Written Answers Nos. 176-200
176. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to consult with charities and patient organisations on whole genome sequencing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42469/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraStakeholder engagement is a fundamental component in the development of policy. Various structures, including public consultation, have been developed to ensure that the voice of the public and the patient is represented in the policy development process.
Currently, there is no formal consultation structure that applies uniquely to whole genome sequencing. However, the whole issue of genetics, genome sequencing, service provision and research, in the context of future policy developments in relation to precision/personalised medicine is currently under review by the Department.
177. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason patients going across the Border for treatment are waiting for arrears payment from the HSE; the number of cases that have been dealt with in 2019; the number waiting to be reimbursed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42471/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE is responsible for the operation of the Cross Border Directive and the management of the HSE Cross Border Directive (CBD) office is an operational matter for the HSE.
The HSE has advised that the scheme is operating with an increasing workload and currently has a backlog of up to 4 months claims/applications.
Officials of my Department met with the HSE in July to discuss the issue of reimbursement delays for patients who have availed of the Directive. The HSE undertook to give consideration to measures which could be put in place in the short-term to address the significant backlog in processing applications, and to also examine current resourcing of the CBD office and to identify necessary actions to mitigate waiting times arising from current and future demand for the scheme. A report is awaited from the HSE on the measures it proposes to take to address the delays in reimbursement.
As the PQ refers to operational matters which HSE have operational responsibility for, I have also referred the Deputies question to them for direct reply.
178. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no periodontist based in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42475/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
179. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the percentage of home care support services outsourced to private companies in 2018 and to date in 2019, by CHO in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42476/19]
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.
180. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health if correspondence has been received from a pharmacist (details supplied) regarding the abuse of codeine products; if he has considered the contents of the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42490/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that correspondence has been received from the pharmacist referred to and officials in my department are currently reviewing the proposals made therein.
Codeine is a mild to moderate opioid analgesic which, due to its potential for misuse, is a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs legislation.
As an analgesic, codeine is most often used in combination with other analgesics such as parcacetamol or ibuprofen and is currently authorised in Ireland in such non-prescription products for pain relief. These authorised products are available without a prescription through retail pharmacy businesses only. The Pharmacy Act 2007 (No. 20 of 2007) and the Regulation of Retail Pharmacy Businesses Regulations 2008 (S.I. No. 488 of 2008) as amended require that all medicines supplied through a pharmacy must be supplied by, or under the personal supervision of, a pharmacist and that all medicines, prescription and non-prescription, supplied must be the subject of appropriate counselling.
In 2010, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI), the regulator of pharmacists and retail pharmacy businesses, issued guidance to pharmacists on the safe supply of non-prescription products containing codeine. This guidance was subsequently updated in 2015, 2017, and most recently in April 2019. The guidance covers the requirements set out above and, in addition, contains further restrictions which apply to the supply of codeine-based products.
These restrictions include a requirement that codeine-based products are not available to the public for self-selection and should only be supplied when a pharmacist deems such a supply to be necessary and only when a non-opioid analgesic, e.g. paracetamol, aspirin or ibuprofen, has not proven sufficient to relieve the patient's sysptoms. The guidance also states that codeine medicines should be used for the shortest time possible and for no longer than three days without medical supervision. Pharmacists must ensure that patients are advised of the importance of adhering to the recommended dosage and duration of use as well as the risks associated with overdose and or/prolonged use. Patients should also be counselled in respect of potential adverse reactions or side effects.
The full guidance document, along with information on current legislative requirements, is available on the PSI website:
https://www.thepsi.ie/Libraries/Folder_Pharmacy_Practice_Guidance/01_3_Safe_supply_of_Codeine_to_patients.sflb.ashx
181. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the number of slots provided to Cavan General Hospital for the Drogheda fracture clinic due to increased demand and to ease waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42509/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly as soon as possible.
182. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the details of the €25 million allocated to disability services between the four sections listed on page 112 of the budget book, that is, school leavers, respite, emergency protocols and autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42518/19]
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.
183. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the additional funds that have been provided in budget 2020 for the assessment of needs programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42519/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile no additional funding was provided in Budget 2020 for the assessment of needs process, the previous year's Budget provided funding for an additional 100 therapy posts to help reduce the long waiting times for assessment of need and enable children with disabilities to access timely assessment and intervention. Some of these posts are in place and many others are at varying stages of the recruitment process. The HSE is endeavouring to fill all 100 posts by the end of the year.
In addition, HSE Disability Services is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of its existing therapy resources for children with disabilities into multi-disciplinary geographically based teams, as part of its National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years).
The key objective of this Programme is to bring about equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties.
Evidence to date from areas where this has been rolled out shows that implementation of this programme will also have a positive impact on waiting lists both for Assessments of Need and therapy provision.
While not addressing all needs, I am confident these initiatives will have a significant positive impact in reducing waiting times for Assessment of Need over the course of the next year.
184. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the number of children awaiting an assessment of needs; the number awaiting a report from their assessment of needs nationally by CHO; the length of time each child is waiting for the assessment; the length of time children are waiting for the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42520/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
185. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Health when he will meet a person (details supplied) regarding the person's issues with the content of the MacCraith report; if he will meet with the person prior to An Taoiseach issuing an apology to those caught up in the CervicalCheck controversy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42522/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have agreed to meet with the individual named by the Deputy in the near future. The meeting will be arranged as soon as possible according to the individual's availability and as my diary allows.
186. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to reintroduce the rehabilitative training allowance in view of its value and importance to many trainees nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42570/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis 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. The 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.
The payment of the Rehabilitative Training (RT) Bonus came into place on the transition of Rehabilitative / Training Programmes to the HSE following the dissolution of the National Rehabilitation Board in June 2000.
The decision to phase out the Rehabilitative Training (RT) Bonus payment is designed to bring equity and consistency between people with a disability attending HSE funded rehabilitative training programmes who receive the payment, and those attending similar HSE funded Day Services or in other State schemes such as further education and training, who do not.
This action will ensure all HSE funded Day Services are provided on an equitable basis and will also ensure that the use of finite resources is maximised.
The Rehabilitative Training (RT) Bonus Payment is a historical payment, introduced in July 2001, aligned with a similar FÁS Training Bonus. However, during 2011 the FÁS Training Bonus was reduced to €20.00 and then eliminated the following year while to date the RT Bonus Payment has continued to be paid in the Health Sector
It is worth remembering that:
- There is no cut in the number of RT places available
- There is no cut in payment of the bonus - those who have it will continue to receive it for the remainder of their RT Placement
- The majority of attendees of HSE Disability Services, including Rehabilitative Training programmes, qualify for Disability Allowance, paid at the rate of €203 per week, which also qualifies them for a Free Travel Pass.
- No expectation of an additional RT bonus payment has been created by HSE for 2019 participants.
The redirected funding (€3.7 m over 4 years), which will be ring-fenced, will facilitate 148 full day placements or 370 enhanced day places nationally based on priority need.
Each CHO will have the flexibility to redirect its own savings to address local service requirements. The HSE will put in place a monitoring system and regularly report the additional placements realised to the Department of Health.
187. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Cork County Council refuses to remove stray horses from lands in Hollyhill, Cork city, in view of numerous requests from the landowner to do so; the reason persons living in the area are allowed to own horses if they do not have adequate land for grazing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42547/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department officials are aware of the situation in Hollyhill to which the Deputy refers.
I am informed that the Gardai have taken the lead in the matter under the provisions of the Control of Horses Act and a total of five equines were removed recently under the Act. I also understand that the remaining animals were removed temporarily from the site. An Garda Siochana are aware of the situation and are liaising with the relevant stakeholders.
A local authority may, where it considers that, in any place or area within its functional area, horses are causing or may cause a nuisance or danger to persons or damage to property, make bye-laws to
prohibit a person from having, keeping, riding or driving a horse in that place or area at any time or at such times as may be specified in the bye-laws.
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which 4,000 acres of forestry of native species can contribute to carbon sequestration annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42558/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra189. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which 4,000 acres of forestry of coniferous species can contribute to carbon sequestration annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42559/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.
