Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 5 Jul 2011

Vol. 737 No. 3

Adjournment Debate

Vocational Education Committees

Deputy Michelle Mulherin

Following the Minister's announcement last week of the merger of the vocational education committees of Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim, I ask him to consider locating the newly created organisation's headquarters in the town of Ballina in Mayo. The announcement of the restructuring of the country's VECs has been expected for some time. The educational needs of schoolchildren and adult learners in all three counties will be best served by establishing a completely new headquarters. I call on the Minister to ensure that it is located in Ballina where the VEC already has a strong base.

The new VEC will serve a huge geographical area. Ballina is the natural choice. It is the most central large town because it is as accessible to Ballinrobe to Ballinamore or Ballinode. The transition from three organisations to one will involve a considerable challenge for the new partners but the overriding concern must be the educational needs of students. The transition must be swift and smooth. The first challenge will be to quickly assemble a team that has the skills and experience to deal with such a large area with many diverse educational needs.

Mayo VEC, which is the biggest of the three VECs, has 750 teachers and administrative staff compared to Sligo which has 170 and Leitrim which has 110. Therefore, Mayo VEC has proven itself capable of operating a quality education and training service with great success to a vast county that caters for people of all ages, from 12 year olds entering secondary school for the first time to doctorate students through its close relationship with GMIT in Castlebar and the Institute's governing body to which it appoints a member.

It offers a wide variety of opportunities for educational attachments to people including post-leaving certificate courses, vocational training and opportunities, Youthreach and back to education initiatives, to name but a few. It also offers programmes aimed at helping the unemployed, marginalised and underprivileged and those whose early experience of education was not very good. Some 2,500 day pupils and 4,500 adults attend the eight Mayo VEC centres of learning throughout the county.

The logistics involved in dealing effectively with this merger are enormous and if it is poorly managed the excellent level of service to which we are accustomed will suffer. With its broad geographical and educational reach, in combination with the experience and dedication of its staff, its existing infrastructure and organisational systems which have already been tried and tested, Mayo VEC is well capable of taking the lead in the transition and with the new headquarters operating from Ballina will quickly overcome the challenges.

Minister of State at the Department of Health (Deputy Róisín Shortall)

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I welcome this opportunity to outline the decision taken by the Government to revise the configuration of VECs and to set out the factors the Minister will consider in deciding on the location of the headquarters of the new entities.

Specifically regarding the matter raised by the Deputy, in arriving at a decision on the location of the headquarters the Minister will consider a range of factors. These include the need to ensure that the location of a VEC headquarters will, to the greatest extent possible, facilitate staff redeployment under a redeployment scheme within the context of the Croke Park agreement and the need to operate at lowest cost, having regard to the accommodation available in existing locations. Following completion of the Minister's deliberations, the locations of the headquarters will be announced in the coming period.

On the wider decision to revise the configuration of VECs, I appreciate the significant contribution the VEC sector has made to the development of our education system over the years. I acknowledge the fine tradition of providing high quality education and of placing a particular emphasis on meeting the needs of the most disadvantaged in our society which characterises the VEC sector. We are facing challenging times as a country and in the education sector. We need to build on the strengths of the VEC sector in tackling these challenges. It is well positioned to play a key role in the transformation of our education system, given its long-standing ability to respond to new challenges in the education sector.

A reconfigured vocational sector with a reduced number of VECs will provide for a more efficient deployment of resources, a very important issue in the current difficult economic environment. Importantly, it will provide strengthened capacity at VEC level to drive improvements in our education system. Last week, the Government announced its decision to proceed with a reduction in the number of VECs from 33 to 16 and to consolidate the existing nine vocational education Acts into one new Bill. Deputies have details of the revised new entities.

In the Programme for National Recovery 2011-2016, this Government is committed to local devolution of administrative functions relating to maintenance, school building projects and coordination of support services currently carried out by principals. VEC rationalisation will enable and support such devolution without adversely affecting the delivery or quality of front line education provision. In addition, the new VEC entities will be well positioned to bring enhanced purchasing power, through leveraging, to bear in securing value for money for schools and the wider provision of education providers in all levels of the school system.

I thank Deputy Mulherin for affording me the opportunity to respond to the House on this matter. The Minister for Education and Skills will announce shortly the location for the headquarters.

