Written Answers Nos. 211-223
211. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the number of persons employed at each level of the Civil Service from Secretary General to cleaner each year since 2016; the number of those at each level who are female in each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18353/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe civil service employees of my Department broken down by grade from Secretary General to Service Officer and by gender for each year from 2016 to the end of February 2019 are set out in the table. Details of the Ministerial advisers and civilian drivers appointed by me and the Ministers of State in my Department are also included in this table. The Department engages the services of a contract cleaning company and therefore, does not employ cleaning staff directly.
|
2016 |
2017 |
|||||||
|
Grade |
Whole Time Equivalent |
Head Count |
Whole Time Equivalent |
Head Count |
||||
|
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
|
|
Secretary General |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Deputy Secretary |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
||||
|
Assistant Secretary |
4 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3.8 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
|
Director |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Principal Officer |
15.8 |
11 |
16 |
11 |
18.6 |
11.8 |
19 |
12 |
|
Principal Officer Equivalent |
8.53 |
5 |
10 |
5 |
7.5 |
4 |
9 |
4 |
|
Assistant Principal |
48.48 |
36 |
53 |
36 |
53.53 |
41 |
58 |
41 |
|
Assistant Principal Equivalent |
14.8 |
6 |
15 |
6 |
16.8 |
8 |
17 |
8 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
39.93 |
35.3 |
48 |
36 |
46.33 |
37.33 |
54 |
38 |
|
Administrative Officer |
17.6 |
10 |
18 |
10 |
14.6 |
19 |
15 |
19 |
|
Executive Officer |
32.4 |
20.2 |
36 |
21 |
38.93 |
22.7 |
42 |
24 |
|
Staff Officer |
5.53 |
1 |
6 |
1 |
||||
|
Clerical Officer |
43.8 |
11 |
48 |
11 |
46.8 |
13.3 |
50 |
14 |
|
Temporary Clerical Officer |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Service Officer |
1 |
7 |
1 |
7 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
|
Total |
233.87 |
151.5 |
257 |
153 |
250.89 |
170.1 |
272 |
173 |
|
2018 |
2019 - to end Feb |
|||||||
|
Whole Time Equivalent |
Head Count |
Whole Time Equivalent |
Head Count |
|||||
|
Grade |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
|
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|||||
|
Secretary General |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
|
Deputy Secretary |
4 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
||||
|
Director |
19.83 |
16 |
21 |
16 |
21.03 |
17 |
22 |
17 |
|
Principal Officer |
10.13 |
3.2 |
11 |
4 |
10.13 |
3.2 |
11 |
4 |
|
Principal Officer Equivalent |
54.83 |
52 |
60 |
52 |
53.83 |
55 |
59 |
55 |
|
Assistant Principal |
18.8 |
7.4 |
19 |
8 |
17.8 |
7.4 |
18 |
8 |
|
Assistant Principal Equivalent |
52.58 |
34.48 |
60 |
36 |
49.93 |
33.48 |
57 |
34 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
16.6 |
21 |
17 |
21 |
17.6 |
20 |
18 |
20 |
|
Administrative Officer |
40.4 |
30.7 |
43 |
32 |
43.75 |
31.7 |
47 |
33 |
|
Executive Officer |
||||||||
|
Staff Officer |
43 |
17.3 |
44 |
18 |
42 |
20.3 |
43 |
21 |
|
Clerical Officer |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
|
Temporary Clerical Officer |
1 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
|
Service Officer |
264.17 |
196.08 |
283 |
201 |
264.07 |
202.08 |
283 |
206 |
|
Total |
|
Ministerial Appointees |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 - to end Feb |
||||||||||||
|
Grade |
Whole Time Equivalent |
Head Count |
Whole Time Equivalent |
Head Count |
Whole Time Equivalent |
Head Count |
Whole Time Equivalent |
Head Count |
||||||||
|
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
|
|
Advisers |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Civilian Drivers |
1 |
9 |
1 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
||||||
|
Total |
3 |
10 |
3 |
10 |
2 |
11 |
2 |
11 |
3 |
11 |
3 |
11 |
3 |
11 |
3 |
11 |
212. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the HSE home care services budget for 2019; the number of hours to be provided; the number of recipients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18363/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a Government, we have made improved access to home support services a key priority. Recent years have seen a considerable increase in the budget for these services, which is now in excess of €445 million.
