Written Answers Nos. 236-248
236. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide in tabular form the number of advisers, programme managers, press officers and political staff and communication staff employed by her Department in 1981, 2011 and currently in 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40698/13]
View answerMy Department was established on the 2nd June 2011 and my personal appointees were made in accordance with the Guidelines on Staffing of Ministerial Offices as issued by the Department of Finance in April 2011 and the information is set out hereunder.
|
Ministerial Appointees |
2011 |
2013 (to date) |
|
Special Advisors |
2* |
1.5 |
|
Programme Managers |
0 |
0 |
|
Personal Assistant |
1 |
0 |
|
Personal Secretary |
1 |
1 |
|
Civilian Drivers |
2 |
2 |
*One Special Advisor post filled by two persons on a 50/50 worksharing pattern.
The Press Office within my Department is staffed by civil servants. At the end of 2011 there were two members of staff in the Press Office and a Press Officer and this continues to be the case.
237. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned at the €2.8 million invested in an acute mental health facility in St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe which is now intended to be used for administrative purposes; if there will there be an investigation by his Department regarding this waste of money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40196/13]
View answer245. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the reason €2.8 million was invested in an acute mental health facility in St. Brigid's Hospital, Ballinasloe, County Galway, if it was intended not to use it; his views on this waste of scarce public money; if there will be an investigation by his Department regarding this waste of money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40187/13]
View answer246. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he or his Department approved the expenditure of €2.8 million of capital funding for the refurbishment of an acute mental health facility at St. Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe, County Galway; if so, what were the reasons for the investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40188/13]
View answer247. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the amount that has been invested in each year since 2010 in the acute mental health facilities in St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe which are now intended to be used for administrative purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40189/13]
View answer248. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the amount it will cost to convert the recently refurbished acute mental health facilities in St Brigid's Hospital in Ballinasloe for its use as administrative purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40190/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 245 to 248, inclusive, together.
The Galway and Roscommon Mental Health Services area has been resourced to implement A Vision for Change in order to modernise mental health services in the locality. The reconfiguration of services is in line with national policy, and with similar initiatives undertaken or planned elsewhere in the country. It clearly underpins the commitment of the Government to progress further implementation of A Vision for Change in line with evolving service priorities and overall resource availability.
At present, there are 35 acute psychiatric beds in Galway city, and 22 acute psychiatric beds in both Ballinasloe and Roscommon. This gives a total of 79 beds, serving a population of around 315,000. A Vision for Change recommends 50 beds for a catchment population of 300,000. It is clear therefore, in line with policy and operational norms nationally, that the provision of 22 beds in both Ballinasloe and Roscommon means that the current overall stock of 79 in HSE West is too high in relative terms, allied to a corresponding under-development of community based mental health services.
To address this situation, a purpose built 50 bed acute mental health unit will be completed in Galway University Hospital in 2015, to replace the existing smaller unit. This Unit will consist of 35 general adult mental health beds, with the remaining 15 beds relating to psychiatry of later life, eating disorders, and mental health and intellectual disability. The acute unit in Roscommon will continue to provide 22 general adult mental health beds.
The re-organisation of services by HSE West will provide a total of 57 general adult mental health beds. This will be a sufficient number of acute psychiatric beds, as envisaged under A Vision for Change, while allowing the Executive to enhance much needed community based services through re-deployment of some staff from acute services. It is intended that staff from St. Brigid's, Ballinasloe will be redeployed on a phased basis, to both community mental health teams locally and to the acute units in Galway and Roscommon. This initiative will not give rise to any job losses, and there will be no negative impact for existing patients in Ballinasloe.
I am assured by the HSE that the capital investment for the development referred to the Deputy was necessary as the facility required certain infrastructural works to be carried out. In addition, the intention was to refurbish the facility so that it could be adaptable for use for both administrative and front line services. The works were therefore designed to optimise flexibility around future service delivery, including for acute or community based mental health provision.
Each year the HSE multi-annual Capital Plan requires the approval of the Minister for Health, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. This project was included in the HSE capital programme which was approved by the Minister for Health. Approval to commence the specific works was given by HSE Estates, in accordance with normal procedures for capital developments of this nature.
In relation to amounts invested at St Bridget's Hospital, Ballinasloe since 2010, I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply on these details.
238. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health his plans to review the practice of water fluoridation including reducing the level of fluoride in the water; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40248/13]
View answerWater fluoridation and the use of appropriate fluorides is a major plank of public health policy in Ireland in the prevention and management of tooth decay. In 2002 the Forum on Fluoridation, which was established to review this policy, concluded that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. One of the recommendations of the Forum was to amend the Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations, 1965 to redefine the optimal level of fluoride in drinking water from 0.8 to 1.0 parts per million (ppm) to between 0.6 and 0.8ppm. This came into effect in 2007.
The Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, established in 2004, continuously monitors new and emerging issues on fluoride and its effects. It advises that the balance of scientific evidence worldwide confirms that water fluoridation, at the optimal level, does not cause any ill effects and protects the oral health of the population. The opinion of the Expert Body is supported by major international scientifically validated reviews. At present a research project "Fluoride and Caring for Children's Teeth" (FACCT) is being conducted by the Oral Health Services Research Centre, University College Cork and supported by the HSE. It is focusing on 5-year old and 12-year old children and will assess the on-going benefits of health promotion initiatives, including water fluoridation, given the changes that have occurred since the levels of fluoride were reduced in 2007. The effects of fluoridation on health and related matters are kept under constant review.
239. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Health if a group (details supplied) in County Tipperary has received funding under the section 38/section 39 Health Act 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40132/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
240. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a lotto application in respect of a group (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40139/13]
View answerMy Department has received an application for funding from the 2013 National Lottery allocation from the organisation in question. This is one of a large number currently being assessed by my Department and the Deputy will be informed of the outcome of the application as soon as a decision had been made.
241. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be called for a rheumatology appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40140/13]
View answerImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, has developed the outpatient waiting list minimum dataset. This allows data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has been set of 12 months for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE service plan. The SDU and the NTPF will work closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
242. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be called for an orthopaedic appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40141/13]
View answerImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, has developed the outpatient waiting list minimum dataset. This allows data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has been set of 12 months for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE service plan. The SDU and the NTPF will work closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
243. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of cognitive behavioural theory therapists employed by the Health Service Executive in each of their areas; the funding that has been made available to provide training for more such therapists; the target number of CBT therapists to be deployed in each area by the end of 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40156/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy with the information sought.
244. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm what the Health Service Executive plans to do with a site which it recently bought (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40177/13]
View answerManagement of the healthcare property portfolio is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
