Written Answers Nos. 1476-1493
1476. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health his response to an organisation (details supplied) with regard to its call for a six-month pause on recruiting vital nursing home staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33946/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE is cognisant of the staffing difficulties faced by the nursing home sector during the COVID-19 pandemic and has provided emergency nursing staff to support nursing homes, having regard to the HSE capacity to do so.
The HSE is not targeting, nor does intend to target the staff of nursing homes in any of its recruitment campaigns. However, the HSE is required to undertake the recruitment of staff through open, competitive, and transparent recruitment campaigns. Recruitment to the HSE is subject to the provisions of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act, 2004 and is regulated by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). This regulatory framework provides that recruitment to the HSE must observe the following five recruitment principles:
- Probity
- Merit
- Best Practice
- Fairness
- Transparency
The HSE is not able to exclude nursing home staff from applying for positions or prevent them from taking up offers of employment within the HSE for prolonged periods of time; it would be a breach of its Recruitment Licence to do so. It is, however, ultimately a personal choice of any individual to determine whether s/he wishes to apply for employment within the HSE. Many factors will influence such a decision and those who are successful in recruitment competitions are entitled to take up those roles when offered positions.
It is notable, however, that the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel, in its report, stated that “the pay rates and overall working conditions of, at least, some staff in the private sector was raised as a concern by several contributors. Some of these lowly paid workers seek employment in more than one nursing home to augment their income, a circumstance that, can potentially pose a serious risk in terms of COVID-19 transmission from one facility to another. ” The Panel went on to recommend that staff employed by a nursing home should be precluded from working across multiple sites and adequate single-site employment contracts should be put in place to support this.
The Department has recently written to the sector representative body requesting information on the number and percentage of nursing homes that have put arrangements in place regarding contracts for staff in line with the Panel’s recommendations.
Earlier this year a Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme was established to provide financial support to private and voluntary nursing homes to contribute towards COVID-19 related costs. Some €92m has been made available this year, and following Budget 2021, an additional €42m has been secured for the Scheme, which has now been extended to the end of June 2021.
1477. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the current situation with regard to the provision of ShannonDoc out-of-hours services in Thurles and Roscrea, County Tipperary (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33947/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1478. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the status of the situation at St. Brigid’s Community Hospital, Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary. [33948/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1479. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is possible for an application for a PCS number for an eco-friendly hand sanitiser to be fast tracked or for a temporary licence to be awarded on account of public health needs for such products in view of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33493/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the national competent authority for the approval and registration of biocide products, including sanitisers.
Biocidal products, including any type of hand sanitisers, may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the Biocidal Product Register" in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013.
The process for registering biocidal products aims to ensure that their use does not result in harmful effects on human, animal health, or the environment. The approval process also checks that applications comply with all legislation on contents and efficacy. As you will understand there has been an unprecedented increase in the number of products submitted for approval and my Department has now more than 450 hand sanitiser products listed on the register of approved products. I am taking steps to expedite the processing of outstanding applications which are dealt with in order of receipt.
1480. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the recent announcement of €2.4 million allocated to the greyhound industry. [33589/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
An extra €2.4 m allocation was announced in the Budget which brings the total allocation to €19.2m from the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund) for 2021 for the greyhound sector. I believe that it is crucial that jobs in the industry are supported and that this funding is vital due to the impact of Covid-19 and the losses incurred by all greyhound tracks.
My Department has ring fenced 10% of the Fund allocation to RCÉ in 2020 for welfare initiatives, and will implement similar criteria for funding in 2021. A major expansion of the overall care and welfare programme in RCÉ is progress. RCÉ has introduced a range of care and welfare initiatives which include the following measures;
- The progression of the provisions of the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 to devise a traceability model to enable tracing of racing greyhounds throughout their lives.
- Incentivising rehoming of greyhounds in Ireland through additional supports through the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, (established and operated by RCÉ).
- The establishment of a separate “Greyhound Care Fund” and the opening of Care Centres for retired greyhounds while they await rehomimg.