The 2019 Health Service Executive National Service Plan provides for more than 18 million home support hours this year to over 53,000 people. This includes Intensive Home Care Packages, aimed primarily at supporting people with Dementia, meaning about 235 people will benefit from 360,000 hours of support in 2019.
213. Deputy Stephen Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated full year cost of increasing general practitioner training places from 202 to 274. [18377/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs GP training is currently the responsibility of the Health Service Executive, I have arranged for this question to be referred to the Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
214. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if the costs incurred with gestational diabetic testing and medication will be covered under maternity care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18381/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
215. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulatory overview in primary and secondary legislation with respect to the 125 km radius haulage distance limit, that is, 125 km CAT 1 waste transport rule for bovine knackery material going to rendering plants; and the reason for the limit in place. [18288/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra224. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulatory overview in primary and secondary legislation with respect to the 125 km radius haulage distance limit, that is, 125 km CAT 1 waste transport rule for bovine knackery material going to rendering plants; the reason for the limit in place; and if he has spoken to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on this issue. [18287/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 224 together.
The Fallen Animal TSE Subsidy Scheme is an integral part of the infrastructure underpinning Ireland’s successful livestock and meat processing industries. The rules and regulations of this Scheme are solely the responsibility of my Department and, as a result, I have had no contact with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on the issue raised by the Deputy.
The Scheme ensures primarily that fallen bovine animals over 48 months, which must be BSE-tested in accordance with EU legislation, are disposed of in compliance with all animal and public health and environmental regulations.
A review of the Fallen Animal TSE Subsidy Scheme was undertaken in 2013, in consultation with stakeholders. This review took into account TSE testing requirements, Animal By-Product (ABP) regulations, budgetary considerations, the need to maintain competition and the need for an adequate collection and disposal infrastructure including the availability of adequate rendering capacity especially in the event of a serious (Class A) disease outbreak.
A number of changes were introduced to the collection of fallen animals under the scheme in 2013. Those included enhanced compliance provisions and putting limits on the distance material can be transported while maintaining a competitive aspect to the market.
Under the terms of the scheme the haulage distance for material to which the scheme applies from the intermediate plant (knackery) to rendering plant shall not exceed 125kms radius unless with the prior approval of my Department. The scheme also provides that, where there are not two or more rendering premises inside 125kms radius from the intermediate plant, then delivery is permitted to either of the two nearest rendering premises as measured by road.
An operator is free to dispose of animals not eligible under the Fallen Animal TSE Subsidy Scheme to a licensed plant of his choice and the arrangements made are a commercial matter between them.
216. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the transfer of a property (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18131/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not received an application from the trustees of the property referenced by the Deputy to transfer the land to the organisation named. The trustees have recently submitted a proposal to transfer the land to a community company and my officials in the Lands Branch are currently engaging with the trustees in relation to that proposal.
217. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18132/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
An issue arose in relation to the transfer of the GLAS contract from a registered farm partnership to a herd number which has delayed the processing of the 2016 Advance payment as the BPS application was submitted under the partnership number but the GLAS contract is now under the new herd number. Department officials are actively working on a resolution to this issue so that payments can commence as quickly as possible in this case.
Once this case clears validations, the payment will be made. GLAS payments are issuing on a weekly basis.
218. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has contacted persons who had their single payment scheme payment reduced (details supplied); the number of farmers who have had reduced payments as a result of the earlier rule which was not in compliance with EU regulations; the process in place for dealing with these fines and making refunds to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18200/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to qualify for payment under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS), an applicant must have an eligible hectare for each entitlement held. Eligible land must be maintained in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation without preparatory action going beyond the usual agricultural methods and machineries. There must be an agricultural activity carried out in the parcel as abandoned land is not eligible for payment. Payment under other area-based schemes, e.g. Area of Natural Constraints (ANC), is also based on the land declared being deemed as eligible land.
