Written Answers Nos. 286-302
286. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in each LHO area in CHO1 at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [50998/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra287. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in each LHO area in CHO2 at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [50999/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra288. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in each LHO area in CHO3 at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [51000/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra289. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in each LHO area in CHO4 at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [51001/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra290. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in each LHO area in CHO5 at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [51002/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra291. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in each LHO area in CHO6 at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [51003/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra292. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in each LHO area in CHO7 at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [51004/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra293. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in each LHO area in CHO8 at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [51005/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra294. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of children waiting for assessment by early intervention teams in each LHO area in CHO9 at the end of November 2019 or the latest date available; and the number waiting zero to three, three to six, six to nine, nine to 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24 and more than 24 months, respectively. [51006/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 286 to 294, 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.
295. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the general practitioner training intake to 200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260, 270, 280, 290 and 300 in a full calendar year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51064/19]
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.
296. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of increasing the income thresholds for medical cards and general practitioner visit cards in line with the expected wage inflation set out in the summer economic statement over the next four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51065/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for a medical card is determined by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Health Service Executive (HSE) issues income guidelines to assist in determining entitlement to medical cards/GP visit cards. Any revision to the income thresholds must have regard for Government policy, increases in the Consumer Price Index and other issues which may be relevant.
It should be noted that some changes have been recently made to both medical and GP visit card income thresholds. Budget 2019 made provision for a 10% increase across all GP visit card thresholds, which came into effect from April 1st, 2019. In addition, I announced in Budget 2020 that medical card gross income limits for those over 70 will be increased to €550 per week for a single person aged over 70 (currently €500 per week) and to €1050 for a couple aged over 70 (currently €900 per week), and will apply from July 2020.
With regard to the estimated cost of increasing income thresholds in the manner sought, this information is not readily available at this time. However to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, it should be noted that my Department keeps medical card issues such as existing income thresholds under constant review.
297. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the provision that will be made for the roll out of the home care support package (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51077/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling people to continue to live independently at home for as long as possible is a long-standing objective of the Government. To advance this the Government is committed to establishing a new statutory scheme for the financing and regulation of home-support services. Sláintecare commits to the establishment of this scheme by the end of 2021.
Throughout 2019, the Department of Health has been engaged in designing the scheme based on continual enhancement of existing service-provision and on good practice internationally in relation to health and social care delivery.
It is intended that the new scheme will provide equitable and transparent access to high quality services based on a person’s assessed need and in line with a sustainable funding model and will integrate effectively with other health and social care services, such as long-term residential care (including the Nursing Homes Support Scheme).
As part of Budget 2020 €7million has been allocated for the testing of the new model of service delivery envisaged as part of the development of the statutory home-support scheme.
298. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount allocated and expended on the woodland improvement scheme in each year since it was established; and if a new woodland improvement environmental enhancement scheme has been introduced to date. [50705/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS) – Element 1, Thinning and Tending has been in place since 2010. The Scheme is available to forest owners to thin and tend their broadleaf or broadleaf mixed forest. The Scheme provides two thinning interventions for these types of forestry, regardless of whether they are grant aided.
The scheme facilitates the enhancement of the environment associated with thinning. Thinning stimulates investment through improvement, protection and development of broadleaf woodlands for a range of functions, including: healthy tree growth, landscape improvement, biodiversity enhancement, soil protection and water protection.
These aims will be achieved through improvement felling of malformed trees; felling of additional trees to release potential crop trees (PCT); pruning to improve stem quality; thinning or re-spacing to promote growth and management and re-spacing of natural regeneration. Tending also benefits biodiversity by increasing light levels which contributes to the development of shrub and ground flora.
Following the mid-term review of the Forestry Programme, my Department made available a second element to WIS, Continuous Cover Forestry, in March 2019. This element of the Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS) will provide funding for conversion of existing forests to Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) over a 12-year transitional period. No other element of WIS has been introduced.
It should be noted that the amount allocated each year is part of the overall allocation to the Forestry Programme.
Woodland Improvement Scheme payments (2007 – 2009) including shaping and pruning
|
2007 |
€ paid |
|
Woodland Improvement |
€390,104.70 |
|
Shaping |
€52,152.81 |
|
Pruning |
€130,222.20 |
|
2008 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€233,471.48 |
|
Shaping |
€56,517.75 |
|
Pruning |
€188,562.38 |
|
2009 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€373,770.78 |
|
Shaping |
€83,380.02 |
|
Pruning |
€453,699.51 |
|
Total Paid |
€1,961,881.63 |
Woodland Improvement Scheme payments (2010 – date) including Element 1, Thinning and Tending
2019 is amounts paid to 22 November, 2019.
|
2010 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€248,169.67 |
|
WI Thinning & Tending |
€610,339.50 |
|
2011 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€163,613.58 |
|
WI Thinning & Tending |
€750,192.50 |
|
2012 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€70,006.85 |
|
WI Thinning & Tending |
€971,412.50 |
|
2013 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€64,841.50 |
|
WI Thinning & Tending |
€864,411.99 |
|
2014 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€76,117.62 |
|
WI Thinning & Tending |
€665,570.00 |
|
2015 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€27,593.03 |
|
WI Thinning & Tending |
€469,500.00 |
|
2016 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€21,654.22 |
|
WI Thinning & Tending |
€593,339.15 |
|
2017 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€29,153.44 |
|
WI Thinning & Tending |
€603,117.50 |
|
2018 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€17,451.45 |
|
WI Thinning & Tending |
€440,920.00 |
|
2019 |
|
|
Woodland Improvement |
€603,628.51 |
|
Total paid |
€7,291,033.01 |
299. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50708/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis query relates to the operation of the Sustainable Dairy Assurance Scheme (SDAS) which is run by An Bord Bia.
I have therefore referred your query on behalf of the person named to them and asked that they reply directly to you.
300. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50766/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named received approval for an application for grant-aid under the Young Farmers' Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II on 19 September 2018. This approval expired 19 September 2019.
An application for payment has not been submitted in this case. Should the application for payment be submitted, it will be considered and processed. My Department has been in direct contact with the applicant and their advisor to outline the position to them.
301. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a GLAS 3 payment will be expedited for a person (details supplied). [50788/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into the GLAS 3 scheme with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017 and has received payment for scheme year 2017 and the 2018 Advance payment.
The applicant wrote to the Department requesting a reduction of the Coppicing of Hedgerows action and Department officials are working to amend the action as requested.
Once this application clears all pre-payment validation checks, the 2018 Balance payment will be processed. GLAS payments continue to issue weekly.
302. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50794/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2019 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes application on the 13th May 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 the subject of a Remote Sensing land eligibility inspection and they were notified by letter on 14th October 2019 of the initial inspection findings, which identified an over-declaration in area. This letter afforded the person named the opportunity to submit comments on the inspection findings and comments were received on 16th October 2019. The comments were examined and a letter detailing the final inspection findings, and stating that there was no change in the original inspection findings, issued on 21st October 2019.
A request for a review of the final inspection findings was submitted and this is currently being examined by the officials in my Department. The person named will be notified of the outcome of this review on completion of this process.
In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of the review, they can appeal the decision to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office within 3 months of the date of the review outcome letter.