Garda Deployment

Deputy Michael McCarthy

I have been raising this issue for some time with the Minister for Justice and Equality. I tabled a parliamentary question in recent weeks. An incident over the week prompted me to raise this as an Adjournment matter.

I refer to the case of two gardaí being called to a domestic incident in Dublin city centre. Shortly after arrival one of them was doused with burning fat. This is one of many incidents that have taken place in our cities, towns and streets in recent times. It is unacceptable, to say the least. There is a huge risk to life and limb, not just to members of An Garda Síochána but to members of the emergency services. It serves a very ugly reminder to us that are thugs out there who have no regard for law and order and have less regard for life and limb. It is important that the State responds to incidents like this.

More than 800 gardaí are assaulted each year, and the figure is rising annually. From 2005-2007 there was an 84% increase in the number of recorded assaults on gardaí which included a rise of 113% in serious assaults and 76% in simple assaults. The rate of assaults on nurses in accident and emergency units is also known to be extremely high. In the UK an estimated that 1,000 health and emergency workers are assaulted every week, although the real figure is thought to be higher because many cases go unreported.

In the particularly tragic case of the late garda Robbie McCallion two years ago, the presiding judge issued an instruction to the jury that it was not to let fact that the man was a member of An Garda Síochána to colour its thinking. The judge had no choice but to apply the law as it prevails. We as a State must send out a strong signal that the role of young men and women in An Garda Síochána and other emergency services is valued. We should take particular cognisance of the risk to their well-being and safety given the manner in which they discharge their public duties, particularly at ungodly hours during the weekends and dealing with people who have no regard for law and order. Statutory instruments need to be introduced immediately to protect gardaí and emergency workers and act as a deterrent to offenders. One thing the figures teach us is that the current legal framework does not serve as a deterrent to offenders. An attack on a garda is not just an attack on an ordinary individual, it is an assault on democracy. For example, an ordinary person is not obliged to stand in front of a car being driven at high speed, but a garda might be obliged to do so in the course of his or her duties. We should be cognisant of this. In Britain it is a criminal offence to assault a police constable in the execution of his or her duties. It is also an offence to resist or wilfully obstruct a constable in the execution of his or her duties. An assault on a police officer is punishable by a sentence of up to six months imprisonment, and obstruction by up to one month in prison. As recently as March, the sentencing council in the United Kingdom published guidelines for judges and magistrates which included a recommendation that anyone found guilty of merely pushing or shoving a police officer should be punished by a sentence of up to 26 weeks imprisonment. Similarly, the Emergency Workers Obstruction Act 2006 makes it an offence to obstruct or assault an emergency worker. It covers firefighters, paramedics, members of the coastguard service and the crew of an RNLI vessel or any other lifeboat.

In Australia a criminal court Act implements a three-month minimum sentence for certain serious assaults on police and public officers, including ambulance officers. It acts as a deterrent to offenders while protecting police officers.

In May I tabled a parliamentary question to the Minister for Justice and Equality, inquiring whether there were any plans to introduce legislative changes to protect gardaí in the line of duty, following the case of the late Garda McCallion. The Minister said he would keep the matter under review. In the light of the incident that took place in Dublin city over the weekend, I urge him to review the matter. He should send a strong signal to those who have no regard for life or limb. We should also send a strong message that the State cares about its emergency workers and that we will do our utmost to ensure their safety and that security is paramount. The State must respond to incidents where such workers are under attack.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Minister for Justice and Equality utterly and unequivocally condemns the recent attack on a member of An Garda Síochána who was responding to a domestic dispute in Dublin last Sunday. While he cannot comment on the details of any case that may be before the courts or anticipate what charges may appropriately be brought in any case, it is important to make the point that no attack on any member of An Garda Síochána or any other emergency service will be tolerated and that the full rigour of the law will be brought to bear on the perpetrators of any such attack. The Minister wishes the member in question a speedy recovery and return to duty.

Members of An Garda Síochána and other emergency services carry out their duties on a daily basis providing assistance for members of the public. They do so willingly and each and every day hundreds, if not thousands, of people interact with them. In so doing they are acting at the request of the public and it is utterly unacceptable for any person to assault these officers or seek to prevent them from doing their duty.

