Written Answers Nos. 911-933
911. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will ensure that referrals from Thailand will continue to be issued by the Adoption Authority of Ireland regardless of the current uncertainty in relation to the renewal of declarations; if it will be resolved prior to the expiration of the declarations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58037/12]
View answerThe Adoption Authority (AAI) informs me there has been no disruption in the receipt of intercountry adoption child referrals from Thailand. The quota of referrals for Ireland for 2012 was four children. Prospective adoptive parents proposing to adopt from Thailand should hold a valid Declaration of Eligibility and Suitability at all times, including the period after which they have received custody of a child and prior to effecting an adoption at the Thai Embassy in London. The Adoption Authority and the HSE are examining a range of issues in relation to assessments and the issuing of declarations. The relevant information on these matters will be published on the AAI website (www.aai.gov.ie).
912. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding an application for 2012 National Lottery funding in respect of a group (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58076/12]
View answer920. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding National Lottery funding in respect of an organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1230/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 912 and 920 together.
The organisation in question was not successful in its request to secure funds under the 2012 National Lottery Funding Scheme and was advised of this in writing by my Department in December 2012.
In this regard the Deputy might wish to note that over 500 applications for grant support were received from individuals, groups and organisations for funding under the Scheme. The overall value of the applications amounted to €13 million which far exceeded the available resource allocation of €500,000. In the circumstances it was not possible, unfortunately, to assist all applicants. However, it will be open to the organisation to re-apply for funding in 2013 under the National Lottery allocation made available to my Department this year and details of the funding scheme, including the related application form, are available on my Department's website www.dcya.gov.ie.
913. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide details of the number of Health Service Executive and city and county childcare committees held Childminding Advisory Officer posts affected by cuts to HSE funds for 2013; the impact that the cuts to CMAO posts will have on supports available to childminders and in particular the impact on the national availability of the voluntary notification process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58096/12]
View answerWhile the 1991 Childcare Act introduced regulation of the pre-school sector, the majority of childminders are exempt from the regulations. At the time there was a recognition of the difficulties of regulation given the scale of the provision, and a strong view that, because women did not have to be regulated to look after their own children, they should not be subject to regulation if they minded a small number of additional children.
The 2000 Expert Working Group on Childcare set out a plan for integrating the various strands of child care and education, including childminding. It made a number of recommendations aimed at overcoming the barriers preventing childminders from moving into the formal economy, most of which were implemented. These included the introduction of a system for voluntary notification of childminders, and the introduction of Childcare Services Relief, which allows a voluntarily-notified childminder to mind up to three children without paying tax on the earnings, and to make a PRSI contribution.
Childminding Advisory Officer posts were created in most of the CCCs, working directly with childminders, notifying them of training opportunities, providing networking opportunities, and supporting the voluntary notification system. The number of voluntarily-notified childminders is currently 1,250, up from 500 in 2004. This is not a significant increase when the range of supports and the tax relief are taken into account.
I understand that since 2011 there has been a reduction in funding for Childminding Advisory (CMA) posts by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to the City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs). The HSE has indicated that, in light of the pressure on resources, the CMA posts are not a priority. However, the Executive has confirmed that it will endeavour to support the CCCs wherever possible. In addition, the childcare development staff in the CCCs continue to ensure that support and advice is available to childminders.
My Department provides annual funding to each CCC to enable it to support and advise all childcare providers at local level. In 2012, the total amount allocated to the CCCs was €11.3m. In addition, my Department provided €220,000 for Childminding Development Grants to be allocated by the CCCs. My Department also provides annual funding, totalling €2.85m in 2012, to the seven National Voluntary Childcare Organisations, including Childminding Ireland, who provide support at a local level to their members.
Decisions on how best to regulate the childminding sector will continue to form part of the ongoing work on the Early Years Strategy.
914. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the process by which youth groups and projects may apply for capital funding that was announced by her last month. [58148/12]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector.
Funding of €53.173m has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. Within this total funding, €1.75 has been provided in a new capital funding programme for 2013. This will include €1.5m for youth cafés and youth projects. Criteria for the schemes are being developed at present and my Department will be announcing details regarding the application process for 2013 shortly.
915. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she plans to put the children first guidelines on a statutory basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58165/12]
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 publishing the Heads was to allow for a full consultation at an early stage in the developing the Bill.
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 and my Department is currently considering the broad range of submissions to, and recommendations of the Joint Committee.
916. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding a bilateral arrangement with Russia in relation to adoption. [1002/13]
View answerAs Russia has not ratified the Hague Convention 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.
