Written Answers Nos. 302-321
302. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health when the National Cervical Screening Laboratory will open; the fully staffed annual testing capacity of the laboratory; the number of samples sent abroad for testing in each year for the past five years; and the total cost of sending samples abroad for testing in each year for the past five years. [54043/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
303. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant and derelict buildings owned by the HSE and his Department respectively by each CHO in tabular form. [54054/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Health does not own real estate. The public healthcare property estate is held and managed by the Health Service Executive. As such, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
304. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health if he has met with the HSE to discuss derelict or vacant buildings in their ownership. [54055/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere has been and continues to be significant engagement between my Department and the HSE at senior level on the matter of vacant or derelict buildings in HSE ownership. This is in the context of the Housing for All response and also this year in the national effort on housing and supports for Ukrainians arriving in Ireland.
The HSE periodically review the heath estate property portfolio in light of current and projected needs of the health service and also demographic projections and resourcing requirements. Taking these and other factors into account, decisions are taken in respect of vacant or derelict properties. Where it is confirmed that any given property is no longer required for in the health sector, in accordance with protocol and procedures for state asset transfer and disposal, such properties are initially offered to the Land Development Agency. If there is not an interest from the Land Development Agency they are then offered to other state entities listed on the State Property Register. Finally, if there is no interest expressed by other state entities, the property is placed on the open market.
In response to Housing for All requirements and to contribute to the national effort on housing and supports for Ukrainians arriving in Ireland, a full list of vacant properties identified by the HSE as potentially usable for accommodation and housing was provided to the Department of Housing earlier this year. This list is kept under review and I and officials in my Department continue to engage with the HSE, the Department of Housing and the all of Government responses on these critical issues.
305. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health the number of initial consultations for termination of pregnancy services that were provided by general practitioners, family planning clinics and women's health clinics in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54062/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy’s question relates to a service area, I have referred this question to the HSE for direct response.
306. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who has been referred, by their rheumatologist, to see a pain specialist at St. John's Hospital, Limerick, and is yet to receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54076/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
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.
307. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health if he will make a commitment that the pandemic bonus payment of €1,000 will be paid to all those entitled to receive it by the end of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54080/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFirstly, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all healthcare workers for their efforts during this most challenging period.
As of Friday 14th of October, over 124,000 HSE and Section 38 staff have received payment around the country.
The HSE are now progressing the rollout, with an external provider, to the list of 6 non-HSE/non-Section 38 organisation types covered by the Government Decision. This measure will be ring fenced to staff working ordinarily onsite in COVID-19 exposed healthcare environments.
Information will be published shortly for those certain non-HSE/Section 38 healthcare employees that are covered by the Government Decision and the process available to their employers to implement this measure for their eligible staff. This shall cover eligible staff in:
1. Private Sector Nursing Homes and Hospices (e.g. Private, Voluntary, Section 39 etc.);
2. Eligible staff working on-site in Section 39 long-term residential care facilities for people with disabilities;
3. Agency roles working in the HSE;
4. Health Care Support Assistants (also known as home help / home care / home support) contracted to the HSE;
5. Members of the Defence Forces redeployed to work in front-line Covid-19 exposed environments in the HSE;
6. Paramedics employed by Dublin Fire Brigade to deliver services on behalf of the HSE.
The above 6 areas only are covered by this Government Decision and all eligible workers will be paid in accordance with the overarching eligibility criteria in place.
Please be assured that work on rolling out payment to non-HSE/Section 38 organisations is being prioritised and while the rollout of payments to the eligible workers in these organisations is hoped to begin shortly, it is not possible to comment on when payment will be received.
308. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an emergency medical card application will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54113/22]
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.
309. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when speech, language and occupational therapy will be provided in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54117/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question relates to a service issue, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
310. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific actions that his Department will take in relation to the iNAP2 plan, to ensure that cross-discipline research is enabled. [53905/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAntimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is recognised as a global threat to health, livelihoods, food security and the achievement of many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The second One Health National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (iNAP2) was developed after stakeholder engagement and one of its five strategic objectives is to promote research and sustainable investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and other interventions. Cross-discipline research is an important aspect of research and something that has been encouraged and facilitated by my departments approach to research funding for some time.
