Written Answers Nos. 220-241
220. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the reason a reply has not been issued from the HSE to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 136 of 8 November 2024 and 493 of 7 February 2024 (details supplied); if he will take this matter up with the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11044/24]
View answerAs the initial question related to a service matter, it was referred to the HSE for response. Following the Deputy's further PQ, the HSE were advised that a response is outstanding. I have now again referred your question to the HSE for response.
Management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
221. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when the replies will issue to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1265 of 7 November 2023 and 494 of 7 February 2024 (details supplied); if he will take this matter up with the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11045/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades were not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
222. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if his Department is aware of the Icelandic Planet Youth model; the engagement, if any, that his Department has had with Icelandic Planet Youth to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11053/24]
View answerPlanet Youth is an international evidence-based primary prevention model, developed by the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis at Reykjavik University. The model uses a whole population approach and offers the opportunity to improve health and life outcomes for young people in many areas. It works by directly targeting the risk and protective factors that determine their substance use behaviours and enhancing the social environment they are growing up in.
I am aware of Planet Youth projects being run across the country and have engaged with the project promoters. This has included meetings with these groups, discussing the work they do, and formally launching the publication of survey results for the Western Regional Taskforce.
Drug prevention and education seeks to reduce the harmful use of drugs and alcohol from an early age. A strategic priority within the national drugs strategy is to strengthen the prevention of drug and alcohol use and the associated harms among children and young people. To progress this priority, the Department of Health has established a new drug prevention and education programme with funding of €1.5 million over three years. This is the first-time the national funding for drug prevention has been provided by a government department.
The successful initiatives already have strong track records in drug prevention, and I’m delighted that, with our funding support over the next three years, they can continue to improve the lives of people by reducing the use of harmful drugs and alcohol from an early age.
The programme will draw on evidence from Europe to professionalise and elevate the practice of drug prevention in Ireland. In particular, the programme will promote the European Prevention Curriculum and international prevention standards.
I feel it is imperative that we support evidence-based initiatives that engage with people who may be at risk of using drugs’ in a variety of contexts – in our schools, communities, universities, and the night-time economy.
223. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the current usage of a premises (details supplied); the future plans for the premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11063/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
224. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if a Kdoc service could be located in the primary care centre in Athy, County Kildare, to serve the people of Athy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11096/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
225. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason people in Athy, County Kildare cannot avail of the services of the Caredoc services in County Carlow, with an average round trip of approximately 36km, but can only avail of the Kdoc services in Naas, which involves an average round trip of over 80km; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11097/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
226. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the reason the subsistence payment of €1000 per academic agreed to be paid to nursing and midwifery students, and to be backdated to 2022, has not yet been paid to many students in the Southeastern Technological University, Carlow, where payment was due to be paid in instalments in November 2023 February 2024, but no payments have been received; when payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11098/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, following approval by Government on 13 December 2022, I was pleased to announce €9 million in additional supports for student nurses and midwives. €5.4m of this funding provides for an enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme for eligible students in publicly funded undergraduate nursing and midwifery courses while attending their supernumerary clinical practice placements. Supernumerary students in midwifery, general, combined children's and general, intellectual disability and psychiatric nursing all have the same entitlement.
The Department of Health Circular 4/2023 issued to the HSE on 27 February 2023, set out revised arrangements to apply. This scheme provides a targeted and more equitable approach to supporting these students and its main features are set out hereunder: -
• Eligible student nurses and midwives in years 1 to 3 of their studies will each receive €500 per year as a targeted measure to contribute towards meeting the extra costs of meals associated with practice placements outside the student’s core placement site;
• a new rate of €80 for overnight accommodation along with an increased weekly cap of €300, (for those eligible supernumerary students who require accommodation away from their normal place of residence while attending practice placements). This weekly cap is almost six times the previous cap and three times the cap introduced on 1st January 2022;
• supernumerary students requiring overnight accommodation will also be able to avail of, on a vouched basis, the reasonable cost of uniform laundry services;
• supernumerary students on the undergraduate nursing/midwifery programme continue to be entitled to claim for payment of travel expenses necessarily incurred while attending placements, on the basis of receipts provided by the student and certified by the Student Allocation Liaison Officer (SALO) in the clinical partner site. Public transport should be used wherever possible. Where public transport is not available and the use of private transport is necessary to attend placements, a supernumerary student is entitled to claim for payment of these necessarily incurred travel expenses. These should be paid on the same basis as that which applies generally in the public sector.