It is very important for everyone to understand legislation specifically protects gardaí and other emergency workers from such attacks. Section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994, as amended by section 185 of the 2006 Act, provides that any person who assaults or threatens to assault a peace officer acting in the execution of his or her duty, knowing that he or she is, or being reckless as to whether he or she is, a peace officer so acting, shall be guilty of an offence. In this context, "peace officer" includes a member of An Garda Síochána, as well as other emergency workers. A person found guilty of such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a class A fine not exceeding €5,000 and-or a term of imprisonment not exceeding 12 months, or both. The penalty on conviction on indictment is a fine determined by the court or a term of imprisonment not exceeding seven years, or both. Similarly, any person who resists or wilfully obstructs a peace officer in the execution of his or her duty is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a class C fine not exceeding €2,500 or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. It is a matter for the courts, where a person is convicted of these offences, to impose penalties that are appropriate in each case.

While the Minister cannot comment on a particular case, it is important for everyone to understand and realise the serious penalties that any attack on a garda or other emergency worker can attract. It is absolutely right that the criminal law should afford gardaí such specific protection and if further measures are necessary in this regard, the Minister will not hesitate in bringing forward appropriate proposals.

The Minister thanks the Deputy for raising this matter on Adjournment, as it affords him an opportunity to condemn the attack in no uncertain terms, to wish the member a speedy recovery and, once more, to bring to the attention of all concerned the very strong protections provided for in the criminal law against attacks on gardaí.

Health Services

Deputy Brendan Smith

I thank the office of the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this important matter on the Adjournment. I appreciate that the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, is here to reply.

For many decades there was a GP service in Ballinagh, County Cavan, where I understand from local residents a quality GP service was always delivered. In recent years the service was provided by Dr. Prior and his colleagues. The local community very much appreciate his work, as well as the dedication and commitment of the practice. Unfortunately, a number of weeks ago the GP service provided from the health centre ceased temporarily.

The absence of a GP service which was provided four days a week is a source of major concern. About two weeks ago the local community organised a public meeting. The main organiser was Mrs. Brigid Delaney, whom I compliment on organising the meeting which attracted a large attendance which included other public representatives and myself. The meeting was well structured and gave members of the community an opportunity to outline their concerns about the delay in having a GP service restored to the health centre. A number of years ago Mr. Cian Murtagh established a successful pharmacy in the town. The local community appreciates the excellent service provided in what is a relatively small town but which, however, has a wide rural catchment area. We all realise a GP practice in close proximity to a pharmacy can play a vital role in ensuring the long-term viability of that pharmacy business.

Some time ago a county councillor for the area, Mr. Charlie Fleming, highlighted to me and Senator Diarmuid Wilson the inadequacy of the old clinic premises on Crossdoney Road. Senator Wilson and I successfully lobbied the HSE and the then Minister for Health and Children to agree to the provision of a new health centre in the town. There was a major investment of €1.3 million in a state-of-the-art health centre. I had the privilege of performing the official opening in February 2008. That investment was widely welcomed and supported by the local community as it provided for new facilities for the GP practice, as well as nursing care and other health services.

It is a source of serious disappointment to the local community that the GP service has ceased temporarily. In correspondence to me, locals have said they are anxious that the GP service be restored without delay. I have received numerous letters and telephone calls from many senior citizens who are concerned that the temporary cessation of the GP service could ultimately lead to its long-term loss. That will not be tolerated by the local community in Ballinagh. Therefore, I urge the Minister of State, through her Department and the HSE, to insist that the GP service be restored without delay.

Local people expressed their genuine concerns at the recent public meeting and it was noticeable that concern was being expressed by senior members of the local community who had to avail of GP services on a regular basis. They need to travel to the health centre regularly. Many of the people who spoke at the meeting do not have cars and if required to travel four or five miles to an alternative centre will be dependant on family, friends or taxis to do so, which is not feasible in the long run. Also prominent at the meeting were the parents of many young children who, as we all know, often have to attend a general practitioner. They forcefully advocated that this service needs to be restored without delay. If the service is not restored imminently, people will have to travel a number of miles to Cavan town, Kilnaleck or Killeshandra to practices that are already under pressure. All of us in this House support the provision of more services in the community. In my county, we have been fortunate to have had in recent years an excellent primary care centre provided in Virginia alongside a nursing unit. The situation is similar in Ballyconnell and others are being developed throughout the county.

