Written Answers Nos. 497-516
497. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a detailed account in tabular form, of the number of persons working in the preschool and early childcare sector dealing directly with children; if she will provide Dáil Éireann with the numbers at each level of qualification as outlined by the Higher Education Authority 10 level framework; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41841/12]
View answerNearly all preschool services in the State are now participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, which provides a free preschool year to all eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. This programme requires that staff members acting as preschool year leaders hold a child care qualification equivalent to FETAC Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ). A higher capitation rate is available to sessional playschool services participating in the ECCE programme in which all child care workers have qualification levels above the minimum requirements for the programme. Staff working with children under the ECCE programme, as preschool assistants, are not required to hold an educational qualification.
Pobal, which administers the child care support programmes on behalf, of my Department compiles an Annual Survey of the Early Years Sectors which provide information in relation to the level of qualifications of practitioners in the child care sector. According to Pobal's Annual Survey of the Early Years Sector 2011, there are in the region of 4,300 child care services participating in the ECCE programme and approximately 3,280 of these services responded to the survey. Of this number, some 2,920 provided information on the level of training/qualifications of some 17,000 staff working with children. The results, which did not distinguish between those working with children enrolled for the ECCE programme and other children in the child care service, show that 96% of these services have a least one staff member qualified to FETAC Level 5 or higher, 75.2% have at least one member qualified to FETAC Level 6 or higher and 34% have a least one member qualified to HETAC Level 7 or higher. The number of services with one staff member qualified to HETAC Level 8 and above and HETAC Level 9 above is 22.3% and 3.2% respectively.
As the Deputy is aware my Department has commenced work on Ireland’s first-ever Early Years Strategy and in the terms of reference, as approved by Government, I expressly included the need to consider “a robust system of regulation and inspection”, for the new Early Years Strategy. Part of this will include improving access to quality reliable information on services and performance. I have asked the recently–established Expert Advisory Group to prioritise a review of this matter.
The employment of suitably qualified staff is a matter for each individual child care service. It is expected that in time a register of staff qualifications will be developed and providers should encourage staff to record the relevant details of their qualifications there.
498. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the protections that are in place regarding child-minders; if she will confirm if they will be subject to the children first legislation and if not the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41842/12]
View answer499. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a figure on the number of independent child minders currently looking after children who are not deemed to be familial relatives. [41843/12]
View answer502. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide Dáil Éireann with the legal definition, as defined by her, of the term child minder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41846/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 498, 499 and 502 together.
The Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, which I published in 2011, provides clarity and guidance for individuals and organisations in identifying and responding appropriately to child abuse and neglect. It also sets out what organisations that care for or work with children should do to ensure they are safe whilst in the care of the organisation. The Government has committed, as a priority, to the introduction of legislation to underpin Children First.
The Deputy will be aware that I published the Heads of the Children First Bill in April 2012. The purpose of the Bill is to ensure that organisations and professionals who work with children have a statutory responsibility to report reasonable concerns about the abuse or neglect of children in their care to the HSE Child and Family Services.
I asked the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children to consider the Heads of the Children First Bill and make recommendations. I received their comprehensive Report in July and I thank the Committee for its work on this matter. My Department is currently considering the broad range of submissions to, and recommendations of the Joint Committee, including those submissions pertaining to the issue of childminders.
Preschool services are regulated under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No.2) Regulations 2006, as provided for under Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991. "Childminder" is defined in the Regulations as "a person who provides a childminding service as defined in the Regulations". A "childminding service" is defined in the Regulations as "a preschool service which may include an overnight service offered by a person who single-handedly takes care of preschool children, including the childminder's own children, in the childminder's home for a total of more than 2 hours per day, except where the exemptions provided in Section 58 of the Child Care Act 1991 apply."
