Written Answers Nos. 558-580
560. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if details of the agreement on intercountry adoption between Ireland and Vietnam are available in the public domain; her plans to publish same; if she will outline the eligibility criteria set out under the terms of the agreement, specifically with regard to timeframe and age limit requirements. [44172/12]
View answerAs provided for in Section 72 of the Adoption Act, 2010, the Adoption Authority of Ireland may establish administrative arrangements with another country which has ratified the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. The administrative arrangements entered into concern the processing of applications between the central authorities of contracting states.
I have asked the Adoption Authority of Ireland to make a copy of the agreement available to the Deputy and I will correspond further with the Deputy in the coming days.
561. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff in her Department or agencies under her control that are currently on career break; the number of staff currently hired temporarily to cover those on career break; if she will provide a breakdown of the numbers by grade and agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44362/12]
View answer572. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff that availed of the special civil service incentive career break scheme 2009; the cost of the scheme since its introduction; the savings on the pay bill in that time period; the estimated full year cost for the return of all the new civil servants in 2013; the number of staff members that applied for a further extension of their leave; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45605/12]
View answer573. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of staff across the public service that are currently on a career break; if she will provide a breakdown of the numbers on career leave by Department and agency; the estimated cost of this scheme per year; the number of staff currently hired temporarily to cover those on career break; the reforms that have taken place in this general area in the past year; if these staff were counted as a reduction in numbers employed in the public service during that time period [45620/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 561, 572 and 573 together.
The special Incentivised Career Break Scheme was announced in April 2009. To avail of this scheme, a career break of special leave without pay had to be taken for three years. The scheme provides for the payment of one third of gross pay to a maximum of €12,500 per annum to successful applicants. These amounts are reduced pro rata for any person on reduced working hours under worksharing arrangements and the amount payable is subject to tax and other statutory deductions.
My Department was established in June 2011 and involved the bringing together of civil servants from four different Departments. As such, a number of staff availing of career breaks at that time from the work areas due to transfer to my Department became the responsibility of the new Department. There were 4 such staff availing of the Incentivised Career Break at the time. Two of these were due to resume their career in August 2012. One has resigned from the service and the other is due to resume employment later this month. The remaining two are not due back until early 2013. The payroll saving in relation to these career breaks is estimated to be €0.239 million. If all three remaining staff were to resume employment, their full year salary costs would be in the region of €0.120 million.
In addition to the above, there are two staff on career breaks from the Children Detention Schools, one of which is an Incentivised Career Break. The payroll saving in relation to the Incentivised Career Break is estimated at €0.105 million and the full year salary should that person resume employment would be in the region of €0.048 million. Similarly, there are two staff on career breaks in the Family Support Agency, one of which is an Incentivised Career Break. The payroll saving in relation to this is estimated at €0.076 million and associated full year salary cost if they resume will be €0.038 million.
Staff on career breaks are not replaced and work is re-organised and prioritised to cope with the absence. Staff on career break, or indeed any other form of unpaid leave, are not counted in staff census during the absence.
562. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost in 2011 to her Department and to each body under the aegis of her Department of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44462/12]
View answerThe total cost in 2011 to my Department and to each body under the aegis of my Department of implementing the Official Languages Act 2003 was €31,721.20
563. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding an application for National Lottery funding (details supplied) in Dublin 8; when it is expected that a decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44652/12]
View answerMy Department has received an application for Lottery funding from New Communities Youth Digi Club. The application is under consideration at present. A decision on the application will be notified to the organisation as soon as possible.
564. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the context of the pending children's first legislation and the vetting legislation and the need for child protection for all children, if she will give a commitment that she will introduce regulation for all child minders regardless of the number of children been cared for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44680/12]
View answerThe 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.
565. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current staffing levels within the Health Service Executive child protection inspectorate in tabular form on a county basis; the frequency with which inspections are carried out on various child care centres; and if it is her intention to moving this service to the new child and family agency. [44681/12]
View answerUnder the Child Care Act, 1991, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. If any child is in need of care and protection and is unlikely to receive it at home, the HSE has a duty to ensure they receive appropriate care.
Where a child is coming into care the HSE allocated social worker undertakes a full assessment of need, and on this basis the statutory care plan is developed. This assessment will call on a full range of professionals where required to set out a comprehensive statement of the child's needs. The care plan also determines the support and interventions needed with regard to the family situation where it is planned that a child will return home. The care plan also directs the placement most appropriate to the needs of the child.
Children in residential care are placed in open residential centres run by either the HSE or private/voluntary providers in communities across the country. The National Standards for Children's Residential Centres clearly set out that the social worker and the centre manager are satisfied that the placement is suitable, will meet the needs of the young person and takes account of the need to protect young people from abuse by their peers. The HSE is responsible for the registration and inspection of private or voluntary (non-statutory) run residential centres for children and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspects centres operated by the HSE. Centres are inspected under the National Standards.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) was established under the Health Act, 2007 and replaced the Social Services Inspectorate. HIQA is an independent authority responsible for driving quality, safety and accountability in services for children, older people and people with disabilities in Ireland. HIQA develops standards for Ministerial approval, monitors compliance with standards and carries out investigations where they believe there are reasonable grounds to do so. HIQA inspects children’s residential centres, special care units and foster care settings against the National Standards for Children's Residential Centres, National Standards for Special Care Units and the National Standards for Foster Care. HIQA publishes their inspection reports on their website.
