Written Answers Nos. 248-258
248. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she and her Department have studied the issue of youth depression with particular reference to the identification of early alert and-or subsequent support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32836/13]
View answerThe prime responsibility for policy in relation to the treatment and support for young people with depression currently lies with the Department of Health.
The issue of depression in young people is a complex issue requiring inputs from a wide range of stake-holders including young people, parents, schools, the media , youth organisations and the Primary Care and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
My Department supports the National Youth Health Programme which is in partnership with the HSE and the National Youth Council of Ireland. The programme's aims are to provide a broad-based, flexible health promotion / education support and training service to youth organisations and to all those working with young people in out-of-school settings. Its work programme is informed by the knowledge and experience of the partners involved and most particularly by the Health Promotion Unit of the HSE and by the National Youth Council of Ireland which is the representative body for some 50 youth organisations in Ireland.
This work is achieved through the development of programmes and interventions specifically for and with youth organisations throughout the country and the provision of training and support for workers and volunteers who implement these programmes. It is covered under the Mindout Mental Health Promotion training and resource pack delivered to youth organisations. The training is based on the resource Mindout which was developed by Health Promotion HSE West and NUI Galway. MindOut is a twelve session mental health programme which takes a positive approach to the promotion of emotional and mental health among young people, looking at the ways they cope ranging from personal coping skills to informal networks of support to professional or voluntary support services. Mindout adopts a universal mental health promotion approach which has strong links with the “Support for all” element of the recent guidelines on Mental Health Promotion for Schools published by the HSE, the Department of Education and Skills and the National Office for Suicide Prevention.
The National Youth Health Programme also offers a Specialist Certificate in Youth Health Promotion. This programme is accredited by NUI Galway and adopts a whole organisational approach to health promotion. It focuses on a holistic model of an individual’s health and mental health and reinforces youth work as a valuable setting for mental health promotion.
Actions needed to address this issue obviously extend beyond the remit of my Department. The Healthy Ireland policy recently launched by the Dept of Health will be an important vehicle for work in this area. My own Department is currently leading the preparation of the new Children and Young People’s Policy Framework and Early Years strategy which will represent a whole of government approach to addressing issues affecting children and young people including their well being.
250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the degree to which lack of adequate housing and-or poverty continues to impact most particularly on children and adolescents; the extent to which it is anticipated such issues can be isolated and resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32838/13]
View answerAs Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, improving children’s outcomes is my primary objective. The development of the Children and Young People’s Policy Framework as the overarching framework under which policy and services for children and young people will be developed and implemented in the State, is an important initiative for cross departmental collaboration to secure this objective. Early childhood care and education programmes, in particular those that are aimed at low income families, are priorities to enhance children’s opportunities for social and educational development and to support parents undertaking training and participating in employment. The network of 107 family resource centres that are funded by the Family Support Agency, under the remit of my Department have an important role in this regard.
Tackling child poverty is a priority for Government and a goal of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion 2007- 2016, coordinated by the Department of Social Protection. Children are more likely to be poor if they are living in lone parent households with low labour market participation and dependant on income support. The Departments of Social Protection, Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Education and Skills, are working to deliver a range of measures aimed at getting people back to work. My Department is supporting labour activation measures through initiatives such as the School Age Childcare scheme which will provide 6,000 subsidised, after-school places to primary school children of qualifying parents entering employment.
My Department works closely with the Department of Social Protection in a ‘whole of Government approach’ to tackling poverty in the population and is represented on the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare which is examining issues to do with the interactions of the tax and welfare systems so that they provide good incentives for parents to take up and remain in work and thereby contribute to the reduction of poverty and child poverty, in particular. Following a review of the national social target for poverty reduction, which provides a key reference point for Government policies and offers a tangible benchmark against which to measure social and economic progress, the Government agreed to set a new sub-target for the reduction of child poverty. This is in recognition of the life-long consequences of child poverty and the damaging effects of inter-generational poverty. The sub-target will take account of the importance of income supports, services and parental access to employment. The overriding objective for the Government is to increase employment, promote activation, skills training and education. This will ultimately help to build real and sustainable economic growth and to protect those who are most vulnerable in our society.
The Minister for Housing & Planning, Jan O Sullivan TD recently published a Homelessness Policy Statement which outlines the Government's aim to end long-term homelessness by the end of 2016. The statement emphasises a housing-led approach which is about accessing permanent housing as the primary response to all forms of homelessness. The availability and supply of secure, affordable and adequate housing is essential in ensuring sustainable tenancies and ending long-term homelessness. When publishing the statement Minister O’Sullivan announced a set of indicators which will be used to demonstrate the dynamics of homelessness as it is addressed. These indicators will give a clearer picture of homelessness in Ireland and, in quantifying its on-going extent, will support the bringing forward of realistic and practical solutions. With regard to my own responsibility, my priority, as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, is to enhance the role of early intervention and support programmes for the most vulnerable children and their families in the context of the new Child and Family Agency.
