Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:286. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the wait time in disability care for a speech and language therapist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25036/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Services
Ceisteanna (286, 287, 288, 289)
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:287. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the wait time in disability care for an occupational therapist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25037/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPaul McAuliffe
Ceist:288. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the wait time in disability care for a psychologist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25038/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraPaul McAuliffe
Ceist:289. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the wait time in disability care for a physiotherapist in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25039/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 286, 287, 288 and 289 together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
Question No. 287 answered with Question No. 286.
Question No. 288 answered with Question No. 286.
Question No. 289 answered with Question No. 286.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (290)
Denise Mitchell
Ceist:290. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Health when persons who are vaccinated will be able to travel freely throughout Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25100/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 17 March 2021, the European Commission published its proposal for a Regulation to introduce a ‘Digital Green Certificate’ to facilitate safe free movement inside the EU during the pandemic. The proposed regulation lays down a framework for the issuance, verification, and acceptance of interoperable certificates. The intention is for the digital green certificate to be a temporary measure.
The Government is keen to ensure that every effort should be made to achieve alignment across the EU in preparing for reopening of international travel for non-essential purposes as soon as it is safe to do so. An interdepartmental group of senior officials from relevant departments have been progressing policy work in respect of the proposed EU Digital Green Certificate and vaccination certificate.
Operational aspects for the interoperable certificate system are being progressed on a cross-Departmental basis.
Health Service Executive
Ceisteanna (291)
Paul McAuliffe
Ceist:291. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health the number of vacancies for psychologists in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25102/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (292)
Christopher O'Sullivan
Ceist:292. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he has considered using a vaccine (details supplied) to bolster supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25105/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland is participating in an EU Procurement process with a view to accessing a portfolio of candidate vaccines against COVID-19 which are being negotiated with vaccine manufacturers by the Commission acting on behalf of Member States. Emergency Support Instrument (ESI) funding has been leveraged by the Commission to facilitate its negotiations with vaccine manufacturers, including with regard to production costs and securing a reduced per dose cost for Member States.
This process has provided Ireland with access to vaccines (at a reduced cost) that it would find it difficult to access otherwise within a year after the declaration of a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the WHO. Four of the vaccines in the EU portfolio have already been awarded Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA) by the Commission.
Ireland supports efforts made by the Commission to safeguard the production and delivery of doses of vaccine in the quantities agreed with vaccine suppliers and to ensure that up-front funding provided through ESI has been properly used.
Covid 19 vaccines can only be approved and used if they comply with all the requirements of quality, safety and efficacy set out in the EU pharmaceutical legislation. No vaccine will be used until Market authorisation from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is obtained and any authorised vaccine will be subject to ongoing monitoring in Ireland by the Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA).
The delivery of vaccines under APAs that the Commission has negotiated on behalf of Member States are predicated upon a CMA being obtained from the Commission (on the basis of a positive recommendation being awarded by the EMA).
The awarding of a CMA provides a high level of assurance that a vaccine has undergone rigorous testing and has met the requirements of the independent regulatory process as regards demonstrating its quality, safety and efficacy.
The Sinopharm vaccine has not been awarded a CMA to date.
Hospital Staff
Ceisteanna (293)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:293. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he will appoint a full-time consultant from University Hospital Limerick to the medical assessment unit in Nenagh Hospital as a matter of priority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25125/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (294)
Pa Daly
Ceist:294. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the circumstances in relation to a person (details supplied) in mandatory hotel quarantine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25136/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It would not be appropriate for me to comment in relation to any individual's medical circumstances, but I can assure the Deputy that the case described was investigated fully by my Officials and followed up with the Service Provider, and my Department is satisfied that everything possible was done to accommodate this guest, and that all appropriate action was taken. The safety, wellbeing and comfort of all guests quarantining in a designated facility is a priority of the mandatory quarantine system, along with the ultimate goal of protecting public health by limiting the potential spread of COVID-19, particularly variants of concern.
All guests undergoing mandatory quarantine in a designated facility are being provided with access to a 24/7 on-site healthcare team, who are available to address any wellbeing concerns of guests via daily check-in calls, as well as through direct engagement as requested and required. Guests requiring any specific, urgent or emergency care which cannot be provided in the hotel will be referred to an appropriate medical facility by the on-site healthcare team.
All reasonable efforts will be made by both service provider staff and the on-site health team to facilitate a comfortable stay in a designated facility.
More information, including further detail on the services available in Mandatory Hotel Quarantine, can be accessed on www.gov.ie/quarantine.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (295)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:295. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the way his Department is overseeing and engaging with the HSE in relation to the weekly risk assessments being carried out to inform the current restrictions in maternity care; and the details of these assessments. [25156/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Agriculture Industry
Ceisteanna (296)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:296. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the number of applications made annually for licences to cultivate hemp; the number licences awarded in each county; the number of licences refused; the reasons for the refusal of licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25168/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) processes applications for licences to cultivate hemp on behalf of the Department of Health. The number of licences issued to cultivate hemp since 2018 is as follows:
2021 (as of 7 May): 13 licences
2020: 94 licences
2019: 74 licences
2018: 24 licences
All applicants who have submitted a complete application since 2018, detailing all the required information for a licence to cultivate hemp, have been issued with a licence. Each year there are a small number of applications that the HPRA is unable to progress as the applicants do not respond when requested to provide further information.