Specifically, my Department has recently established an AMR Thematic Network with broad stakeholder representation to guide on future research avenues to explore. The Network composition includes officials from my Department and a variety of representatives from research and academic institutions
Other supports from my Department for cross-discipline research on AMR include international collaboration such as participation in an upcoming Horizon Europe Partnership on AMR which commences in 2023. In 2021, my Department also supported the European Research Area Network (ERANET) Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) for AMR. Four Irish research performing organisation secured over €600,000 in funding and this will facilitate their collaboration with research partners in other countries and in different fields of expertise.
In addition, funding for collaborative AMR research has been provided from a number of research Calls run by my Department. An example of this is the 'AMURAP' project which involves collaboration between Teagasc, the University College Dublin School of Veterinary Medicine, and DAFM, to study the use of antibiotics in Irish pig and chicken farms and the consequences in the appearance of bacteria resistant to antibiotics in products and the environment.
I am committed to building on these initiatives and further advancing cross-disciplinary research to tackle AMR.
311. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department is utilising the research data generated from Irish research in relation to the iNAP2 plan to date; and if his Department has analysed it or requested any communication with the scientists in order to ensure that the research is translated into policy. [53908/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is a high-level priority of my Department to deliver Ireland’s second One Health National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2021-2025 (iNAP2), in conjunction with the Department of Health and stakeholders, to mitigate the impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Several projects are currently underway in the iNAP2 that use and build upon research findings and data generated in Ireland's National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance 2017-2020 (iNAP). My Department is already seeing the tangible benefits of the outputs of several research projects delivered by iNAP, where research is translated into policy.
Specific measures have been introduced in many of my Department's Schemes and services that involve the tracking of antimicrobial usage (AMU). The Pigs Exceptional Payments Scheme 2 (PEPS2) requires an applicant to be actively supplying antimicrobial data to my Departments AMU database in order to benefit. During World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2020,my Department launched an antibiotic use calculator tool for dairy herds' which enables farmers to “self-monitor” their use of antibiotics to support behaviour change and reduce usage. My Department, together with Animal Health Ireland (AHI), has developed specialised training programmes for farmers and vets which assist in delivering upon the changes that are required as a result of the new regulations on veterinary medicinal products and medicated feed. My Department has also, as a result of data generated and analysed under iNAP, introduced guidelines and policies on the prudent use of antimicrobials such as the selective approach to dry cow therapy.
iNAP2 continues to promote research that will be used to shape future policy to curb AMR which additionally includes sustainable investment in new medicines, diagnostic tools, vaccines and the role of the environment in the dissemination and spread of AMR. Further research outputs are expected under iNAP2 which will continue to support Ireland’s ambition to be a world leader in sustainable food systems whilst promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials in agriculture.
312. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the Forest Service does not routinely require the licensee to provide his Department with notification of when felling works are to be commenced and concluded, even where felling licences are issued for a period of ten years, given his role in monitoring and enforcing forestry licences (details supplied). [53914/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the case of felling licences, a licensee is required to erect a notice at the entrance to the land to which the licence relates, upon commencement of the works advising the public that tree felling is being carried out in accordance with that licence. There are no statutory provisions requiring the licensee to provide the Department with notification of when the permitted project is to be commenced and/or concluded.
Notwithstanding, there are powers under the Forestry Act 2014 to attach any conditions as are deemed appropriate to any afforestation, forest road, tree felling licences. This includes the possibility of conditions requiring a licensee to provide the Department with notification of when a permitted project or activity is to be commenced and/or concluded.
The requirement to supply a commencement notice to the Department prior to felling works starting is included as a licence condition on a case by case basis.
In relation to road licences, conditions to provide commencement notices are attached to many forest road licences and always in cases where the construction of the forest road involves the creation of a new or material widening of an existing entrance onto a public road.
In the case of Afforestation, the submission of Notice of Substantial Commencement (Form 1b), and Notice of Completion of Planting (Form 1c) forms are not required to be submitted as conditions of licences but rather relate to the administration of financial aid under the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme.
In terms of monitoring and the enforcement of conditions attached to tree felling licences this is accomplished through the site inspections undertaken by my staff as part of their work in carrying out felling licence inspections.
313. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he, as a shareholder in Coillte Teoranta, will clarify information regarding the estimated volume of timber to be felled under felling licences dated 2021, granted by his Department (details supplied). [53915/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2021 my Department issued 1,534 Coillte felling licences. These were scheduled to be utilised in each of the years 2021, 2022 and in 2023. The total volume of all these licences together accounts for the 5 million cubic metres referenced in the question. The figures for the total volume actually felled during 2021 are a matter for Coillte.
314. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he, as a shareholder in Coillte Teoranta, will provide a detailed explanation as to the reason that the area of forest classed as 'High Conservation Value Forest' managed by Coillte has decreased by 11,016 hectares (approximately 10%) from 107,083 hectares to 96,097 hectares over the past 12 months, according to reports (details supplied). [53916/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCoillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have referred the matter to Coillte for direct follow up with the Deputy.
315. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to reviewing the proposed ten-unit cap on milking parlours under the TAMS scheme, in view of this parlour size being inadequate, to ensure that two generations of farming families can make a reasonable living from dairy farming together with other factors (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53933/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTAMS has proven itself to be a really important and popular scheme which has driven important farm investments. To date, expenditure under TAMS II has exceeded €379m. Payments under the TAMS II scheme continue to issue on an ongoing basis. TAMS continues to be a hugely successful and beneficial scheme, and I am delighted that it will continue in 2023 in a bigger and better way with a stronger emphasis on environmental investments.
Dairy farmers will continue to be included in TAMS schemes from 2023 onwards. There will also be some changes including a proposed resetting of the investment ceiling to €90,000 and proposed increased grant rates for specified investments that will form part of TAMS 3. The terms and conditions of the scheme and the investment list for grant-aided items are currently being finalised.
TAMS is a demand-led scheme and as such reviews of investments and their uptake along with budgetary constraints will continue to take place during the lifetime of the scheme
These changes are subject to approval of the Rural Development Plan (RDP) amendment by the European Commission. The amendment is currently with the Monitoring Committee of the RDP for their views before its formal submission to the Commission.
316. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 866 of 18 October 2022, if he will provide clarification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53961/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you know, following a public consultation process in which over 900 submissions were received, the then Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine announced in December 2018 that vessels over 18m would be excluded from trawling in inshore waters inside the six nautical mile zone and the baselines from 1 January 2020. A transition period of three years for vessels over 18m targeting sprat was allowed to enable adjustment for these vessels, as the sprat fishery is concentrated inside the six nautical mile zone.
A Policy Directive was issued by the Minister to the independent Licensing Authority to give effect to these measures. The Policy Directive directed the Licensing Authority to insert a condition to this effect into the licences of affected vessels.
A Judicial Review to the High Court was taken by two applicant fishers challenging the validity of the Policy. On 6th October 2020, the Judge held in summary that the High Court’s final order should be, among other matters, a declaration that Policy Directive 1 of 2019 was made in breach of fair procedures and is void and/or of no legal effect. The breach of fair procedures as referenced above related to a failure with obligations to consult with the applicants in accordance with, and to the extent required by, the consultation process and in particular by failing to consult with them a second time once a preferred option had been identified. A stay on the order was refused by the High Court on 10th December 2020.
I appealed the decision of the High Court to the Court of Appeal. I also sought a stay on the order of the High Court. The Court of Appeal reinstated the Ministerial Policy Directive on 19th March 2021, when the Court was persuaded that the balance of justice leaned in favour of the State and granted a stay on the order of the High Court up until the hearing of the substantive appeal in June. Following a full hearing by the Court of Appeal on 22nd June 2021, the Court decided to temporarily extend the Policy Directive excluding large vessels from trawling in inshore waters within 6 miles of the coast, save for a restricted sprat fishery.
On September 23rd, 2021, the Court of Appeal refused my application to further continue the stay. This refusal means that the decision of the High Court stands and the Policy Directive is no longer valid, meaning vessels over 18 metres in length overall have resumed trawling in the waters inside 6 nautical miles. These vessels also no longer require an authorisation to fish for sprat inside 6 nautical miles.
The Court of Appeal issued an unapproved judgment on 19th July last and my Department is at present considering the implications of the that unapproved judgment in consultation with its legal advisors. Further submissions to the Court have been provided.
As this matter continues to be sub judice, I am not in a position to comment further until the matter can be resolved before the Courts.
317. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the timeframe for applications for a scheme (details supplied) can be extended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53994/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra318. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the deadline for applications to the ACRES scheme beyond 10 November 2022, given the complications with the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54001/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together.
The Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) is the agri-environment climate measure which forms part of Ireland’s CAP Strategic Plan 2023 – 2027. Farmers may apply for one of the approaches available under ACRES, namely the ACRES Co-operation approach, available to farmers in eight defined high priority geographical areas, or the ACRES General approach which is available nationally outside of the eight ACRES Co-operation zones.
Farmers must engage the services of an approved ACRES advisor to prepare and submit the application. This includes the preparation of a Farm Sustainability Plan (FSP) which forms the bulk of the application.
There are currently just under 700 advisors approved for ACRES. While the ACRES application system opened on 17th October 2022, to support the preparation of applications, significant resources were made available in advance of this date to allow preparations for FSPs. Prior to opening my Department engaged extensively with advisors. This included the provision of training, both in-person and by webinar, the publication of draft specifications in August and the opening of the Department’s Generic Land Management (GLAM) system in mid August for training, information and map printing. All of these steps enabled advisors undertake preparatory work on the development of FSPs and applications in advance of the opening.
Support material has also been provided to advisors including system instruction manuals and guides, and video tutorials on the steps to be taken in preparing and submitting the application.
The intake into the scheme is also phased, with at least two tranches, to spread the workload of advisors.
The closing date for the submission of applications under the current Tranche is Monday 21st November 2022. The supports and information provided in advance of scheme opening will assist advisors to meet this deadline.
319. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will assist in securing a rise for the pensions of retired Coillte employees (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54004/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and as such is operationally independent from my Department. I have referred the query to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
320. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54009/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Horse Board (IHB) is a co-operative society made up of individual shareholders and is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act. The IHB is an affiliate of Horse Sport Ireland. However, the IHB operates independently of my Department and therefore the running of their elections is a matter for the organisation itself.
321. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the New Forestry programme will be launched as the sector has been anxiously awaiting the launch of the new Programme which is a 'make or break' initiative for the future of the industry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54046/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra322. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the implementation of the new forest programme; the reasons for the new forest programme's slow implementation (details supplied); the measures that are being taken to assist the forestry industry given the dire situation that is now developing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54064/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 322 together.
I am aware of the pressures impacting the forestry sector and met with representatives last week to explain progress towards finalising the new Forestry Programme for the period 2023 to 2027 and to reiterate my commitment to supporting the sector.
A thriving and resilient private forestry sector will continue to be central to the delivery of the Government’s forestry goal and I believe that the best solution to assisting the sector now is delivery of a well-resourced and ambitious forestry programme.
It is worth noting the considerable work that has been undertaken this year in developing a vision for a new future for forestry in Ireland. I am referring to the recently published Shared National Vision for Trees, Woods and Forests in Ireland until 2050 which was informed by a series of extensive engagements and consultation. The Vision has informed a new Forestry Strategy for Ireland which has been developed by Working Group 2 of Project Woodland.
In parallel, a draft Forest Strategy Implementation Plan has also been developed to facilitate the initial steps in the implementation of the Forest Strategy. This Plan comprises a list of actions and measures and includes the Forestry Programme for the period 2023-2027 which will be the main implementation vehicle for the Forest Strategy in the immediate to short term.
The draft Forest Strategy and Forest Strategy Implementation Plan were published on Tuesday the 18th of October and are now subject to a 6-week public consultation process. This means that stakeholders and interested parties are aware of the measures and Schemes that are being proposed for the next Forestry Programme and may submit their feedback on all elements.
Alongside this public consultation process, my Department is currently engaged in detailed discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to agree funding. We are also in contact with European Commission and are initiating the process for State Aid approval for the new Programme.
I will publish the financial supports for the new Programme at the earliest opportunity. In parallel, once the public consultation process has been completed we will take account of submissions received to arrive at a final version.
As regards payment to forestry companies and forest owners, we have to date this year paid out over €61.5 million which is a significant, fully Exchequer funded, investment in forestry. This is broadly in line with payments for the same period in 2021. We will continue to deal with payments in a timely manner, as has been our practice to date.
In terms of liquidity, I have met the pillar banks this week to highlight clearly that we are about to deliver on a new Forestry Programme and to reiterate how central the forestry sector is to Government policy.
I am firmly committed to introducing a well - funded Forestry Programme which both meets the needs of society and that of the sector, and this will provide guaranteed long-term investment in the sector.