The presence of suitable fencing is just one of the criteria that can be used to determine whether or not land is being maintained in an eligible condition and that there is an agricultural activity in the parcel. The absence of suitable fencing, particularly on marginal type land, may indicate that grazing livestock are not being controlled in a manner to satisfy the maintenance requirement of an “eligible hectare”. The 2019 BPS Terms and Conditions provide clarification with regard to fencing. There has been no change in the rules on the eligibility of land, rather further clarification has been provided on the matter of fencing of land. Where parcels have been deemed ineligible in the past, the assessment was similar to the current assessment.
A decision on whether or not a parcel of land is eligible for payment will include an assessment of suitability for use for agricultural purposes, state of the vegetation and evidence of parcel use e.g. grazing. Appropriate fencing was, and continues to be, an indicator that a parcel is being managed and maintained in an eligible state.
There is a comprehensive independent appeals process in place, whereby any applicant may seek an appeal of a decision affecting his/her farm payments. If the Deputy has a specific case on which he wishes to receive further clarification, this will be provided on receipt of the details of the case in question.
219. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the State agencies and bodies under the remit of his Department; the location of each such body by county; and the number of full and part-time persons employed in each such body. [18224/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are twelve State bodies under my Department’s remit, their names and locations are set out as follows.
|
State Body |
County location |
|
The Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board |
Laois |
|
An Bord Bia |
Dublin |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
Dublin |
|
Bord na gCon |
Limerick |
|
Coillte |
Wicklow |
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
Kildare |
|
Irish National Stud |
Kildare |
|
The Marine Institute |
Galway |
|
The National Milk Agency |
Dublin |
|
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority |
Cork |
|
Teagasc |
Carlow |
|
The Veterinary Council of Ireland |
Dublin |
The information requested on the number of full and part-time persons employed in each body is an operational matter for the bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the State bodies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.
220. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of BPS recipients with payment entitlements with an initial unit value less than 60% of the BPS national average in each of the years over the 2014 to 2020 period, by county in tabular form; the proportion in each county with an initial unit value less than 60% of the BPS national average out of total BPS recipients in each such year; and the date on which all BPS recipients will be above the 60% average in each county. [18282/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraTable A details the number of Basic Payment Scheme entitlement holders with an Initial Unit Value less than 60% of the Basic Payment Scheme national average from 2015 to 2019 by county while Table B shows the percentage of Basic Payment Scheme entitlement holders with an Initial Unit Value less than 60% of the Basic Payment Scheme national average out of the total Basic Payment Scheme entitlement holders from 2015 to 2019 by county.
The Basic Payment Scheme came into being in 2015 therefore values are not available for 2014. The future of CAP in the year 2020 and beyond continues to be subject to discussion, therefore values for 2020 are not available. As outlined in the tables below, all Basic Payment Scheme entitlement holders will have entitlements values above or equal to 60% of the Basic Payment Scheme national average in 2019. All values are subject to rounding.
|
COUNTY |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
CARLOW |
163 |
147 |
136 |
121 |
0 |
|
CAVAN |
1,137 |
1,081 |
1,005 |
944 |
0 |
|
CLARE |
1,451 |
1,317 |
1,182 |
1,032 |
0 |
|
CORK |
2,112 |
1,973 |
1,815 |
1,643 |
0 |
|
DONEGAL |
4,310 |
4,133 |
3,913 |
3,634 |
0 |
|
DUBLIN |
146 |
138 |
126 |
115 |
0 |
|
GALWAY |
3,465 |
3,319 |
3,128 |
2,909 |
0 |
|
KERRY |
2,854 |
2,697 |
2,514 |
2,286 |
0 |
|
KILDARE |
372 |
346 |
329 |
307 |
0 |
|
KILKENNY |
359 |
330 |
302 |
282 |
0 |
|
LAOIS |
396 |
368 |
333 |
292 |
0 |
|
LEITRIM |
1,482 |
1,373 |
1,238 |
1,101 |
0 |
|
LIMERICK |
1,162 |
1,072 |
970 |
869 |
0 |
|
LONGFORD |
432 |
399 |
366 |
332 |
0 |
|
LOUTH |
241 |
230 |
211 |
195 |
0 |
|
MAYO |
4,154 |
3,949 |
3,687 |
3,401 |
0 |
|
MEATH |
618 |
584 |
553 |
506 |
0 |
|
MONAGHAN |
711 |
672 |
621 |
569 |
0 |
|
OFFALY |
631 |
596 |
553 |
514 |
0 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
1,286 |
1,163 |
1,061 |
954 |
0 |
|
SLIGO |
1,306 |
1,209 |
1,100 |
985 |
0 |
|
TIPPERARY |
949 |
878 |
806 |
728 |
0 |
|
WATERFORD |
355 |
321 |
292 |
266 |
0 |
|
WESTMEATH |
617 |
578 |
540 |
499 |
0 |
|
WEXFORD |
400 |
375 |
354 |
323 |
0 |
|
WICKLOW |
454 |
432 |
401 |
362 |
0 |
Table B: The percentage of Basic Payment Scheme entitlement holders with an Initial Unit Value less than 60% of the Basic Payment Scheme national average out of the total Basic Payment Scheme entitlement holders from 2015 to 2019 by county.
