Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 13 Oct 2020

Written Answers Nos. 570-587

Covid-19 Tests

Ceisteanna (570)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

570. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a Covid-19 test in each testing centre in County Cork in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30342/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

School Attendance

Ceisteanna (571)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

571. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the status of the development of a State-funded contraception scheme; if an implementation group has been established to progress this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30343/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A Working Group was established in April 2019 to consider the range of policy, regulatory and legislative issues arising in relation to improving access to contraception in Ireland. The Group’s report, which was published in October 2019, identified the barriers that exist to accessing contraception and the mechanisms available to overcome those barriers.

Following the report, it was clear that a sizable body of work would need to be addressed in order to develop and finalise the policy approach, bring forward the necessary legislative proposals and finally ensure the implementation of service delivery arrangements.

Unfortunately, work on this matter has been disrupted significantly by the need to prioritise the response to COVID.

Crisis Pregnancy Services

Ceisteanna (572)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

572. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the measures introduced to prevent the operation of rogue crisis pregnancy agencies which seek to obstruct women seeking access to termination of pregnancy services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30344/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy will be aware, the state-provided My Options information service is the first port of call for someone with an unplanned pregnancy seeking information and support. Professional counsellors can provide information on all options, including continued pregnancy supports and abortion services.

The HSE recommends that people should only visit a HSE-funded unplanned pregnancy counselling agency. A list of HSE-funded unplanned pregnancy agencies is available at https://www2.hse.ie/services/unplanned-pregnancy-support-services/find-a-face-to-face-unplanned-pregnancy-counselling-service.html

The HSE continuously monitors the situation and promotes the My Options service through a number of channels, including by posting unplanned pregnancy support messages across social media channels, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to signpost the My Options website; radio advertisements and out of home advertising (e.g. in washrooms) at intervals throughout the year; and displaying the My Options campaign message on digital screens across 30+ healthcare locations in the waiting-room network. The HSE has advised that as the My Options website (myoptions.ie) is now well-established, the organic search performs exceptionally well for keywords relating to unplanned pregnancy and abortion. My Options Google search advertisements also perform well, with a high impression share.

The Deputy may recall that in 2019, a disingenuous agency began using ‘My Options’ in the name of their website, causing confusion and putting people at risk of attending a disingenuous service. To counteract this, the HSE issued a statement to the media, reminding people to only visit a HSE-funded unplanned pregnancy counselling agency, and to check for the HSE logo or name if looking for information online. A High Court Case was also taken against the owner of a website, which was settled in favour of the HSE.

The HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme has produced guidelines to assist HSE funded counselling service providers in responding to complaints in this area.

In 2019, there were 13,214 calls to My Options and 2,793 calls to the nursing helpline. The My Options webchat service continues to provide information and support in an online setting.

In addition, the Deputy will be aware that the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 provides for the protection of the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct and professional education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professions designated under the Act. The professions of counsellor and psychotherapist were designated for regulation by the Minister under the Act and will be regulated by CORU.

Regulations to designate the two professions under the Act and to establish the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board were made in 2018. The Board was appointed in February 2019 and held its inaugural meeting in May 2019. The work of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board is significantly more challenging than for registration boards for some of the more established professions, owing to the different and complexity of entry paths into these professions, variety of titles used, and the variety and number of courses and course providers.

The Board is now undertaking the substantial work required to open the registers for counsellors and psychotherapists. This work includes consideration of titles to be protected and minimum qualifications to be required of existing practitioners applying for registration in the transitional period and for future graduates.

When the Board has opened the register and the transitional period to allow existing practitioners to register is completed, it will be an offence for anyone not registered to use the protected titles. All registrants will also be subject to the fitness to practice process in CORU which provides for sanctions against registrants when complaints are proven.

Disabilities Assessments

Ceisteanna (573, 574)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

573. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the backlog for assessment of need for children with a disability in the south County Kildare and west County Wicklow area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30350/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

574. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the reassignment of 3.5 clinicians from the South Kildare Children’s Disability Network Team to address the backlog for assessment of need for children with a disability in the south County Kildare and west County Wicklow area; if his attention has been further drawn to the impact it will have on waiting times for children and families receiving interventions from that team or that are waiting for services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30351/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 573 and 574 together.

The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.

