB testing since September 2016 without a break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22965/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the removal of reactors under DAFM supervision on 27th April, full de-population of the herd in question was approved by senior veterinary management on May 22nd. The appropriate paperwork (i.e. form ER29F) was delivered to the herdowner's holding on 23rd May, and once the herdowner has completed and returned this form arrangements will be put in place for valuation and removal of the animals.
178. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the number of entitlements will be restored to a person (details supplied); if correspondence from the person will be responded to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22967/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application to transfer entitlements by way of lease was received from the person named, however there was an error made in the processing of this application. My Department are currently working towards full rectification of this issue and will contact the person named directly to advise them of this.
179. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farm payments due to a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22970/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was a joint herd owner on the herd number quoted in 2008. Following this period the person named became the sole owner of the herd number. My Department have been in contact with the person named in relation to the change in ownership with a view to processing payments due under this herdnumber for 2008 and 2009.
180. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farm income supplement payment for a person (details supplied) for February 2018 will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22995/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAdditional information in regards to this matter is currently being obtained. Once this information has been obtained, a detailed response will issue directly to the Deputy.
181. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time and part-time staff assigned to the dedicated Brexit unit in his Department by staff grade in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23026/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the UK referendum in June 2016, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine established a dedicated Brexit Co-ordination Unit within its EU & International Trade Division. This Unit now forms part of a new Brexit & International Trade Division. It comprises eight staff working full-time on the co-ordination of Brexit matters, reporting to a Head of Division who also has responsibility for wider international trade issues. The Head of Division, in turn, reports to an Assistant Secretary General who is deeply engaged in Brexit issues in addition to discharging other responsibilities.
The Brexit Unit co-ordinates the ongoing analysis, consultation and engagement activities being undertaken by a large number of administrative, technical and veterinary staff across the Department. It does so through an internal Brexit Response Committee comprised of the relevant experts 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). It also feeds into the whole-of-Government co-ordination being undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
In overall terms, my Department is continuing to monitor the future workforce needs of the organisation, and will be keeping resource allocations under close review as the negotiations proceed.
Staff assigned to the Brexit Unit:
|
Staff |
No. |
|
Assistant Secretary General |
1 (part) |
|
Principal Officer |
1 (part) |
|
Assistant Principal |
3 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
|
Executive Officer |
1 |
|
Clerical Officer |
1 |
182. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time and part-time staff working in the dedicated market access unit established in the meat and milk policy division by staff grade in tabular form; and the annual cost of the unit, including staffing costs. [23027/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOne of my key priorities is to further increase the market opportunity for Irish food and drinks internationally. This principle of market development is already a key component of Food Wise 2025, but is particularly important now in the context of Brexit.
The work of staff across the Department impacts on market access and development. This includes veterinary services, laboratory staff, inspectorate staff, Brexit/International Trade Division, Meat and Dairy Policy Division and others, in completing market access questionnaires, facilitating incoming inspection visits, participating in diplomatic meetings, agreeing export health certificates and so on. All of this closely inter-connected work facilitates the accessing of new markets and the maintenance of existing markets.
In relation to meat, this effort is co-ordinated by a dedicated meat market access unit in the Meat and Dairy Policy Division. This unit’s staffing complement has increased in line with my action plan on market access. It comprises a team of seven people led by an Assistant Principal Officer. The annual cost for staffing this unit, including salary, PRSI, pension and accommodation, is estimated at approximately €500,000.
The meat market access unit works on expanding market access for beef, sheepmeat, pigmeat, poultry and cooked meats across a range of markets, and is also working to simplify certification procedures in a number of markets to which Ireland already has access. The work of the unit supports a meat industry with exports of around €3.8 billion in 2017.
My Department has made significant progress in recent years in increasing market access opportunities for Irish meat exports.