In July 2010, the Government decided to prioritise the inspection of child protection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). These inspections will be undertaken against standards to be developed by HIQA as provided for under Section 8 of the Health Act 2007. HIQA commenced work on drafting National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children and convened a Standards Advisory Group to advise on their development. The Advisory Group, which comprises a wide representation of people from the health and social care sector met several times and the Child Protection and Welfare Standards were published in July 2012. My department was involved in advising HIQA. It is expected that the first inspections by HIQA based on the standards for child protection will take place by the end of the year. The inspection responsibility of HIQA will continue with the new Child and Family Support Agency.
566. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the annual cost for the free pre school year; the number of participants in the scheme and the number of jobs this scheme supports. [44682/12]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme was introduced in January 2010 and provides a free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school.
About 66,000 children, that is approximately 94% of children in the year before school, availed of the free pre-school provision in 2011 at a cost of some €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 which is estimated to rise to approximately 68,000.
Pobal, which administers the childcare support programmes on behalf of my Department, compiles an Annual Survey of the Early Years Sector. According to its 2011 Annual Survey, there are in the region of 4,300 childcare services participating in the ECCE programme and approximately 3,133 of these services responded to the question relating to the number of staff employed. The results, which did not distinguish between those working with children enrolled for the ECCE programme and other children in the childcare service, show some 17,123 staff working directly with children.
567. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the date on which she will publish the information and tracing legislation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44708/12]
View answerThe Adoption (Information and Tracing ) Bill continues to be a priority of mine. The preparation of the Heads of Bill, which are being developed in consultation with the Adoption Authority, are at an advanced stage and I intend to publish the Bill in 2013.
568. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding funding in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry [44733/12]
View answerMy Department has a funding provision this year of €500,000 in respect of National Lottery Funding. To-date, some 300 applications for grant support have been received from individuals, groups and organisations. The current value of these applications amounts to over €8 million which far exceeds the available resources. The organisation to which the Deputy refers is one of the 300 applications. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that, in the circumstances, it will not be possible to assist all applications. However, the assessment process is ongoing and all applicants will be informed of the outcome as soon as final decisions have been made.
569. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if funding will be provided in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in Dublin 15; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44833/12]
View answerThe centre referred to provides services to persons with alcohol and drug problems. Issues relating to funding of alcohol and drug services provided by this centre are a matter for the Department of Health.
My Department provides funding for the provision of early childhood care and education through three support programmes - the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme and the Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides one free pre-school year to all eligible children in the year before commencing primary school. The Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programme provides €145 per week towards the cost of full day childcare for the duration of their courses to qualifying FÁS and Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) trainees and students in participating childcare services. Students on part-time courses are funded on a pro rata basis. This Centre is in contract with my Department to provide childcare places under the ECCE and CETS programmes.
570. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide, in tabular form if possible, a list of the bank accounts used by her Department and separately any agencies within the remit of her Department; the purpose of each bank account and the financial institution the bank account is with; the total amount of any interest charged or bank fees incurred by her Department and separately by each agency in 2011 and anticipated figure for 2012; the percentage of payments issued by her Department and each agency which are issued electronically and if the Department agency has any special arrangement in place on the issue of bank charges and fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44844/12]
View answerSince its establishment in June, 2011 the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has been operating one Public Bank Current Account through Bank of Ireland. The account is used principally to facilitate EFT (electronic funds transfer) payments in respect of pay and non-pay transactions on behalf of the Department. There is no interest charged or bank fees incurred by my Department for the use of this account. In addition, all payments through the account are issued electronically.
The statutory agencies under the remit of my Department include the Office of the Ombudsman for Children, the Family Support Agency, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the National Educational Welfare Board. The banking facilities used by these bodies are an internal operational matter for each organisation and they have been individually requested to furnish the information directly to the Deputy.
571. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if any proceedings have been initiated against the State arising out of the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45590/12]
View answerNo proceedings have been initiated against my Department arising from the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal.
574. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason 35 victims of Dr. Michael Neary have not received redress as promised [44179/12]
View answerA commitment was given in the Programme for Government to seek a mechanism to compensate those women who were excluded on age grounds alone from the Lourdes Hospital Redress Scheme. The Scheme of Redress approved by Government was a non-statutory, ex-gratia scheme. Awards were determined by an independent Redress Board in 2007 and 2008.
My Department has been engaged in a review to identify the most appropriate mechanism to compensate those women excluded from the scheme on age grounds alone. This review has included taking instructions and legal advice, including advice from the Office of the Attorney General, with a view to bringing proposals to Government for decision. This process has not yet been completed.
575. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in implementing the recommendation of the Ombudsman that the mobility allowance be extended to persons over the age of 66 to end the transgression of the Equal Status Act. [44762/12]
View answer576. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason for his failure to extend eligibility to apply for the mobility allowance to people of more than 66 years of age as was recommended by the Ombudsman in the grounds of equality; and if he will outline any plans he may have with regard to the scheme. [45145/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 575 and 576 together.
The Department of Health has accepted the Ombudsman's recommendation to review and revise the mobility allowance so as to render it compliant with the Equal Status Acts. The Department also notes that the Ombudsman, in a footnote to her recommendation, expresses no view as to the terms of the revision of the mobility allowance, other than the revised scheme should be compliant with the Equal Status Acts. The Department accepts that the mobility allowance cannot continue to operate on the current basis. The Department has pointed out to the Ombudsman that there are a range of potential policy options that need to be considered. Final policy decisions in this regard have yet to be taken.
577. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the projected cost over run for the health services will be in 2012. [44113/12]
View answerThe HSE is overspent by €374m to the end of September and would have a deficit of approximately €550m at the end of the year if current run rates prevail unless additional cost containment measures are undertaken. There is intensive engagement between my Department and the Health Service Executive to address the excess expenditure. In the short term, to address the 2012 position, I have instructed the Executive to impose cash limits on agency and overtime. Furthermore, there will be more rigorous management of absenteeism, travel and subsistence will be limited, and stock management will be intensified in order to better manage cash. Other measures are also being undertaken in order to achieve a balanced budget, including the use of capital to fund revenue and the transfer of Department funds to the HSE on a once-off basis. I have also instructed the Executive to provide fortnightly reports on the cash situation, and the Regional Directors are being required to more intensively manage the cash so as to achieve a balanced vote.
My Department is working intensively with the HSE on proposals for submission to Government to address structural expenditure issues in the context of the 2013 Estimates. This includes reconfiguration of services, maximising the potential for flexibility under the Croke Park Agreement and curtailing expenditure in the Primary Care Reimbursement Service. These proposals are entirely appropriate and in keeping with the focus in the Programme for Government on reforming the way health services are funded and delivered to achieve greater productivity and more cost effective services.
578. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when the White Paper on Financing Universal Health Insurance will be published. [44114/12]
View answerThe Government is committed to fundamental reform of healthcare in Ireland that will deliver a single tier health system, supported by universal health insurance (UHI), where access is based on need, not income. Every individual will have a choice of health insurer and will have equal access to a comprehensive range of curative services.
In February, I established an Implementation Group on Universal Health Insurance which will assist in developing detailed implementation plans for universal health insurance and driving implementation of various elements of the health reform programme.
The Group will also assist my Department in preparing a White Paper on Universal Health Insurance. The White Paper will outline details of the UHI model in addition to the estimated costs and financing mechanisms associated with the introduction of universal health insurance. Preparation of the White Paper is a complex process. It will involve significant financial modelling to support analysis of different design options and to help estimate the cost of UHI. The White Paper will be published as early as possible within the Government’s term of office.
579. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when he intends to provide free general practitioner care for claimants under the long term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44115/12]
View answer641. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the drafting difficulties arising from the proposal to grant medical cards on the basis of illness, rather than means, which has stalled the delay in the roll-out of free general practitioner care to persons with long-term illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44350/12]
View answer642. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an indication of the time expected to resolve the drafting difficulties arising from the proposal to grant medical card on the basis of illness, rather than means, which has stalled the delay in the roll-out of free general practitioner care to persons with long-term illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44351/12]
View answer648. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the introduction of free general practitioner care to everyone; when free GP care will be provided for patients with long-term illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44427/12]
View answer702. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the nature of the drafting difficulties arising from the proposal to a grant medical card on the basis of illness, rather than means, which not only forms the basis of the roll-out of free general practitioner care to persons with long-term illnesses but also forms the basis of much of his programme of reform [44800/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 579, 641, 642, 648 and 702 together.
The Programme for Government commits to reforming the current public health system by introducing Universal Health Insurance with equal access to care for all. As part of this, the Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, GP care without fees within its first term of office. Primary legislation is required to give effect to the Government commitment to introduce a universal GP service without fees.
Legislation to allow the Minister for Health to make regulations to extend access to GP services without fees to persons with prescribed illnesses is currently being drafted by this Department and the Office of the Attorney General and will be published shortly. Implementation dates and application details will be announced in due course.
580. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he is in talks with the Irish Medical Organisation and the Competition Authority in relation to the issue of free general practitioner care; when such talks are likely to begin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44116/12]
View answerLegislation to allow the Minister for Health to make regulations to extend access to General Practitioner (GP) services without fees to persons with prescribed illnesses is currently being drafted by the Attorney General's office and will be published shortly. Implementation dates and application details will be announced in due course.
The Department and the HSE is currently examining the changes that need to be made to the General Medical Services (GMS) contract to facilitate the introduction of Universal Primary Care. As part of this process, the Department has held discussions with the Competition Authority with regard to Competition Law. There have also been preliminary discussions with the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) to outline policy in this regard. I expect to engage in further discussions with GPs/IMO as soon as the legislation is published.
