Thomas Gould
Question:281. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether he is aware that a school (details supplied) is still not in receipt of therapist hours. [18489/24]
View answerSchool Staff
Questions (281)
Written answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Disability Diagnoses
Questions (282, 283, 284)
Mark Ward
Question:282. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the list of recognised disabilities under the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18494/24]
View answerMark Ward
Question:283. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if ADHD is a recognised disability under the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18495/24]
View answerMark Ward
Question:284. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if dyspraxia is a recognised disability under the Disability Act 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18496/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 282, 283 and 284 together.
The Disability Act 2005 does not define disability by way of reference to individualised impairments or medicalised diagnoses. The Act instead interprets disability as meaning a “substantial restriction in the capacity of the person to carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability”.
This definition takes a broadly functional approach to disability, recognising that an individual's specific circumstances, societal barriers, and medical history will all have an impact on the extent to which a person is or is not "disabled". This is in line with the social model approach to disability set out in the UNCRPD. It also provides a more flexible definition to practitioners where specialised health needs arise that is not tied to a prescriptive list of conditions - which runs the risk of inadvertently excluding people from recognition or supports.
Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2018. In line with the UNCRPD, Ireland has moved away from a medical model of disability, which understood the barriers and challenges faced by disabled persons as owing to their specific impairment, and therefore a matter for individualised treatment. In line with the preferred social model of disability, Ireland takes a functional approach to the consideration of disability in policy and services, whereby social, financial and environmental factors – rather than diagnosis alone - are key in determining the type or extent of support required by an individual.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (285)
Carol Nolan
Question:285. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the legal costs to date incurred by his Department's response to High Court proceedings brought by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission against the Government over its failure to provide accommodation to all international protection applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18512/24]
View answerWritten answers
This matter remains before the Court, and as such, legal costs have not yet been settled.
The Department is precluded from commenting further on this matter.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Questions (286)
Steven Matthews
Question:286. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to planned closure of a childcare facility (details supplied); if his Department is engaging with management on possible supports that could assist the facility to remain open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18536/24]
View answerWritten answers
Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.1 billion in 2024 for early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.
The overwhelming majority of this funding is allocated through Together for Better, the new funding model.
Together for Better brings together four strands, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE programme), including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), and Core Funding, with a fourth programme, the Equal Start Model in development.
One of the key objectives of Core Funding is to support the sector as a whole with the introduction of direct supply-side funding, in addition to the ECCE programme and the NCS, to create a more stable and sustainable financial environment.
Core Funding improves:
affordability for parents by instituting a fee freeze in participating Partner Services;
• access by expanding the capacity being offered by the sector, particularly for younger children;
• quality including through improved pay, conditions and career structure underpinned by Employment Regulation Orders; and
• stability and sustainability for providers.
Core Funding makes a significant additional contribution to services’ income, allowing them to better absorb increased costs. In Year 1 of Core Funding, some €259 million was allocated under the scheme and 99% of services saw their income increase through Core Funding with 1%, or close to 60 services, receiving top up payments to ensure their income did not decrease for the same level of provision offered.
For the second year of operation, Core Funding increased by €28 million or 11% increase to €287 million, with every service benefiting from increases in funding for the second year of the scheme.
Arising from Budget 2024, the Core Funding allocation for year 3 of the scheme will increase again by 15% - to €331 million. This will support the delivery of a range of enhancements in Year 3 of the scheme to support improved affordability and accessibility for families, improved pay and conditions for the workforce and improved sustainability for providers.
I do not want any services to be faced with financial sustainability issues and I am fully committed to working with any such service to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
Supports are available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, accessed through Pobal and local CCC. Any service who would like to avail of advice or supports on a concern regarding their sustainability, is encouraged to reach out to their local CCC. Contact details for their local CCC can be found at www.myccc.ie .
Pobal have recently informed my Department that they have been liaising with the local CCC to support this particular service with their sustainability concerns. The CCC discussed sustainability supports with the service, but their decision was not to pursue these supports at this time. However, my Department remain in contact with the CCC in relation to this service.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (287)
John McGuinness
Question:287. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the receipt of a submission from a community organisation (details supplied); his response to the concerns expressed by the residents; and if he and his Department officials will engage immediately with the community and this Deputy. [18602/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department received a submission dated the 8th of April 2024 from the community organisation to which the Deputy refers. This submission is receiving attention and a reply will issue shortly.
