Seanad Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 18 Dec 2013

Vol. 228 No. 9

Adjournment Matters

Hospitals Policy

Senator David Cullinane

We have had several discussions on the Adjournment in the House and on a number of occasions when the Minister appeared before us to discuss the Higgins report and its implications for the Waterford Regional Hospital and the Waterford region. I was against the grouping for the south and the break-up of the south-east region. Having said that, once the Government made its decision we need to ensure that the promises and commitments given by Professor Higgins in his report, and later by the Government and the HSE, are followed through and honoured. We must ensure that we make the best of the new hospital grouping. We must support it as best we can in order to ensure that the services at the hospital are protected, maintained and enhanced.

As the Minister will know, two solid commitments were given in the Higgins report that would be positive and of benefit to the hospital. The first commitment was that the hospital would become a university teaching hospital with academic links to Cork University Hospital and the appointment of five academic consultants. Have the consultant posts been appointed? If not, when will they be appointed?

The second commitment given in the Higgins report was to provide 24-7 cardiology services at the hospital. The report dealt with structural change so it was strange to include such a commitment. We discussed the matter on the Adjournment. The report talked about enhanced cardiology services but when Professor Higgins and the Minister were pressed on the matter they said that the provision of a 24-7 cardiology service was the aim. That is what we want for the hospital and that promise and commitment was given to consultants at the hospital. I seek clarification on the matter. The Higgins report talked about enhanced cardiology services for Waterford Regional Hospital. Did that translate into 24-7 cardiology services? If it did, when will the service be provided? I ask the Minister to appraise us on whether all of the positions have been filled. As we know, once groups are established there must be a CEO, chair and board appointed. Have the positions been filled? If not, when will they be filled?

I want the Minister to update the House on the status of the new grouping, the work done since the publication of the report, the progress made and give a timeframe for work that is outstanding. The two critical areas I seek clarity on are the 24-7 cardiology service and the five consultant posts.

Finally, I spoke to consultants who work at the hospital who said that five consultant posts are needed to protect and enhance services. They are as follows: two colorectal consultants in general surgery, two anaesthetists and one gastroenterologist. I ask the Minister to update us on whether the posts will be allocated and filled in the near future.

Minister for Health (Deputy James Reilly)

I welcome the opportunity to outline progress regarding the establishment of hospital groups and to outline the position with regard to Waterford Regional Hospital specifically in that context.

The Report on the Establishment of Hospital Groups, which I launched on 14 May, is the most fundamental reform of the Irish acute hospital system since the foundation of the State. The introduction of hospital groups will provide for organisational change in the first instance, giving more autonomy and better enabling the reorganisation of services in a well planned manner. Over time, this will help to improve services and, most importantly, deliver better outcomes for patients. That is what the health service is about - patient care and improving outcomes for patients.

In July, expressions of interest were invited through the Public Appointments Service for appointment as chairpersons and members of hospital group boards. I have now appointed Dr. Tom Lynch as chair of the Dublin East Hospital Group, Dr. Frank Dolphin as chair of the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group, Ms Anne Maher as chair of the Dublin North East Group and Professor Geraldine McCarthy as chair of the South-South West Hospital Group, to which Waterford Regional Hospital belongs. These appointments are in addition to the existing chairs of the West-North West Hospital Group, the Mid-West Hospital Group and the Children's Hospital Group with Prof. Niall O'Higgins, Mr. Noel Daly and Dr. Jim Browne being the relevant chairs, respectively.

The Senator mentioned CEOs. I can confirm that CEOs and boards are already in place for the three aforementioned hospital groups.

The process of recruiting CEOs for the Dublin East, Dublin Midlands, Dublin North East and South-South West Hospital Groups is ongoing and, to the best of my knowledge, advertisements have been published in the newspapers. An open competition was held through the Public Appointments Service with a closing date set for 12 December. It is anticipated that interviews will be held in early January.