It is the role of the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) 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.
The Russian authorities have indicated that they are in a position to meet the AAI in the first quarter of this year. The Adoption Authority, through the Irish Embassy in Moscow, have confirmed their availability for this meeting. A response from the Russian authorities is awaited.
917. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason resources of the Health Service Executive are being expended in assessing persons suitability and eligibility for adoption, at considerable emotional pressure for the couples involved, only to have the Adoption Authority state that those who get the declaration of suitability, over 650 couples at present, are unlikely to complete an adoption. [1003/13]
View answerCurrent adoption legislation requires the Health Service Executive to carry out an assessment in relation to a declaration of eligibility and suitability to adopt as soon as practicable following receipt of an application.
The Adoption Authority seeks to make prospective adopters aware of the facts regarding intercountry adoption. A large number of declarations are currently valid and several hundred are issued by the Authority each year. While the AAI is not in a position to influence the number of inter country adoptions, the age or needs of children in need of adoption or the length of time involved in such processes the Adoption Authority has been proactive in developing relationships with its Hague counterparts in a number of jurisdictions. The building of such relationships will help to bring greater clarity to the intercountry adoption process generally, including the timescales involved for adopting from different countries.
The reality is that the landscape of intercountry adoption is changing and for a variety of reasons the number of referrals of adoptable children has declined and therefore fewer adoptions are finalised each year than declarations issued. In this regard the AAI and the HSE are examining a range of issues in relation to assessments and the issuing of declarations. The relevant information on these matters will be published on the AAI website (www.aai.gov.ie).
919. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when applications will be accepted for the fund of €1.75m for capital projects, including youth cafés and for play and recreational initiatives in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1103/13]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector.
Funding of €53.173m has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. Within this total funding, €1.75 has been provided in a new capital funding programme for 2013. This will include €1.5m for youth cafés and youth projects and €250,000 for play and recreation initiatives in 2013. Criteria for the schemes are being developed at present and my Department will be announcing details regarding the application process for 2013 shortly.
921. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the 2012 targets set for her Department for implementation of the Jobs Action Plan; if she will report on the attainment or otherwise of these targets; the reason targets were not met; the steps she is taking within her Department to create new jobs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1277/13]
View answerThere were two specific areas under the Action Plan for Jobs 2012 with actions falling within the remit of my Department. These related to Building Competitive Advantage and Enterprise Employment Expansion Supports. The Building Competitive Advantage action related to aligning skills with enterprise needs, involving reviewing structures and funding of youth work and support services to ensure they support the development of the skills needed by enterprises. My Department is currently finalising a Children and Young People's Policy Framework and the review of youth programmes will be informed by this new Policy Framework. This is expected to be followed by the introduction of more streamlined and effective youth programmes.
In addition, my Department was involved, together with the Department of Social Protection, in examining the availability of affordable childcare for people on lower incomes to determine whether existing schemes could be expanded to support people to take up employment. Following an examination of childcare options, a decision was taken as part of Budget 2013 to introduce a new school age childcare programme which will be targeted at parents in receipt of benefits who take up employment. The Programme will commence in September 2013, and there will be a pilot phase from March 2013.
The Government is currently preparing further plans for job creation under an Action Plan for Jobs 2013 which will be published in the coming weeks and my Department will continue to support job creation initiatives by providing specific key supports in the form of:
- youth work services which develop young people’s skills, thereby improving their employability and helping to address the issue of youth unemployment;
- a specific Budget initiative being jointly implemented with the Department of Social Protection to provide access for parents taking up employment to school age child care places; and
- early childhood care and education programmes which target subsidised childcare places towards low-income parents in employment, education or training.
In addition, there are other Department programmes which will indirectly generate economic activity, employment and labour market support including a construction project at the Children’s Detention Schools in Oberstown, Co. Dublin and an Area Based Poverty initiative which, as well as providing employment in local areas selected, will address social disadvantage amongst children and families in order to improve poverty and life chances.
922. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding available from her Department and other agencies for local organisations, specifically, musical organisations (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1517/13]
View answerThe question of funding for musical organisations is a matter for my colleague, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan T.D. The Deputy’s question has been referred to Minister Deenihan for reply.
923. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will explore every possible funding option in 2013 for a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will consider the huge social dividend derived from this project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1615/13]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. Targeted supports for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people are provided through the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2 and Local Drugs Task Force.