Services providing care for children who have not yet commenced primary school are required to notify their service to the Pre-School Inspectorate of the Health Service Executive (HSE) and are subject to inspection and report by the Inspectorate on a regular basis. Services covered by the Regulations include full-time, part-time and sessional services as well as childminders taking care of more than three preschool children from different families in the childminder’s home. Childminders taking care of not more than three preschool children from different families are not covered by the Regulations, recognising parental choice to place children with friends and neighbours, and the challenges of the over-regulation of the more informal arrangements chosen by parents. As a result of this exemption it is not possible to provide a figure for the number of childminders currently providing childminding services.
The National Guidelines for Childminders, compiled by the National Childcare Co-ordinating Committee which oversees the development of an integrated child care infrastructure throughout the country, provide guidance to childminders on good practice, and assist them to decide whether they are subject to the Regulations, as well as providing other useful information on the role of the childminder in the provision of child care services.
The 2006 Regulations replaced the earlier Regulations, introduced in 1996, and made a number of improvements to the regulatory environment, including the introduction of a requirement for all staff and students working in a preschool service to have been Garda vetted.
As is the case with all regulatory requirements, the Child Care Regulations set the minimum standards which services are legally required to comply with. However, my Department is proactive in monitoring, promoting and developing the highest standards of care and education throughout the sector, including the regulatory environment, given the important role which these services play in this crucial phase of children’s lives.
My Department also has begun work on Ireland’s first Early Years Strategy which I envisage will be a creative and dynamic blueprint for the future development of Ireland’s Early Years sector aimed at providing a coherent approach to seeking to improve the lives of children from birth to age six. One of the issues of policy which I have identified for consideration in the preparation of the new Strategy is the development of the childminding sector as a fully-integrated component of early childhood care and education, in particular for the under-one age group.
500. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide an update on the expansion of the free pre-school year in early childhood care and education programme; if such an extension will begin for children at the age of two years, thus allowing them two years of pre-school learning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41844/12]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free preschool year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. In line with the Programme for Government, my Department has made a significant commitment to maintaining the universal free preschool year. About 65,000 children, that is approximately 95% of children in the year before school, are availing of the free preschool provision at this time.
In 2011, the ECCE programme cost approximately €163 million. Additional funding has been made available for 2012 when the cost of the programme is expected to rise to €175 million to cater for changing demographics and provide for the increased number of children in the relevant age cohort.
I am aware of the need to further develop the early childhood care and education sector and it is my view that it could be extremely helpful to some children if the free preschool provision were extended to a second year. This could be particularly beneficial for certain children with special needs who currently can avail of the preschool year on a pro-rata basis over two years. However, any development that involved further provision of preschool would require considerable additional funding and given the financial constraints under which the Government is currently operating it is not possible to provide for any enhancements to the programme at this time.
However future developments relating to early years care and education will be considered during preparation of the new National Early Years Strategy 2012.
501. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide the timeline on the establishment of the new child and family support agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41845/12]
View answerI am firmly committed to the transformation of Ireland’s child protection and welfare services, and to the establishment of a new Child and Family Support Agency. The necessary legislation is being prepared by my Department as a priority. It is anticipated that the Bill will be published and enacted in the course of this session. It is my intention that the Child and Family Support Agency will assume statutory responsibility for services for children and families in January 2013.
The commitment to establish a new Child and Family Support Agency is at the heart of the Government's reform of child and family services. The establishment of a single agency, underpinned by legislation and incorporating key children and family services, will provide a focus for the major reforms already underway under the National Director for Children and Families, Gordon Jeyes. This reform programme contains a number of critical elements:
- The continued and urgent implementation of a comprehensive change programme to improve the quality and consistency of child welfare and protection services;
- The commitment to introduce legislation to place Children First on a statutory basis:
- The establishment for the first time of a dedicated budget for children and family services, providing transparency and accountability for - the use of resources to meet national priorities;
- The transition of existing HSE child protection and welfare and services into the new Agency;
- The merger of the existing Family Support Agency with a budget of over €26 million into the Child and Family Support Agency;
- Consideration of the potential for further rationalisation of services for children under the new Agency.