My Department is also working with the chairmen, including Professor McCarthy, with a view to appointing the other board members as soon as possible. I believe that the chairs should have an input into the process as they will have to chair and work with the board members.

A strategic advisory group is being established by my Department, chaired by Mr. Leo Kearns. The strategic advisory group will oversee the establishment of hospital groups and the subsequent re-organisation of acute hospital services. Each group of hospitals will work together as a single cohesive entity managed as one in order to provide acute care for patients in their areas, integrating with community and primary care. This will maximise the amount of care delivered locally while ensuring complex care is safely provided in larger hospitals.

Hospital groups will be required, within one year, to develop a strategic plan that will outline their plans for future services within the group area. The strategic plans will determine the way services are provided within each group, including the South-South West Group and Waterford Regional Hospital within that group.

As was committed to at the time of the report's publication, Waterford will continue to operate as a cancer centre under the national cancer control programme.

It will be the hub for the south-east renal service, and a regional trauma centre including emergency department, ear, nose and throat, and ophthalmology. It will also continue to provide invasive cardiology services for the south-east population. I understand that the Health Service Executive, HSE, is currently examining options within the existing hospital for the location of the second catheterisation laboratory.

In addition, an undertaking was given that my Department and the HSE would work with University College Cork, UCC, to enable Waterford hospital become a university teaching hospital, and this work is ongoing. UCC will be the primary academic partner for the South-South West Hospital Group. This will be to the benefit of all hospitals in the group across all services including cancer services and in the areas of research, education and innovation, and will secure the future progress of Waterford Regional Hospital.

Senator David Cullinane

I thank the Minister for his clarifications but unfortunately he has not addressed the two core issues I put to him. First, will we see cardiology services provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week at Waterford Regional Hospital? I accept what the Minister said about a second catheterisation laboratory. If that is in place will it enable the hospital provide cardiology services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which is important? Second, I welcome the working towards Waterford becoming a university teaching hospital but it was promised five academic consultant posts. When will those posts be advertised and filled?

Deputy James Reilly

The Senator will appreciate that the number of posts will be overseen by the new chief executive officer of the group and that those matters will come to pass in due course. I want to inform the Senator that the new chair, Geraldine McCarthy, was in the House today to meet with representatives of the Oireachtas from the Waterford area. I do not know if the Senator was aware of that but I understood all Deputies and Senators had been informed of that meeting.

Senator David Cullinane

I was not.

Deputy James Reilly

That is regrettable because she would be very interested to meet with all Oireachtas representatives. We will have to check if an e-mail was sent or what happened in that regard.

The future of Waterford Regional Hospital is critical to the south east. I believe its future is underpinned and strengthened by being part of a hospital group. This is one of the underlying principles that guides our health policy, which is that the patient should be treated at the lowest level of complexity that is safe, timely, efficient and as near to home as possible.

Senator David Cullinane

I am interested in the provision of cardiology services on a 24 hour, seven days a week basis.

Deputy James Reilly

Hospital treatments that should take place in model 3 hospitals should not be taking place in quaternary hospitals . There should not be services in model 3 hospitals that should take place in model 2 hospitals, and there should not be services in hospitals that properly belong to primary care.

Senator David Cullinane

I am talking about 24 hours a day, seven days a week cardiology services.

Languages Programme

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Nílim chun mo ráiteas ar an díospóireacht seo a chur os comhair an Tí i nGaeilge. Baineann an díospóireacht leis an tSín.

Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Deputy Dinny McGinley)

Tá súil agam nach bhfuil an Seanadóir chun é a chur i Sínis ach an oiread.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames

Bhuel, tá cúpla focal agam i Sínis - hun yíng - welcome.

My question is on the need for the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his plans for the provision of suitably qualified teachers to implement a national roll-out of Chinese language and culture, Mandarin, as a short course from September 2014. I am delighted to have the Minister in the House but I regret the Minister for Education and Skills is not present because this issue has been his baby, so to speak, for quite some time. As a nation we still do not have a clue where he will get the teachers to implement Chinese across the country in all second level schools from September 2014.