My Department received an offer of accommodation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) at the location to which the Deputy refers.
The property is currently being assessed as part of the Emergency Refurbishment (Ukraine) Project which is overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with the assistance of Local Authorities.
In furtherance of this process, the relevant Council has assessed the plans for the proposal with regard to suitability, compliance with the Guidelines for Temporary Accommodation in Existing Buildings for those fleeing the war in Ukraine and the project’s capacity to comply with key regulatory requirements. I understand that discussions in this regard are ongoing and any issues with regard to planning, environment or other regulatory requirements are being dealt with through that process.
My Department’s acceptance of this property is dependent on all the necessary statutory and regulatory requirements being met. In that regard, the property is not yet in contract and will not be until these conditions have been met.
Departmental Correspondence
Questions (288)
Michael Ring
Question:288. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason no response has issued from his Department in relation to an issue that was raised twice (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18610/24]
View answerWritten answers
I thank the Deputy for his question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
Disability Services
Questions (289)
Thomas Gould
Question:289. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of positions, by role, assigned to CDNT west central Cork city; the number of vacancies that exist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18615/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Emergency Accommodation
Questions (290)
Fergus O'Dowd
Question:290. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to outline if offers on modular units for BOTPs are still being considered; to outline the process on same; the number of units currently under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18616/24]
View answerWritten answers
Awaiting reply from Department.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (291)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:291. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 274 of 18 April 2024, the numbers in State-provided accommodation, to include private accommodation who been living in full-board circumstances, half-board and self-catering, of those in the IPAS system and beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine, respectively, from 2022 to date, in tabular form. [18617/24]
View answerWritten answers
I thank the Deputy for his question. A response will be provided directly to the Deputy in the coming days.
Disability Services
Questions (292)
Brendan Smith
Question:292. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if additional support will be provided as a matter of urgency to an association to enable the resumption of essential services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18680/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Question No. 293 was withdrawn.
Community Care
Questions (294)
Willie O'Dea
Question:294. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health if he will provide further State funding for an organisation (details supplied) to allow for the continued delivery of its national service which looks after the practical, social and emotional needs of thousands of heart and stroke patients in the community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18428/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Home Help Service
Questions (295)
Robert Troy
Question:295. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if additional home help hours have been allocated to a person (details supplied). [18430/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Medical Cards
Questions (296)
Duncan Smith
Question:296. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the reason test strips for diabetes are not covered by the medical card as in the case of a person (details supplied) who spends €33.00 per month on this item; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18456/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for pricing and reimbursement decisions, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (297)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:297. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on the waiting list for a first audiologist appointment in CH02; the length of time they have been waiting to see an audiologist in CHO2, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18457/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Questions (298)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:298. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to be seen by an audiologist in CHO2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18458/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Care Services
Questions (299)
Thomas Gould
Question:299. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Health when the Westfield integrated care centre in Ballincollig, Cork will be fully operational. [18483/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Dental Services
Questions (300)
Brendan Howlin
Question:300. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Health the number of dentists that will be trained in Ireland in 2024; the capacity of the existing schools of dentistry; his views on whether the number of dentists currently being trained is sufficient to meet the future needs of a growing Irish population; if he supports the building of a new school of dentistry and dental hospital in University College Cork; the discussions he has had with the Minister for Higher and Further Education in relation to the future provision and training of dentists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18484/24]
View answerWritten answers
One of the priorities of the National Oral Health Policy, Smile agus Sláinte, is to expand and maximise the oral healthcare workforce capacity in Ireland. It is positive to note that the number of practicing dentists in Ireland increased by 5% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
As of 2 April 2024, the number of dentists on the Dental Council register have increased, compared to March 2023. Currently there are 180 additional registered dentists (3,652 total) since this time last year. This reflects ongoing trends regarding registered dentists in the state, and compares favourably with the numbers in April 2019, when Smile agus Sláinte was published – 3,100.
Each year, approximately 90 new graduates are qualified to practise dentistry in Ireland, with additional graduates from other countries also registering. According to recent figures obtained, in 2022 90 Dentistry graduates were produced from both University College Cork and Trinity College Dublin. Fifty of these graduated from UCC, while forty graduated from TCD.