In addition, my Department has been given lead responsibility for implementing a new Area-Based Approach to Child Poverty programme during 2013-2016. This programme was announced as part of Budget 2013 and has a funding allocation this year of €2.5 million. The programme is being co-funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies and is expected to have a total funding allocation of €29.7 million. The initiative reflects the Programme for Government commitment to adopt an area-based approach to child poverty in co-operation with philanthropic partners, drawing upon best international practice and existing services, to break the cycle of child poverty where it is most deeply entrenched and improve the outcomes for children and young people where these are currently significantly poorer than they are for children and young people living elsewhere in the State.
251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she expects to be in a position to offer adequate support funding to the Kildare Youth Services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32839/13]
View answerThe Youth Affairs Unit of my Department provides a range of funding schemes, programmes and supports to the youth sector. Funding of some €53.498m is available in 2013 to support the provision of youth services and programmes by the voluntary youth sector to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. 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 Projects.
There are six projects in Co. Kildare under the aegis of Kildare Youth Services funded under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme. Funding is also provided for a Youth Information Centre in Naas.
In 2013 funding of €507,221 is being provided to Kildare Youth Services to support the wide range of services provided for young people including the special projects for young people who may be at risk of early school leaving or substance misuse.
Details of funding currently being provided to youth work projects in Co. Kildare are outlined in the table.
|
Project |
2013 |
|
Athy Youth Project |
66,841 |
|
Naas Youth Project |
89,625 |
|
Leixlip Youth Project |
89,625 |
|
Newbridge Youth Project |
89,758 |
|
Kildare Town Youth Project |
77,559 |
|
Curragh Youth Project |
44,812 |
|
Total |
458,220 |
|
Youth Information Centre, Naas |
49,001 |
|
Total Funding |
507,221 |
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she and her Department continue to liaise with the Department of Health as per reply to previous Parliamentary Question No. 220 of 20 June 2013 in the context of provision of the early childhood care and education scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32840/13]
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.
The programme includes a number of additional provisions to take account of children with special needs. These include an exemption from the upper age limit for qualification under the programme where a child is developmentally delayed and would benefit from starting primary school at a later age. In addition, children with special needs can apply to have the pre-school year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme for 2 days a week in the first year and for 3 days a week in the second year. Application for these exemptions must be made prior to the child commencing the programme.
As I outlined previously, there are no further resources available to my Department to provide additional supports for children who need specialist support in the pre-school setting. Responsibility for the provision of any such specialised support is a matter for the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive.
My Department continues to actively work with the Department of Health, specifically the Office of Disability and Mental Health, in the context of building better supports to facilitate the inclusion of children with special needs in mainstream pre-school settings.
253. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position in relation to a matter (details supplied) regarding the "Prime Time" programme which gave a shocking insight into the state of child care here and the issues that need to be addressed urgently by the Government; if she will ensure all child care services are affordable and high in quality by providing State subsidies, linked to quality; if she will introduce minimum qualification requirements for all those who work in child care facilities and make sure that happens by putting a training fund behind it; if she will reform the inspection system by ensuring all inspectors are trained and have expertise in what to look for in terms of quality curriculum for young children; if she will impose sanctions on any crèche that breaches regulations to make sure crèches improve on inspection; if she will link public funding to quality for all age groups, not just children in the free preschool year; if she will regulate all child minders; if she will ensure that anyone paid to mind children should be trained, vetted and subject to regulation and inspection; if she will invest properly in the Garda National Vetting Bureau so that vetting can be done quickly for anyone working with children and put proper investment behind the national early years strategy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32856/13]
View answerSince the broadcast of the Prime Time programme, my Department has received a large volume of correspondence in relation to the events outlined in the programme. I recently announced a number of measures as part of my response to the distressing events highlighted in the programme. As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, driving the early childhood care and education quality agenda is one of my key objectives. It is my intention to introduce new qualification requirements for the sector starting in September 2014. This will be an important new development as, at present, staff working in childcare services other than under the ECCE programme, are not subject to any requirement in respect of qualifications.
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme introduced the first-ever requirement for minimum qualifications for staff working in the childcare sector. The current requirement under the programme is that the pre-school leader delivering the pre-school provision must hold a qualification in childcare/early education at a minimum of Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications of Ireland (NFQ), or an equivalent nationally-recognised qualification or a higher award in the childcare/early education field. A higher capitation rate is payable to services where all of the pre-school leaders hold a bachelor degree in childhood/early education (minimum of Level 7 on the NFQ) and have three years experience working in the sector, and where all of the pre-school assistants hold a relevant major award in childcare/early education at Level 5 on the NFQ.
I have indicated my intention to increase the qualification requirements for all staff working in pre-school services. The minimum requirement of Level 5 for pre-school leaders delivering the pre-school year will be increased to Level 6. In addition, all pre-school assistants, and all other staff caring for children in a pre-school service, will be subject to a minimum requirement of Level 5. This requirement will be effective from September 2014 for new services, and from September 2015 for existing services.
Pre-school services are governed by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 as provided in the Child Care Act 1991. Under the Regulations the Health Service Executive has responsibility for the inspection of services and the enforcement of the regulations. Inspection is carried out to monitor compliance with the Regulations thereby ensuring the health, safety and welfare of children and the promotion of their development.
