Written Answers Nos. 309-317
309. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be assessed for their speech impediment treatment by the Health Service Executive; and if he is satisfied with current waiting times for such assessment which, in this instance, has been nine months to date. [15712/13]
View answerThe particular issue of speech and language supports that has been raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the Deputy's questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
310. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the medical and psychological services offered to men, women and children housed in direct provision centres. [15726/13]
View answerAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to a service matter, it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
311. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department has taken to support vulnerable asylum seekers in direct provision following the National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention (2005-2014) identification of this section of the population as particularly at risk of mental health problems, self-harm and other suicidal behaviours. [15730/13]
View answerSuicide is a tragedy that we are constantly working to prevent and also working to give more support to the families affected. Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self harm is a priority for this Government. Reach Out our National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention makes a number of recommendations in relation to fast track referrals to community-based mental health services, effective response to deliberate self harm, training, stigma reduction, etc. Since the launch of Reach Out and the establishment of the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), there has been a significant amount of cross-sectoral working which has resulted in considerable advances in suicide prevention.
Asylum seekers are not specifically identified within Reach Out: National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention however their specific mental needs are recognised by the health services. The NOSP through regional suicide prevention services offer Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) and SafeTALK to a variety of community gatekeepers who are working with and supporting vulnerable groups including asylum seekers. The NOSP has additional training programmes focused on self harm which can be delivered to community members.
The primary care and mental health services are available to all members of Irish society. The aim of the HSE is to build the capacity and knowledge of staff working in frontline statutory and non-statutory services to meet the specific needs of all diverse groups in Irish society. All the frontline services from the voluntary sector funded by the NOSP including Samaritans, Pieta House, and Console should be available to asylum seekers and their families who may be in need of support or information. In addition the NOSP funds, My Mind which is a community-based not for profit organisation, voluntary service provider that specialises in providing psychological support services at a community level through counsellors and psychologists who speak 15 different languages. The NOSP has been able to access this service for asylum seekers looking for support or in suicidal crisis. The NOSP has also produced a number of information resources in several languages in order to support different communities to look after their mental health.
Finally, the Director of the NOSP welcomes a dialogue with the representatives from any group in Irish society that has evidence that members of their community may be at risk of suicide or self harm. The NOSP can advise and support such vulnerable groups using proven evidence approaches that have worked with other population groups in Ireland e.g. LGBT and Traveller communities.
312. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that there have been 27 suicides in the past 20 days, if he has given serious consideration to setting up an organisation such as the Road Safety Authority which was set up to prevent road deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15736/13]
View answerThe HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) was established in 2005 on foot of a recommendation in ‘Reach Out' our National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention. The role of NOSP is to oversee the implementation of Reach Out and to coordinate suicide prevention initiatives around the country. The National Office is advised and guided by an advisory group comprising individuals with considerable knowledge and expertise in the areas of suicide prevention, mental health promotion and bereavement support. In addition NOSP publishes an Annual Report outlining its activities and work each year so it is fully accountable. I believe that a commitment to evidence based programmes and partnerships with a common purpose is what is required to address the issue of suicide and this role is being carried out at present by the National Office.
Earlier this year, the NOSP established a Group to review the current activities in the area of suicide prevention and to determine the priorities within this area to ensure that we maximise available resources. The Group will also review current national and international evidence on effective approaches in suicide prevention and will consider how the emerging evidence base can be used to inform the remaining period of the Reach Out strategy and influence new policy on suicide prevention beyond 2014.
The Government has increased the annual budget for suicide prevention this year to over €13m, with €8.1m available to the NOSP to fund voluntary and statutory agencies delivering services in the area of prevention, intervention, postvention and research and the remaining €5m available regionally to fund Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention, Self-Harm Liaison Nurses in Hospital Emergency Departments and local suicide prevention initiatives. I have no plans to establish an organisation such as the Road Safety Authority, however, the Department of Health is currently in discussions with the NOSP to agree a strategy for suicide prevention in 2013 having regard to the increased funding available this year and the concerns around suicide generally. Priority initiatives will include the further development of existing National Mental Health Awareness campaigns to promote help seeking; increased training for GPs and practice staff; the training of acute hospital staff on suicide and self harm intervention; the development of the SCAN (Suicide Crisis Assessment Nurse) model which allows for crisis interventions at primary care and continued investment in voluntary agencies providing frontline services.
314. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the risk to jobs posed by changes to driving licences and the subsequent impact on retail photographic ID providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15377/13]
View answerThe Government decided in 2011 to centralise driver licence provision, following an examination of the options for driver licensing which found that a centralised system would offer enhanced security and consistency, and be more efficient and cost-effective.
The Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012 provides for the RSA to become the central driver licensing authority in Ireland. This came into effect on 12 January 2013.
The new system involves three outsourced elements, a card production facility, a front office for engaging with the customer, and a back office to process applications. All three are overseen by a ‘specialist unit' based in the RSA headquarters.
The card licence is standardised across the European Union and therefore there must be consistency in the quality and standard of information used. The photograph is digital and is not stuck on to the card in the way it was on the old paper licence. The capture of the photograph is included in the fee for the licence. As the system develops, the SAFE2 ID standard will be implemented, at which point the only option will be the digital photo taken at the Front Office Network. At present, and until September next, local authorities will continue to process driver licence applications and non-digital photographs will be accepted. The operation of the tender processes for the outsourced elements was a matter for the RSA, I had no power to intervene in it, and the contractors have already been procured.
316. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total cost to the taxpayer of paying the aggregate fees, salaries and any other remuneration to directors of all State bodies, to include majority State owned banks, all public interest directors, all semi-State bodies, all State agencies and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15415/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the relevant annual reports and accounts of the individual agencies under the aegis of the Department.
317. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a number of taxi drivers have not registered on the driver check app despite the National Transport Authority's completion date of 31 January for final date of registration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15468/13]
View answerThe regulation of the taxi industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009 and the NTA is also the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, including the implementation of the new taxi driver check smartphone app. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