For example, in 2019 the HPRA received 85 applications for a licence to cultivate hemp. Of these, it was unable to progress 9 as the applicant did not respond. The remaining 76 applications were progressed and a licence issued in 2019 or early 2020. In 2018 the HPRA received 30 applications for a licence to cultivate hemp, of these it was unable to progress 6 as the applicant did not respond.
The number of licences issued to cultivate hemp in 2020, per county, is attached.
Covid-19 Pandemic
Ceisteanna (297)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:297. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that pregnant women and their partners have access to as much support as possible in respect of both prenatal and antenatal care given the ongoing situation with Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25192/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Departmental Expenditure
Ceisteanna (298)
Carol Nolan
Ceist:298. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount expended by his Department on advertising and awareness raising initiatives related to Covid-19 from March 2020 to date in 2021; the print, online and broadcasting media organisations contracted to provide this service; the amount provided to each in the timeframe concerned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24922/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has participated in, and contributed to, the whole-of-Government communications strategy and public information campaigns related to COVID-19.
My Department has provided information, as appropriate, via established channels of communication, including the Department’s website, official social media accounts and stakeholder communications.
No additional expenditure has been incurred by my Department in relation to this.
Animal Diseases
Ceisteanna (299)
Pauline Tully
Ceist:299. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider setting up a permanent compensation fund in order to protect the poultry sector from losses due to ongoing disease outbreaks that have intensified over the past number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24941/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is continuing to engage with the Poultry Working Group (PWG) regarding its proposal for establishing a disease aid fund for the poultry sector. My officials met again with the PWG at the end of April and have proposed dates for further meetings with the PWG in May and June. The PWG is working hard on behalf of the sector and has been very pro-active in engaging with my Department on this matter.
I fully understand the sector’s aim to seek mitigation, in so far as is possible, of the disease risks that their members face. I would like to highlight that some excellent supports are already in place for a number of important diseases for the sector, including High Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Salmonella.
Department officials continue to examine the additional measures that could potentially be utilised within the EU State Aid Regulations, to establish a funding support system for the sector in the face of poultry disease challenges.
The importance of improving biosecurity at farm level to prevent disease outbreaks in the first place cannot be overlooked. The Department has made available, at no cost to the poultry producer, biosecurity risk assessments, which are delivered by Animal Health Ireland trained veterinary practitioners, for commercial broiler and layer units. The set of recommendations provided guides the producer on how to improve the standard of biosecurity on the farm and reduce the likelihood of disease incursion. “Prevention is better than cure” is a cornerstone of Animal Health Policy.
The Department has also expressed its support in principle for the establishment of a health programme for the poultry sector operated by Animal Health Ireland; this would operate in partnership with the poultry sector, and has excellent potential to improve the overall health of the national flock, as well as the standard of biosecurity on farms, thus reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Common Agricultural Policy
Ceisteanna (300)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:300. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers that have entitlements of value of 0 to €100, €100 to €200, €200 to €300, €300 to €400 and above €400, respectively; the average stocking density by the same intervals except for tillage farmers; if, in the forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy, there will be convergence of the rates of entitlements that are based on events that happened in 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24949/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The table below illustrates the sets of payment entitlements held by farmers divided into ranges based on Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payment entitlement unit values as requested by the Deputy. It is useful to note that farmers may hold more than one set of payment entitlements, each of which may fall into separate intervals as specified in the question. Therefore, this table shows the numbers of sets of entitlements under each interval. This data is as of 10th May 2021 but will not remain static as the payment entitlement sets evolve due to ongoing transfers of payment entitlements between farmers.
|
Range of Payment Entitlement Sets Unit Values |
Number of Sets of Payment Entitlements |
|
<€100 |
0 |
|
€100 - €200 |
123,709 |
|
€200 - €300 |
45,142 |
|
€300 - €400 |
6,113 |
|
> €400 |
1,919 |
The total number of sets of payment entitlements (n =176,883) is greater than the total number of farmers holding payment entitlements; as mentioned above this is due to the fact that farmers can have a number of sets of payment entitlements of varying values. To classify the data by farmer would require the payment entitlement unit values to be averaged and thus would skew the data. It is for this reason that the data cannot be mapped to stocking density as it would provide an imprecise representation.
All payment entitlements held under the BPS were subject to convergence. Convergence is a mandatory provision in the current Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) programme to redistribute funds between farmers. Over the period 2015-2019, those with higher value payment entitlements saw a reduction in their values while those with payment entitlements that had a value of less than 90% of the average value saw an increase. In 2019, all payment entitlement values reached a minimum of 60% of the national average.
The new legislative proposals for the CAP are ongoing with final agreement on convergence depending on the outcome of the trilogue process. Current indications are that the convergence of payment entitlements will continue under the new CAP.
The Department will continue to examine all the options presented during the negotiations in order to achieve the best possible outcome for Irish farmers.
