"Grave concerns" following HIQA inspection of child protection and welfare services in Louth / Meath

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty has, today (Tuesday), said that following the publishing of the HIQA inspection report on child protection and welfare, she shares the “grave concerns” for the large number of children living in direct provision.

The TD for Meath East said that “I have read the inspection report published last week by HIQA for children living in direct provision in Louth and Meath and I must say I share the “grave concerns” outlined in the report. Louth / Meath which has a total of 364 children living in direct provision, was found to have shown significant delays in social work interventions whereby children were not seen by a social worker despite warning signs been noted in records.

“It is just not good enough, if a child is at risk of, for instance, of emotional or physical abuse then intervention should take place without delay. Cases such as these should be escalated without delay to the Child and Family Agency for action. The right of the child is paramount and it is our responsibility to ensure that all children are protected from any risks that may pose to them while living in direct provision.

“This is just one of the many findings of the inspection report of Louth / Meath, others include the physical and mental wellness of both the child and parent, the lack of clothes and toys, children being left alone for long periods of time, exposure to domestic violence, amongst others.”

Doherty concluded saying, “there is absolutely no excuse, it is our responsibility to protect these children from all such threats. I welcome the recommendations which were made by HIQA to the Child and Family Agency, calling for the development of an inter-cultural strategy to inform the provision of social services and the completion of an audit to ensure that no children are at risk of harm.”

Unemployment down 28% in Meath

Deputy Regina Doherty with Minister for Jobs Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton

 

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty has, today (Monday), said that Meath is performing well on our road to recovery, with unemployment down 28%.

The Meath East TD said that “the recent CSO figures showing unemployment down 28% tells us that we are performing well on our road to recovery in Meath, however, we need to be realistic about the road that lies ahead.

“Since the implementation of the Action Plan for Jobs we have seen over 100,000 new jobs created across Ireland. These 100,000 extra jobs have seen unemployment drop significantly in recent years and there has been a decrease in unemployment in every region since 2011; however we are not yet out of the woods.

“The reality is that not every business owner and not every family has benefitted from this recovery. In a bid to reach full employment by 2018 it is essential that we focus on regional job growth. I believe in the entrepreneurship of the people of Meath, and I believe that we have the skills to develop our area but more resources are needed.

“Over 41,000 more people were back working in 2014 in comparison to that in 2013. We need to continue to drive this upward trend in employment, many of which is supported through Local Enterprise Offices, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland.”

Concluding, Deputy Doherty said “while multinational investment to County Meath, such as Facebook in Clonee, is welcomed with open arms, we cannot become overly dependent. We must continue to support our SMEs and indigenous Irish businesses in securing our recovery.”

Planning refusal for Cregg Wind Farm a step in the right direction for Meath

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty has said that the planning refusal for Cregg Wind Farm is a step in the right direction for Meath.

Doherty said that “I know that I was not alone in breathing a massive sigh of relief when I heard that An Bord Pleanala had made the decision to refuse the planning appeal for the development of Cregg Windfarm in County Meath. I believe that this refusal bodes well for those of us in Meath who are in outright opposition to the proposed development of Emlagh Wind Farm.

“I am absolutely delighted with the decision, which I hope will lead the way and reiterate to An Bord Pleanala that Meath is not the right place for industrial sized wind turbines.

“46, let alone 6, industrial sized wind turbines do not belong amongst families and communities in North Meath, or anywhere for that matter. Wind farms of this scale should be located either offshore, or on vast isolated lands away from Ireland’s towns and villages. This week’s decision by An Bord Pleanala to refuse planning for the development of Cregg Wind Farm was without doubt the right thing for all involved, families, local businesses and farmers alike.

“Last week I raised a wide variety of issues at the oral hearing for the proposed development of Emlagh Wind Farm. Many of these issues, though not all as Emlagh is a much bigger beast, applied in the case of Cregg Wind Farm, which I also included in my submission to Meath County Council during the planning application process.

The Meath East TD concluded saying “this week’s planning refusal was made on the basis of unprecedented and undue interference to the landscape and specifically views from Whitewood House, one of Meath’s protected structures. If undue inference to the landscape from 6 industrial sized wind turbines in Nobber is enough to bring about a refusal; then 46 turbines, made up of 3 clusters located across breadth of North Meath, and nestled amongst UNESCO World Heritage sites, then impact on landscape should certainly hold a lot of merit in the ongoing decision making process for the Emlagh development.

“Well done and a massive congratulations to everybody involved.”

Meath beef trade safe after BSE test results

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty has said that it comes as a great relief to hear that the diagnosed BSE case in County Meath has been deemed an “isolated case”.



L-R Diarmuid Lally IFA Regina Doherty TD Cllr Paddy Meade

Deputy Doherty said “the last few weeks have been a long wait for the test results from the BSE case in Louth, a wait that I am sure was longer for some more than others. The first diagnosed case of BSE in Ireland since 2013, our farming reputation and the future of our beef trade in Meath and Louth are thankfully free from any danger on the international markets.