I am very aware of many of the developments in this area as I am quite involved in it. I have 21 schools in Galway teaching Chinese language and culture. In an initiative I started I have two young native Chinese teachers who spent three days, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, in Galway with 21 schools. They are in 21 classes, both primary and second level. The excitement is huge among the students. I have visited some of them in their classrooms. Their methodologies are excellent. I get the teachers' services for free from Confucius Institute in Cork. Working with the 21 schools in Galway city and county I have five clusters, one in Tuam, one in south Galway, one in Oranmore, one in Galway city and one in Athenry. Each of the schools make a small contribution which covers the teachers' accommodation, food and travel.

This is a local initiative. The hype is amazing, and many more schools are looking to have these services. We did this deliberately because we know we have to look to the world, and not just Europe or America, in terms of the future of our young people. The Taoiseach has been to China. Xi Jinping has been to Ireland. If we are to do business with China the language, not just the culture, must be understood. This is about the roll out of the Chinese language and culture programme from September 2014 in our schools.

I have been involved with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment which is developing the short course. I am in consultation with the people working on that. I know from speaking to people in some of our education centres, and I spoke with Galway education centre today, that there have not been any instructions yet about how the roll-out will be achieved. I know from speaking to some of the people developing the programme that they do not know how the roll-out will be achieved.

I ask the Minister to indicate from where we will get the teachers to achieve a national roll-out? Will we have a model whereby native Chinese teachers will work with our own teachers? We have only a few Irish national teachers learning Chinese. There is great interest in the media in this short course. There is great hype. We are getting great kudos for it but let it not be a disaster and therefore we need to be ready. That is the reason I raise the issue with the Minister. I look forward to his answer.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

I must compliment the Senator on what she is engaged in promoting, namely, the teaching of Chinese to young people in her city and county. It is great to hear it.

I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn. The Framework for Junior Cycle published last October places students at the centre of the educational experience, enabling them to actively participate in their communities and in society, and to be resourceful and confident learners in all aspects and stages of their lives. Junior cycle is inclusive of all students and contributes to equality of opportunity, participation and outcome for all. It will create interested, independent learners who will be better prepared to meet the challenges of life beyond school.

Short courses are an important part of the reformed junior cycle. They will link directly to the statements of learning and will be designed for approximately 100 hours of student engagement. Some short courses, such as those on Chinese language and culture and on programming and coding, will be developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, and can be used "off the shelf" by schools. However, it is important to note that short courses are not compulsory and there is no national roll out; schools will decide which short courses, if any, to offer. Schools are also free to develop their own short courses.

The development by the NCCA of the short course on Chinese language and culture is a very welcome and exciting development. A growing number of young people are interested in learning Chinese and discovering the culture and way of life of Chinese people. This course will provide a learning base in Mandarin Chinese, which students can build on subsequently. They will also learn about China and understand and experience many aspects of Chinese culture. Students will develop their communication skills, their ability to interact successfully with people from Chinese and other cultures, and their capacity to be effective language learners. The focus is on active engagement by students through participation in varied tasks and in using digital media.

The Senator might be aware that a number of post-primary schools already provide courses or modules in lesser-taught languages, including but not limited to Chinese. It is a matter for schools to determine how best to facilitate such provision, with reference to the needs of the students and the existing resources within the school, including teaching staff.

In relation to qualifications, the Teaching Council is the statutory body for the recognition of teachers. At this time, the council does not register teachers for post-primary teaching on the basis of a qualification in Chinese language and culture. As this is a developing area, it will be kept under review. I understand most Mandarin Chinese in schools is taught by visiting native teachers funded by the Confucius Institutes. The Confucius Institute in UCD is involved in training registered teachers of other subjects to deliver transition year modules in Chinese culture. In the case of the new junior cycle, it is up to schools to offer programmes that meet their needs and aims. They are responsible for sourcing and deploying staff with the expertise to deliver the programme offered. I thank the Senator for giving me an opportunity to outline the current position in this regard.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames

While the Minister of State's answer is helpful, it is unbelievably disappointing. It is a joke that there will be no national roll-out of the most anticipated course in the reformed junior cycle. I know it is not compulsory. I appreciate that there will be information technology and digital elements. Who will teach the children? The Minister has no plan. He is relying on voluntary teaching and bringing in native teachers. We have not been told whether the Minister has done a deal with the Confucius Institutes or with Hanban. It is a helpful answer because we know where we are starting from. We have a long way to go if we are to achieve any semblance of coverage across the country.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

As I said, the situation is under review.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames

It did not say that in the Minister of State's response.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

I said that this "developing area .... will be kept under review". The Senator's comments will be passed on to the Minister.

Senator Fidelma Healy Eames

I thank the Minister of State.

National Archives

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Tá mé an-bhuíoch gur tháinig sé isteach anseo tráthnóna. Tagann sé isteach go rialta le haghaidh ceisteanna a thógáil sa Seanad. Tugann sé an-ómós don Teach. Caithfidh mé é sin a rá. Táimid thar a bheith buíoch den Aire Stáit. B'fhéidir nach mbeidh sé anseo arís roimh an Nollaig ó thaobh díospóireachta de.

Agus an Nollaig ag teannadh linn, ní fada go sroichfimid ceann de na hócáidí meáin is mó a thaitníonn le daoine ag teacht na bliana úire. Tá mé ag caint faoi na scéalta a bhíonn sna meáin faoi rudaí a tharla san am a caitheadh, go háirithe iad siúd a bhaineann leis na cartlanna. Tá sé de nós ag an Stát, agus de dhualgas ar an Stát, na comhaid a bhaineann leis na Ranna Stáit a scaoileadh leis an gCartlann Náisiúnta go bliantúil. Faoin riail 30 bliain, ba cheart go mbeadh na comhaid i leith pé rud a bhí ag tarlú 30 bliain ó shin tugtha ar lámh don Chartlann Náisiúnta roimh dheireadh na bliana seo ionas go bhféadfadh na meáin agus daoine atá ag déanamh taighde, srl., cineál léargas a thabhairt dúinn ar an Stát mar a bhí sé 30 bliain ó shin.

De réir mo chuid eolais, gach bliain cuireann an Chartlann Náisiúnta deis ar fáil d'iriseoirí agus do thaighdeoirí ar feadh tréimhse áirithe díreach roimh an Nollaig teacht isteach agus breathnú ar na comhaid atá curtha ar fáil ag na Ranna Stáit, sa chaoi gur féidir leo ullmhúcháin a dhéanamh le haghaidh 1 Eanáir agus na laethanta beaga ina dhiaidh sin nuair a bheidh siad ag insint dúinn céard a tharla 30 bliain ó shin. Tá sé tugtha le fios dom - tá mé ag lorg soiléirithe ar seo - go bhfuil an t-eolas seo faighte ó gach Roinn Stáit seachas an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta. Tuigtear dom go raibh iriseoirí áirithe ag iarraidh fiosrúcháin agus staidéar a dhéanamh ar na comhaid, ach ní raibh na comhaid sin ar fáil nuair a chuaigh siad chomh fada leis an gCartlann Náisiúnta ar an trí lá a bhí leagtha amach. Is ábhar iontais é nach mbeadh a leithéid ann.

Tá mé ag iarraidh soiléirithe a fháil ón Aire Stáit. An bhfuil sé fíor nach bhfuil na comhaid ar fáil? An féidir nach bhfuil siad tugtha ar lámh don Chartlann Náisiúnta? Más fíor é seo, cén fáth nach bhfuil siad ar fáil? An bhfuil údar leis sin? An bhfuil cúis éigin leis? B'fhéidir go bhfuil rud éigin mór faoi rún sna comhaid sin nach bhfuil an Roinn ag iarraidh go mbeadh a fhios ag daoine faoi. B'fhéidir nach bhfuil dóthain foirne sa Roinn le haghaidh na comhaid a ullmhú. Mura bhfuil siad ar fáil, cén uair a bheidh siad ar fáil? An mbeidh siad ar fáil ar an taobh seo den Nollaig? An mbeidh deis ag na hiriseoirí dul trí na comhaid sin agus insint dúinn céard iad na hiontaisí a bhí ag tarlú, agus na cinntí a bhí á nglacadh ag an Rialtas, 30 bliain ó shin?