The amount of carbon captured by a forest depends on a number of factors not least of which is the individual species planted as some species are more productive than others. The management regime applied to the forest will also impact on productivity where, for example, conifer forests thinned three times will capture more carbon than a forest which has not been thinned at all. If the forest has been impacted by biotic and abiotic factors, it may struggle to grow as well as a forest that has not been subject to pest or disease outbreaks. Each individual forest is, therefore, different in terms of the amount of carbon it can capture and only ground verification of a mature forest can give an accurate figure of carbon capture.
The most recent National Forest Inventory estimates that Ireland's forests have removed (sequestered) on average 3.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year (approximately 5 tonnes of CO2 per hectare per year) from the atmosphere over the period 2007 to 2016 based on a total national forest estate of 770,020 ha. This is an average figure and takes into account all different types of tree species and ages growing on a range of different soil types.
In addition, the rate of sequestration changes over time as a forest develops and matures. The Department has funded a number of large scale research projects which have examined carbon stocks and stock changes in Irish forests. For example, the carbon stocks in a Sitka spruce forest and an ash forest at different ages have been measured and are available in published journal articles. This work found that, after forty-seven years, an ash forest has 177.8 and Sitka spruce forest 376.7 tonnes of carbon per hectare. However, these figures are specific to the forests and soils examined and should not be used to reflect all forests of these species.
190. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding possible vaccination of hares to protect them from the RHD2 virus which has been detected in a number of counties, including County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42366/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the emergence of RHD2 virus in hares in this country and my Department is currently engaging with relevant stakeholders to determine the most appropriate response to this disease.
191. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency steps being taken to limit the impact of a no-deal Brexit on the agriculture sector here. [42400/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra193. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingency steps being taken to limit the impact of a no-deal Brexit on the agriculture sector here. [42474/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 193 together.
Addressing the challenges of a no-deal Brexit takes place at a number of levels and has involved responses at the EU level, responses by Government and responses by businesses and affected sectors. The Government's Contingency Action Plan update published in July 2019 highlights the intensive work which has taken place across Government, including by the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine.
I have introduced a number of supports to assist the agriculture sector in preparing to address the challenges posed by Brexit. These include:
- the €150 million Low-Cost Loan Scheme;
- the €300 million Brexit Loan Scheme;
- the €300 million Future Growth Loan Scheme; and
- the €100 million Beef Exceptional Aid Measure.
In addition to the above supports, I have introduced a range of other measures over the last number budgets to assist the agri-food sector in preparing to address the challenges posed by Brexit. These include:
- Direct aid to farmers;
- Capital funding for the food industry;
- Supports for Bord Bia and Teagasc to assist food companies prepare for Brexit including through market diversification and innovation.
I have led an intensified series of trade missions to develop and grow new markets to increase the sector's global footprint across the world, and to reduce our dependence on the UK market. I have appointed Attaches throughout the globe to further develop and deepen market access.
In Budget 2020, the Government announced that it will provide a ‘no-deal’ contingency fund to support our most vulnerable sectors, with up to €650 million available overall, to be activated in tranches as the full impacts of Brexit emerge. €110 million will be made available for the agri-food sector in the first tranche, to be supplemented by any exceptional aid provided by the EU.
The provision of immediate supports for our beef sector will be a first priority, as will support for our fishing fleet. We also want to support food companies to re-orient towards new products and markets, and to support other sectors to improve their competitiveness.
While supports cannot fully address the negative effects of a no-deal Brexit for the agri-food and fisheries sectors, this first tranche of supports will be used to ameliorate the immediate impact on farmers and fishermen, as the full impact of a no-deal Brexit crystallises, and to make some of the adjustments needed to improve resilience for businesses in the face of new market realities.
192. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an ANC payment will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42404/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe named individual applied for the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme on the 19 April 2019.
The advance payment for the 2019 ANC Scheme has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
194. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the remote sensing inspection will be completed; when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42479/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2018 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes application on the 8th April 2019. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise, officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
195. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to budget 2020, the current and capital allocation for the forestry programme in his Department in 2020; the amount of capital carryover for the programme in 2020; and the allocations for each respective forestry scheme that will be provided in 2020. [42488/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total estimated allocation for the Forestry Programme for 2020 is €103.43m. The funding for the Forestry Programme of my Department, reflects the target of 8,000ha of new afforestation, outlined in the Government’s Climate Action Plan, 2019.
