Written Answers Nos. 175-195
175. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for cervical smear test results; the number of tests which have timed out; and the steps he is taking to address the backlog. [2187/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May 2018, I asked CervicalCheck to make the necessary arrangements to provide that any woman who had had a CervicalCheck smear test, and whose GP considered that they should have a further test, to access such a further test without charge. This decision was made in good faith to address the considerable fears of the many anxious women in Ireland as a result of significant media coverage of the issues that emerged in late April.
In the months since then, there has been a significant increase in the volume of women presenting for smear tests. This includes women who have availed of the out of cycle tests, but also a greater number of women presenting for scheduled screening.
This increased level of engagement with the programme is very welcome. However, the increased demand has undoubtedly put immense pressure on lab capacity and the HSE has advised that, currently, results of smear tests may take up to 20 weeks from the time of the test, and that it may take longer in a small number of cases.
The HSE has been working actively with the labs to manage this issue and to improve turnaround times for smear tests. The HSE reports that laboratories have agreed to undertake additional recruitment, provide for overtime and manage annual leave in an effort to minimise the backlog. In addition, the HSE is aiming to source additional screening capacity, which would improve the turnaround time of results. However, sourcing capacity and resources is a global challenge as countries start to move to primary HPV screening, which vastly reduces the requirement for cytology screening staff.
The HSE is currently developing a capacity plan to take account of available capacity and expected demand, with the aim of bringing the programme into stabilisation this year.
While the provision of out of cycle smears ceased on the 31 December 2018, it is important to be clear that this backlog will take some time to resolve. It remains a priority concern for me, for my Department and for the HSE.
Smear test samples must be sent to the laboratory and made into slides within six weeks of the smear test date. After six weeks, the sample is deemed expired and cannot be processed. Transferring slides to samples in this timeframe was being achieved by the laboratories used by CervicalCheck until they experienced a high demand on resources following the announcement of free repeat smear tests in April. In some cases, the increased volume resulted in a delay transferring samples to slides.
However, as of 30 July 2018, the HSE has advised that the majority of smear test samples are now transferred to slides within the six week timeframe. There may be a small number of cases where the vial used to contain the sample expires before the laboratory has an opportunity to carry out the analysis of the sample and in some cases a sample may be insufficient. Although every effort is made to avoid these situations from happening, it is inevitable that cervical screening programmes will sometimes encounter these issues. In such cases, a woman and her GP are advised of the need for a repeat test in three months’ time by letter from CervicalCheck.
From April to October 2018 the rate of expired samples and vials was 0.29%. This compares with 0.25% for the same period in 2017.
In relation to the specific number of tests which have expired, this is a matter for the HSE and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue.
176. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card renewal will be concluded in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2201/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
177. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if urgent steps will be taken in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2202/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a medical card renewal will be completed in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2209/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
179. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the cost of appointing a company (details supplied) to review the costs at the children’s hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2227/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraGovernment has approved the commissioning of an independent review of the escalation in costs and the effective management of public funds.
This review is being commissioned by the HSE. Accordingly I am referring this query to the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
181. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in relation to reform of the GMS contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2250/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to engaging with GP representatives on the development of modernised GP contractual arrangements.
Talks between the State and the Irish Medical Organisation resumed in October 2018 and there was intensive engagement, particularly in the weeks leading up to Christmas. While some progress was made, there are a number of outstanding issues that need to be progressed before any agreement can be secured.
The State’s negotiating team is keen to bring a renewed focus to the engagement with the IMO in coming weeks in an effort to bring matters to a conclusion.
I look forward to positive and productive engagement with all parties concerned. Agreement on the delivery of service improvements and contractual reform would facilitate a very substantial increase in the resourcing of general practice on a multi annual basis.
In line with the long-established approach to such processes, and by agreement of the parties concerned, I am not in position to give further details while engagement between the parties is under way.
182. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the measures he plans to implement in relation to the recruitment and retention of doctors in general practice with particular reference to the shortage of doctors in rural Ireland and the difficulties in replacing retired doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2251/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is aware of workforce issues facing general practice, including the influence of demographic factors, and has implemented a number of measures to improve recruitment and retention in general practice.
GPs play a crucial role in the provision of primary care services. The number of GPs on the specialist register continues to increase – up from 2,270 in 2010 to 3,723 in 2018 and the number of GPs with a GMS contract has also risen from 2,098 in 2008 to 2,491 as at 1 January 2019.
GP training places have been increased from 120 in 2009 to 193 in 2018 and the Government's objective is to continue to achieve annual increases in the number of training places available while ensuring that all of the places are filled.
Entry provisions to the GMS scheme have been changed to accommodate more flexible GMS contracts and the retirement age has been extended to 72. An enhanced support package for rural practices has been introduced with improved qualifying criteria and an increased financial allowance of €20,000 per annum. 257 GP practice units encompassing 347 individual GPs are now in receipt of financial supports under this framework, a significant increase on the 167 GPs who received a rural practice allowance prior to the introduction of the 2016 measures.
The Government remains committed to the continued development of GP capacity to ensure that patients across the country continue to have access to GP services and that general practice remains an attractive career option.
183. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there will be no change to the status of a service in a health facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2252/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Report of the Trauma Steering Group – A Trauma System for Ireland was approved by Government on the 6th February 2018 and published online.
In an inclusive Trauma System, as recommended for Ireland by the Trauma Steering Group, the trauma care pathway is not organised around individual institutions but in the context of networked ones whereby all acute hospitals, including Cavan General Hospital, will participate – each has a role as either a Major Trauma Centre, Trauma Unit, Local Emergency Hospital or Injury Unit.
The HSE has established an interim implementation group, as recommended in the Report, with Departmental representation, to commence immediate actions including recruitment of a National Clinical Lead and establishment of the National Office for Trauma Services, and selection of a Major Trauma Centre for Dublin. The group met for the first time on 12 April 2018 and continues to meet on a regular basis to consider these actions in the first instance.
Detailed implementation planning will be required to fully implement the Trauma Strategy over a number of years and will be led by the National Office for Trauma Services.
184. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the amount spent in each year for the past five years on accountancy and consultancy firms in relation to capital projects; the specific capital project in which the costs were incurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2264/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of capital projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
185. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the funding being provided to drug task forces in 2019; and the equivalent figures in each of the years 2015 to 2018, in tabular form. [2298/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table outlines the funding allocated to Drug and Alcohol Task forces by the Department of Health and the HSE for the years 2015 to 2019.
The Deputy's attention is drawn to the fact that the HSE's allocation of approximately €22.394 million to Task Forces in 2018 does not include (a) one off funding of €0.25 million, announced in May 2018, to fund initiatives to strengthen the capacity of Task Forces to support the implementation of Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery and (b) allocations to Task Forces by the HSE from the provision of €0.71 million in one off funding for priority projects and services in CHO areas in quarter 4 of 2018.