Funding of €53.173m has been provided to my Department for the provision of youth services in 2013. In light of budgetary constraints, the emphasis in the 2012 youth affairs budget was on supporting existing youth programmes and services for young people including those with fewer opportunities. Similarly in 2013, the focus is on consolidating and maintaining, insofar as possible, the level of existing programmes and services for young people. In this context, Youth Affairs Unit is not currently in a position to consider any new applications for funding in 2013.
924. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will review her decision to move certain psychology services from the Health Service Executive to the new Child and Family Support Agency; if her attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by a number of expert clinical psychologists in relation to this measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1752/13]
View answerThe Government has given approval to the drafting of a Bill to establish the Child and Family Support Agency. Work on the preparation of the legislation is proceeding as a priority and the intention is that the Agency will be established as a priority. In order to inform the content of the legislation the Government has decided that upon establishment the Child and Family Support Agency will have responsibility for a range of services. This includes the full range of child welfare and protection services currently operated by the HSE including family support and alternative care services. Due to its particular relevance, it has also been decided to include domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services within the Agency's responsibilities. The Government has further decided that the new Agency will assume responsibility for the functions of both the Family Support Agency and the National Educational Welfare Board. These two organisations currently operate under the aegis of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The draft legislation will also provide for the provision of community-based psychology services to children and families by the Agency. It is envisaged that this will involve the transfer of certain psychology staff currently employed by the HSE who are operating within a community setting.
The Government's consideration of these matters was informed, inter alia, by the content and recommendations of the Report of the Task Force on the Child and Family Support Agency which I published in July 2012. I share the view of the Task Force that in order to achieve genuine improvements for children and families, the Agency must have a broader focus than child protection. It is my intention that the Agency will be as broadly based as possible and that it should include those services that (i) may prevent problems arising for a family in the first instance (ii) identify problems and provide supports at an early stage and (iii) assist children and families in managing serious problems requiring specialised interventions beyond their own resources.
Arising from the Government's consideration and decision with regard to the functions of the new Agency, it has been agreed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Health that an impact analysis will be jointly developed regarding the proposed future arrangements for the provision of the community psychology service as it relates to children and family services covered by the Child and Family Support Agency and to services provided by the HSE. This work will be undertaken as a priority.
I recently met with representatives from the Heads of the Psychology Services Ireland and with a delegation from the IMPACT trade union to discuss issues relating to the future governance and organisational arrangements for the provision of community based psychology services. Our shared objective is to ensure that the optimal national governance and service delivery framework is in place to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and families and other clients who need to avail of this key service. The views of the profession and its representatives will receive appropriate consideration as part of the impact analysis.
925. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were fully funded by her Department in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1900/13]
View answer926. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide a list of the bodies, other than statutory bodies, that were partially funded by her Department in 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2031/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 925 and 926 together.
My Department provides annual funding, totalling €11.3 million in 2012, to the thirty three City and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) throughout the country.
The CCCs offer a wide variety of services including advice on setting up a childcare business, childcare information sessions, information on local childcare facilities and parent networks, and the co-ordination of training courses. The CCCs also play a very important role in the implementation of the childcare support programmes funded by my Department.
Funding is provided to the following CCCs: Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork City, Cork County, Donegal, Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown, Fingal, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick City, Limerick County, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, South Dublin, Tipperary North, Tipperary South, Waterford City, Waterford County, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow.
As part of Local Government reform, the two Childcare Committees in counties Waterford (city and county), Tipperary (north and south) and Limerick (city and county) will amalgamate to give each county one Childcare Committee.
My Department also provides funding, totalling €2.85m in 2012, to seven National Voluntary Childcare Organisations. These organisations, whose principal objective is to provide support at local level to their members, also play an important part in the development of childcare policy and the dissemination of important information in relation to childcare provision.
The National Voluntary Childcare Organisations supported by the Childcare Directorate are Barnardos, Childminding Ireland, Forbairt Naíonraí Teo, The Irish Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Association (ISWECA), St. Nicholas Montessori Teacher’s Association (SNMTA), the Border Counties Childcare Network (BCCN) and Early Childhood Ireland (ECI).
Funding is also provided to services participating in the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme and the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) and Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS) programmes which are implemented by my Department. This funding, which is provided through capitation or subvention payments, forms a substantial part of the funding available to many early childhood care and education services currently operating in the country. The Child Welfare and Protection Policy Unit of my Department also provides funding to the ISPCC, Barnardos and Early Childhood Ireland (ECI).
The Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides funding of €1.3m to Barnardos under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (Round 1), €689,000 to Gaisce and €492,000 to Léargas, Co-operation Ireland and Causeway. Under the Youth Service Grant Scheme (YSGS), the Youth Affairs Unit provides funding, totalling almost €11m in 2012, to the following organisations:
An Óige
Belong To - LGBT
Catholic Guides of Ireland
Catholic Youth Care
Church of Ireland Youth Department
Confederation of Peace Corps
ECO - UNESCO Clubs
Experiment In International Living
Feachtas
Foróige
Girls' Brigade
Irish Girl Guides
Junior Chamber Ireland
Macra na Feirme
National Association for Youth Drama
National Federation of Arch Clubs
National Youth Council of Ireland
No Name Club Ltd
Ógra Chorcaí
Ógras
Order of Malta Cadets
Scouting Ireland Ltd
The Boys' Brigade
Voluntary Services International
Young Christian Workers
Young Irish Film Makers
Young Men's Christian Association
Youth Work Ireland
DYCW Methodist Church Ireland
Girls' Friendly Society
Presbyterian Youth
My Department is not be in a position to indicate the extent to which these bodies are in receipt of funding from other sources. In addition to the bodies mentioned above my Department also provides funds through a number of programmes to support other groups and organisations involved in the provision of services for children and young people. If details of any particular programmes are required by the Deputy, I will be glad to provide these.
927. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if he signed a contract during 2012 with a company headquartered in the United States of America for the provision of home-help services here; if so, if he will outline the nature of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57801/12]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
928. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the reason the price for registering as a social worker from 31 May 2013 has been set at the high amount of €295; if her attention has been drawn to social workers' concerns that this amount is unfair in view of the fact that it is more than three times higher than the fee required for registering as a nurse and over four times the fee required for registering as a teacher; if consideration has been given to the fact that staff have already seen their incomes reduced by 14%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57833/12]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, the Health and Social care Professionals Council (the Council) is an independent statutory body and is responsible for setting the level of fees.
The Council has set the following fee structure:
- A registration fee of €295 for existing practitioners and a fee of €100 for new graduates who have obtained recognised professional qualifications within two years of applying for registration;
- An annual retention fee of €295 for registrants, including those who paid the lower rate on graduation, is payable on the annual renewal date. There is a two-year transitional period from the date on which the register of the members of that profession is established, during which existing practitioners may apply for registration.
I am conscious that these fees are a new cost to health and social care professionals who have already seen reductions in their incomes. However, health regulators are self funding by way of annual fee income with operational costs being determined by the complexity and breadth of statutory functions specified in its legislation. The greater the registrant base the lower the annual fee charged. Given the enormous registrant base in teaching and nursing, for example, the annual fee charged amounts to less than €100 per annum. In general, health regulators are single profession regulators whereas the Council is charged with regulating twelve disparate professions, which can add significantly to operating costs. The twelve designated professions to be registered by the Council range in number from under 50 Clinical Biochemists to 5,550 Social Care Workers, amounting to about 20,000 registrants in total across all professions. This is an extremely low registrant base when compared to a registrant base of well in excess of 60,000 for nurses.
The Council has extensive statutory functions under the 2005 Act, and considers the annual fee of €295 the minimum required to enable it to operate. The fee charged by the Council, which takes account of the requirement to become self funding as soon as possible, is on a par with that charged by other health regulators and less than some in certain cases. The State is currently part-funding the Council in its establishment phase (€1.5 million in 2012) to offset the current shortfall in income from registration fees and will continue to do so for the next 3 years.
In response to concerns about the level of fees, the Council has reviewed the regulatory structure to establish what scope exists for controlling registration fees and operational costs and has adopted the following measures:
- Where existing practitioners with the necessary experience and recognised professional qualifications, or equivalent, pay the application fee of €295 and are granted registration during the transitional period, the application fee will cover them for the remainder of the transitional period and one full year of retention of registration after expiration of the two year period. This concession will apply only to existing practitioners availing of the transitional provisions set out in the Act,
- The Council has entered into discussions with the HSE in regard to the feasibility of arrangements for deduction of the registration fee from monthly salary, thereby spreading the cost throughout the year,
- Finally, the Council has proposed significant restructuring of the way in which the designated professions will be registered and regulated to provide a more cost effective operating system and to keep costs to a minimum. This will require the enactment of primary legislation in due course.
929. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health his plans to launch a public awareness campaign to highlight the dangers associated with the purchase of illegal cigarettes on the street or at markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57834/12]
View answerAll tobacco products, whether legally produced, illicit or counterfeit are injurious to health and are therefore a threat to public health. I am concerned about the level of smoking in Ireland and it remains my objective that Ireland moves towards being a tobacco free society.