As I have outlined in recent weeks, a number of steps are being taken to improve the current inspection system. These include the introduction of National Quality Standards for pre-school services later this year as part of the inspection process. In addition, my Department is working with the Pre-School Inspectorate to develop new protocols on regulatory compliance so that there is greater clarity and consistency of approach as to how inspection reports deal with findings of serious non-compliance vis a vis minor breaches and full compliance. My Department is also undertaking a review of the penalties currently in place for breach of the Child Care (Pre-school) Regulations, as provided for under the Child Care Act 1991. The review will look at increasing the range and severity of the existing penalties including the actions which can be taken by Inspectors without recourse to court prosecution, as is currently the case.
My Department is currently developing a new Children and Young People's Policy Framework which will set out high level goals for both my own and other Departments for the next five years. The Policy Framework is expected to be published later this year and will build on Our Children - Their Lives, Ireland's first Children's Strategy which was published in 2000. This is relevant to the Early Years Strategy as the Strategy is one of three, more detailed strategies which will be developed under the Framework.
The Early Years Strategy, which will be Ireland's first ever national strategy for early years, is under development. It is expected that it will cover a range of issues affecting children in their first years of life such as child health and well-being, parenting and family support, learning and development, play and recreation and early childhood care and education. The Strategy will further recognise the economic imperative and benefits accruing from targeted investment in early years interventions. One of the specific issues of policy which I have identified for consideration in the preparation of the new Strategy is the future role and regulation of the childminding sector.
The results of a public consultation, undertaken as part of the development of the Children and Young People Policy Framework, is currently being analysed and will inform both the Framework and the Early Years Strategy. I expect the Early Years Strategy to be published before the end of the year.
Officials in my Department are continuing to examine the many proposals and suggestions submitted by those concerned by the revelations in the Prime Time broadcast. These contributions will be considered as part of a comprehensive response to the events highlighted in the programme.
254. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding arrears of blind welfare allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; when payment will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32709/13]
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.
255. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be awarded under EU regulations to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32622/13]
View answerRegulation (EC) 883/04 and Implementing Regulation 987/09 provide for the coordination of social security systems, including healthcare, within the EU/EEA and Switzerland, with the aim of ensuring the free movement of persons. This objective of the Regulation is to ensure that persons exercising their right to move and to stay freely within the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not suffer disadvantage.
Medical Cards may be issued to EU\EEA citizens under EU Regulation 883/04 if the person is in receipt of a contributory social insurance payment from one, or more, of the Member States, provided they are not receiving a contributory social insurance payment from the Irish State. EU\EEA citizens who are in receipt of a qualifying payment from another member State should make an application for a Medical Card directly to the HSE. The application should be accompanied, as evidence that they are receiving a qualifying payment, by the relevant EU "S" form issued by the Member State making their payment. The position regarding the UK is that, under a reciprocal agreement, the EU "S" form is not required, however, proof of receipt of a qualifying payment from the UK authorities should be provided with the application to the HSE.
256. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to reinstate stroke services at Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway; when the vacant stroke consultant post in the hospital was advertised; when it is expected that an appointment will be made; if he will outline the interim arrangements to treat patients attending the hospital requiring thrombosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32631/13]
View answerIn relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.
257. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will provide specific information regarding medical cards (details supplied) in respect of the years 2011 to 2013, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32656/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table.
|
- |
Medical Cards |
CP Visit Cards |
|
2013 |
1,873,015 |
128,180 |
|
2012 |
1,787,837 |
128,929 |
|
2011 |
1,656,276 |
121,065 |
258. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health with regard to Lyme disease, where treatment is available here; and if he will provide a geographical report in tabular form. [32659/13]
View answerSince September 2011, Lyme Disease (or Lyme borreliosis) has been statutorily notifiable, as neuroborreliosis, under the Infectious Diseases Regulations.
Lyme disease can be very successfully treated using common antibiotics. These antibiotics are effective at clearing the rash and helping to prevent the development of complications. Antibiotics are generally given for up to three weeks. If complications (particularly neurological) develop, intravenous antibiotics may be considered.
In Ireland, the standard approach to the treatment of Lyme disease is to follow the guidance laid out in the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guidelines on the clinical assessment, treatment and prevention of Lyme disease. This is accepted as being the most up to date synthesis of best available evidence on the clinical management of Lyme disease.
A consensus statement on the clinical management of Lyme disease has been issued jointly from the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, the Infectious Diseases Society of Ireland, the Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists, the Irish Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and the Irish College of General Practitioners, all of whom support the use of this guidance.
Treatment of Lyme borreliosis is, in general, relatively straightforward, and information is available on the HPSC’s website to assist clinicians in the identification of the condition at http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Vectorborne/LymeDisease/ .
In addition, on the HPSC’s website, internationally recognised and consensually agreed guidance is available to clinicians to aid clinical decision making (at http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Vectorborne/LymeDisease/Guidance/ ).