|
LDATF |
2015 DOH |
2015 HSE |
2016 DOH |
2016 HSE |
2017 DOH |
|
Ballyfermot |
€255,446 |
€1,231,286 |
€255,446 |
€1,231,286 |
€255,446 |
|
Ballymun |
€422,958 |
€697,957 |
€422,958 |
€697,957 |
€422,958 |
|
Blanchardstown |
€179,305 |
€913,589 |
€179,305 |
€913,589 |
€179,305 |
|
Bray |
€573,860 |
€916,271 |
€573,860 |
€916,271 |
€573,860 |
|
Canal Communities |
€338,605 |
€1,141,309 |
€338,605 |
€1,141,309 |
€338,605 |
|
Clondalkin |
€388,114 |
€1,007,948 |
€388,114 |
€1,007,948 |
€388,114 |
|
Cork |
€411,988 |
€1,108,299 |
€411,988 |
€1,108,299 |
€411,988 |
|
Dublin 12 |
€70,997 |
€993,150 |
€70,397 |
€993,750 |
€70,397 |
|
Dublin NE |
€422,251 |
€594,836 |
€239,971 |
€777,116 |
€239,971 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
€94,676 |
€786,755 |
€94,676 |
€786,755 |
€94,676 |
|
Finglas Cabra |
€263,277 |
€627,960 |
€263,277 |
€627,960 |
€263,277 |
|
NIC |
€494,856 |
€1,734,723 |
€394,856 |
€1,834,723 |
€394,856 |
|
SIC |
€176,043 |
€1,868,014 |
€176,043 |
€1,868,014 |
€176,043 |
|
Tallaght |
€341,438 |
€893,514 |
€336,022 |
€898,930 |
€336,022 |
|
Total LDATF |
€4,433,814 |
€14,515,611 |
€4,145,518 |
€14,803,907 |
€4,145,518 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RDATF |
2015 DOH |
2015 HSE |
2016 DOH |
2016 HSE |
2017 DOH |
|
East Coast Area |
€58,200 |
€508,500 |
€58,200 |
€508,500 |
€58,200 |
|
Midland |
€136,816 |
€662,491 |
€136,816 |
€662,491 |
€136,816 |
|
Mid-West |
€147,982 |
€1,260,007 |
€147,982 |
€1,260,007 |
€147,982 |
|
North East |
€0 |
€927,813 |
€0 |
€927,813 |
€0 |
|
North West |
€258,633 |
€461,730 |
€258,633 |
€461,730 |
€258,633 |
|
North Dublin City & Co. |
€309,778 |
€467,486 |
€266,245 |
€511,019 |
€266,245 |
|
South East |
€0 |
€1,065,760 |
€0 |
€1,065,760 |
€0 |
|
South West |
€102,820 |
€696,497 |
€102,820 |
€696,497 |
€102,820 |
|
Southern |
€0 |
€973,178 |
€0 |
€973,178 |
€0 |
|
Western |
€136,994 |
€524,155 |
€136,994 |
€524,155 |
€136,994 |
|
Total RDATF |
€1,151,223 |
€7,547,617 |
€1,107,690 |
€7,591,150 |
€1,107,690 |
|
Overall Total |
€27,648,265 |
€27,648,265 |
|
LDATF |
2017 HSE |
2018 DOH |
2018 HSE |
2019 DOH |
2019 HSE |
|
Ballyfermot |
€1,231,286 |
€255,446 |
€1,231,286 |
€255,446 |
€1,231,286 |
|
Ballymun |
€697,957 |
€422,958 |
€697,957 |
€422,958 |
€697,957 |
|
Blanchardstown |
€913,589 |
€179,305 |
€913,589 |
€179,305 |
€913,589 |
|
Bray |
€916,271 |
€573,860 |
€916,271 |
€573,860 |
€916,271 |
|
Canal Communities |
€1,141,309 |
€338,605 |
€1,141,309 |
€338,605 |
€1,141,309 |
|
Clondalkin |
€1,007,948 |
€388,114 |
€1,007,948 |
€388,114 |
€1,007,948 |
|
Cork |
€1,108,299 |
€411,988 |
€1,108,299 |
€411,988 |
€1,108,299 |
|
Dublin 12 |
€993,750 |
€70,397 |
€993,750 |
€70,397 |
€993,750 |
|
Dublin NE |
€777,116 |
€239,971 |
€777,116 |
€239,971 |
€777,116 |
|
Dun Laoghaire |
€786,755 |
€94,676 |
€786,755 |
€94,676 |
€786,755 |
|
Finglas Cabra |
€627,960 |
€263,277 |
€627,960 |
€263,277 |
€627,960 |
|
NIC |
€1,834,723 |
€394,856 |
€1,834,723 |
€394,856 |
€1,834,723 |
|
SIC |
€1,868,014 |
€176,043 |
€1,868,014 |
€176,043 |
€1,868,014 |
|
Tallaght |
€898,930 |
€336,022 |
€898,930 |
€336,022 |
€898,930 |
|
Total LDATF |
€14,803,907 |
€4,145,518 |
€14,803,907 |
€4,145,518 |
€14,803,907 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
RDATF |
2017 HSE |
2018 DOH |
2018 HSE |
2018 DOH |
2018 HSE |
|
East Coast Area |
€508,500 |
€58,200 |
€508,500 |
€58,200 |
€508,500 |
|
Midland |
€662,491 |
€136,816 |
€662,491 |
€136,816 |
€662,491 |
|
Mid-West |
€1,260,007 |
€147,982 |
€1,260,007 |
€147,982 |
€1,260,007 |
|
North East |
€927,813 |
€0 |
€927,813 |
€0 |
€927,813 |
|
North West |
€461,730 |
€258,633 |
€461,730 |
€258,633 |
€461,730 |
|
North Dublin City & Co. |
€511,019 |
€266,245 |
€511,019 |
€266,245 |
€511,019 |
|
South East |
€1,065,760 |
€0 |
€1,065,760 |
€0 |
€1,065,760 |
|
South West |
€696,497 |
€102,820 |
€696,497 |
€102,820 |
€696,497 |
|
Southern |
€973,178 |
€0 |
€973,178 |
€0 |
€973,178 |
|
Western |
€524,155 |
€136,994 |
€524,155 |
€136,994 |
€524,155 |
|
Total RDATF |
€7,591,150 |
€1,107,690 |
