Written Answers Nos. 364-371
364. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which he can provide orthodontic treatment for children in such a way as to prevent future dental problems for the adults of tomorrow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61628/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have the greatest level of need and have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. All referrals to the Orthodontic Unit are assessed by a Specialist Orthodontist using the criteria outlined in the standardised Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). This is the rating system used to determine whether children qualify for orthodontic treatment from the HSE.
The National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte, sets out a body of comprehensive reforms to the provision of oral healthcare services in Ireland, in which services are reoriented to embrace a primary oral healthcare approach that is available across the life course. The Policy supports the delivery of selected simple orthodontic procedures and oral surgery in primary care dental practices, supported by clinical care pathways which will be developed. Orthodontic treatment involving inpatient surgical interventions and multi-specialty advanced care will need to be provided in advanced oral healthcare centres, which will be developed.
I am committed to ensuring that implementation of this policy progresses. Therefore, an unprecedented allocation of €15 million has been made in Budget 2023 to enhance the provision of oral healthcare services. A dedicated €4.75 million has been provided as part of this €15m allocation to develop comprehensive oral healthcare packages for children aged from birth to seven years, aligned with the National Oral Health Policy. An additional €9 million has also been provided to address waiting lists in orthodontics and for the Public Dental Service to provide care to its eligible children and adult patients.
365. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which surgery is readily available for the removal of cataracts in this jurisdiction; the number of such surgical interventions undertaken here in the past 12 months; the plans to extend this service in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61629/22]
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.
366. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when the promised phase of the Naas hospital development plan will be activated in accordance with the original projections; when the facility will be completed and opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61630/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
367. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason that there has been no additional capacity added to disability residential services for children in south Tipperary for a period of five years; the urgent steps that he is taking to increase respite services for children in south Tipperary; the current vacancy rates for therapists within the CDNT teams in south Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61632/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
368. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been facilitated to continue their GLAS participation given the fact that they have previously indicated their interest in remaining in the scheme to his Department; and if he will make arrangements for continuing the payment of the person's GLAS grant. [61408/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn extension of contracts under the Green Low Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) was offered to eligible participants as there was a delay in the agreement of the new Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) in 2020. It was necessary for participants in GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 to notify the Department to extend their contracts to end 2021, and again on a second occasion to extend them to end 2022.
It is noted that the person in this case applied, and was approved, for an extension of their GLAS 1 contract for the 2021 scheme year and that GLAS payments have issued in respect of this contract for scheme years 2015 – 2021 inclusive.
The person named has, however, yet to notify my Department of their intentions for the 2022 scheme year. The option of extending their GLAS contract is still available to the person named provided they contact the GLAS Section as soon as possible and inform them of their intentions.
369. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that the Government has failed to secure any quota of Atlantic bluefin tuna for the Irish fishing fleet, despite the documented recovery of the species within the Irish exclusive economic zone, EEZ, in recent years. [60540/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Ireland does not have a national quota for Bluefin Tuna. The available Bluefin Tuna quota is allocated each year to Member States based on relative stability as established in the late 1990s. At that time, Ireland did not have a track record of commercial fishing for Bluefin Tuna and, accordingly, did not receive a quota allocation.
A small Bluefin Tuna by-catch quota is available to Ireland, primarily for use in our important Northern Albacore Tuna fishery and Celtic Sea Herring fishery where there can be Bluefin Tuna by-catch.
In 2018, Ireland was successful, for the first time, in securing an agreement that allowed Ireland to set up a catch-tag-release fishery to contribute to the collection of scientific data for the blue fin tuna stock. A Catch-Tag-Release science-based fishery for authorised recreational angling vessels has been in place since 2019 and supports the collection of valuable data on the migratory patterns of Bluefin Tuna in Irish waters. This fishery is most beneficial to Ireland as it increases our knowledge of the behaviour and abundance of bluefin tuna in Northwestern waters while also providing a small but valuable tourism benefit to peripheral coastal communities.
A new Bluefin Tuna management plan was adopted at the recent International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) meeting, which will see an increase for all contracting parties with a share of the Bluefin Tuna Total Allowable Catch, including the EU. Following discussions on this new management plan, the UK now has a quota of 63 tonnes of Bluefin Tuna for 2023-2025.
I wish to assure the Deputy that Ireland made clear to EU Member States and the European Commission at the EU internal meetings during the course of last month's ICCAT meeting that Ireland considers that there is a case for an allocation of part of the increase in the Bluefin Tuna quota to be made available to Ireland for a targeted fishery. Given the much greater prevalence of Bluefin Tuna in Ireland's EEZ than in the UK EEZ, this is a request that we wish to be considered at Council.
I have therefore requested the opening of discussions at EU level to progress our case and I will be making a formal statement to this effect at next week's December Agrifish Council.
370. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the assistance that his Department can provide to a person (details supplied) and many other pensioners in cases where Coillte pensions have not increased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61431/22]
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 the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Any pension increases granted are at the discretion of Coillte and are subject to the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. Approval to an increase of 2% to pensions in payment for Coillte pensioners has been sought by Coillte and has recently been granted by the relevant Ministers.
The individual case referred to has been forwarded to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
371. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action that will be taken on the feedback obtained through the animal welfare seminar which was held on 5 October 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61456/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Animal Welfare Seminar held in my Department's Backweston Campus on 5th October was a very positive event organised by my officials and attended by almost 100 representatives from animal welfare charities which receive funding from my Department. I was delighted to have the opportunity to speak at the event and presentations were provided by UCD and officials from my Department.
The seminar facilitated excellent engagement and interaction between these organisations and officials from my Department, through Q&A sessions and group discussions.
Officials from my Department have reported on feedback obtained through this engagement to the Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare, which plays a key role in helping to guide policy direction relating to companion animal welfare for my Department.