“We cannot underestimate the importance of our beef trade in County Meath. Should this not have been an isolated case, our local beef industry could have been hit, and hit hard. Thankfully, our national €2.2billion beef trade should be relatively unaffected by the isolated case in County Louth.

“While it is likely that Ireland’s BSE status will now be changed back to “controlled risk” from “negligible risk”, farmers, traders and consumers alike can rest easy in the knowledge that the commercial feed supply chain, and our livestock, have been relatively unaffected.”

The TD for Meath East concluded saying “farmer Joseph McCardle from County Louth, and his family, have gone through what must have been a traumatic ordeal over the last number of weeks. The results which were announced this week by the Department of Agriculture now mean that Mr McCardle, and all of our farmers in Meath and Louth, can get back to business.”

481 farmers in Meath apply for GLAS

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has welcomed the news that 481 farmers in County Meath have applied for the first tranche of GLAS funding, Ireland’s new agri-environment scheme, co funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, has confirmed that 481 farmers in Meath have applied for the first tranche GLAS of funding and that he expects that most of these will draw close to the maximum annual payment of €5,000.

“I am particularly pleased to hear that the majority of farmers who have successfully applied for GLAS look set to receive close to the maximum payment. There had been concerns that only a minority of farmers could ever hope to achieve this level of payment. These concerns have been allayed.

“The GLAS scheme is set to play a vital role in the protection of Meath’s rural environment. Nationally, almost 27,000 farmers applied to join and 481 farmers in Meath have also applied.

“It is significant that well over half of the commonages in the country, just under 2,700 have applied for GLAS. This is a major step towards the establishment of greatly enhanced management regimes for these upland areas.

“The most popular element of the Scheme related to Low Input Permanent Pasture which was selected by 20,000 farmers. Protection of watercourses was another popular choice by 10,000 farmers, while large numbers also chose a variety of actions designed to protect birds, bees and bats.

“Protecting the agri-environment and supporting strong, sustainable farming is key to the continued growth of the agri-food sector. GLAS will make a big difference in achieving this goal and it will provide support for farmers in doing so.”

Doherty tries out new cycle lanes in Ashbourne

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty has, today (Monday), welcomed the new cycle lanes in Ashbourne after trying them out for the first time on Sunday morning (21^st June).

Doherty stated “we set out on our bikes on Sunday morning at 9.30am to join the Bike Week Family 6km Cycle which was so brilliantly organised by Cllr Alan Tobin, Ashbourne Fire Brigade and Garda Aisling O’Connor.
“It was an absolutely fantastic way to finish off National Cycle Week and to give the new cycle lanes in Ashbourne a try. I have to say, they are a fantastic addition to our town; myself and my son, Ryan, felt very safe cycling on the roads on Sunday morning. “It is so important that our roads remain a safe place for all road users. I would encourage everyone to get on their bike and use our new cycle lanes as an alternative means of transport to and from Ashbourne town. Cycling is a fantastic way to keep the mind and body in shape.” 

Planning permissions up almost 97%

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has said the increase in new planning permissions is another sign the recovery is taking hold and will contribute to the easing of the current housing shortage.

“In the first three months of 2015 planning permissions were granted for 3,155 dwelling units. The number in the same period of 2014 was 1,604 units for the same period in 2014, representing an overall increase of 96.7%.

“According to the CSO planning permissions were granted for 641 apartment units, compared with 158 units for the same period in 2014, an increase of 305.7%. One-off houses accounted for 28.8 % of all new dwelling units granted planning permission in this quarter.

“Living in the Meath commuter belt I am very aware of the huge demand for housing as the economic recovery takes hold so it is encouraging to see such this sharp rise in the number of applications.

“Four towns in my area Dunboyne, Dunshaughlin, Ratoath and Ashbourne are all seeing house building at present.

“The Government’s social housing strategy will deliver 35,000 units at a cost of €3.8 billion by 2020. This will create 29,000 jobs in construction and it will reform the way in which social housing is delivered and managed in Ireland.”

Overhaul required in addressing medical negligence cases

Fine Gael TD for Meath East and member of the Oireachtas Committee for Health and Children, Regina Doherty has, today (Wednesday), said that significant overhaul and reform is required if we are to deal with cases of medical negligence appropriately.

Doherty, who has never held back on her views for the need of a Duty of Candour to be introduced in Ireland, has today said “the report [Report on the Cost of Medical Indemnity Insurance] which I launched this morning with my Committee colleagues brings us one step closer to addressing cases of medical negligence appropriately.




Deputy Regina Doherty in Leinster House at the launch of The Report on the Cost of Medical Indemnity with her committee colleagues today, 17^th June 2015

“I have previously called for a Duty of Candour to be introduced in our health system; we have seen all too often, both in Meath and nationally, the unprecedented pain and sometimes trauma that legal cases can bring to patients and families affected by medical negligence.