|
COUNTY |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
CARLOW |
10 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
0 |
|
CAVAN |
24 |
23 |
21 |
20 |
0 |
|
CLARE |
24 |
22 |
20 |
17 |
0 |
|
CORK |
16 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
0 |
|
DONEGAL |
52 |
50 |
47 |
44 |
0 |
|
DUBLIN |
24 |
23 |
21 |
19 |
0 |
|
GALWAY |
29 |
28 |
26 |
24 |
0 |
|
KERRY |
37 |
35 |
33 |
30 |
0 |
|
KILDARE |
18 |
17 |
16 |
15 |
0 |
|
KILKENNY |
10 |
10 |
9 |
8 |
0 |
|
LAOIS |
14 |
13 |
11 |
10 |
0 |
|
LEITRIM |
43 |
40 |
36 |
32 |
0 |
|
LIMERICK |
23 |
21 |
19 |
17 |
0 |
|
LONGFORD |
18 |
17 |
16 |
14 |
0 |
|
LOUTH |
16 |
15 |
14 |
13 |
0 |
|
MAYO |
36 |
34 |
32 |
30 |
0 |
|
MEATH |
17 |
16 |
15 |
14 |
0 |
|
MONAGHAN |
18 |
17 |
16 |
14 |
0 |
|
OFFALY |
21 |
20 |
18 |
17 |
0 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
23 |
21 |
19 |
17 |
0 |
|
SLIGO |
33 |
31 |
28 |
25 |
0 |
|
TIPPERARY |
14 |
13 |
12 |
11 |
0 |
|
WATERFORD |
15 |
13 |
12 |
11 |
0 |
|
WESTMEATH |
21 |
20 |
18 |
17 |
0 |
|
WEXFORD |
10 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
0 |
|
WICKLOW |
22 |
21 |
19 |
17 |
0 |
221. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all BPS entitlements will reach the minimum value of 60% of the basic payment scheme national average by 2019 as scheduled; the number of entitlements that have reached the minimum value of 60% of the basic payment scheme national average; and the number of entitlements that have not reached the minimum value of 60% of the basic payment scheme national average. [18283/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll eligible farmers were notified of the value of their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payment entitlements for the scheme years of 2015 to 2019. In accordance with Article 25(4) of EU Regulation 1307/2013, the net unit value of all BPS payment entitlements were scheduled to reach a minimum value of 60% of the BPS national average by 2019.
As we are now in the 2019 BPS year, the net unit value of all BPS payment entitlements have reached the minimum 60% of the BPS national average.
222. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial allocations on an annual basis under the RDP 2014-2020 for schemes (details supplied); the annual amount expended on the schemes in each year since established; the number of active participants in each scheme; and the number of approved applicants that subsequently withdrew from each scheme in tabular form. [18284/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows.
Table 1 – Allocations and Expenditure under certain RDP Schemes
|
|
Knowledge Transfer Scheme €000 |
GLAS €000 |
Beef Data and Genomics Programme €000 |
TAMS II €000 |
Sheep Welfare Scheme €000 |
Hen Harrier Programme €000 |
|
Allocation 2015 |
0 |
20,000 |
35,000 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Expenditure 2015 |
0 |
11,453 |
34,692 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Allocation 2016 |
0 |
139,500 |
52,000 |
28,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
Expenditure 2016 |
0 |
102,615 |
61,800 |
3,971 |
0 |
0 |
|
Allocation 2017 |
22,821 |
228,500 |
49,000 |
49,832 |
17,000 |
2,940 |
|
Expenditure 2017 |
13,784 |
195,583 |
47,137 |
31,256 |
15,851 |
717 |
|
Allocation 2018 |
23,000 |
226,000 |
49,500 |
69,943 |
20,000 |
3,500 |
|
Expenditure 2018 |
21,665 |
231,978 |
47,451 |
66,751 |
17,650 |
1,154 |
|
Allocation 2019 |
25,000 |
203,000 |
46,500 |
70,000 |
18,000 |
3,115 |
The 2020 allocations will be determined as part of the annual estimates process for 2020.