• the enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme is backdated to the start of the 2022/2023 academic year, and additional once off funding of €2.4m was allocated to cover arrears arising from September to December 2022.
Payment of allowances to eligible students is a priority for me. I would like these payments to students, particularly those in respect of the 2022/2023 academic year, to have been made long ago. While the HSE has advised that payments have commenced in a number of areas, I remain concerned at the slow pace of payments. I have therefore asked my Department to pursue the matter with the HSE and keep me informed.
In relation to the question asked by the Deputy, payments to eligible students covered by Circular 4/2023 are a matter for the HSE and individual hospitals and I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this issue.
227. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health the number of dentist vacancies in south Kildare, and surrounding areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11099/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
228. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if it is intended to provide a special allowance for people living on offshore islands in relation to the assessment of eligibility for medical cards, in view of the extra cost associated with living on an offshore island; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11104/24]
View answerEligibility for a Medical Card is primarily based on a financial assessment which is conducted by the HSE in accordance with the Health Act 1970 (as amended). The HSE assesses each medical card application on a qualifying financial threshold. This is the amount of money that an individual can earn a week and still qualify for a card. It is specific to the individual’s own financial circumstances.
Persons aged 69 and under are assessed under the general means tested medical card thresholds which are based on an applicant’s household income after tax and the deduction of PRSI and the Universal Social Charge. Certain expenses are also taken into account. Examples of allowable expenses include rent, mortgage, certain insurance costs, childcare, maintenance, nursing home net costs which help to increase the amount a person can earn and still qualify for a medical card. Detailed information on medical card assessment process is available at: Assessment for a medical card - HSE.ie. Some social welfare payments, for example child benefit, fuel allowance, Island Allowance etc are also exempt from medical card income assessment.
Persons aged 70 or older are assessed under the over 70s medical card income thresholds which are based on gross income. In November 2020, the weekly gross medical card income thresholds for those aged 70 and over were increased to €550 per week for a single person and €1050 for a couple. This increase helps to ensure that a greater proportion of those aged 70 and over qualify for a medical card. However, it should be noted that those aged over 70 can also be assessed under the general means tested scheme where there are particularly high costs, e.g., medication, nursing home fees. Furthermore, the Deputy may be aware that, since 2015, every individual aged 70 and over has automatic eligibility for a GP visit card.
I can assure the Deputy that, in order to ensure the medical card system is responsive and sensitive to people's needs, my Department keeps medical card issues under review and any proposals are considered in the context of any potential broader implications for Government policy, the annual budgetary estimates process and legislative requirements arising.
229. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health to list all staff/management exit packages for staff/management in their Departments that they sanctioned since 2016 (details supplied). [11162/24]
View answerAs provided for in the DPENDR Instructions to HR Managers on Ministerial Appointments, Severance and redundancy payments made by the Department of Health have been made to Ministerial personal staff who have not been appointed by way of secondment or leave of absence from other employments and who, therefore, have no job to which they are entitled to return to on cessation of office of the relevant Minister or Minister of State.
Details of payments and the numbers in receipt of payments in the relevant years are set out below:
|
Year |
No in receipt of payments |
Severance |
Redundancy |
|
2016 |
3 |
€11,158.29 |
€16,926.81 |
|
2017 |
3 |
€38,311.46 |
€4,872.00 |
|
2018 |
0 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
2019 |
0 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
2020 |
9 |
€184,618.27 |
€67,904.00 |
|
2021 |
0 |
€0.00 |
€0.00 |
|
2022 |
2 |
€12,274.66 |
€0.00 |
|
2023 |
2 |
€13,446.62 |
€6,996.00 |
230. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if it is intended to address the fact that there was no increase in salaries and pensions for former district medical officers for many years, and that inflation has seriously impacted their pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11175/24]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
231. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health whether it is intended to address the fact that there has been no increase in salary and pensions for a former permanent medical officer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11176/24]
View answerAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
232. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) was in receipt of a large settlement package from the HSE; if a breakdown will be provided in relation to the payment; if he believes the figure is unacceptably high; if he is satisfied all correct procedures were followed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11183/24]
View answerMr. Sullivan’s role was made redundant, and he left the employment of the HSE by settlement and redundancy.