The Revenue Commissioners are responsible for tackling the illicit trade in cigarettes and tobacco products. They attach a high priority to tackling this trade because of the threat that it poses to society. In 2012, over 95 million illicit cigarettes were seized and there were 132 convictions for the smuggling or selling of illicit cigarettes or other tobacco products.
Revenue’s “Strategy on Combating the Illicit Tobacco Trade (2011-2013)”, which is published on the Revenue website (www. revenue.ie), includes a range of measures designed to complement each other in targeting the supply and demand sides of the market for illicit cigarettes and other tobacco products. My Department and the HSE strongly support this Strategy.
One of the actions identified in the strategy is to reduce the demand for illicit products by educating the public about their negative consequences. For that reason, Revenue seeks to optimise media coverage for significant seizures and other enforcement action against the illicit tobacco trade, and for prosecutions and convictions for offences relating to illicit tobacco products. All suitable opportunities are availed of to highlight and publicise the dangers associated with the illicit trade and to encourage members of the public to provide information on the sale or supply of illicit tobacco products.
The Report of the Tobacco Policy Review Group which will be published in the coming months will consider ways to denormalise smoking in society such as extending tobacco control legislation in particular for situations where children are present. It will also consider social marketing and educational programmes. The Report will include a section on the illicit trade of tobacco, including the work of the Revenue Commissioners.
930. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on the reason that 10 local authorities and seven urban district councils have voted to ban fluoridation of water supplies and yet his Department and the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health continues with a policy of fluoridation; if he will ask the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health to address the position adopted by the 10 local authorities and to analyse their reasons for doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58016/12]
View answercal authorities have a statutory obligation to fluoridate public water supplies as provided for in the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies Act) 1960.
The Expert Body on Fluorides and Health keeps up to date on new and emerging issues regarding water fluoridation and no new issues have emerged to change the Expert Body's advice to the Department of Health. The opinion of the Expert Body is supported by the World Health Organisation; the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Service and the Surgeon General of the United States; the World Dental Federation; the International Association for Dental Research; the Royal College of Physicians of England and by major international scientifically validated reviews in many countries.
931. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a family which reaches the drug refund scheme limit of €132 per month in 2012, but has one family member on a medical card paying a separate prescription charge of 50 cent an item, is prevented from claiming any moneys paid beyond the €132 per month, even though they can demonstrate that more was paid. [1004/13]
View answerThe General Medical Services (GMS) Scheme and the Drug Payment Scheme (DPS) are separate schemes with separate qualifying criteria.
Under the GMS Scheme, medical card holders are required to pay a €1.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €19.50 per month for each person or family. Charges are not payable in respect of items supplied under the Long Term Illness Scheme. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the HSE or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme.
Under the DPS, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of general practice consultation.
932. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if the material transport grant for persons with a disability who require a car for going to work is being maintained and at what rate per annum. [1015/13]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to the Motorised Transport Grant. I can assure the Deputy that the Motorised Transport Grant is still available to people with a disability to enable them to retain employment, subject to satisfying the eligibility and means criteria. The rate of the maximum Motorised Transport Grant payable remains unchanged and is currently €5,020.50
933. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he intends to take action over the apparent total overpayment to the current Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive of circa, €160,000 since 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1135/13]
View answerIt is the responsibility of the HSE, as employer, to ensure that the correct pay rates are in force for its staff. This is essential to ensure compliance with public service pay policy. In the case raised by the Deputy, the HSE granted an allowance in 2006 in recognition of the additional responsibilities which the individual's appointment as Project Director for the National Programme for Radiation Oncology entailed. This allowance was incorporated into the individual's salary rate for subsequent appointments on a secondment basis as Deputy Director, and then Interim Director, of the National Cancer Control Programme. Following the subsuming of the National Cancer Screening Service into the HSE with effect from 1 January 2010, the salary level payable to the staff member concerned was maintained.
While the allowance granted was intended to reflect very significant extra responsibilities, and I am satisfied that these additional duties were discharged successfully over a number of years, this arrangement was put in place without the approval of the then Departments of Health and Children and Finance. In these circumstances my Department wrote to the HSE in November 2012, requesting that it review its procedures for the sanctioning of pay levels, including allowances. In particular, the Executive was asked to take the necessary steps to ensure that adequate governance and oversight controls are in place at appropriate levels to ensure that the required sanctioning procedures are strictly adhered to within the HSE.
In addition the HSE Internal Audit function is at present undertaking a detailed review of the remuneration arrangements for senior staff in all organisations funded under section 38 of the Health Act 2004 to provide services on behalf of the HSE. When this has been completed, a report on the matter will be considered by the Board of the HSE in the first instance.