Table 2 – No. of participants and withdrawals
|
|
Knowledge Transfer Scheme |
GLAS |
Beef Data and Genomics Programme |
TAMS II |
Sheep Welfare Scheme |
Hen Harrier Programme |
|
Number of active participants |
18,535 |
48,821 |
24,531 |
18,167 |
18,839 |
628 |
|
Number of applicants that have withdrawn |
1,142 |
3,240 * |
7,266 ** |
460 |
1,239 *** |
0 |
* Data includes both withdrawn and rejected applications because the system does not differentiate between those categories. Also, some double-counting may occur as individuals who moved tranche could be recorded as both active in the latter tranche but withdrawn/rejected in the former tranche.
** Data includes 859 participants excluded from the scheme because of issues relating to non-completion of training and Carbon Navigator requirements.
*** The figure for participants is for year 2 of the scheme. The figure for withdrawn cases is the aggregate for years 1 and 2.
223. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the no-deal Brexit contingency plan for fisheries published by the European Commission in a communication on 10 April 2019, Addressing the impact of a withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the Union without an agreement: the Union’s coordinated approach, (details supplied); the reciprocal accesses to waters envisaged under this plan; and the authorisation process foreseen for European vessels wishing to fish in UK waters. [18285/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU Commission last week issued a Brexit Contingency Plan, agreed with Ireland and seven other impacted Member States, which sets out how fisheries would be managed in a no-deal Brexit. Fisheries is recognised as one of the most immediately critical issues facing the EU in a no-deal Brexit.
The Plan reflects that the EU has adopted two contingency measures in the area of fisheries to cover all scenarios under a no-deal Brexit. On the one hand, the EU has created the appropriate legal framework in a no-deal Brexit situation to allow UK vessels reciprocal access to EU waters throughout 2019, if the UK grants such access to EU vessels in its waters. On the other hand, the EU has also adjusted the eligibility criteria of the Fisheries and Maritime Fund, to ensure that fishermen who have to cease their activities – in case the UK does not grant continued access to its waters – can receive compensation. In such a case, it would be essential that Member States adopt a coordinated approach to ensure a level-playing field between EU fishermen in different Member States and to protect marine resources.
The Communication sets down the preparations in the EU, agreed with the eight Member States directly impacted, in the event of a no-deal Brexit. It identifies the need for mitigation measures and in particular compensation for temporary tie up of fishing vessels. It gives the EU Commission a strong co-ordination role.
This communication reflects the high level of planning by Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Denmark and Sweden working closely with DG Mare. When I met Commissioner Vella last February, I emphasised the real risks of a concentration of fishing into Ireland’s 200 miles fishing zone by EU fleets if they are excluded from UK waters. I pointed out that inevitably this would lead to displacement of our own fleet and depletion of fish stocks if no action is taken.
I stressed to the Commissioner the need for a European approach to addressing this issue and agreed with him that the key Member States and DG Mare needed to put in place a contingency plan. I have been working intensively over recent weeks, and have kept the fishing industry informed of the work to ensure that we are ready for this worst case situation, while always hoping that we will never need to call upon these plans.
We now have identified and agreed, co-ordinated and fully prepared measures that will be immediately available to address a no-deal Brexit situation, if the UK were to decide to deny EU vessels access to UK waters. I am seeking additional EU funds to support this mitigation measure if they become necessary. If we need to call on these arrangements, it will be essential, as we have now agreed at EU level, that all involved EU fleets must co-operate under these structured arrangements to manage the situation. These arrangements facilitate a European response to the situation with the objective that the Irish fleet would not be disproportionately impacted ensuring that each Member State impacted would take a fair share of the pain.