The capital allocation is estimated at €100.1m and the current is just over €3.25m. The capital allocation provides for new afforestation, the existing annual premiums for current Afforestation Scheme participants and the Forestry Support Schemes. The support schemes include the Forest Road Works Scheme along with other forestry schemes such as Woodland Improvement and NeighbourWood. The capital allocation also provides for the National Forest Inventory, which is commencing a new cycle in 2020.
The current allocation is designed for other support schemes including the very successful Forestry Knowledge Transfer Group Scheme, which will reopen again in 2020. I have also provided funding for training and promotional strategies in 2020. The matter of capital carry-over will be finalised early in 2020.
196. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers enrolled in the ANC scheme in 2019; the breakdown by each respective area designation, including mountain type land, more severely handicapped lowland, less severely handicapped lowland and areas of specific constraints islands; the payment rate for each respective area designation; the amount of funding allocated to the scheme in 2019; the allocation made in budget 2020 for the scheme in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42504/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of 119,375 applications were submitted under the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, of which a total of 103,904 currently hold eligible land. Not all these applicants will be due to receive payments. For example, many will make on-farm decisions in relation to their stocking rates over the course of the year which will impact on their eligibility for payment. Some will only become eligible for payment later in the year.
Following the changes to the scheme introduced in the 2019 scheme year, the previous categories of land have been amended as follows. Mountain type land is now Category 1 land, more severely handicapped land is now Category 2 land, and less severely handicapped land is now Category 3 land. Separately, the island land category remains in place with no change.
The following table provides a breakdown of the number of applicants that have declared land under Category 1,2 and 3 and under the Island Farming Scheme.
|
Number of applicants who have ANC Category 1 land |
Number of applicants who have ANC Category 2 land |
Number of applicants who have ANC Category 3 land |
Number of applicants who have Island land |
|
32,480 |
59,349 |
28,130 |
938 |
Please note that the above table displays a count of all applicants to have declared land in each category. An applicant may have declared land in more than 1 category and will be included in the total number of applicants under each category of land for which they have declared.
The payment rate for each ANC category is set out in the scheme terms and conditions as follows:
|
Land Category |
Area |
2019 Rate |
|
Category 1 |
1st 12ha |
€148 |
|
Category 1 |
13- 34 ha |
€112 |
|
Category 2 |
1st 10 ha |
€111 |
|
Category 2 |
11 - 30 ha |
€104 |
|
Category 3 |
1st 8 ha |
€93 |
|
Category 3 |
0 - 30 ha |
€88.25 |
The payment rate for the island category of land are also set out in the scheme terms and conditions as follows:
|
Area Designation |
Payment Rates |
|
|
Areas of Specific Constraints (Island Farming) |
€250 |
Up to and including the first 20 hectares of Areas of Specific Constraints or part thereof |
|
Areas of Specific Constraints (Island Farming) |
€170 |
Greater than 20 hectares or less than or equal to 34 hectares of Areas of Specific Constraints |
|
Areas of Specific Constraints (Island Farming) |
€70 |
Greater than 34 hectares or less than or equal to 40 hectares of Areas of Specific Constraints |
I am conscious of the many challenges currently faced by farmers and, with this in mind, in Budget 2019 I secured additional funding of €23 million to bring the overall annual budget for the 2019 ANC scheme up to €250 million. The allocation for ANC in Budget 2020 is maintained at €250 million.
197. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers enrolled in the ANC scheme in 2019, by county; the number of farmers by county enrolled in the ANC by each respective area designation; the number of applicants to the scheme in 2019; the number of approved applicants by county who have received their 85% advance payment ; the number of approved applicants who have not received their advance payment; and the number of applicants who were not approved into the scheme. [42505/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of 119,375 applications were submitted under the 2019 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, of which a total of 103,904 currently hold eligible land. Not all applicants who have eligible land will necessarily satisfy all the scheme requirements in order to qualify for a payment. For example, many will make on-farm decisions in relation to their stocking rates over the course of the year which will impact on their eligibility for payment. Some will only become eligible for payment later in the year.
