Written Answers Nos. 191-210
191. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if the HSE plans to introduce a dedicated paediatric speech and language service at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10501/23]
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.
192. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the status of recommendation eight of the Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10505/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to examine the significant workforce challenges in the home support and nursing home sectors in Ireland, in March 2022 Minister Butler established a cross-departmental Strategic Workforce Advisory Group. The Advisory Group was charged with identifying strategic workforce challenges in publicly and privately provided frontline carer roles in home support and nursing homes and with developing recommendations. The Group was chaired by the Department of Health, and its membership comprised representatives from seven government departments; (Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Health; Higher and Further Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Justice; Public Expenditure and Reform; and Social Protection), the Health Service Executive (HSE), the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and SOLAS, to ensure adequate response to complex challenges faced by the sector.
The Group undertook a structured programme of stakeholder engagement to gain insight into the challenges arising from the perspective of key sectoral groups. The following are the stakeholders that contributed to the process to date, by way of written submissions, one on one meetings and a facilitated workshop: Age Friendly Ireland, Home & Community Care Ireland, Home Care Coalition, HSE, National Community Care Network, Nursing Homes Ireland, SIPTU and ICTU.
The Advisory Group examined issues such as the recruitment, retention, training, career development, pay and conditions and barriers to employment for frontline carers in these sectors. Their report was published in October 2022 with 16 recommendations across the areas of recruitment, pay and conditions of employment, barriers to employment, training and professional development, sectoral reform, and monitoring and implementation. The report is available at this link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/492bc-report-of-the-strategic-workforce-advisory-group-on-home-carers-and-nursing-home-health-care-assistants/.
Minister Butler strongly endorses these recommendations and they are being progressed through a dedicated implementation group. It is envisaged that the implementation group will meet quarterly and publish an implementation plan, and progress reports thereafter.
Recommendation number 9 has already been implemented. The statutory instrument authorising the issuance of 1,000 employment permits for homecare workers was signed on 16 December 2022.
193. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will amend the Public Health Alcohol Act 2018 to include zero alcohol products in the restrictions on advertising and marketing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10506/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is continuing in my Department on the commencement and implementation of the remaining provisions of the Public Health (Alcohol) Act. I have no plans to amend the Act until it has been fully implemented.
194. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will commission a full independent review of service provision by a provider (details supplied) since publication of the Assurance Review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10507/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Disabilities, my primary concern is the safety and protection of vulnerable people in the care of our disability residential services and I take any issues raised regarding their care extremely seriously.
Sunbeam House Services CLG receives funding from the HSE under Section 38 of the Health Act, 2004. The provision of services is managed through an annual contract known as a Service Level Arrangement which is continually reviewed. The HSE retains operational responsibility for oversight of delivery of services in accordance with the service agreement.
Sunbeam House Services provides a range of supports to persons with intellectual disabilities. This includes Residential, Day, Respite and Rehabilitative Training services in County Wicklow and South County Dublin. Sunbeam House Services operate 28 designated centres with 129 residential places.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent Authority established to drive continuous improvement in Ireland's health and personal social care services, monitor the safety and quality of these services, and promote person-centred care for the benefit of the public. Residential services (including residential respite services) which fall under the definition of registered centres as set out in the Health Act 2007, are subject to full registration and inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). The purpose of regulation is to safeguard and support the delivery of person-centred care to vulnerable people of any age who are receiving residential care services and to ensure that their health, well-being and quality of life is promoted and protected.
My Department is aware of concerns raised by HIQA in relation to a decrease in compliance levels in a range of these centres in the past year which has impacted on the quality of care and support that residents experience. This is set out in the inspection reports for this provider that have been published on HIQA’s website. This has resulted in a requirement for increased inspection activity and HIQA advises that since 1 January 2022, there have been 38 inspections of designated centres operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG. HIQA is also engaged in a range of regulatory measures to drive improvements in the quality of support and care being delivered to residents. Compliance with HIQA standards for residential centres is a requirement under the Service Level Arrangements between the HSE and voluntary service providers.
Given the governance and oversight responsibilities of the HSE and HIQA respectively, currently, I have no plans to commission a full independent review of service provision. I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy directly, with a response on the Status of the Assurance Review and current regulatory measures being implemented as soon as possible.
195. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the capital projects that have been undertaken by his Department in Westmeath since June 2020; the funding allocated each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10550/23]
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.
196. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the cancellation of elective surgeries on a number of occasions in the past week at Ennis hospital; the contingencies he will put in place to ensure this does not happen again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10577/23]
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.
197. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the provision of funding for a service (details supplied) to bring patients from Cork South-West to CUH to receive cancer health care. [10586/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
198. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider putting specific supports in place for the sheep sector, which is currently in crisis. [10294/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is fully committed to a viable sheep sector as an integral element of a balanced regional economy. I recognise that our sheep farmers are hugely committed to producing a world-class, safe and sustainable product.
As the Deputy is aware, market prices are a commercial matter between suppliers and buyers and the Government has no role in determining commodity prices in the sheep sector. My Department provides significant support to the sector under the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), both through a new targeted scheme for sheep farmers (the Sheep Improvement Scheme) and through the broad range of schemes in the CSP.
The new Sheep Improvement Scheme under the CSP closed on 9th January 2023, with over 19,000 applications submitted. This scheme is the core targeted support for the sector from this year. It replaces the previous Sheep Welfare Scheme but shares the same aim of improving animal health and welfare in the sector, with a 20% increase in the ewe payment rate - from €10 to €12 - compared to the previous scheme.
The CSP provides almost €10 billion in supports over the period to 2027 for farm families. Sheep farmers are eligible for several other schemes in addition to Sheep Improvement Scheme, including the ACRES scheme and the Organics Scheme, which are particularly suited to sheep farming. Support for early-stage producer organisations, which will be introduced later this year, will further strengthen the position of sheep farmers in the supply chain.
At my request, the Food Vision Sheep Group met recently to discuss the sheep market situation. All the main stakeholders are represented on the Group and were invited to make submissions. I will now carefully consider the Chair’s report on the outcome of the Group’s deliberations.
I note while market returns have reduced due to increased input costs, Teagasc forecasts suggest that 2023 family farm income for specialised sheep farms will be only marginally (2%) down on 2022 at €19,500, due to the important role which direct payments play in contributing to sheep farm incomes.
The market situation will continue to be kept under review by my Department.
199. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of establishment grants and premiums paid, by county, in each of the years 2016 to 2022 from the State's afforestation scheme. [10312/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra200. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of establishment grants and premiums paid to farmers in each of the years 2016 to 2022 from the State's afforestation scheme. [10313/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra201. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of establishment grants and premiums paid to non-farmers in each of the years 2016 to 2022 from the State's afforestation scheme. [10314/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 199 to 201, inclusive, together.
The links below show the amount of grants and premiums paid by county to farmers and non-farmers in each of the years 2016-2022.
The Deputy should note that during the Afforestation programme 2014-2022 there was no differential by rate or premium term between farmer and non-farmer recipients. The information published is based on self declaration of farmer status by the applicant.
202. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has or intends to apply for European Union co-financing under EU Promotion Regulations published on 30 January 2023; his timeline to do so; the topics under which he is applying and the projects the funding is intended to support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10344/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI advise the Deputy that EU Funding is made available annually on a competitive basis to eligible bodies in the Member States for the generic promotion of the quality, safety, nutrition or production methods of EU Agricultural Products under EU Regulation 1144/2014.
The types of bodies established in the Member States who are eligible to apply are set down in the Regulations.
Applications may be submitted by these bodies only, directly (via a portal), to the EU agency (REA) Research Executive Agency by 21st April 2023. Consequently applications are not submitted by my Department.
Member State co-funding is not possible, rather the provision of the total funding is divided between the EU and industry in percentages set out in the Regulation.
203. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if construction costs associated with new milking parlours will be covered under a young farmer capital investment scheme in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10345/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have introduced some changes to TAMS under TAMS 3 to align it with overall agriculture and environmental priorities. For applications under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, applicants may apply for up to 10 milking units in a herringbone parlour, or one robotic milking machine, if they have fewer than 160 cows on average over the year preceding the making of an application.
I can also confirm that the limit relates only to the milking machine investments and does not apply to any other investments under any of the 10 Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS 3) that are being put in place.
When a farmer is planning to update their system, investment in the milking machine is only a portion of the required investment. It is important that dairy farmers also invest in animal housing, slurry storage, fodder storage and making their holding more accessible. TAMS has been designed to encourage farmers to invest in these animal welfare and environmentally beneficial investments before investing in additional milking equipment. In addition to the investments being carried over from TAMS II there is a wide range of additional investments being introduced for farmers, including farm roadways, bovine fencing, health and fertility monitoring systems, automatic drafting systems, public road underpasses and milk recording systems, to name just a few.
204. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason and basis for those farmers who availed of previous funding for robotic milking equipment under TAMS being excluded from similar supports under TAMS 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10346/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with farmers and farming organisations regarding their concerns about the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) 3, which farmers believe is unduly penalising farmers using robotic milking; if it is the case that farmers who have previously invested in robotic milking parlour equipment are ineligible to apply for milking robots support under the new TAMS 3 (details supplied); if this will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10576/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra215. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will remove the inclusion of previous investment in robotic milking equipment as a criterion excluding farmers under Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme 3. [10582/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 204, 213 and 215 together.
