Written Answers Nos. 414-424
414. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps taken to date to expand paediatric gynaecology services and out of hours care in line with the Women’s Health Action plan; the timeline and intermediate stages for the delivery of this objective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5448/23]
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.
415. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken by the HSE to highlight the condition of endometriosis and its impact on teenage girls; if he will outline the available treatment pathways for teenage girls; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5449/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Women's Health Taskforce was established by the Department of Health in 2019, to improve women’s health outcomes and experiences of healthcare. A number of initial priority areas for action were determined by the Taskforce, with the issue of endometriosis recognised and included as part of a priority workstream on improving gynaecological health for women and girls.
As part of its role in overseeing the development of gynaecology services, the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme is progressing the development of a National Framework for Endometriosis Care in Ireland in collaboration with the Irish College of General Practitioners. This Framework will identify how care for women in this area needs to be delivered, with this care spanning primary care to local hospital care to specialist complex care.
As the question also relates to service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
416. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the number of eligible health care workers that have not yet received the Covid recognition payment to date; the steps he intends taking to ensure all eligible workers get this payment promptly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5460/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
417. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason eligible workers in an organisation (details supplied) have not yet received the €1,000 Covid recognition payment; when it will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5461/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
418. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which school medical examinations continue on time in all areas throughout the country including Kildare North; the degree to which adequate follow-up takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5505/23]
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.
419. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be called for an appointment. [5511/23]
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.
420. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health the number of staff that have been working in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy and psychology year on year since 2016 in two teams; and the number of clients that have been seen by each separate discipline in the same time period, including a breakdown (details supplied). [5517/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
421. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the practice of burning gorse on hillsides and mountains to will be allowable during the prescribed burning season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5443/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe burning of vegetation is controlled by the Wildlife Acts. It is an offence under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife Act, 2000) to burn, from 1st March to 31st August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated. Individuals who are found to burn vegetation within that prohibited period are liable to prosecution by An Garda Síochána or by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). The (NPWS) is fully integrated in the Heritage Division of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
My Department has no role in enforcement of this legislation. Farmers wishing to burn in the legal period are entitled to do so provided, however they should follow prescribed burning guidance issued by my Department and act responsibly where the use of fire is concerned.
Landowners intending to burn must notify Gardaí between seven and 35 days in advance of burning and are also required to notify the Fire service on the day of burning before burning commences, and afterwards when all fires have been fully extinguished.
Prescribed fire guidance and other related information can be located at gov.ie - Fire Management (www.gov.ie)
422. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 206 of 26 October 2022, and the subsequent reply from Coillte, if he will clarify an issue (details supplied). [5334/23]
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 further direct follow-up with the Deputy.
423. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications will open for the voluntary dairy cow scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5355/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Food Vision Dairy Group was established in 2022 to advance the actions for the dairy sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy; taking account of the requirement for the dairy sector to contribute to achieving the targets set for agriculture emissions in the Climate Act process, i.e. a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030.
The Dairy Group submitted its final report, which has been published, in late 2022. The report included an option for a voluntary exit or reduction scheme.
The report, along with its counterpart from the Food Vision Beef Group, will be considered carefully before deciding on next steps with the goal of futureproofing our beef and dairy sectors for the benefit of our industry, the environment and our farm families who are the backbone of the sector and rural communities.
424. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he sought a report from NewERA before he considered the approval of the agreement between Coillte and a company (details supplied); if so, the conclusions of any such assessment; if he will publish the assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5437/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra425. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or any officials within his Department attended meetings in 2022, relating to forestry, which included representatives of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5454/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra426. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or any officials within his Department were included in correspondence in 2022, relating to forestry, which included representatives of a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5455/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra427. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he or his Department officials were in contact with their counterparts in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, regarding the joint venture between Coillte and a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5456/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra428. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dates he or his officials met with Coillte to discuss it’s proposed joint venture with a company (details supplied); the attendees, the agenda, and the minutes of such meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5457/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra429. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he had any communication with the Irish Strategic Investment Fund in 2022, relating to forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5458/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 424, 425, 426, 427, 428 and 429 together.
Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Minister and Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I am, therefore, not in position to comment on any operational issues relating to the establishment of the new investment fund. I will pass any operational queries on the Fund to Coillte for direct response to the Deputy.
As I have previously outlined, neither my Department nor myself were involved in the establishment of the Fund. The question of consent or approval by the shareholding Ministers does not arise in relation to Coillte’s role in providing services to the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund. It is an operational matter for Coillte and they were under no obligation to seek consent.
Neither I nor my officials met with representatives of the company named, nor were we included in correspondence in 2022 which included representatives of that company. Neither did I nor my officials have any communication with the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund in 2022. It's important to note that this is not a joint venture but rather a management agreement between the Irish Strategic Forestry Fund (not the company named) and Coillte.
While mention was made by Coillte of entering into arrangements to enable increased afforestation as part of their overall Strategy at meetings dating back to 2021, the full details of the Fund were confirmed by Coillte in correspondence to me on 16 December.
The operational arrangements between Coillte and the Fund were not a matter for consent by the shareholders i.e. myself and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and therefore there was no contact between my officials and counterparts in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the matter. Furthermore as this is an operational matter for Coillte no approval was sought or given by the shareholders and therefore no engagement with NewERA was undertaken on the matter.
As I outlined at the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee last week, Coillte has made a consent request for possible investment in the Fund in the future. As per normal procedure, my Department forwarded this consent request to NewEra for analysis. On receipt of the NewEra report, the shareholding Ministers will make a decision on the consent request.