Animal welfare issues are central to this Department’s engagements with the greyhound sector and funding is contingent on welfare measures being implemented.
1481. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason it is taking so long to set up the defined contribution pension fund for workers (details supplied); and the reason it has taken so long for successive Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Finance to sign off on this proposal. [33729/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder Section 44 of the Forestry Act 1988, the introduction by Medite (a subsidary of Coillte CGA) of a scheme for the granting of pensions requires the approval of the Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, as the Department with responsibility for the oversight of Coillte, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
This approval has been given by both Ministers and the Scheme Trust Deeds, which already bear the signature and seal of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, are awaiting signature by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, which is expected to happen this week. The Deed will then be available for collection by Coillte and the scheme can commence.
1482. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he will take to safeguard public funds in view of the ViraPro scandal. [33828/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraBiocidal products, including hand sanitisers, may only be marketed and used in Ireland once they are registered with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and are entered on the Biocidal Product Register” in accordance with Regulation 20 of Statutory Instrument 427 of 2013.
The process for registering biocidal products aims to ensure that their use does not result in harmful effects on human, animal health, or the environment. The approval process also checks that applications comply with all legislation on contents and efficacy.
My Department has been liaising with other Departments, including the HSE and the Department of Education, to ensure that only sanitiser products included on the register are made publically available.
Also, it is continuing to increase its testing of product on the market to provide reassurance in relation to compliance with approved product specifications. Test results available so far indicate no safety issues with other sanitiser products sampled.
1483. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the Covid beef subsidy is due to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32287/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Beef Finisher Payment (BFP) scheme is a one off, exchequer funded grant aid scheme under the Covid 19 State Aid Temporary Framework with a budget of €50 million. The objective of BFP is to provide support for beef finishing farms in Ireland which have been severely impacted by the economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Payments under the Beef Finisher Payment scheme will commence in December.
1484. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeframe for the introduction of new farm schemes such as the rollover of GLAS and extension of TAMS; the options available to farmers that have exited schemes such as AEOS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32301/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs CAP negotiations are ongoing, my Department is pressing for the earliest adoption of EU regulations to facilitate the operation of schemes in the period between the current CAP and the CAP Strategic Plan post-2020. Our intention is to rollover the existing schemes from the current RDP and the Government made provision for this in the Budget with an allocation of €879m for agri-environment schemes for next year. This is to ensure that scheme participants have certainty on their scheme participation next year during the transitional phase.
This budget funding allows for the roll-over of GLAS, BDGP and sheep welfare subject to the agreement of the European Commission. I also intend to have tranches of TAMS next year with the details to be finalised in due course.
My Department’s 2021 Budget estimate also includes provision of €79 million in new funding for a range of agri-environment initiatives. This includes the development of a pilot scheme to examine the implementation of results based environmental actions from farmers who are not currently in GLAS, and a number of pilot environmental actions that will be available to farmers on a broader basis.
I expect these pilot actions to inform the development of a major new environmental scheme for agriculture following on from GLAS.
1485. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if dog grooming and dog training falls under essential animal welfare services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32310/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government has issued a list which is available on gov.ie which sets out, among others things, guidance/direction as to purposes for essential travel (beyond 5Km), essential retail outlets, essential services, essential wholesale and retail trade and support activities which is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/c9158-essential-services/.
The measures are made based on expert advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) and are kept under ongoing review by that group, with the over-riding consideration being the protection of public health in the context of the current Covid-19 pandemic. It is a matter for each business to review these and see what applies to them. The current restrictions are scheduled to last until 1st December, at which point the NPHET will issue guidance on whether any changes are considered prudent or necessary.
The current list of essential services does not include dog grooming or dog training services or facilities but does include the provision of veterinary, animal welfare and related services.