€7,591,150 |
€1,107,690 |
€7,591,150 |
|
Overall Total |
€27,648,265 |
€27,648,265 |
€27,648,265 |
186. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2063/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe above named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017 and has received all payments in respect of the scheme year 2017.
In relation to payment for 2018, a number of issues have arisen in relation to the Traditional Hay Meadow, Protection of Watercourses from Bovines and the Hen Harrier Actions. All cases must clear validation checks before payment can issue. The case is being worked on by Department officials. Once this case clears validations the 2018 advance payment will be made. GLAS 2018 advance payments are issuing on a weekly basis.
187. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications will be invited from local authorities for the development and maintenance of piers under the fishery harbour development scheme; the amount of funding that has been allocated to the scheme in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2064/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute.
In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the 1902 ex-congested Districts Board piers, lights and Beacons Act.
The responsibility for the development, and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government thereafter.
However, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department has provided limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership.
I expect to make a decision shortly as to the final construct of the 2019 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
188. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if 2018 farm payments will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [2067/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicant submitted a 2018 BPS application under a partnership number. The partnership was subsequently dissolved. A second BPS application was then submitted by the applicant on behalf of a company. This has resulted in additional administration work in the processing of the BPS application.
The Department is currently in the process of finalising the outstanding administrative work involved and pending completion of final verification checks, payment should issue to the applicant in the coming weeks.
189. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments have issued to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [2071/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2018 Basic Payment Scheme application was received from the person named on 12 May 2018. Processing of the application is now complete and the balancing payment has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
190. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the relocation of laboratories under the aegis of his Department; and the projected timeframe for completion of the relocation. [2148/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department commissioned a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of options that were proposed by a Working Group in 2016 for the future development of the Regional Veterinary Laboratories (RVLs). The team conducting the CBA included internationally-recognised, independent experts in economic analysis and animal disease surveillance. My Department has been presented with the CBA report and senior officials are currently considering the recommendations. Due consideration is also being given to feedback we received following consultation on two separate occasions with our stakeholders - following publication of the 2016 Working Group report and during the CBA process. A proposal on how best to redevelop the RVLs over the next few years will be informed by both of those consultative processes and by the findings of the CBA - the focus of my Department is now on securing and improving the service to the sector at best value to the tax payer and on securing the necessary capital funding for investment.
191. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of additional staff relating to Brexit that will be in place by 29 March 2019; the areas in this regard; his plans to continue recruitment post March 2019; the plans in place in this regard; the number of additional Brexit-related staff that will be hired in 2019; and the fields in which they will be recruited. [2243/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is participating very actively in the Whole-of-Government approach to preparednessand contingency planning for Brexit. My officials are working closely with colleagues in other Departments and agencies across the public service to develop a joint approach in relation to the implementation at ports and airports of import controls on products coming from the UK.
These requirements are significant, and arise in relation to the carrying out of documentary, identity and physical checks on imports of animals, plants, and products of animal and plant origin, as set out in EU legislation. The Department has carried out an extensive analysis exercise, based on examination of trade and container movement data, together with close consultation with stakeholder organisations and individual companies, to establish as best we can the likely volumes of controls that will need to be carried out. This has been a difficult exercise, given the lack of detailed data as a result of the UK’s participation in the Single Market up to this point, but we have based our assumptions and planning on what we believe are reasonable estimates of the likely volumes.
On staffing, we have used this data analysis exercise to guide our planning in relation to putting in place the staff that will be required to carry out the range of controls needed. These controls are carried out by a combination of portal inspectorate staff and where necessary, the appropriate veterinary and technical supervision. The Department is working very effectively with Customs and others to provide the resources needed to apply the necessary controls. A significant number of staff have already been recruited for this work and I am confident that the state will be in a position to deliver the services required in terms of both imports and exports at the appropriate time.
192. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Brexit supports made available in 2018 to farmers and fishermen; the amount made available in 2018; the take-up of Brexit agriculture supports in 2018; and the amount drawn down in loans or given in grants. [2244/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra193. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Brexit supports available for 2019; the amount available; and the take-up of such supports. [2245/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together.
In Budget 2018 I introduced a €50m dedicated Brexit package for investment, innovation and market development to assist all stakeholders in the agri food sector, including farmers and fishermen. Within that I allocated €25m to facilitate the development of a Brexit response loan scheme.
The payment of that €25m in 2018 is facilitating the development of the Future Growth Loan Scheme, which will provide up to €300m of long-term investment loans and will be available to eligible Irish businesses, including farmers and the agri-food & seafood sectors.
This is a source of finance for young and new entrant farmers, especially the cohort who do not have high levels of security. It will also serve smaller-scale farmers, who often do not have the leverage to negotiate for more favourable terms with their banking institution. Arrangements are currently being finalised to have the Scheme in place and ready to launch as soon as possible. The Scheme will run for three years and further announcements in this regard will be made shortly.
In Budget 2019 I introduced a €78m Brexit package for farmers, fishermen and food SMEs. The package includes €44m of direct aid for farmers, which comprises:
- an additional €23m for farmers in Areas of Natural Constraint;
- a new €20m Beef Environmental Efficiency Pilot scheme, targeted at suckler farmers with the aim of further improving the economic and carbon efficiency of Irish beef production; and.
- an additional €1m in funding for the horticulture sector.
These measures form an important part of the Government’s Brexit response, alongside the Brexit Loan Scheme for food businesses, the provision of additional resources to the agri-food and enterprise State Agencies, and an intensification of Minister-led trade missions to promote market diversification.
194. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency planning carried out to protect the agrifood sector from the impact of all Brexit scenarios and in particular a no-deal scenario. [2246/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra195. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has conducted a regional assessment of the impacts of Brexit; and if so, the details of same. [2247/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.