The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Health Services Staff

Ceisteanna (575)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

575. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of paediatric occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and physiotherapists in areas of County Cork (details supplied) in each of the years 2015 to 2019 and to date in 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30352/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the need to improve services for both children and adults with disabilities through better implementation and by working together across Government in a better way.

The Government commits to prioritising early diagnosis and access to services for children and ensuring that the most effective interventions are provided for each child, to guarantee the best outcomes.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Physical Education

Ceisteanna (576)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

576. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the reason extracurricular sporting activities for young persons are classified differently to in-school sporting activities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30353/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy is aware, the Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for Living with COVID-19 was published by the Government on 15 September, 2020. This Plan provides a framework setting out Ireland's approach to managing and living with COVID-19 in a range of areas over the next 6 - 9 months.

The Government has identified the reopening of our schools as a priority and the Plan acknowledges the key role of schools in supporting not just the academic progress of our children and young people, but their overall physical and mental health and well-being as well. Schools support the physical and mental health of students through a range of interventions, including PE classes.

Ensuring that schools, early childhood care and education, childcare and childminding services can remain safely open in the context of any escalation of restrictive measures remains a Government priority. At levels 1-4 inclusive of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 schools and creches can remain open with protective measures. At level 5, recommendations will be based on the situation and evidence at the time. Decisions regarding whether schools and creches can remain open in the context of escalation to level 5 will be informed by Public Health advice.

Up-to-date Government advice and resources in the context of COVID-19 is published at https://www.gov.ie/backtoschool

As the Deputy is aware, Ireland has moved from a short-term emergency response to a medium-term approach to managing risk and repairing the damage that COVID-19 has inflicted on society. All counties in Ireland are currently at Level 3 of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 until midnight Tuesday 27th October. I of course recognise the difficulties and the inconvenience that this represents for many people, particularly children. Hence the reason we are making such strenuous efforts to prioritise the continuation of schooling for all. However, in line with all of the public health advice, there also unfortunately continues to be a requirement to limit our social contacts to the greatest extent possible.

Further information on the public health measures currently in place can be found at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ad569-level-3/

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (577)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

577. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the timelines for the refurbishment of a health facility (details supplied); when services will resume at the facility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30361/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Disability Services Provision

Ceisteanna (578)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

578. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if services will commence at an early date at a proposed health facility (details supplied); if the centre will be operational at an early date in view of the need to provide services in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30362/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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.

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, as soon as possible.

Agriculture Schemes

Ceisteanna (579)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

579. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of funding and payment plans for the continuation of schemes (details supplied). [29582/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My aim is to ensure the continuation of the Rural Development Programme schemes during the transitional period.

In cases where contracts are already in place under relevant Schemes to continue beyond 2020, these will continue as outlined under the RDP.

Any decision to extend current RDP schemes will be made in the context of Budget 2021 and will ultimately require an amendment to the RDP to be approved by the EU Commission.

Rural Development Programme

Ceisteanna (580)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

580. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will seek the maximum permissible level of national co-financing of 57% of the CAP Rural Development Programme post-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29585/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I continue to work with my officials and Ministerial colleagues to ensure that we have a sufficient national and EU budget for the transitional period and beyond. It is our priority to ensure stability of income while producing outputs in areas such as environment, biodiversity and public goods.

The national funding is a matter for discussion as part of the annual budgetary process which is currently underway. EU funding is somewhat more complex - the exact budgetary details will have to be incorporated into the transitional regulations after agreement on the EU budget has been reached between the European Council and the European Parliament. Agreement on the budget is not expected until later this month.

I will continue to engage intensively in both processes in order to ensure the required outcome in terms of funding post-2020.

Rural Environment Protection Scheme

Ceisteanna (581)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

581. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the commitment in the programme for Government for a new REPS-2 programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29586/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Programme for Government has proposed to allocate €1.5bn. from the proposed Climate Action Fund over the next ten years, to a rural environment protection programme to encourage and incentivise farmers to farm in a greener and more sustainable way. The planning and funding for this scheme will be matters for discussions in relation to the Budget.

Agriculture Industry

Ceisteanna (582, 588)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

582. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide compensation for further losses during the transition period in view of Brexit uncertainty, the volatility of sterling and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic across all agricultural sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29587/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

588. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of plans to provide compensation for further losses during the transition period arising from Brexit uncertainty, sterling volatility and Covid-19 impact, across all agricultural sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29620/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 582 and 588 together.