Tá sé an-tábhachtach go mbeadh na comhaid seo ar fáil. Tá sé tábhachtach freisin go mbeadh léargas ag an bpobal ar an gcaoi ina n-oibríonn na Ranna Stáit agus cinntí éagsúla á ndéanamh acu. B'fhéidir go gceapann daoine go bhfuil 30 bliain i bhfad siar, ach is dóigh liom go bhfuil cuimhne ag go leor daoine ar na rudaí a bhí ag tarlú agus na scéalta a bhí sna meáin sa bhliain 1984. Cuireadh sé imní orm dá mba rud é nach raibh an Roinn in ann na comhaid seo a chur ar fáil de bharr easpa foirne. Níor mhaith liom go mbeadh an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar an dé deiridh, ó thaobh coinneáil suas leis na dualgais atá air, mar thoradh ar na ciorruithe éagsúla atá déanta le blianta beaga anuas.

Ní dóigh liom gur comhartha maith a bheadh ann dá mba rud é nach raibh an Roinn in ann coinneáil suas leis an obair atá le déanamh sa chomhthéacs seo, ag cur san áireamh go bhfuil sé déanta ag gach Roinn Stáit eile. D'fhéadfainn samplaí eile a thabhairt den chaoi ina bhfuil an Roinn ag titim siar ar a cuid dualgas ó thaobh cúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta, ach ní maith liom go bhfeictear ar seo mar ghné eile den ábhar sin. Le cúnamh Dé, beidh an tAire Stáit in ann léargas a thabhairt dúinn ar cá seasann cúrsaí maidir leis na comhaid a bhí ann 30 bliain ó shin a thabhairt ar lámh don Chartlann Náisiúnta, agus b'fhéidir a dheimhniú nach dtarlóidh a leithéid arís.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

Ba mhaith liom a dhearbhú don Teachta go dtuigim go maith oibleagáidí na Roinne faoin Acht um Chartlann Náisiúnta 1986. Tuigim ach go háirithe an riachtanas faoi alt 8 den Acht maidir le taifead oifigiúil ar bith a bhíonn 30 bliain d'aois ar an 31 Nollaig gach bliain a aistriú chuig an gCartlann Náisiúnta ionas gur féidir iad a chur ar fáil don phobal chun iad a scrúdú agus a úsáid ar mhaithe le taighde. Tá sé seo ar ndóigh faoi réir dhíolúintí ar bith chun leas an phobail agus príobháideachas an duine a chosaint agus chun oibleagáidí reachtúla a chomhlíonadh i ndáil le neamhnochtadh faisnéise agus gnóthais rúndachta. Tá aistriú roinnt taifead socraithe ag mo Roinn cheana féin agus tá dul chun cinn suntasach déanta ar aistriú taifid eile.