The agreement was reached following a legal mediation Chaired by a Senior Counsel. The resultant payment to Mr. Sullivan involved a legal settlement to mitigate the States’s financial and legal risks from the case, and also a redundancy/severance element.
This was an entirely legitimate course of action. It follows guidance and procedures for legal settlements and the payment of severance, advised by the Attorney General and contained in Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Circulars on Severance.
This agreement was approved at all appropriate official levels within the HSE, the Department of Health and Department Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.
The Chief Executive of the HSE is clear that this agreement is appropriate and compliant in every respect.
Both the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and I, as Minister for Health, while not directly involved, were aware of the payment and have been assured that the correct processes were followed.
Mediated agreements like this are not only allowable but necessary and must be at the HSE’s disposal into the future.
The HSE has confirmed that the cost of the Agreement was €388,983. However, it should be noted the employee would not receive all of this in net payment.
The HSE secured the agreement of its former employee, Mr Sullivan, to waive the confidentiality in respect of the amount paid.
233. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to clarify the number of redundancies, or so called ‘exit-packages’, that have been paid to staff or personnel at any level of seniority in his Department, or in any agency or body under the aegis of his Department, from 2018 to date; the value of each and the total value, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10987/24]
View answer234. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of exit and or severance and or redundancy packages granted by his Department, and bodies under his aegis, and of bodies he funds in full or in part, of €200,000 and above in the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will provide the amount of same, body, name and year. [11016/24]
View answer235. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to list all staff/management exit packages for staff/management in their Departments that they sanctioned since 2016 (details supplied). [11161/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 234 and 235 together.
Redundancy or severance payments in the Civil Service generally arise with respect to specific categories of employees, as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and approved by Government.
My Department was established in August 2020. Accordingly, there are no arrangements of the kind referred to in the Deputy's question to report on prior to that time with regard to the staff of my Department. The total amount paid by my Department in this regard was €326,212.41. These amounts have been aggregated.
The information requested in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each agency. The Department will request the relevant bodies to reply directly to the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisation.
|
Year |
Number of Severance Payments |
Number of Redundancy Payments |
|
2020 |
0 |
0 |
|
2021 |
1 |
1 |
|
2022 |
0 |
0 |
|
2023 |
4 |
2 |
|
2024 |
0 |
0 |
236. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development in tabular form per county, the number and value of playground grants provided for 2023, 2022 and 2021. [10883/24]
View answerMy Department recognises the importance of playgrounds in communities throughout Ireland. Applications for the delivery and upgrade of playgrounds are welcome under a number of schemes operated by my Department such as the CLÁR Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), the LEADER programme, and the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). In 2023 I launched the Community Recognition Fund (CRF) which also provides funding towards playgrounds.
The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures, including investment in playgrounds.
My Department's TVRS also provides funding avenues, with playground facilities often forming part of wider amenity projects put forward for funding. The 2023 TVRS is now closed and the competitive assessment process is currently ongoing. I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects before the end of Quarter 1 of 2024.
Support under the LEADER programme is provided under a broad range of themes, including Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion. Funding for playgrounds has been provided under this theme. As with TVRS, LEADER funded projects often have multiple elements, of which playgrounds can be a constituent element.
The Community Enhancement Programme provides capital funding to community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland, and similarly playgrounds can form a part of the project. The CEP is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their local authority.
The Community Recognition Fund recognises the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through this initiative, communities are being assisted to develop projects such as large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities, skateboard parks, walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.
The table attached to my response provides details of funding provided specifically for playgrounds on a county basis under the various schemes mentioned above over the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. The CRF scheme was established in 2023 and as such there are no figures for earlier periods.
My Department provides significant funding towards the establishment and improvement of playgrounds across the country and intends to continue to do so. These are vital community spaces for children and parents, and my Department has the schemes and funding in place to support their continued development.
237. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the L2779 would be eligible for the local improvement scheme; and when applications will open under this scheme. [11033/24]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of private rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future.
As the L2779 is a local road it comes under the responsibility of the local authority to maintain per the Roads Act 1993 and therefore would not be eligible under the LIS.