The new Agency will assume responsibility for Children and Family Services, currently provided by the HSE, and the Family Support Agency. It will have a workforce of approximately 4,000 staff, and a combined existing budget of over €590 million. The Agency will be headed by Gordon Jeyes, as the Chief Executive designate, who will be supported by a senior management team. The recruitment of this team is at an advanced stage.
The new Agency and the wider transformation of children's services represents on the of the largest, and most ambitious, areas of public sector of reform embarked upon by this Government. My Department is working closely with staff representatives and I am very happy to say that the establishment of the new Agency has received the support of unions and a broad range of professional organisations.
503. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when the early years strategy will be in place; if she will outline the various aspects of the proposed strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41917/12]
View answerMy Department is developing a new Children and Young People’s Policy Framework to cover the period from 2012 to 2017. It will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland’s first children’s strategy which was published in 2000.
This high-level policy framework will also facilitate the preparation of a number of more detailed strategies including Ireland’s first-ever National Early Years Strategy.
The Early Years Strategy will be developed during 2012 and will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life such as health, family support, learning and development and care and education and will identify the structures and policies needed to improve early year's experience in Ireland.
I have appointed an Expert Advisory Group comprising external experts from a range of specialties, including paediatrics, early childhood care and education, child protection and public health nursing, chaired by Dr. Eilis Hennessy of UCD.
A public consultation recently concluded as part of the consultation on the overall Children and Young People’s Policy Framework. There will be further focused consultation with key stakeholders later this year in relation to Early Years.
504. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made to date regarding the bilateral agreement with Russia on the issue of adoptions. [41988/12]
View answerAdoptions from Russia, effected under the transitional arrangements provided for in the Adoption Act 2010, are ongoing and are currently being examined, and recognised, by the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI). Under the provisions of the legislation, such adoptions may take place up to the end of October 2013.
As regards adoptions thereafter, Russia has not ratified the Hague Convention; therefore, future adoptions from Russia, beyond those provided for under the transitional arrangements, may only be possible under a bilateral agreement. The negotiation of bilateral agreements on intercountry adoption with states who have not ratified the Hague Convention is governed by Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010. Any bilateral arrangements which might be entered into would be required by law to meet the minimum standards set out in the Hague Convention.
It is the role of the Adoption Authority to make an assessment of whether the intercountry adoption legislation and practices in a non-contracting state, in this case Russia, are in compliance with both Irish legislation and the principles of the Hague Convention. As part of this assessment the Adoption Authority has reviewed a draft bilateral agreement presented to it during previous discussions with its Russian counterparts and has provided me with an initial assessment in this regard. I have asked the Adoption Authority to have further exploratory talks with the Russian authorities focussing on areas of concern in order that the Authority may progress its assessment of the situation and provide a definitive recommendation to me on the feasibility of formally opening discussion with the Russian Federation under Section 73 of the Adoption Act 2010.
Further information on intercountry adoption from Russia can be found on the Adoption Authority website (www.aai.gov.ie).
505. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will list all the current positions, where the appointment was made by her Department held by retired senior civil servants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42661/12]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that no retired civil or public servant has been rehired or retained by my Department.
506. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive a decision on their application for a medical card . [41252/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
507. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the amount of hydroflosilicic acid added to the public water supply by local authorities; if he will provide a breakdown by local authority, supplied and cost for the period 2009 to 2012 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41685/12]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated by the HSE and will be forwarded to him as soon as it is available.
508. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when an appeal for mobility allowance will be determined in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41852/12]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
509. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made in relation to the establishment of a consultative forum on health insurance; the findings of the forum; the progress that has been made in relation to reducing the cost of private health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41965/12]
View answerIn February of this year I established the Health Insurance Consultative Forum which comprises representatives from the country's main health insurance companies, the Health Insurance Authority and the Department of Health.