A considerable amount of research into the impacts of Brexit, particularly those on the agri-food sector, has been undertaken by a range of agencies and bodies. This includes research by Teagasc into, for example, the effects on the sector more widely as well as on farm incomes, by the ESRI, by the Department of Finance, by Copenhagen Economics and by Inter Trade Ireland, which looked at the potential impact of WTO tariffs on cross-border trade. All of the analyses undertaken to date show that Brexit will be unambiguously bad for the sector, particularly given the fact that the sector’s regional spread underpins the socio-economic development of rural areas in Ireland. The work is not based on a specific regional basis but analyses the overall sectoral impacts.
The most immediate challenge for industry has been the impact caused by the significant drop in the value of sterling against the euro. A considerable amount of work has also been put into intensifying our market diversification efforts in order to reduce our exposure to the UK market.
I have been addressing these challenges through a range of Budgetary measures aimed at improving competitiveness, and developing market and product diversification. These measures include a €150m low-cost loan scheme in 2017 to help reduce farm-gate business costs, and a dedicated €50m Brexit package in Budget 2018 which included further additional funding to Bord Bia and Teagasc as well as a contribution to a €300m (joint DAFM/DBEI) “Brexit Loan Scheme”, at least 40% of which is available to food businesses. In Budget 2019 I announced a €78m Brexit package for farmers, fishermen, food SMEs and to cover additional costs related to Brexit.
On market and product diversification, the additional funding that I have provided to Bord Bia has been used, inter alia, to conduct a market prioritisation exercise which is now informing our approach to market diversification activities, including the choice of destinations for Trade Missions. Product diversification has also been supported through additional funding of €8.8 million to Teagasc to develop its National Food Innovation Hub, and funding to support investment in the prepared consumer foods sector.
It has been clear from the beginning that a hard Brexit would be very damaging for the agri-food sector given the potential impact of WTO tariffs on trade. We have been working very hard for quite some time to sensitise other Member States and the European Commission to these potential impacts, and to the likelihood of specific supports being required for the sector. The institutions of the European Union are very well aware of the likelihood of a significant impact of a disorderly Brexit on Ireland’s economy because this has been part of the discussion from the beginning, and indeed this is explicitly recognised in the Commission’s own communication on contingency planning.
In the case of agriculture, there is of course a toolbox available to assist with severe market disruption in the Common Market Organisation Regulation put in place during Ireland’s Presidency in 2013, and this will be part of the discussion. I am in regular and on-going contact with Commissioner Hogan on these issues.
As regards contingency planning, my Department has been actively participating in the Whole-of-Government approach to preparedness and contingency planning. We have fed into the overall Government Contingency Action Plan which was published on 19 December, and we have been working very closely with colleagues in other Departments and agencies to address in particular the requirements that will arise in relation to the implementation at ports and airports of import controls on agri-food products coming from the UK.
These requirements are significant, and arise in relation to the carrying out of documentary, identity and physical checks on imports of animals, plants, and products of animal and plant origin, as set out in EU legislation.
Work in this regard has been focused on three key areas, namely, infrastructure, staffing and information technology, and in three key locations, that is Dublin Port, Rosslare Port and Dublin Airport.
On infrastructure, we have been engaging very closely with the Office of Public Works, the Department of Transport, the Department of Health and the Revenue Commissioners in relation to the physical facilities that will be required to carry out import controls at the three locations. This work had been proceeding in any event in the context of dealing with the central case scenario, and has been adapted in order to meet the requirements in the event of a disorderly Brexit.
On staffing, the Department is working very effectively with Customs and others to provide the resources needed to apply the necessary controls, and I am confident that the state will be in a position to apply controls at the appropriate time.
On information technology, my Department has established a project to coordinate the identification and delivery of ICT Infrastructure and systems to support the additional requirements of staff engaged in control processes in Dublin Port, Rosslare and Dublin Airport. The delivery timelines in the event of a disorderly Brexit are extremely challenging, but officials are working with the greatest urgency to ensure that the required ICT services are in place by 29 March 2019.
Throughout all of this work, the focus of the Department will continue to be on the need to discharge its legal responsibilities while ensuring the minimum possible disruption to trade.