I was pleased to recently announce the new and expanded range of investments under TAMS 3. This makes it our largest every on-farm capital investment scheme. I have introduced some changes to TAMS under the TAMS 3 scheme to closer align it with overall agriculture and environmental priorities.
Overall, we have approximately 100 new investment items for farmers to choose from in addition to the vast majority investment items from TAMS 2.
On the dairy sector, the list of potential investments is larger than ever before. In addition to the investments being carried over from TAMS II there is a wide range of additional investments being introduced for farmers, including farm roadways, bovine fencing, health and fertility monitoring systems, automatic drafting systems, public road underpasses and milk recording systems.
When a farmer is planning to update their dairy system, investment in the milking machine is only a portion of the required investment. It is important that dairy farmers also invest in animal housing, slurry storage, fodder storage and making their holding more accessible.
To this end, TAMS has been designed to encourage farmers to invest in these animal welfare and environmentally beneficial investments before investing in additional milking equipment. It is for this reason that there are limits on robotic milkers where farmers have previously benefitted from funding for these under previous TAMS.
205. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the target for the total forestry licences issued in 2023, by week, by type and by private or Coillte; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10347/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 replaces the previous Forestry Programme of 2014-2020 (extended to 2022) which expired at the end of 2022. The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 was created in alignment with Ireland’s new draft Forest Strategy and as such, is designed to provide lasting benefits for many key areas including as climate change, biodiversity, wood production, employment alongside enhancing societal benefits.
Currently, the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is subject to an ongoing Strategic Environmental Assessment/Appropriate Assessment (SEA/AA) process. The Forestry Programme 2023-2027 also requires State Aid to implement and the SEA/AA process is a critical step in the process of securing State Aid approval.
My Department has put in place an Interim Afforestation Scheme and an Interim Forest Road Scheme to provide an option of immediate planting and/or roading from January 2023 for those with existing valid approvals. A circular on these arrangements issued to the sector on 22 December 2022.
We are committed to delivering a licensing system which meets the needs of all those who apply for forestry licences. This is regardless of whether that application comes from a private individual who wishes to plant trees, a forest owner who wishes to fell their crop, or Coillte who wishes to supply sawmills with product from their estate. Each licence has a value, particularly to the rural economy where the timber is harvested, transported and processed and the Department strives to maintain a healthy balance between Coillte and private applications. Last year, Coillte received 51% of felling licences and the other 49% going to the private sector. Coillte currently supply around 75% of sawlog to sawmills and will, for the foreseeable future, remain an important part of our forestry mix.
I am acutely aware of the urgency with which planting and roading activity must take place, given both our ambitious targets and the need to ensure an active pipeline of work for the sector. In this light, my Department has worked intensively with the European Commission to pursue transitional arrangements for the use of valid Forestry Scheme approvals from January 2023.I assure you that the launch of the Forestry Programme 2023-2027 is a matter of the utmost priority.
206. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will specify the cost to discharge his Department’s liability under the current afforestation scheme and the older legacy scheme; the estimated cost of forestry supports under the new draft forestry programme in each of the years 2023 to 2030, in tabular form, by capital and current expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10348/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below outlines projected spending by my Department in each of the years 2023-2030 by capital and current expenditure. It also shows the cost of discharging liabilities with respect to previous schemes. The Capital allocation from 2024 onwards will be determined as part of the annual budgetary process. The Deputy will note that these figures represent a large increase on previous spending and reflect the attractiveness and comprehensive nature of the new forest strategy.
|
- |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
2027 |
2028 |
2029 |
2030 |
|
Afforestation Scheme |
€43,155,360 |
€50,469,058 |
€57,546,932 |
€74,408,009 |
€81,485,883 |
€45,172,573 |
€45,172,573 |
€45,172,573 |
|
Other Support Schemes |
€9,275,360 |
€22,548,090 |
€22,985,690 |
€23,423,290 |
€24,640,890 |
€2,968,000 |
€2,968,000 |
€2,530,400 |
|
Current Spending |
€2,117,000 |
€2,002,000 |
€1,931,000 |
€1,472,500 |
€1,472,500 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
|
Commitments from previous Programmes including affor and all support Schemes* |
€57,867,280 |
€43,936,000 |
€40,661,000 |
€34,142,838 |
€32,002,448 |
€28,120,274 |
€25,708,043 |
€20,800,629 |
|
|
€112,415,000 |
€118,955,148 |
€123,124,622 |
€133,446,636 |
€139,601,721 |
€76,260,847 |
€73,848,615 |
€68,503,601 |
|
*€1,711,000 of this amount is classed as current spending annually from 2024-2027 |
207. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will specify when his departmental officials received drafts of the revised guidelines for state aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors or the Agricultural Block Exemption Regulation from the European Commission or any other EU body prior to their publication in December 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10349/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 778 and 782 to 784, inclusive, of 31 January 2023, when he expects to receive correspondence from the European Commission clarifying the possibility for Coillte to be a direct beneficiary of forestry premiums under the new state aid rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10350/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
As the Deputy is aware, historically afforestation premia were provided for under European Council regulation 2080/92 and were available to both farmers and non-farmers. Lower maximum rates applied in the case of non-farmers. Within this regulation, non-farmers were defined as any other private, natural or legal person.