Agriculture Schemes
Ceisteanna (301)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:301. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average amount paid in each tranche of REPS, AEOS and GLAS by county and year in tabular form. [25103/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Environmental Policy
Ceisteanna (302)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:302. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to carry out a baseline biodiversity survey on every farm to inform future policy development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25149/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As part of budget 2021, funding of €5 million has been dedicated to develop a pilot 'Farm Environmental Study' programme in 2021. The Pilot Farm Environmental Study Programme will begin the process of developing a national baseline database of farm scale habitat and biodiversity data along with additional environmental parameters. The Department is at an advanced stage in finalising the tender to implement this programme in 2021.
The Pilot Farm Environmental Study is an integral part of measures that were introduced as part of Budget 2021 and is central to delivering benefits for Biodiversity, Water and Climate in this country.
Environmental Policy
Ceisteanna (303)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:303. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to explore and develop potential opportunities for farmers from anaerobic digestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25150/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Indigenous renewable energy plays a vital role in our domestic fuel mix and will become even more important in the context of reducing our reliance on imported fuels and in meeting our challenging renewable energy targets for 2020 and 2030 and decarbonising our energy systems by 2050.
The Department recognises the potential environmental benefits of using Anaerobic Digestion (AD), including climate mitigation, water quality and air quality and the potential as a diversification opportunity for farmers. While the potential for the growth of the AD sector in Ireland is strong it should be seen as a long term development. Research suggests that there is potential for a significant role for biogas / bio-methane in the decarbonisation of the heat and transport sectors with corresponding climate benefits.
Supports for anaerobic digestion heating systems are currently available under the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH). The SSRH supports the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users. The Scheme, which is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate Action and Communications (DECC) and operated by the SEAI, supports the adoption of heating systems that use solid biomass fuels and heating systems that produce and use biogas via anaerobic digestion.
Biogas produced via anaerobic digestion can be upgraded and injected into the gas grid - at which point it is classified as biomethane. Ireland's National Energy & Climate Plan has set an indicative target of 1.6TWh of indigenous biomethane to be injected annually into the gas grid by 2030.
The plan also set out a number of measures that could support the development of biomethane including the potential for a new renewable energy obligation in the heat sector. The recently updated actions under the Climate Action Plan include a specific action to consider such a measure and publish a decision by the end of this year on whether an obligation should be introduced along with the planned timeframe and scope. DECC is working to deliver this action by the end of the year.
In addition, the Department supports research, development and demonstration in this particular area and has funded two projects through the European Innovation Partnerships Initiative (EIP) under the Rural Development Programme 2014- 2020. The Biorefinery Glas (small scale farmer-led green biorefineries) and Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) small biogas demonstration programme have been awarded funding of over €900,000 each.
The Department continues to work closely with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), which is the lead Department in this area, to ensure that the supply of domestic fuels available in the forest and agriculture sectors are mobilised to support energy generation from a range of bioenergy technologies including Anaerobic Digestion.
Pesticide Use
Ceisteanna (304)
Holly Cairns
Ceist:304. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to review pesticide use across the agricultural sector while acknowledging the comparatively low level of pesticide use in Ireland and to provide supports to farmers who are undertaking practices to reduce their dependence on such chemicals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25151/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department is carrying out the Programme for Government commitments through its implementation of the Sustainable Use Directive which includes a range of activities such as training, data gathering, registration of users, advisors and distributors of pesticides and testing of application equipment.
Pesticide use in Ireland is relatively low compared to many EU Member States, as evidenced by an estimated average application rate of 0.54 kg/ha of Utilised Agricultural Area (UAA) compared to an EU average of 2.15 kg/ha UAA (based on an analysis of 2018 sales data). In order to continue to progress, it is necessary to have accurate data to understand the pattern of pesticide use in Ireland, and to ensure that measures based on robust scientific information are available to farmers to help them to further reduce use of pesticides where possible.
A number of measures are in place to review pesticide use across the agriculture sector. These include collection and analysis of pesticides sales data on an annual basis, a rolling programme of pesticide usage surveys, covering all main crops, and calculation of Harmonised Risk Indicators for assessing trends in risk from pesticide use. These indicators (HRI 1 and HRI 2) are specified under the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive. Further developments to improve the collection and use of pesticide statistics, including additional risk indicators, will occur as part of the implementation of the EU Farm to Fork Strategy.
Regarding measures to help farmers reduce use of pesticides, the key approach is full implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by all farmers. Under this approach all alternatives to pesticides must be considered and pesticides should only be used where essential. Teagasc provides extensive advisory supports to farmers to help them implement IPM practices and also carries out a significant body of research work to ensure that advice is based on up-to-date and reliable information. It should be noted that the Department has provided funding for a number of IPM-related research projects.
The Department also provides various financial supports to farmers. Examples include payments for low-input grassland, and funding under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) for equipment to reduce pesticide use, such as heavy rollers.
The measures outlined above, together with implementation and enforcement of the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive, are contributing to more sustainable use of pesticides in Ireland. The possibility for further measures will be considered as part of ongoing EU discussions on implementing the Farm to Fork Strategy.