Payments under the 2019 ANC scheme commenced on schedule during the week commencing 16th September 2019 with 79,000 farmers being paid €168.5 million. This was an increase of 2,000 farmers compared to the opening of ANC payments in September 2018. Regular payment runs continue to take place and to date, a total of 86,508 applications have received their 85% advance payment, totalling €185.2m.
Twice weekly payment runs will continue to take place to ensure that, as additional cases become clear, payment will issue as soon as possible.
The table at the link shows the total number of applications under the scheme for 2019, the number of applications with eligible land, the breakdown of applicants by each area designation and the number who have received their advance payment per county.
Please note that the table displays a count of all applicants to have declared land in each area category. An applicant may have declared land in more than 1 category and will be included in the total number of applicants under each category of land for which they have declared.
198. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a partial BPS payment will issue to a person (details supplied). [42532/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application under the 2018 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) on 8 May 2018.
The forestry parcels declared on this application have been further reviewed taking account of the circumstances outlined and they have been updated accordingly. Advance payments under the 2019 BPS are due to commence on the 16th October.
Following this, periodic pay runs will re-commence for cases that become clear for payment under previous scheme years. It is expected that these previous year pay runs will commence in early November, and the payment in this case is expected to issue at that time.
199. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he discussed the fishing zones between Ireland and the UK and possible blockades and conflict at sea with his UK counterpart. [42311/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraBrexit negotiations are led by Michel Barnier and the EU team. Ireland participates in talks with the EU27 and my officials and I have had intensive discussions with the European Commission, other relevant Member States and stakeholders regarding the potential negative impact of a disorderly or no-deal Brexit on the Irish fishing industry and the wider seafood sector as whole.
The key issues in a no-deal situation which I have stressed in all discussions are the potential loss of access for Irish and other EU vessels to the UK fishing zone, the need to ensure ongoing protection of fish stocks in the waters around Ireland from a subsequent increase in fishing activity and potential mitigation measures for the seafood sector at EU level. It is also important to be aware that, in such a no-deal situation, the EU and Ireland could also face a loss of quota share.
Throughout the discussions, I emphasised the necessity for a coordinated European response to ensure that there would be proportionate and equitable use of mitigation measures overseen by the Commission.
At the Agrifish Council in Luxembourg last Monday, I took the opportunity to discuss with fellow Fisheries Ministers the ongoing Brexit preparatory work by the eight EU Member States most likely to be impacted by the UK's withdrawal from the EU.
There has been a significant amount of preparatory work done at official and industry level across the Member States and in cooperation with the Commission for all scenarios.
My priority has been, and remains, to maintain existing levels of access to waters and resources. The European Commission has put in place a legal framework to allow the authorisation of EU and UK vessels to continue to fish in each other's waters until 31 December 2019, if agreement is reached between the UK and the EU on such access. The Commission has put forward a proposal to extend this temporary framework to 31 December 2020, if a Withdrawal Agreement is not in place. The Regulation does not provide a commitment of ongoing reciprocal access – it simply creates the necessary legal framework to allow for the possibility of such access. However, in the worst case scenario of a disorderly departure, we can expect that those reciprocal arrangements will be impacted, at least in the very short term.
A disorderly departure, that included a loss of access to UK waters, would have very serious consequences for our seafood industry. I am satisfied that, in cooperation with our stakeholders and EU partners, we are doing all that we can to plan to mitigate the potential impacts.
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which grant funding remains available for qualified or unqualified farmers for the construction of on-farm underpasses and bridges in cases in which health and safety standards have dropped significantly due to increased vehicular traffic levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42566/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are a huge variety of items available under the suite of seven measures under TAMS II. The financial allocation in respect of TAMS for the full Rural Development Programme period will be in the region of €395m. To date, total expenditure, including transitional expenditure, has reached €170m and payments continue to issue at the average rate of €1.4m per week.
23,800 applications have been approved under the scheme. The position is that all outstanding approvals issued represent potential outstanding liabilities for my Department and we must have a budget in place to pay these claims. As a result, it is not possible to consider adding additional items including cattle underpasses to the comprehensive list of investment items already available under TAMS II.