Mar is eol don Seanadóir, bunaíodh an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar an 1 Meitheamh 2011 de bhun atheagrú na Ranna Rialtais a d'fhógair an Taoiseach i mí an Mhárta 2011. Le bunú na Roinne seo, tugadh le chéile feidhmeanna ón tsean-Roinn Turasóireachta, Cultúir agus Spóirt, ón tsean-Roinn Comhshaoil, Oidhreachta agus Rialtais Áitiúil agus ón tsean-Roinn Pobail, Comhionannais agus Gaeltachta. Déanann an Roinn maoirseacht anois ar chaomhnú, ar bhuanchoimeád, ar chosaint, ar fhorbairt agus ar chur i láthair oidhreacht agus chultúr na hÉireann. Tá freagracht pholasaí ar an Roinn as na nithe sin. Déanann an Roinn gach iarracht an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, tacú leis an nGaeltacht agus cuidiú le forbairt inbhuanaithe phobail na n-oileán. Is iad seo a leanas na príomhfheidhmeanna atá faoina cúram: na healaíona, cultúr, scannán agus ceol, chomh maith le maoirseacht ar fhorais chultúrtha na hÉireann; oidhreacht thógtha agus nádúrtha na hÉireann; an Ghaeilge, an Ghaeltacht agus na hoileáin; agus comhoibriú Thuaidh-Theas a mhéid is a bhaineann sé le hUiscebhealaí Éireann, an Foras Teanga agus feidhmeanna níos leithne na Roinne. Ag teacht le tosaíochtaí reatha, treoraíonn agus múnlaíonn clár an Rialtais 2011-16, i gcomhar le tosaíochtaí eile Rialtais, obair na Roinne.

Mar a thuigfidh an Teachta, cruthaíodh na taifid atá le scaoileadh i mbliana sular bunaíodh an Roinn. Fágann sin go bhfuil castacht ag baint leis an bpróiseas maidir le taifid a aithint agus a scaoileadh. Tá aistriú roinnt taifead ó aonad na bhforas cultúrtha, maidir le hearnáil na n-ealaíon, chuig an gCartlann Náisiúnta socraithe ag mo Roinn cheana féin i mbliana. Ina theannta sin, aistríodh roinnt taifead ó bhrainse logainmneacha na Roinne ó na blianta 1946 go 1983 chuig an gCartlann Náisiúnta i mí na Samhna i mbliana. Ba mhaith liom a dhearbhú don Teachta go bhfuil oifigigh mo Roinne ag obair go dlúth le hoifigigh sa Chartlann Náisiúnta maidir le haistriú tuilleadh taifead chuig an gcartlann. Go deimhin, tá mo Roinn i gcomhairle leis an gCartlann Náisiúnta maidir le taifid a bhaineann leis an gceantar Gaeltachta ach go háirithe chun clár oibre a phlé chun taifid atá os cionn 30 bliain d'aois a aistriú. Tá clár oibre comhaontaithe. Is í mo thuiscint go n-aistreofar roinnt taifead a bhaineann leis an tréimhse 1929 go 1975 chuig an gCartlann Náisiúnta an tseachtain seo.

Tionólann an Chartlann Náisiúnta réamhbhreathnú meán gach Nollaig. Is deis atá ann d'iriseoirí féachaint ar na taifid a bhaineann le polasaí sula scaoiltear amach chuig an bpobal iad i mí Eanáir. Ní mór a nótáil go bhfaigheann an Chartlann Náisiúnta taifid ó Ranna Rialtais ar feadh na bliana, an tréimhse tar éis an réamhbhreathnaithe meán san áireamh, agus leanfar leis sin sa bhliain 2014. Níl riachtanas ar bith san Acht um Chartlann Náisiúnta na taifid a aistriú in am do réamhbhreathnú na meáin.

Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh

Tuigim an freagra atá tugtha ag an Aire Stáit. Bhí an réamhbhreathnú sin ann ach níorbh fhiú trácht, de réir cosúlachta, ar an méid ábhar a bhí le scrúdú ag na hiriseoirí. Is léir ón fhreagra gurb é an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an Roinn is mó atá tite siar leis na dualgais seo. Níl aon ghlacadh againn leis sin - go mbeadh sé sin tarlaithe. Cén fáth go bhfuil an fhadhb seo ag an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta, seachas aon Roinn eile? Cé fáth nach bhfuil na comhaid aistrithe ag an Roinn? An bhfuil an tAire in ann deimhniú dúinn nach dtarlóidh sin arís? Níor tharla sé i mblianta eile. De réir mar a thuigim, ní raibh fadhb ann anuraidh nó sna blianta roimhe sin. Is é seo an chéad uair gur éirigh fadhb den chineál seo. Cén fáth go bhfuil an fhadhb seo ann i mbliana? An bhfuil an tAire in ann deimhniú nach dtarlóidh sé arís?