I would draw your attention to the landmark 2003 ECJ judgement for case No. 339-00 where it was held that, “as a public undertaking Coillte Teoranta was not eligible to receive aid to compensate for a loss of income arising from forestation”. This has resulted in the fact that Coillte to date, has not been eligible to receive aid to compensate for a loss of income arising from afforestation from my Department.
Ireland’s current afforestation premia are offered under the guidelines for State aid in the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas. As the Deputy is aware, these guidelines were revised last year and the updated guidelines have now come into effect from the 1st January 2023.
Draft guidelines for the European Commission’s revision of the State aid rules for the agricultural and forestry sectors and in rural areas were provided to Member States in January 2022. The Commission launched a public consultation in February 2022. My Department published the Commission consultation on gov.ie requesting organisations submitting observations/comments to also inform the Department. My Department received no such comments. The Commission held two meetings in March 2022 and September 2022 to discuss proposals with the Member States. Based on internal Department discussion, my Department submitted comments on each occasion following these meetings.
Following on from the meeting held in September 2022 the Commission considered Member States comments and published the Final version of the New ABER/Guidelines regulation in late December 2022. There were no follow up meetings held between September and publishing. My Department downloaded the final versions from the Official Journal as soon as they were available.
The revised guidelines, under Section 2.1.1 (Aid for afforestation and creation of woodland) and Section 2.3 (Aid for forest-environment and climate services and forest conservation) now include the possibility of public landowners to avail as beneficiaries without restrictions. My Department is currently seeking legal advice on the matter and will engage further with the Commission on receipt of this advice and due consideration will then be given to its application under the next Forestry Programme.
209. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment (details supplied), approved under the basic payment scheme will be issued; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10403/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA 2022 Basic Payment Application was received on 5th May 2022 in respect of the persons named.
Following processing, a number of dual claims were identified. A dual claim arises where more than one applicant claims the same land.
In an attempt to resolve the situation, a number of query letters were issued. The persons named have submitted documentation to substantiate their claim but having corresponded with the other claimants, these claims are disputed and are currently subject to legal proceedings.
In order to expedite the payments, the disputed land has been removed from both applicants and payments will issue on the non-disputed land. My Department has made direct contact with the person named and has explained the situation.
With regard to the application to transfer entitlements, my Department is awaiting documentation to proceed with this.
210. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a further update on the implementation of the recommendations from the food vision beef and sheep group; and if he has given consideration to concerns raised through the sector regarding the reduction of suckler cow numbers and the inclusion of the diversification and extensification schemes. [10405/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI established the Food Vision Dairy as well as Beef and Sheep Group last year to advance the actions for the dairy, beef and sheep sector identified in the Food Vision 2030 strategy, taking account of the requirement for the sectors to contribute to achieving the targets set for agriculture emissions in the Climate Act process.
The first priority for both Groups was to chart a pathway to achieving the legally binding target of a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture by 2030, equivalent to a reduction of 5.75 MT of carbon dioxide equivalent.
Both the Beef & Sheep and Dairy Groups submitted their final reports towards the end of 2022, which have been published on my Department’s website. The measures listed in the reports were been agreed by all members of the Group, which is understandable given that there are significant economic costs, particularly at farm level, attached to implementing some of these measures. However, it is key that first we have a pathway to reducing emissions and know what measures can contribute to that.
The measures proposed include extensification and diversification schemes for suckler beef farmers, which were proposed as voluntary schemes. Parallel measures were proposed for dairy farmers in the Food Vision Dairy Group report.
Since the Reports were published, I have stated that, owing to the serious concerns expressed by the farming organisations on the proposals for voluntary extensification and diversification schemes, which would have provided a payment to those who were in a position to reduce their herd or exit beef farming entirely, such schemes are now off the table for the beef sector.
My ultimate aim is to futureproof our beef sector for the benefit of our industry, the environment and our farm families who are the backbone of the sector and rural communities.