These new state-of-the-art facilities must be used to the maximum. I appeal to the Minister of State, Deputy Shortall, to ensure, through the HSE, that the general practitioner practice is resumed in Ballinagh without delay. In this regard, I am conveying the strong wishes of the local community.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. The general practice at Ballinagh health centre has a substantial number of General Medical Services, GMS, clients. Currently, there is only one GMS general practitioner within the practice as one resigned recently on health grounds and another has been on long-term leave. The suspension of general practitioner services in Ballinagh health centre is a short-term measure pending the sourcing of the services of a locum. There are almost 2,300 general practitioners contracted by the HSE to provide general practitioner services under the GMS scheme to more than 1.6 million medical card holders and 120,000 general practitioner visit card holders.

The EU-IMF programme provides for the introduction of legislative changes to remove restrictions to trade and competition in sheltered sectors by the end of the third quarter in 2011. This includes eliminating restrictions on general practitioners wishing to treat public patients. The Deputy will be aware the current system has been in place for some time. It is a system whereby access to the GMS is only available to new general practitioners if an existing general practitioner retires or dies. The intention is that will change, namely, that the HSE will be in a position to take a much more proactive role in terms of ensuring adequate coverage of general practitioners in the country. Unfortunately, under current arrangements, that is not possible. However, we are moving towards a new situation.

The Government recently agreed to the preparation of heads of a Bill which will eliminate current restrictions on fully qualified and trained general practitioners wishing to obtain contracts to treat public patients under the GMS contract and empower the Minister for Health to set entry terms based on public health interest considerations. This proposed legislation will result in medical card and general practitioner visit card patients having a greater choice of general practitioners under the GMS scheme. It will also help to ensure private patients of new general practitioner contract holders, who qualify for a medical card or general practitioner visit card, will not have to change their general practitioner.

The Government is committed to establishing a strong system of primary care in Ireland. My appointment as the dedicated Minister of State for primary care is a clear indication of the Government's intentions in this regard. The development of primary care teams and primary care centres is a priority under the programme for Government. This will significantly increase health and social care in local communities, which will be achieved by redirecting services away from acute hospitals. Modern, well-equipped primary care centres will be central to the effective functioning of primary care teams. The centres will allow multidisciplinary services, provided by general practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and others, to be made available on a single site, providing a single point of access for the user and will encourage closer co-ordination between providers. The new centres will greatly assist in the provision of modern services, in particular the provision of chronic disease management by multidisciplinary teams.

I look forward to the developments that will take place later on this year, when access to the GMS will be opened up for general practitioners generally. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue.

Deputy Gerry Adams

Tá mé fíor bhuíoch díot, a Cheann Comhairle, as seans a thabhairt dom labhairt ar an ábhar tábhachtach seo. Beidh mé ag caint faoi dhrugaí agus daoine bochta atá faoi bhrú ag drugaí.

Several weeks ago, Councillor Paddy McQuillan and I visited the Louth community drug and alcohol team in Drogheda. We met the staff, members of the north-east regional drugs task force and a group of addicts who are on methadone to control their heroin addiction. I was impressed by the commitment and professionalism of the staff who provide a first class service with limited resources and who are struggling to meet the needs of a growing number of drug and alcohol addicts. I commend and thank them for their work.

Drug and alcohol misuse has taken up to eight lives in the Drogheda area in recent years. The former heroin users whom I met were young men and one young woman. They were honest about the dreadful impact the drug has had on them and their families and the connection between heroin and drug addiction and crime. One former user described the experience as being like groundhog day, chasing the money, chasing the dealers and chasing the drug. When that cycle is complete, they begin the process all over again.

The drug and alcohol team in Drogheda has only been in place since last April. I have no doubt from my conversation with the former heroin users that the centre has been a lifeline for them. The project consists of one co-ordinator, one project worker, one community employment support staff member and one counsellor who provides six sessions a week. According to statistics for 2010 from the Health Research Board, 76 individuals presented for treatment at the centre. Of these 60% suffered heroin addiction, 28% had issues with alcohol, 17% with cannabis and 7% with cocaine. Some 71% of the above have been identified as early school leavers and 60% use more than one drug. Some 33% are injecting drug users and 8% began injecting under the age of 19 years.