“Today’s report recommends that parties involved in, or affected by, medical negligence should consider mediation, or any other suitable dispute mechanisms, before engaging in legal action.

“Open disclosure is fundamental outcome of this report, and I believe it to be a critical feature of the reform required in how we deal with medical negligence cases. This recommendation is underpinned by a further proposal that new legislation be introduced to reflect and assist in the embedding of a culture of open disclosure in our health system.”

Concluding, Deputy Doherty said that “what is needed here is a radical change in protocol and culture in our health system to avoid the strain of cases, be it in the High Court or subsequent appeals by the State Claims Agency.

“We currently have some 2,840 claims pending; putting aside for a moment the personal stress for patients, there is a sizable and rising cost of medical indemnity insurance. Should the recommendations made in this report be put into practice, we should see a substantial reduction in costs to the state."

ENDS

Notes to the editor:
The Report on the Cost of Medical Indemnity Insurance launched today by the Committee for Health and Children recommends that:

· The HSE introduce a standardised complaints resolution service, in line with the Ombudsman’s recommendations; · The medical indemnity lower cap to be reduced to €250,000 and for the higher cap to be reduced to €500,000, to help ease the pressure on private consultants, and · Consultants with low numbers of claims be rewarded with lower premia

Young farmers to benefit from investment scheme

Fine Gael TD, for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has encouraged young farmers in Meath to apply for the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, after the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, announced that the online application system is open from today (Wednesday).

 

Regina Doherty TD with Diarmuid Lally (IFA) (left) and Cllr Paddy Meade (right) at beef protest last year

Deputy Doherty said that “our farming industry is Meath is incredibly important and it is essential that we continue to support our farmers where ever possible. Young farmers comprise of a relatively small proportion of our farming community in Meath. Age profile is one of the biggest challenges facing the farming sector, both nationally and in Meath; the grant-aid available under this scheme will be of great benefit to our young tillage farmers for the construction of storage facilities, soiled water, and farm safety investments, amongst others.

“This is the first of the new Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II) to be launched under the new Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and it comprises a €120 million scheme aimed at young farmers. Farmers must be below 40 years of age at the time of application and have been set up in farming within the previous five years.

“The grant-aid available under this Scheme and the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Schemes will assist tillage farmers for the construction of nutrient storage facilities, and storage facilities for other farmyard manures, soiled water, and related facilities, as well as farm-safety investments. The Farm Safety items include the provision of sliding/roller doors. Tillage farmers will also be able to avail of grant-aid under the Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme. This Scheme provides grant aid for the purchase of new equipment for the spreading of slurry which has distinct environmental advantages.

“Further announcements will follow shortly on the other TAMS Schemes. A total of €395 million has been made available for TAMS 2 over the course of the RDP period. The remaining schemes are being launched over the next few months and include:

· Dairy Equipment Scheme
· Low-Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment Scheme
· Organic Capital Investment Scheme
· Organic Farming Scheme
· Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme
· Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme

“Farmers who are registered for online services via the Department’s Agfood facility can access the online system on the website of the Department. Alternatively, farmers may opt to use an approved agricultural advisor to prepare applications on their behalf. The online system also contains a very helpful Frequently Asked Questions section which should answer any queries farmers may have. For more technical queries farmers can email the address tams@agriculture.gov.ie.

“The system is now live and available for the preparation of applications and the facility to submit applications online will be available from tomorrow Wednesday 17^th June. The deadline for this tranche of applications is Friday 18^th September but there will be further funding rounds according to Minister Coveney.”

Positive start for free GP care in Meath, a lot done, a lot more to do

 Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty has said the new free GP Service for under 6s and over 70s should get off to a positive start with 20 out of 68 GPs in Meath signed up to take part.
Deputy Doherty said “We now have 20 of our 68 GPs in Meath signed up to take part, with more and more signing up every day. While I welcome the increase in the number of GPs signing up, at this point in time we have a lot done and a lot more to do if all of our children in Meath under the age of 6 are to benefit from free GP care.” 

 “In the last two weeks, there has been a 63% increase in the number of GPs signing up to take part in the new Free GP Service and there is still time for other doctors to take part. In County Meath 29% of GPs have already committed to take part meaning that children under six and those over 70 will be able to avail of free GP care from 1st July.

“From Monday 15th June, parents will be able to register their children and senior citizens over 70 who currently have to pay for GP care, can also sign up meaning that this summer up to 300,000 children and senior citizens will no longer have to pay.

“Free GP care was a key Fine Gael election commitment and it will result in real savings for pensioners and for families. It is important that we change the health system from one that only treats sick people to one that keeps people well; providing free access to GP care will make a significant difference in achieving this goal.

“Early identification of health issues at a younger age can reduce the impact of ill-health later in life and as one in four children in Ireland are overweight or obese, this is especially relevant when it comes to detecting illnesses that may be coming down the road.

“With 29% of doctors in Meath signing up to provide the service, this is a very good start. I know many families of young children and older people are very pleased that this service will be available, and I would encourage parents with children under 6 to sign up from Monday.”