Deputy Dinny McGinley

Tá taifid á n-aistriú go rialta agus go leanúnach ón Roinn go dtí an Chartlann Náisiúnta. Tá sé ar siúl fiú amháin an tseachtain seo, agus muid ag caint. Aon rud atá déanta, tá sé laistigh den Acht um Chartlann Náisiúnta 1986. Tá mé iontach dóchasach nach mbeidh easnamh ar bith i gceist nuair a thiocfaidh deireadh na bliana.

Youth Guarantee

Senator Jillian van Turnhout

I acknowledge the role of the Minister for Social Protection in bringing about the youth guarantee. The key point is that the youth guarantee does exactly what it says on the tin. It delivers a quality education training and-or work experience opportunity to young jobseekers within four months of their becoming unemployed. There are many issues I could raise here but given the time limit I will focus on five key questions. We do need a debate, and I hope that happens in the new year. I regret that I had to resort to tabling a matter on the Adjournment because during the debate on the social welfare Bill the Minister gave a commitment to coming back to the House and on more than one occasion I requested that she come back to the House.

The first question relates to funding. Can the Minister provide any clarity on the overall financial envelope that the Government plans to invest in the youth guarantee in 2014 and 2015? The Taoiseach mentioned a figure of €100 million per annum following the recent summit on youth unemployment held by President Hollande of France. Is there any clarity on the budget?

A recent OECD report noted that there is only one case worker per 800 unemployed persons of all ages, which is twice the Nordic average. Will the Irish plan invest in job counselling and guidance?

Young jobseekers are not a homogeneous group. We have heard about literacy and many other problems. Can the Minister give us some detail on the range of provision to meet the different needs of young jobseekers? Will there be new initiatives or is the Government merely planning to top up existing programmes?

Even if there were sufficient places available tomorrow some young people who have literacy issues, poor prior experience of formal education, substance misuse, family difficulties or long-term unemployment may need additional support to engage in activation measures. Will the Minister confirm that the Irish plan will provide a way to ensure that the contribution of the youth work organisations and the youth work sector can be enhanced and harnessed because it has been proved that they can reach these young jobseekers?

I am sure the Minister will agree that the youth guarantee cannot be delivered by the Government alone. I welcome the fact that the Department of Social Protection held a stakeholder forum on 14 October last and invited written submissions. The organisations that were consulted are concerned by the lack of information since then on the Irish plan, which we know must be submitted by the end of the year. Will the Minister commit to engaging with stakeholders in early 2014 on the plan? Will there be a further stakeholder forum where the details of the plan can be discussed? Will the Minister return as she promised in this House on 7 November last and engage with the Members of the Seanad on this issue of the youth guarantee and Ireland’s plan?

I am aware that the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, is in a difficult position because the Minister for Social Protection is not here but can the Minister outline the governance and oversight of the implementation of the youth guarantee in Ireland and confirm that it will be along the lines of the Ballymun pilot, with involvement of key stakeholders?

Deputy Dinny McGinley

I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and affording me the opportunity to provide the Seanad, on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, with an update on recent developments.

Yesterday, the Minister for Social Protection brought a memo to Cabinet with a draft plan for the implementation of the EU recommendation on a youth guarantee. The recommendation is that member states should: "Ensure that all young people under the age of 25 years receive a good-quality offer of employment, continued education, an apprenticeship or a traineeship within a period of four months of becoming unemployed or leaving formal education." In agreeing this recommendation, the EU accepted that the guarantee would need to be implemented over a period of time on a phased basis in countries, such as Ireland, facing very significant fiscal constraints.