There are obviously policing and other issues around the availability of illegal drugs. These statistics only scratch the surface of the problem. We will return to that another day. The reality is that many individuals who initially presented with one problem actually have more than one. Some are addicted to up to four substances. Those with whom I spoke told of many more users in the area who have not sought help.

The Louth community drug and alcohol team work hard to provide a service which helps those affected by drug and alcohol misuse. The biggest gap in current services lies in the absence of a second level 2 methadone prescribing general practitioner. There is only one methadone prescribing general practitioner and, consequently, the waiting list for methadone treatment in Louth stands at 18 months compared with ten days in Dublin, which discourages individuals going on the list. Even if an addict manages to get on the list, he or she is expected — this is the way the system works — to maintain his or her drug using lifestyle to qualify for treatment. This means that the current system is encouraging ongoing heartache, illness, further family breakdown, crime and, in some cases, overdose which can lead to death or suicide.

I urge the Minister to appoint a second level 2 methadone prescribing general practitioner quickly. This would have an immediate and beneficial affect on the management of heroin treatment in Louth. The community drug and alcohol team also needs a dedicated project worker who can provide the essential family support that is part of dealing with drug misuse in the community. The problem of heroin misuse is severe and requires urgent attention and additional financial support. I urge the Minister to take these simple measures and enhance the work of a dedicated group of professional health workers who are making a significant contribution to society and to assist those recovering addicts who are confronting their problems and need help to put them behind them.

Deputy Róisín Shortall

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The HSE provides methadone as an opiate replacement to support those who are addressing their heroin misuse problem. Methadone is a controlled drug regulated under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1998. Only GPs who are trained as level 1 or level 2 for methadone prescribing are permitted to participate. The HSE, through the Irish College of General Practitioners, facilitates GPs to train at level 1 and 2. Level 1 GPs can provide methadone in a community-based setting to stabilised patients who do not require methadone clinic services. The HSE encourages all GPs to take part in this training. Level 2 GPs are trained to offer the full range of treatment services to opium dependent patients including assessment, initiation of treatment when appropriate and stabilising a drug user.

Persons receiving methadone treatment are registered on the central treatment list, operated by the Drug Treatment Centre Board. At end April 2011, the central treatment list recorded 9,289 patients attending treatment in clinical facilities within the HSE Dublin north east region. There has been a focus over the past year or two on increasing the availability of drug treatment services outside Dublin. Significant progress is now being made by the HSE. Additional services have been provided in the south east at Wexford town, Waterford and Kilkenny, in the southern area at Cork and Tralee, in the mid-west at Limerick city and in the north east at Dundalk. The HSE is progressing plans to provide methadone facilities in the midlands, Drogheda and Wexford county to address waiting lists and times in these areas.

Approximately two-thirds of those in receipt of methadone continue to receive their service in clinics, with the remainder under the care of GPs. I would like to see an increasing transfer of clients from clinics to GPs in coming years, subject to the agreement of the service users and adherence to good clinical practice. The acquisition of GPs for the methadone treatment programme is not an easy task. The HSE has advised that it has identified two potential level 2 GPs who are available to commence in the Drogheda area. An additional level 1 GP has also been identified and the HSE is awaiting return of a signed contract from the person concerned.

The Louth Community Drug and Alcohol Team is funded by the Department of Health through the north east regional drugs taskforce. The taskforce has allocated just over €116,000 in 2011 to the Louth Community Drug and Alcohol Team. This funding enables it to employ two members of staff. Both staff members are actively involved in one-to-one work with individuals with an alcohol and-or substance use issue, and this also includes working with family members and concerned persons. Louth Community Drug and Alcohol Team provides services and supports for people in active addiction, particularly those who are hoping to stabilise, reduce or become totally drug or alcohol free. Working from a harm reduction perspective through individual supports and group programmes the service also supports the delivery of a needle exchange service in Drogheda. It also strives to provide families with adequate information and support on addiction related issues, including the provision of information to the wider community. The two full-time staff work alongside sessional counsellors, trainees, volunteers and placement students to provide a low-threshold tier 2 or 3 service. Unfortunately, there is no funding available to support an additional family support worker. I again thank the Deputy for raising the matter.

The Dáil adjourned at 10.35 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 6 July 2011.