The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is covered in legislation by the Local Government Act 2001, Section 81 part (3) provides that;
(3) A road authority may assist by way of the carrying out of works, a financial contribution or otherwise towards the construction or improvement of a non-public road which—
(a) Provides access to parcels of land of which at least two are owned or occupied by different persons or
(b) Provides access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for two or more persons or
(c) Shall, in the opinion of the road authority, be used by the public
Eligible road projects under the Local Improvement Scheme are:
• Non-public roads that provide access to parcels of agricultural land, or provide access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for two or more persons; or
• Non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, mountains etc.
While my Department provides the funding, local authorities administer the scheme and are solely responsible for selecting and prioritising eligible roads.
€13.55 million has been allocated to the scheme in 2024. This represents an increase of €1 million from initial funding announced in 2023. Since 2017, almost €130 million in funding has been allocated to the LIS.
My Department is currently finalising the scheme details for the coming year and an announcement on the terms and conditions of the scheme is expected shortly.
238. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to clarify the number of redundancies, or so called ‘exit-packages’, that have been paid to staff or personnel at any level of seniority in her Department, or in any agency or body under the aegis of her Department, from 2018 to date; the value of each and the total value, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10992/24]
View answerWith regard to my Department, I can confirm that between the years 2018 and 2024, no exit payments were made, with the exception of severance payments to two Ministerial advisers in 2020. These were made at the end of their contracts, following a change of Government, in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines.
With regard to agencies of the Department, there are four organisations under the aegis of the Department. The Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission and Pobal. The details required for the period in question are set out in the following table.
|
Agency |
Year |
Number of Redundancies / Exit Packages |
Details |
|
The Charities Regulatory Authority |
2018 - 2024 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
The Western Development Commission |
2018 -2024 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Water Safety Ireland |
2018,2019,2020,2021,2023,2024 |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Water Safety Ireland |
2022 |
€95,665 |
Following a mediation process and agreement to the termination of the employment of a member of staff Water Safety Ireland, sanction was received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER).
Information relating to this payment is presented in the 2022 Financial Statement of the agency, which was subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. |
|
Pobal |
2018,2019,2021,2022,2023,2024 |
Nil |
|
|
Pobal |
2020 |
€121,748 |
Redundancy payment was made as a result of restructuring and the abolition of an individual’s role. The redundancy payment complied with the relevant circular (i.e. DPER Circular 09/2018). and was sanctioned by DPER.
Information relating to this payment is presented in the 2020 Financial Statement of the agency, which was subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General |
239. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of exit and or severance and or redundancy packages granted by her Department, and bodies under her aegis, and of bodies he funds in full or in part, of €200,000 and above in the years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and if she will provide the amount of same, body, name and year. [11021/24]
View answerI can confirm that between the years 2019 and 2024 no exit, severance or redundancy packages were paid by my Department, with the exception of severance payments to two Ministerial advisers in 2020. These were made at the end of their contracts, following a change of Government, in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines. Neither of these payments were €200,000 or above.
With regard to agencies of the Department, there are four organisations under the aegis of my Department. The Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission and Pobal. No staff from these agencies received an exit, severance or redundancy payment of €200,000 or above for the years in question.
Given the remit of my Department, it provides grant aid to many community organisations and programmes across the country. It does not have a role in their operational matters.
240. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to list all staff/management exit packages for staff/management in their Departments that they sanctioned since 2016 (details supplied). [11166/24]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017. I can confirm that between the years 2017 and 2024, no staff members of my department received any exit payments. However, in 2020, two Ministerial advisers in my Department were paid severance payments. These were made at the end of their contracts, following a change of Government, in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines. They also received redundancy payments as provided for under the Redundancy Payments Acts 1967- 2014.
241. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she can provide any assistance to villages in Ireland looking to establish twinning arrangements with foreign locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11195/24]
View answerWhile my Department continues to put in place a range of supports to towns and villages across rural Ireland, it has no function in relation to the establishment of twinning arrangements between Irish towns and a foreign location.
A local authority may enter into arrangements for the twinning of its administrative area or a part of it or establish other similar links with any other area, whether within or outside the State but competence for such matters lies exclusively with local authorities. Twinning arrangements are covered under Section 75 of the Local Government Act 2001 and are a reserved function of local authorities or as directed by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