My Department's Brexit preparedness work has resulted in various supports being introduced over successive budgets to help the agrifood and fisheries sectors mitigate the impact of Brexit. These measures were aimed at enhancing competitiveness and market and product diversification and included low cost loan schemes, supports for Bord Bia, BIM and Teagasc, direct aid for farmers and capital funding for the food industry.

More recently, my Department launched the €50 million Beef Finisher Payment Scheme to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland that have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, while supports were also made available to fishermen over the period June to August to tie-up their vessels for up to two months during periods of Covid related market disturbance.

These impacts on the agricultural sector will be kept under ongoing review. Last month's BrexitReadiness Action Plan confirms that further measures to support affected sectors will be considered over the coming months. I also welcome the Multi-Annual Financial Framework agreement reached in July by EU Heads of State and Government, which includes a €5 Billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve for those Member States and sectors most affected by Brexit. We will work to ensure that the agrifood sector gets an adequate allocation from that funding.

Brexit Supports

Ceisteanna (583, 589)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

583. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to further strengthen the Brexit contingency fund announced in budget 2020 (details supplied) in order that these funds are supplemented in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29588/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

589. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of measures he is taking to further strengthening the Brexit contingency fund announced in budget 2020, which allocated €110 million to agriculture in order that these funds are supplemented in budget 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29621/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 and 589 together.

My Department's Brexit preparedness work has resulted in various supports being introduced over successive budgets to help the agrifood and fisheries sectors mitigate the impact of Brexit. These measures were aimed at enhancing competitiveness and market and product diversification and included low cost loan schemes, supports for Bord Bia and Teagasc, direct aid for farmers and capital funding for the food industry.

The impact of Brexit on the agricultural sector is being kept under ongoing review. In this regard the Government’s Brexit Readiness Action Plan, published last month, confirms that further measures to support affected sectors will be considered over the coming months.

I also welcome the Multi-Annual Financial Framework agreement reached in July by Heads of State and Government, which includes a €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve for those Member States and sectors most affected by Brexit. I will work to ensure that the agrifood sector gets an adequate allocation from that funding.

Decisions on funding for my Department for 2021 will be made in the context of the Annual Budgetary process.

Brexit Supports

Ceisteanna (584)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

584. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to support all sectors adversely affected by the Brexit outcome through the €5 billion EU Brexit adjustment reserve fund (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29589/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I welcome the agreement reached in July on the Multiannual Financial Framework, which included a €5 billion Brexit Adjustment Reserve for Member States and sectors most affected by Brexit. This is a new Reserve, and the particulars of how it will be distributed will be agreed after the Commission has presented their proposals for the Reserve by November 2020.

It is important to recognise the disproportionate impact Brexit will have on Ireland, and especially on the Irish agrifood sector. Ireland exported €5.47 billion of agrifood produce to the UK in 2019, which represents 38% of the total Irish agrifood exports in 2019. The UK also remains our largest import market with imports of €4.6 billion in 2019.

This trade is going to be impacted by the customs and regulatory costs that will apply from 1 January 2021. It is important that all operators understand that these requirements will apply whether there is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or not. Additionally, there is a serious potential impact from the EU and UK tariff schedules which would be imposed on trade between Ireland and Great Britain if a FTA that provides for zero tariffs and zero quotas is not agreed between the EU and the UK.

My Department has put in place financial and budgetary measures to help the agrifood and fisheries sectors meet the Brexit challenges they have faced to date. These measures were aimed at enhancing competitiveness and market and product diversification and included low cost loan schemes, supports for Bord Bia and Teagasc, direct aid for farmers and capital funding for the food industry.

The Government's Brexit Readiness Action Plan makes it clear that further measures to support businesses and affected sectors will be considered in the coming months.

The Brexit Adjustment Reserve will be an important additional support for those adjusting to the new reality of trading with the UK as a third country. Every effort will be made to ensure that the agrifood sector gets a fair allocation from this Reserve that is commensurate with the impact on the sector.

