Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan and Monaghan, Brendan Smith has welcomed an allocation of €180 million to the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. 

The indicative allocation, agreed as part of the new CAP Strategic Plan (CSP), will form the basis of public consultation ahead of its formal submission to the European Commission next year.

Deputy Brendan Smith commented, “Since its inception, the LEADER programme, through its ‘bottom up’ approach, has supported the delivery of locally-led projects across Cavan and Monaghan. The Leader Programme has been important to our rural areas since it was first launched in 1991.

“This new allocation of €180 million will provide an overall investment for LEADER of €250 million until 2027.

“I would like to recognise the work of my party colleague and Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, who has played a leading role in developing the new CAP Strategic Plan.”

Over the past year, a number of stakeholder engagements have taken place on the design of the next LEADER programme and the new CAP Strategic Plan as a whole.

The indicative allocation announced will now form part of the next stage of the stakeholder consultation that will commence shortly.

ENDS

26/10/2021

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan and Monaghan, Brendan Smith has welcomed additional funding of €7.3m for dementia services, adding that he recognises the growing need for improved services across the country.

Deputy Brendan Smith commented, “In response to a query, my party colleague and Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has informed me of a further €7.3m in additional funding for dementia services as part of Budget 2022.

“This investment will continue to improve access to diagnostic services and post-diagnostic supports for people with dementia across the country. The details are set to be finalised over the coming weeks with the HSE through the National Service Plan process.” 

The Cavan and Monaghan TD added: “In addition, Budget 2022 will increase the ringfencing of new home support hours for people with dementia from 5% in 2021 to 11% in 2022. Taken together, this will represent €15 million of investment dedicated to dementia in 2022, to supplement the €12.9 million of additional funding in 2021. I would like to thank Minister Donnelly and Minister of State with Responsibility for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler, for their work in this regard.”

ENDS 

29/10/2021

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan and Monaghan Brendan Smith has renewed his call on the Minister of State for Heritage and the Minister for Agriculture to address, as a matter of urgency, issues affecting the harvesting and supply of peat for the horticulture sector.

Deputy Brendan Smith commented, “It is long past time that measures should have been implemented to ensure that the horticulture and mushroom sectors have adequate stocks of peat.  At present there is no viable alternative to peat for the commercial horticulture sector.  A major part of the Irish horticulture industry depends on peat and peat availability is now a major challenge.

“The Minister of State for Heritage, in reply to my Dáil Question, states that a draft interim report has been prepared by a working group which he established sometime ago to examine the current issues and the group continues its deliberations.” 

The Cavan and Monaghan TD continued: “Minister Noonan must insist that the final Report of the group is complete by the 20^th October and follow up action dealing with issues in a practical manner must happen without further delay.

“In Dáil Éireann the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine informed me that his Department is actively looking at alternatives to peat and has funded two research projects to date.  He states that he continues to engage directly with the sector including a recent meeting with the Mushroom Industry.

Producers in the mushroom sector, which is a very substantial enterprise in the Cavan/Monaghan area, face serious challenges for their businesses and relying on the importation of peat will bring additional heavy costs and cause difficulties for the sector,” added Brendan Smith.

ENDS – 18th October 2021

Note to Editors

See Parliamentary Questions attached

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has received confirmation from the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, T.D., that the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme, which replaced the EU Cross-border Health Directive following Britain’s exit from the European Union, will continue on an administrative basis beyond the end of this year pending enactment of legislation.

“Through Questions in Dáil Éireann on Promised Legislation I had asked An Tánaiste if he would confirm that this Scheme would continue beyond the end of 2021 on an administrative basis if the necessary legislation was not in place by that time.

An Tánaiste replied –

“I confirm that is the intention of Government but we need primary legislation to put a new scheme on a statutory footing. If we cannot get that done in time we intend to continue the existing arrangements on an administrative basis if possible.  I will ask the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to confirm that but that is my understanding of the position”, stated An Tánaiste.

In his comments in Dáil Éireann Deputy Brendan Smith stated that the present Scheme and its predecessors enabled large numbers of patients to access treatment and surgery, or both, in Northern Ireland paid for by this State.  He added that these were typically patients on long hospital waiting lists and that access to spare hospital capacity in Northern Ireland is an important part of our healthcare delivery, particularly in orthopaedics and cataracts.

I welcome confirmation from the Office of the Minister for Health that this Scheme will continue on an administrative basis pending enactment of the necessary legislation, concluded Deputy Brendan Smith.

Extracts from Dáil Debate below –

debate Thursday, 14 Oct 2021

Vol. 1012 No. 6

Dáil Éireann debate –
Thursday, 14 Oct 2021

Vol. 1012 No. 6

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh – Questions on Promised Legislation

Deputy Brendan Smith

The Northern Ireland planned healthcare scheme was put in place earlier this year to replace the EU cross-Border directive following Britain’s exit from the European Union. The scheme and its predecessors enable large numbers of patients to access treatment and surgery, or both, in Northern Ireland, paid for by this State. These were typically patients on long hospital waiting lists. I understand the scheme is due to finish at the end of this year. Could an Tánaiste give me a categorical assurance that this scheme will continue beyond the end of 2021 on an administrative basis if the necessary legislation is not in place by that time? Access to spare hospital capacity in Northern Ireland is an important part of our healthcare delivery, particularly in orthopaedics and cataracts.