1486. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of ships licensed for the carrying of livestock out of Ireland for live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32339/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1487. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capacity of the ships that are licensed for the shipping of live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32340/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1488. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications in the system for ships to be approved for carrying live exports out of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32341/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra1489. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the capacity of the ships that have applied for licences to carry live exports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32342/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1486 to 1489, inclusive, together.
In relation to vessels dedicated to the transport of livestock from Ireland, there are currently four vessels licensed by my Department. The capacity of these vessels depends on the particulars of the consignments being shipped in terms of the size of the animal being transported. To approximate, the smallest of these vessels has a pen capacity of 2760m2 and can carry up to 2,100 animals weighing 400kg each per shipment. While the largest of these vessels has the capacity to carry up to 2,900 such animals with a pen capacity of 3,910m2.
In relation to the licensing of new ships, any applications for approval are assessed in the normal manner by contacting the Department to arrange inspection of the proposed vessel. My Department will continue to facilitate ship operators and exporters regarding inspections of any new vessels as needed.
1490. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farmers who inadvertently omit to tick the ANC box on their online BPS application form are being penalised when it is clear that the land is in an area of natural constraint; the reason they are not allowed to correct such omissions without penalty, particularly as many are not over familiar with filling out applications online; his plans to remedy this situation to avoid farmers in areas of severe natural constraint losing their ANC payments in such circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32354/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to be eligible for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, farmers must apply for the scheme by completing the relevant section of the Basic Payment Scheme application form. This is done using the Department’s online application system at www.agfood.ie.
When completing the Basic Payment Scheme online application, under a heading of “Other Schemes and Activities”, individuals are requested to tick a box to confirm if they wish to apply for the ANC scheme. If they do not tick the ANC box, they are reminded that they applied in the previous year but have not ticked the box for the current application. At this stage, the applicant must tick a box to indicate their choice to apply for the scheme or not.
The application process is reviewed and refined annually to ensure that it is as clear and straight forward as possible.
Farmers may appeal to my Department should they feel there are specific Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances as to why they did not apply for the ANC scheme when submitting their Basic Payment Scheme application. Farmers should do so in writing to the address below, setting out the reasons and providing any additional supporting information/documentation that may be relevant to their appeal. All such appeals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The address appeals should be sent to is:
Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Buildings, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32RPA6.
1491. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, following an extension of pillar 1 of CAP in order to ensure that direct payments could continue to farmers, pillar 2 CAP funding will be extended beyond 2020 in order to facilitate funding for the non-farming rural community to continue beyond the 2020 cut-off point; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32363/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy's question refers to the funding for the LEADER Programme in the transitional period in 2021.
The LEADER 2014-2020 programme will come to an end this year as far as new project commitments are concerned. The Local Action Groups that deliver the programme have indicated that all available project funding will be allocated by the end of December 2020.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme. The Department of Rural and Community Development, as Managing Authority for the LEADER Programme, is currently examining the best approach to deliver on this commitment having regard, inter alia, to any transitional arrangements that may be agreed at European level before the end of this year.
My colleague, Minister Humphreys, hopes to be in a position shortly to announce details of the transitional arrangements.
1492. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments of GLAS 2019, ANC and BPS will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32372/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has received the decision from the Agriculture Appeals Office in relation to this case and my officials are currently in the process of reinstating the GLAS application as per the decision letter. Once this application clears all validation checks, the 2019 GLAS payment will be processed.
ANC and BPS payments for scheme year 2019 have issued to the person named.
1493. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a felling licence can be expedited for a person (details supplied); and when they can expect it to be issued. [32429/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you may be aware, there is a backlog of license applications that require an Appropriate Assessment (AA). My Department has put in place a detailed project plan for dealing with this backlog which includes recruitment of additional ecologists, forestry inspectors and administrative staff where required. Applications for which Natura Impact Statements (NIS) have been submitted will be dealt with first.
Submitting a NIS for this licence application will significantly reduce the length of time it will take for the Department to complete the AA process. If a satisfactory NIS is submitted for this application, the length of time it will take to complete the AA process is estimated to be between 2 and 3 months.