Forestry Sector

Ceisteanna (585)

Carol Nolan

Ceist:

585. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if €4 million will be allocated to restore the farmer premium and the introduction of a harvesting plan grant to assist forest owners and a review of the ash dieback scheme to include an income compensation element; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29591/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The current Forestry Programme received State aid approval in 2015 which covered the grant and premium payment structure for the existing afforestation scheme. The programme itself will end in December 2020 but delays in finalising the new CAP regulations and State aid rules applicable to forestry mean that the programme will extend beyond this timeframe.

While some minor changes may be introduced during the transitional period, as these may be covered under the existing State aid approval, more significant changes such as reintroducing the farmer premium rate may require new State aid approval. Therefore, consideration of this proposal is better suited to take place as part of the development of the next Forestry Programme. Work on this new Programme is due to start in the coming months which will involve an extensive public consultation process and engagement with stakeholders across the forest sector.

In relation to support for harvest plans, the current State aid guidelines rule out grant aid for harvesting the primary purpose of which is the commercially viable extraction of timber. Whether or not the new State aid rules contain a higher degree of flexibility in this regard remains to be seen.

In April 2018, my Department, announced a review of the national response to Ash Dieback Disease as it was increasingly evident from experience and the latest scientific advice that eradication of Ash Dieback disease was no longer feasible. The focus of the review was on the policy approach and associated support schemes, considering the move away from Ash Dieback eradication and bringing ash plantation management into focus. This new approach was circulated for stakeholder consultation in December 2019 and a total of 18 submissions were received in reply. All submissions were carefully considered, and a number of meetings held with stakeholders to finalise a new scheme document. The new Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme or RUS was launched in June 2020. There are no plans to undertake a review so soon after the scheme launch. However, the consultation process for the next forestry programme will provide an opportunity to revisit the question of an income compensation element in a revised Ash Dieback scheme.

Forestry Sector

Ceisteanna (586)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

586. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the options and supports available to small forestry owners who wish to replant with native Irish woodland species; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29595/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In general, there are no reforestation grants available on clearfell, as the realisation of the timber asset is considered more than adequate to cover the cost of replanting. However, under certain conditions replanting grants are made available as part of the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme. Under this scheme the conversion of existing conifer forests to native woodland are eligible for grants of up to €5,000 per hectare. Private forest owners are also eligible for an annual premium payment of €350 per hectare for 7 years.

In order to receive this funding the conifer forest must be adjoining a sensitive watercourse, where native woodland establishment can contribute to the protection of water quality and aquatic habitats and species. Water sensitive areas include Freshwater Pearl Mussel catchments, fisheries sensitive areas, Acid Sensitive Areas, and high status waterbodies identified under the Water Framework Directive.

Where a marketable quantity of timber is realised from the felling operation, the quantity (in cubic metres) of timber must be documented and details submitted to my Department, together with evidence of timber-related income (including invoices and receipts). My Department may reduce the grant payable accordingly, reflecting the value of the timber realised and (where relevant) the normal costs associated with standard replanting.

Applications under the Native Woodland Conservation Scheme must be made before clearfelling takes place and applicants must ensure that a valid felling licence is in place for any felling carried out under the scheme.

Felling Licences

Ceisteanna (587)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

587. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application for a forestry licence by persons (details supplied) will be expedited. [29602/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

At the present time, there are a large number of forestry-related applications currently awaiting the completion of the Appropriate Assessment (AA) process. This process is a legal requirement to rule out the possibility of an adverse effect on a European Site (SACs or SPAs). The Department is acutely aware of the impact the delay is having on many applicants as well as the wider sector and is focused on addressing this delay and applying the necessary level of scientific rigour in relation to each AA process. The Department has assigned significant additional resources to reduce this backlog. These resources are a combination of additional ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff, where required.

The licence application referred to is currently waiting to be reviewed by a Department ecologist and unfortunately it will take some time before an ecologist can be assigned to work on an AA Determination for this application. The current estimate is over 9 months. Submitting a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) for the licence would, however, significantly reduce the length of time it would take for the Department to complete the AA process for this application. On receipt of a satisfactory NIS, the length of time it would take to complete the AA process is estimated to be between 2 and 3 months.

If the applicant wishes to submit a NIS, they should notify the Department at ecologyqueries@agriculture.gov.ie. The Department’s ecologist will provide written guidance by describing the issues on which the NIS must focus.

Barr
Roinn