The development of the draft implementation plan was led by the Department of Social Protection working with the support of an interdepartmental group of senior officials from the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Tánaiste. The draft plan brings together all Government measures in 2014 across a range of Departments that contribute to the transition of young people from education to work, and from unemployment to work. In keeping with the Government focus on tackling long-term unemployment, it is proposed that the four-month interventions will be targeted in the first instance at those young people most at risk of long-term unemployment as the guarantee is introduced on a phased basis.

Ireland already has most of the key elements of a youth guarantee in place including: a quality offer of second level education for all young people under 18; second chance education or training options for early school leavers via Youthreach and community training centres; access to free third level and further education programmes; apprenticeship and work-focused training initiatives such as Momentum; access to a range of employment programmes and supports including internships, JobBridge; work experience, Tús; employment subsidies, JobsPlus, and job-search or guidance services, Intreo centres and via Jobslreland. Accordingly, in order to maximise the return from structures already in place, it is proposed to build, and reserve places, on the existing programmes for young people already long-term unemployed; develop variants of these programmes and offers tailored specifically for young unemployed people. These tailored offers will include: a differentiated fast-track engagement option under Intreo with earlier and faster engagement for young people; a special JobBridge programme targeted at young people at particularly high risk of long-term unemployment, including, for example, early school-leavers and young people from marginalised communities; and a JobsPlus offer for selected young people at the four-month threshold of unemployment. This will offer employers an incentive to recruit young people who face high barriers to employment before their period of unemployment becomes prolonged. There will also be an earmarked allocation in the MicroFinance Ireland fund for business start-ups and a reserved allocation of places for young people on programmes such as Momentum, with 2,000 places reserved and Tús with 1,000 places reserved.

It is estimated that expenditure on these programmes for young people will be in excess of €300 million in 2014. This includes existing and new funding, including the EU funding that is expected to be drawn down. The Cabinet gave its approval yesterday for this proposed approach and following from that approval, the plan is being prepared for transmission to the European Commission before the end of this month. The plan will be published in January.

In response to the Senator's question on consultation, following the stakeholders forum in October to which she refers, the Department of Social Protection sought submissions from those who attended.

Submissions have since been received from a range of bodies and individuals, including the South Tipperary Local Development Company, Wexford Local Development, National Youth Council of Ireland, SpunOut.ie, Ms Emer Costello, MEP, Youth Work Ireland, Tipperary Regional Youth Service, Education and Training Boards Ireland and a joint published submission from the Union of Students in Ireland, the Irish Second-Level Students' Union and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Officials of the Department have also discussed the issues raised by the guarantee with the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, as well as with the Employment Leadership Group, a group of over 100 HR directors and business leaders from Ireland's top companies with a specific focus on the problem of unemployment and on job creation.

Finally, the Department commissioned the OECD to provide advice on the implementation of a youth guarantee. It was asked in particular to identify best international practice and how it might best be applied to Ireland. The OECD made an interim presentation on its views to Ministers and officials from relevant Departments two weeks ago and will present its final report by the end of the year. The OECD's interim report informed the draft implementation plan and its final report will be published along with the implementation plan in January.

Senator Jillian van Turnhout

I thank the Minister of State. He answered some of the questions but he was not in a position to answer quite a number. I ask that those questions are relayed to the Minister for Social Protection and that she would be encouraged to come to the House in January to have the debate she promised us on 7 November on the Irish plan for implementing the youth guarantee.

The Department met with groups such as the Employment Leadership Group. I would also encourage engagement with the youth work sector and youth work organisations. These organisations are best placed to reach those hard to reach young people who are not traditionally targeted in the programmes. The youth guarantee gives us an opportunity to, once and for all, give these young people hope and give them a pathway to work. However, that pathway needs careful guidance and I believe youth work organisations are best placed and have proven time and again that they can do it. The Government cannot deliver this on its own; it should engage with stakeholders and not just consult.

Deputy Dinny McGinley

I thank the Senator once again for raising the matter and for her personal interest in it, which I assure her is shared by all of us. Her comments will be conveyed to the Minister.

The Seanad adjourned at 9.15 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 19 December 2013.