Written Answers Nos. 467-486
467. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will publish the request from the HSE regarding the suspension of student nurse placements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3464/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing a request from the HSE on 15 January, 2020 to release senior, qualified staff to provide direct patient care in the current COVID-19 surge, supernumerary clinical placements for student nurses and midwives were suspended for 1st to 3rd year students for at least two weeks from Monday, 18 January. The request was directly related to the increasing demand across the health service particularly on critical care. In that context the requirement at this time was to maximise the numbers of qualified staff. The staff that support clinical placements for student nurses and midwives are experienced senior nurses with the skills and knowledge to assist with the current COVID 19 demand.
My Department is now working together with the HSE, the Higher Education Institutes, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and Clinical Partners to ensure that students will not be disadvantaged in terms of completing their educational programmes on time.
Regarding the question of publishing the HSE request, my Department does not routinely publish communications between it and the HSE in the performance of their respective functions, as this would be inappropriate, and impact on both organisations' ability to function effectively. It is not intended to publish the HSE's request.
468. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will issue new and clear instructions to the public on exercise etiquette to include mandatory mask-wearing outdoors and express reminders on how 2 m should be the minimum distance, particularly in the context of the virulence of the new UK Covid-19 variant and that many are reporting feeling unsafe due to crowding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3468/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I am sure you will appreciate, the evidence relating to Covid-19, and the decisions necessary to protect everybody living in Ireland from its effects is constantly evolving. The public health advice relating to Covid-19, including for face coverings, is kept under continuing review by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), by my Department and by the Government. The measures in place and the public health advice have been adapted to the changing circumstances and this will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.
The use of face coverings by people is recommended in situations where physical distancing may not be possible, such as in crowded workplaces, places of worship and in busy or crowded outdoor spaces where there is significant congregation. Face coverings are also mandatory on public transport, including in taxis, as well as in bus and rail stations and in shops and other retail outlets. In restaurants, you should wear a face covering on your way to and from your table.
The relevant Regulations in relation to face coverings, which remain in place until 9 June, 2021, are: -
Health Act 1947 (Section 31A - Temporary Restrictions) (COVID-19) (Face Coverings in Certain Premises and Businesses) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 (S.I. No. 571 of 2020).
It is important to note that the use of face coverings should not be a substitute for other public health measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission, such as keeping a distance of 2 metres between you and other people, proper respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene, and avoiding touching your face, nose, eyes and mouth.
To support the ongoing public health guidance by the NPHET, my Department’s Press and Communications unit works closely with the HSE Communications team to raise the profile of the key public health messages amongst the general public.
The current advice in relation to face coverings is available at:- https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/face-masks-disposable-gloves.html and http://www.gov.ie/facecoverings/
Statutory Instruments related to the Covid-19 pandemic are available here:- https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1f150-view-statutory-instruments-related-to-the-covid-19-pandemic/
469. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health the reason his Department has not introduced mandatory, monitored quarantine for arrivals at ports and airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3470/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll passengers arriving into Ireland from overseas are required to present negative or ‘not detected’ result from a pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland and to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator form. The form is used to support the targeting of key public health messages to passengers.
Ireland has implemented travel measures in accordance with the EU ‘traffic light system’, which allows for restrictions to be targeted based on the epidemiological situation of the country of departure.
Travellers from regions classified red or grey, or non-EU countries are strongly advised to restrict their movements for 14 days upon arrival to Ireland, unless travelling for a designated essential function or need.
In response to the elevated risk posed by new variants of concern, extra precautions have been introduced for all travellers arriving from Great Britain, South Africa and South America. These travellers are strongly advised to self-isolate for a full 14 days upon arrival and to contact a GP to arrange for a free PCR test no sooner than 5 days after arrival. The test will assist with detecting the presence of new variants in Ireland. Regardless of the result of the test, passengers who have travelled from Great Britain, South Africa or Brazil should continue to isolate for full 14 day period.
Close consideration is given by Government to travel policy informed by the international epidemiological situation and by public health advice.
470. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce antigen Covid-19 testing and screening for schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3471/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere is ongoing consideration given by the Government to policy in relation to the management of Covid-19 in school settings.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has published Guidance for Educational Settings relating to the management of Covid-19 in school settings. This guidance, which includes protocols relating to the management of close contacts, is available at
https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/educationguidance/
The Deputy may wish to note that schools must have a Covid-19 Response Plan and a Covid policy in place. Up-to-date Government advice and resources for schools, parents and students in the context of COVID-19, including advice on Covid-19 planning is published at
https://www.gov.ie/backtoschool.
Where a school is informed of a pupil or staff member who has tested positive for Covid-19, if the case was in the school during the infectious period, the HSE endeavour to contact school management the same day, although this may be the following day in some cases. When public health doctors make contact with the school, they will proceed to undertake a Public Health Risk Assessment (PHRA). Core to the PHRA will be assessing the likelihood of onward transmission from the case identified, and this will inform their further actions. The risk assessment applied in school settings may be dynamic and change as new information becomes available, and the testing strategy may evolve as information unfolds.
The Health Service Executive has adopted RNA PCR as the gold standard test for diagnosing Covid-19 cases, as part of the HSE test and trace strategy, consistent with international best practice, and approved by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). This platform is deployed in acute hospitals, the NVRL and HSE’s commercial partners.
It should be noted that testing for Sars-Cov2 does not confirm that an individual with a 'not detected' result is not incubating the infection or the level of virus is below detectable levels at the time of the test. The HSE has worked intensively over the last number of months to put in place a comprehensive testing and tracing operation and despite the very significant increase in demand over the last number of weeks, the median time for community referral to appointment is 0.8 days with 92.5% of GP referrals provided with a COVID-19 test appointment within 24 hours. While the automatic referral of close contacts for testing is generally paused on a temporary basis, close contacts in outbreak and school settings continue to be referred for a test.
While rapid antigen diagnostic tests (RADTs) are described as rapid, and simple to perform, they are not designed to be delivered in large numbers. RADTs are most effective in detection of symptomatic cases, particularly where there is swabbing capacity on-site, when symptom onset is within the last 5 days and when the likelihood of test positivity is greater than 10% among the target population. Validation studies, both here in Ireland and in Europe are showing significant disparities in sensitivity and specificity of tests versus manufacturer claims. The studies also show that performance in symptomatic patients is much better than in asymptomatic patients. In asymptomatic patients, sensitivity results are being shown to be below the minimum performance requirements set by the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
The National Public Health Emergency Team has endorsed recommendations on the use of Rapid Antigen Detection Tests (RADTs) as a supplement to PCR testing in certain situations, and particularly when the availability of PCR tests may be limited. The HSE is currently considering the use of RADTs for diagnosis of symptomatic persons and their close contacts in PCR confirmed outbreaks, and / or symptomatic persons where there is a high suspicion of an outbreak, pending PCR confirmation, if faster presumptive results will inform public health action.
On an ongoing basis, NPHET considers and reviews, based on public health risk assessments, how best to target testing to hunt the virus in populations where it’s most likely and where it will do most harm. This includes keeping Ireland’s testing policy under continuing review.
475. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health when undertakers will receive Covid-19 vaccinations. [3496/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Strategy sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and my Department, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020.
Vaccine allocation is a matter for my Department and further information is available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/39038-provisional-vaccine-allocation-groups/.
The rollout of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is the responsibility of the HSE.
The aim of the COVID-19 vaccination programme is to ensure, over time, that vaccine will become available to vaccinate all of those for whom the vaccine is indicated. Given that there will be initially limited vaccines available, it will take some time for all to receive those vaccines and that has necessitated an allocation strategy to ensure that those most at risk of death and serious illness receive the vaccine first.
The priority is to first vaccinate and protect directly the most vulnerable amongst us, that is, those most likely to have a poor outcome if they contract the virus. The priority is to directly use vaccines to save lives and reduce serious illness, hence the focus on the over 65 year old cohort in long term residential care facilities, and healthcare workers in frontline services often caring for the most vulnerable.
All of the groups will be covered as further vaccine supplies become available and the immunisation programme is rolled out nationally.
The evidence will be kept under review and the allocation groups may be updated, where necessary, in light of new evidence.
476. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health his plans for the improvement of mental health facilities and supports in respect of both adults and children; if the provision of the necessary number of residential places are in hand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3526/21]
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.
477. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he expects to improve the supports for children with special needs while requiring therapeutic or residential short-term or long-term assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3527/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
478. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 545 of 15 December 2020, if a reply will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3530/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has advised that it issued a reply to the Deputy on 29 December 2020.
479. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all areas of horticulture can operate under level 5 public health restrictions; if not, if work is limited to certain types of horticulture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3345/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor public health reasons, the Government has advised that people should stay at home except in a number of situations, including if they are travelling to and from work where the work is considered to be an essential service. Those essential service providers are listed and Regulations are in place to support them. Measures are 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.
Horticulture is listed as an essential service under the latest government Level 5 measures, However, It is a matter for each company/individual to assess, based on the current published information on the official government website, whether they are involved in providing any of the essential services currently permitted
480. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason departmental inspectors are still performing on-farm inspections during the level 5 restrictions, given the potential risk of spreading Covid-19 when it is not deemed essential work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2990/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is continuing to support the farming community in these difficult times, in particular, by ensuring that scheme payments can continue to issue to farmer clients. Conducting on-farm inspections is deemed essential work. Officials in my Department and I are very conscious of the challenges and concerns for all stakeholders posed by the COVID-19 situation. At all times, our priority is to safeguard the health and safety of farm families, our staff and the wider community, while still facilitating scheme payments. Where possible, inspections are being done remotely, thereby avoiding the need for on-farm visits but in certain situations, a farm visit is required in order to complete the pre-payment checks and controls necessary to make vital payments to these farmers.
Inspections are carried out in line with HSE guidelines and Government requirements concerning COVID. All inspections are notified in advance and the farmer is afforded an opportunity to defer the inspection for up to three weeks should there be COVID related concerns or issues. In addition, inspectors are required to adhere to an inspection protocol which gives clear guidance to inspectors on procedures to be followed during the inspection. We cannot defer inspections indefinitely as this would impact payments to scheme participants.
481. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 18 November 2020, his plans to have Naval Service personnel board any of the factory vessels currently fishing off the west coast for mackerel to check them for compliance with the Common Fisheries Policy as the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority has not provided a reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2991/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnfortunately, due to an administrative error, the previous PQ from the Deputy was not referred to the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and I wish to apologise for this error.
The question has now been sent to the SFPA for direct and urgent reply.
482. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of remediation works on a site (details supplied). [3030/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile Haulbowline island has been under my Department’s care for the duration of the East Tip remediation works, those works are concluded and the island is soon to transfer to the ownership of the Minister for Defence.
483. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application by a person (details supplied) will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3035/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II on 4 August 2020. Supporting documentation in relation to this application was requested and was received by the Department on 9 December 2020, following which a pre-approval inspection was completed on 22 December 2020.
Processing of the application is currently being finalised and the Department will be in direct contact with the person named shortly.
484. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports available to farmers in the horticulture sector who have experienced heavy losses due to the impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3046/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides direct support to the horticulture industry through the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture Sector. The Scheme provides grant aid towards capital investments in specialised plant and equipment, as well as emerging technologies specific to commercial horticulture production. In the current situation, this support is also important to help businesses rebuild and address the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. For 2021, the budget for this measure was significantly increased to €9 million.
To address the particular challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government, in conjunction with relevant state agencies, introduced a range of measures. Growers and food businesses can benefit from access to the Government’s liquidity and investment responses to Covid-19 impacts, including the expansion of the Future Growth Loan Scheme for capital investment and Microfinance Ireland loans for working capital.
Banks have extended their payment break from three months to six months for those directly impacted by Covid-19. The Government has announced an expanded Credit Guarantee Schemes, which will support working capital lending to SMEs, including farmers.
Finally, food businesses are eligible for the Covid Working Capital Loan Scheme, as well as Enterprise Ireland supports to maintain business continuity and liquidity. Bord Bia has provided an additional €1m Covid-19 response Marketing Package for Agri businesses to accelerate eCommerce and expand marketing activities.
485. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if funding is available for a society (details supplied) to set up its own society in Ireland in view of the fact its herd books are based in the UK and it cannot register animals, given that the UK is no longer a member of the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3070/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWithin EU Member States, purebred animal breeding of the domestic species (bovines, porcines, ovines, caprines and equines) is governed by EU legislation, namely, Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, aimed at ensuring a harmonised approach to trade and for entry into the European Union.
The exiting of the UK from the European Union, impacts on Irish breeders that are members of UK breed societies as these breed societies now lie outside the scope of EU animal breeding legislation.
In this context, the UK government department responsible advises that there are two breeds of goat and twenty two breeds of equine where UK breed societies extended their breeding programmes into Ireland and have been offering registration services to Irish breeders.
Since 1st January 2021, the procedure of registering purebred animals with UK Societies that are kept in Ireland is no longer in line with EU legislation.
My Department has been proactive in terms of its engagement with breed societies and pedigree breeders and is currently assisting Irish breeders explore their options so they can continue to enter their purebred breeding animals in breeding books. These options include establishing a breed society in Ireland, entering their animals in another EU recognised breed society for the same breed in Ireland or another member state.
As a result of this proactive engagement, since the 1st of January, my Department has recognised two bovine breeding programmes and is dealing with applications for seven ovine, one equine and two further bovine societies who have applied for recognition in the state.
There is no funding available to assist establishing a breed society in Ireland.
486. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1139 and 1181 of 13 January 2021, if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the appeals office, given that one appeal has taken almost a year and the other almost four months and the delay is causing the families concerned considerable stress and hardship; the number of staff employed in the office; the qualifications of each; and if the appeals office is short staffed, his plans to reduce the unacceptable time-frame for such appeals. [3083/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
The Office was established in 2002 in accordance with the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 and the Agriculture Appeals Regulations 2002. There are distinct and specific statutory functions assigned to the officials delivering the appeals service which require the Appeals Officers and the Director to be independent in the performance of their functions when making determinations on appeals.
Appeals Officers are appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 2 of the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 and have a wide range of experience within various roles. In 2018, the Agriculture Appeals Office was assigned responsibility for implementing a new statutory appeals service for appeals against Department decisions on forestry licences. The Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC) also operates independently of my Department.
I have been informed that the Office is currently experiencing delays in dealing with agriculture and forestry appeals due to an increase in the volume of appeals received.
The number of agriculture appeals submitted to the Office in 2020 was 34% higher than the number submitted in 2019. In addition, the holding of oral hearings for agriculture appeals, which appellants may request under the Agriculture Appeals legislation, was suspended last March due to restrictions put in place to deal with COVID-19. Hearings were resumed in the latter part of 2020 but had to be suspended again due to further restrictions being put in place. I understand that the Office is now holding oral hearings remotely for agriculture appeals and appellants have been contacted by the Office in this regard.
Since the Forestry Appeals Committee was established, the number of appeals has increased significantly year on year. In 2020, there were 874 appeals submitted to the FAC compared to 489 in 2019.
Additional resources were provided to the Office in the 3rd quarter of 2020 to cater for the backlog of agriculture and forestry appeals. The current staff allocation is one Director, one Deputy Director, 14 Appeals Officers and 13 administrative support staff. The staff undertake duties in relation to both Agriculture Appeals and Forestry Appeals. All Appeals Officers are members of the FAC. Up to November 2020, there was one Forestry Appeals Committee hearing forestry appeals. There are now four divisions of the Forestry Appeals Committee hearing such appeals to provide a more efficient service and these are made up of external members and Appeals Officers.
With regard to the appeal to which you refer that was submitted to the Office four months ago, I understand that this has now been assigned to an Appeals Officer for determination and the appellant will be contacted in due course.
You also refer to an appeal that was submitted almost a year ago. I have been advised by the Office that a decision was issued by the Appeals Officer dealing with this appeal and, following the issuing of this decision, there was a request for a review of the Appeals Officer's decision received from the appellant in February 2020.
Reviews of decisions of Appeals Officers can only be undertaken by the Director of the Appeals Office in accordance with the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001. I am advised that there has been a significant increase in the number of reviews sought in the past few years which has led to delays in completing the reviews.
I am assured that the Office is making every effort to deal with the backlog of both forestry and agriculture appeals through the assignment of additional resources in 2020 and the holding of remote hearings.