This Forum has been established with a view to generating ideas which would help address health insurance costs. Its core focus is on identifying ways of addressing costs throughout the industry, whilst always respecting the requirements of competition law. Bilateral meetings have taken place with each insurer where they have brought forward their own ideas for cost savings in the market. These ideas are the subject of ongoing deliberation and policy analysis within the Department.
The Forum also facilitates participating parties to consider certain issues related to the implementation of Universal Health Insurance (UHI). The future delivery of health services under UHI will require competing insurance companies driving efficient, cost effective delivery of high quality health care. The Forum will allow the insurance companies to consult with my Department on many significant changes on the road to the full implementation of UHI.
510. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health where information on the franking allowance and key holder allowance may be found; if these allowances are only available to persons in his Department or if they are available to all employees of his Department and the Health Service Executive who meet the criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41231/12]
View answerCivil Service Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme - General Council Reports 1354 and 1385 provide for the Franking Machine Allowance and Keyholder's Allowance and are the basis for their payment in my Department. These allowances have application across Departments and are not specific to the Department of Health.
With regard to the Health Service Executive, they have been asked to collate the data sought as soon as possible and it will be provided directly to the Deputy by them when available.
511. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on waiting times for orthodontic procedures across the State; if he will indicate if a willingness of persons on the lists of hospitals where the wait is longer may be accommodated in hospitals with shorter waiting times if they indicate a willingness to travel for their procedure; if a review of the way to reduce orthodontic waiting times is underway; and if so, the progress that has been made [41236/12]
View answer533. Deputy Paschal Donohoe asked the Minister for Health if the independent review of orthodontic services has been completed and if he has had an opportunity to consider its findings; if he will provide any details on the recommendations relating the best possible model of care delivery in order that those currently on waiting lists will be treated as quickly as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41504/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 533 together.
Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need, i.e. Grade 5 or Grade 4 are provided with treatment by the HSE. Assessments and treatments are not generally carried out in hospitals, except in cases where additional intervention such as oral surgery is required. Orthodontic services are currently provided in 9 areas as listed below. Within each area movement may be accommodated at the request of the patient. The most recent information available is for the first quarter of 2012 and is set out below. Some figures are unavailable due to staff shortages in some areas. This issue is being addressed by the HSE.
Orthodontic Treatment Waiting List 2012
|
Area |
Grade 5 (formerly Category A) |
Waiting time (Months) |
Grade A (formerly Category B) |
Waiting time (Months) |
|
South Western |
505 |
n/a |
693 |
n/a |
|
Mid-Leinster |
441 |
n/a |
456 |
36 |
|
Midland |
175 |
16 |
980 |
n/a |
|
Northern/North Eastern |
1,375 |
5 |
1,519 |
n/a |
|
South Eastern |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Southern |
381 |
n/a |
1,496 |
18 |
|
Western |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Mid Western |
1,252* |
24* |
- |
- |
|
North Western |
332 |
12 |
219 |
21 |
* Grade 4 and Grade 5 combined
Preparatory work is currently underway for a review of orthodontic services, which will specifically look at different models of care. The review is expected to be completed in early 2013.
512. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health his views on the two year waiting list for an appointment with an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Beaumont hospital (details supplied) in Dublin 17; and the actions being taken to reduce the waiting list [41249/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
513. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will inform this Deputy of the future of the district health nurse for the Drumcondrath area, County Meath [41294/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
514. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine an application for upgrading of a general practitioner visit card to a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41320/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
515. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has refused to fund art assist pumps which have been proven to decrease the rate of amputation and thus in the longer run save the State Exchequer; if he will enquire into the case of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; if he will direct the HSE to examine the provision of an art assist pump in this case as this person is not in a position to fund such a device from their own resources [41339/12]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been in contact with the Regional Director of Operations HSE, who is dealing with the case in a sensitive manner.
516. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a 24 hour support service for mental health services as there is currently no weekend or night time Health Service Executive service for those suffering from depression [41340/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