The Tánaiste

I confirm that is the intention of Government but we need primary legislation to put a new scheme on a statutory footing. If we cannot get that done in time we intend to continue the existing arrangements on an administrative basis if possible. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, to confirm that but that is my understanding of the position.

ENDS 19th October 2021

Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan and Monaghan, Brendan Smith has reiterated his call for the urgent establishment of a refuge centre for victims of domestic abuse in counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Deputy Brendan Smith has sought confirmation on this serious issue numerous times and has regularly engaged with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on it.

The Cavan and Monaghan TD commented, “At present, there still remains no dedicated Refuge Centre in Cavan or Monaghan. I have urged Tusla along with the Department to ensure the provision of such a Centre with additional supports and services at local level as soon as possible. This is an urgent and pressing issue which can no longer face any further delay. Unfortunately, as in other parts of the country, there are too many people in need of this vital service in our region.

“At present, supports for victims of domestic abuse in counties Cavan and Monaghan are available through the services of Tearmann which is based in Monaghan and also provides outreach services in both counties.”

According to the Minister, Tusla’s ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ has been completed and is undergoing final edits before publication. The Minister for Children received a presentation of the Review from Tusla in late July in relation to the approach taken in its review, its analysis and conclusion. 

On 23rd September, Tusla gave a presentation to all stakeholders attending the Monitoring Committee for the 2nd National Strategy on DSGBV, with a view to achieving a national consensus within the sector on the proposed response to these needs.

The Minister added that it is anticipated that the publication of the review will arrive in the coming weeks.

The National Development Plan published this week confirms this Government’s commitment to address the need for greater domestic violence refuge accommodation to meet the needs of victims throughout the country.

ENDS 11 October 2021

A lovely occasion to mark the official launch of the Regional Armed Support Unit at the Garda Station in Cavan. Good to see the very modern equipment this Unit use in their important work. Since the end of 2019 this Unit has been a welcome addition to Garda operations in this region.I wish all the Members in this highly trained Unit good health and safety in their challenging work alongside their Garda colleagues in all units.

16th October 2021

Cavan’/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith welcomes the approval by his colleague, Norma Foley TD, Minister for Education of additional permanent accommodation for Corliss National School, Killeshandra, Co Cavan.

The new accommodation will consist of an additional classroom with en-suite toilet and a special education teaching room with en-suite bathroom facilities.

Deputy Brendan Smith compliment the Principal and staff and the Board of Management on progressing this application and this new accommodation will enhance considerably the school facilities.

I wish all the school community well with this project.

ENDS

OCTOBER 1 2021

• Dementia Day Services resumed

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed confirmation from the HSE that funding has been provide to enable essential capital works to be carried out on the building adjacent to the Sullivan Centre, Cavan where Day Care services had formerly been provided.

“I welcome the commencement of these works which will include essential repairs to the roof and a full upgrade of the interior.  The HSE state that while these works are ongoing Day Care at home continues to be provided and this service is proving to be a huge benefit to those with Alzheimer’s and their family.  The improvement works will take place over the coming months and Day Care services will reopen on completion of same.

I also welcome confirmation from the HSE that Day Care service has resumed in the Virginia Care Centre and in the Cootehill Day Care Centre and work is at an advanced stage to open the Day Care Centre in Swanlinbar.  The HSE state that all of these services do and will continue to provide a service to those with dementia.   The Service Manager for Services for Older Persons Cavan/Monahan  is working closely with the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland and the local Branch of ASI in relation to the provision of day care services in the Cavan Town area.

I compliment the ASI and the local Branch on their work in advocating for betters services for people with dementia”, stated Deputy Brendan Smith.

Letter from HSE attached

ENDS 18/10/2021

ENDS 18/10/2021

• Dementia Day Services resumed

Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed confirmation from the HSE that funding has been provide to enable essential capital works to be carried out on the building adjacent to the Sullivan Centre, Cavan where Day Care services had formerly been provided.

“I welcome the commencement of these works which will include essential repairs to the roof and a full upgrade of the interior.  The HSE state that while these works are ongoing Day Care at home continues to be provided and this service is proving to be a huge benefit to those with Alzheimer’s and their family.  The improvement works will take place over the coming months and Day Care services will reopen on completion of same.

I also welcome confirmation from the HSE that Day Care service has resumed in the Virginia Care Centre and in the Cootehill Day Care Centre and work is at an advanced stage to open the Day Care Centre in Swanlinbar.  The HSE state that all of these services do and will continue to provide a service to those with dementia.   The Service Manager for Services for Older Persons Cavan/Monahan  is working closely with the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland and the local Branch of ASI in relation to the provision of day care services in the Cavan Town area.

I compliment the ASI and the local Branch on their work in advocating for betters services for people with dementia”, stated Deputy Brendan Smith.

Letter from HSE attached

ENDS 18/10/2021

16 OCTOBER 2021 

“Sir David Amess was an esteemed colleague, Associate Member and friend of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly and his loss has deeply shocked all of us. Our thoughts are with him and with his family for whom the tragedy is orders of magnitude more intense.

We must not let such awful events stop business in our democracies, but out of respect for David and his family we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel Monday’s BIPA plenary.”

 – Andrew Rosindell MP & Brendan Smith TD, British and Irish Co-Chairs of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA).

ENDS//