The number of dentists being trained will need to increase over the coming years to meet our population needs and to have sustainable workforce. In response to this, last year the Higher Education Authority (HEA) undertook a process designed to identify a set of options for Government from higher education institutions interested in building capacity across various disciplines, Dentistry being one of them. The HEA found, with investment, an additional 63 Dentists could potentially be trained annually.
Within this framework UCC submitted a proposal to expand their capacity. There are ongoing discussions around the National Development Plan (NDP) review between three departments - my Department, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform - given the significant capital costs involved in the expansion. There are a range of potential projects which have been identified and can be pursued in Dentistry among other areas, including the delivery of the new dental school and hospital in UCC, which will support delivery of national objectives including Sláintecare. Work is ongoing through the appropriate processes to explore options to support the Cork University Dental School and Hospital to continue to deliver on its remit regarding both education and healthcare service provision.
The Department of Health is fully supportive and would be in favour of any proposal to increase the number of dental graduates that will practise, and support workforce sustainability, in Ireland.
Psychological Assessments
Questions (301)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:301. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Meath will receive an appointment with a consultant psychiatrist at Our Lady's Hospital, Navan and separately an assessment for ADHD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18507/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (302)
Cian O'Callaghan
Question:302. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of a campaign by an organisation (details supplied) to improve newborn screening; if the Newborn Screening Advisory Committee plans to introduce a comprehensive and up-to-date newborn screening programme; the reason for delays in the drafting and the implementation of such a programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18511/24]
View answerWritten answers
Currently, all newborn babies (between 3 and 5 days old) are offered newborn bloodspot screening (generally known as the ‘heel prick’) for rare but serious conditions that are treatable if detected early in life.
The expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme continues to remain a priority of mine as Minister for Health, and I am pleased to note that the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been actively progressing work in this regard.
NSAC is an independent expert group that considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important that we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured, validated and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
Significant progress continues to be made on the expansion of the NBS Programme under this Government. As the Deputy will be aware, in November 2023, I endorsed the recommendation from NSAC on the addition and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NBS programme. This will bring the number of conditions screened for in Ireland to 11, once the implemented, representing a 37% increase over the lifetime of this Government.
I was pleased to allocate €1.4m of new development funding in 2024 to support the expansion of the NBS programme. This funding will allow for the rollout of testing for both SCID and SMA and represents a significant funding increase in a single year. The announcement further demonstrates my ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of these rare but serious diseases in children and infants. This investment will be crucial to providing additional funds for new equipment, staff recruitment, validation, quality assurance and training to facilitate addition of new conditions to NBS programme.
I can confirm that work commenced at the start of this year, with ongoing collaboration between officials in my Department and the HSE National Children’s Screening Programme on implementing an ambitious timeline for the introduction of screening for SMA and SCID.
In terms of further expansion of our newborn screening programmes, Ireland has always evaluated the case for commencing a national screening programme against international accepted criteria – collectively known as the Wilson Jungner criteria. The evidence bar for commencing a screening programme should and must remain high. This ensures that we can be confident that the programme is effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards. There is no doubt that newborn screening programmes have the potential to be rapidly transformed by new technologies and new therapies but this highlights the need to continue with a robust, methodologically sound and detailed analysis of the evidence in each and every case against internationally accepted screening criteria.
The expansion of newborn bloodspot screening is being continually reviewed across Europe where the number of conditions screened for varies significantly. For example, the UK currently screens for a similar number of conditions as Ireland. However, as noted by HIQA in their 2021 ‘Review of processes in use to inform the expansion of newborn bloodspot Screening programmes’, international comparisons of the range of conditions screened is likely to reflect complex decision-making processes and local inputs. These may include differing opinions with respect to assessment of conditions against criteria, differences in practice with respect to organisational structure and laboratory implementation, differing levels of tolerance for false positives and false negatives and differing local epidemiology with respect to condition prevalence and the genetic composition of the local population.
Nevertheless, I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. This is why I remain committed to the further expansion of screening in Ireland in accordance with internationally accepted criteria and best practice.
Hospital Facilities
Questions (303)
Noel Grealish
Question:303. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health if he will consider providing a minor injuries unit in Galway on the grounds of Merlin Park Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18515/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the deputy directly.
Health Services Staff
Questions (304)
Mark Ward
Question:304. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in the Dublin mid-west area; the number of vacancies; the areas they cover; the areas without a public health nurse service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18517/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
Health Services Staff
Questions (305)
Mark Ward
Question:305. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of public health nurses in Rowlagh health centre; the number of vacancies; the areas they cover; the areas without a public health nurse service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18518/24]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
Health Strategies
Questions (306, 307)
Mark Ward
Question:306. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to achieve an interagency approach to delivering dual-diagnosis services, as set out on page 24 of the model of care for dual diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18524/24]
View answerMark Ward
Question:307. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been taken to overcome implementation barriers which are outlined in 3.7.2 in the model of care for dual-diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18525/24]
View answerWritten answers
Awaiting reply from Department.
Nursing Homes
Questions (308)
Robert Troy
Question:308. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will urgently address a situation whereby elderly patients of nursing homes are faced with exorbitant fees to avail of private ambulance services to attend medical/hospital appointments; and if he will review this issue and put in place a more sustainable system of medical transport in such cases. [18529/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS), commonly referred to as Fair Deal, is a system of financial support for people who require long-term residential care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost.
The NHSS covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
* Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
* Bed and board;
* Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and
* Laundry service.
Costs not covered by the NHSS include therapies, more specialised aids and appliances, social activities, transport and individual items and services such as specialised laundry, newspapers and hairdressing. A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home. In determining the services covered by the NHSS it was considered very important that the care recipient and the taxpayer would be protected and would not end up paying for the same services twice. For this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS, as this would involve effectively paying twice for the same service.
Residents of nursing homes should enjoy the same levels of support and access to services for which they are eligible as when they lived in their own homes. It is acknowledged that the reason they require 24-hour levels of support is due to their level of dependency, which in turn may require access to clinical services including hospital and other outpatient appointments in the community. It is important to acknowledge that older people living at home are expected to arrange transport to and from medical appointments, which in the majority of cases is provided by family and friends. Similarly, it is understood that in most cases in nursing homes, family members bring residents to medical appointments.
The Department of Health does not currently hold data relating to additional charges in private nursing homes; these vary according to each individual nursing home depending on the services offered. It is private nursing homes who hold responsibility for delivering care to their residents in line with their terms of registration and the relevant regulations under the Health Act 2007. It is clear that under the terms of the NHSS Act 2009, private nursing homes should not levy additional charges on NHSS residents for services coming within scope of the Nursing Home Support Scheme.
Part 7 of the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2013 stipulates that the registered provider of the nursing home must agree a contract in writing with each resident on their admission to the nursing home. This contract must include details of the services to be provided to that resident and the fees to be charged. Residents should never be charged fees which are not set out in the contract. The Department of Health and the HSE are not a party to such contracts which are concluded between each resident and their nursing home.
It is noted that in certain circumstances an additional needs payment may be available through the Department of Social Protection (administered by the Community Welfare Service) for recurring travel expenses such as for hospital appointments.
It is hoped that a number of recent initiatives will improve the integration between nursing homes and the broader health system, which may lead to a reduced need for out-patient appointments. From March 1 of this year, a new community based mobile X-ray service will be available to residents in nursing homes and Community Nursing Units nationwide. This service aims to reduce the number of older patients attending Emergency Departments.
In addition, it is expected that all patients transferring from acute hospitals to nursing homes will be assessed by, and necessary care interventions delivered by, ICPOP (Integrated Care Programme for Older People) and the wider care team, as appropriate. It is anticipated that these interventions will have an impact on unnecessary transfers from nursing homes to acute hospitals.
Furthermore, it is noted that the CEO of the HSE has indicated his intention for primary care services that are available to people living in their own home to be equally available to people living in nursing homes, both public and private.
Finally, the Department of Health is currently reviewing the available evidence with regard to additional charges and a focused piece of work to examine the issue is underway. There are a number of separate factors driving this issue and potential actions to address each of these are being considered.
Departmental Funding
Questions (309, 310, 311, 312)
Mark Ward
Question:309. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on funding for the National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18554/24]
View answerMark Ward
Question:310. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on funding for the National Clinical Programme for ADHD in Adults in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18555/24]
View answerMark Ward
Question:311. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on funding for the National Clinical Programme for Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18556/24]
View answerMark Ward
Question:312. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on funding for the National Clinical Programme for Early Intervention in Psychosis in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18557/24]
View answerWritten answers
In the Revised Estimates Process for 2024 I secured an €10m additional for mental health services, including the National Clinical Programmes. Details of additional allocations are to be confirmed in the coming weeks.