Written Answers Nos. 207-211
207. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the reason urgent representations made to the Health Service Executive on 26 November regarding the safety of a suicidal child have to date not been responded to; the way he plans to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53334/13]
View answerI understand that the HSE has recently been in contact with the Deputy concerning this case. The HSE has indicated that its health care professionals have been involved in this case for some time, and that services will continue to be provided in the light of clinical judgement to best meet the needs of this young person.
208. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the funding arrangements in place to avoid the delays experienced in securing appropriate services for persons with a disability upon graduating from school in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53338/13]
View answerThe HSE National Service Plan for 2014 was submitted to my colleague, the Minister for Health on 25th November and is under consideration at present. The National Service Plan is prepared in accordance with the Health Acts and outlines the type and volume of health and personal services to be provided in 2014. I cannot comment on the provision of funding for specific services in the National Service Plan until the Plan has been approved by the Minister. However, the Minister has indicated to the Director General of the HSE that the provision of placements for school-leavers with disabilities is one of the priority service areas to be addressed in the 2014 National Service Plan.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has established a National Oversight Group consisting of disability umbrella organisations and HSE Regional Leads for disability services to coordinate a timely response to processing applications for day services and rehabilitative training places for school-leavers graduating in 2014.
I have been informed by the HSE that they are in the process of developing a new centralised regional application process which will be communicated to disability agencies by the end of December with the necessary information for agencies to distribute to parents also available by the end of December. It is envisaged that applications for day service and rehabilitative training places will be required to be returned to service providers by a specified date and young people and their parents will be advised of the option available to them by the middle of 2014.
With regard to young people with special needs currently attending mainstream schools, the HSE will provide information to the Department of Education and Skill's Special Education Support Service for schools to distribute to parents. Specialist disability services should not be the first option considered by a young person currently in mainstream school. The HSE, through its Occupational Guidance Service, will work with schools, service providers, young people and their families to identify training needs and explore suitable options.
209. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health in the context of the aims and objectives espoused in the report of the disability policy review, if progress has been made on providing persons with a disability and their families with the options of selecting services which best meet their needs; if he will consider piloting a new system such as this in the Health Service Executive west region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53339/13]
View answerThe Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services (VFM Review) which I published in 2012 envisaged that migration to the person centred model would be by means of demonstration projects, developed as proof of concept, and run in parallel with current services, following which their suitability for wider application would be evaluated.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) and disability agencies are already working on demonstration projects, at locations throughout the country, including the West, aimed at giving service users greater choice and control. A significant number of the projects underway show how aspects of the new policy will work in practice. These projects initiated by a range of service providers with the support of the HSE, Genio and the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies involve many different aspects of a more person-centred way of delivering day and residential services. The projects will be analysed in 2014 to determine their wider applicability, clarify the issues which must be resolved before the projects can be scaled up, and identify the best way forward.
Just over 100 of these demonstration projects have been grant-aided by a non-profit organisation, the Genio Trust, with funding provided by the HSE, during the period 2010 – 2013 and they will provide a substantial contribution towards the transition to the new model of person-centred supports.
The grants have been targeted in the following areas:
- Projects to move/keep people out of institutional care by supporting them to live as independently as possible in the community, resulting in institutional closure;
- Active integration of people with disabilities into mainstream work, third level education and leisure activities;
- Measures to strengthen and build networks of support comprising family, friends and neighbours offering alternative respite;
- Empowerment of people with disabilities to take control of their own lives and strengthening of strategic advocacy particularly on the part of people with disabilities.
In addition to the projects which the HSE are funding through Genio, the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies who are based in Oranmore, Co. Galway are working with service providers in the West and in other regions of the country, through the Next Steps and Immersion initiatives, to support demonstration projects and shared learning in respect of the person centred supports model.
210. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health further to a parliamentary question of 4 December 2013 regarding mother and baby homes, the institutions other than the National Archives where copies of inspections into mother and baby homes are held. [53341/13]
View answerUnder the Access to Institutional and Related Records (AIRR) Project, my Department may also hold information regarding inspections of mother and baby homes. Under the AIRR, individuals may request the release of papers relating to their own personal information.
211. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health the number of EU directives related to his Department that have yet to be transposed into Irish law despite the deadline date having passed; when it is proposed that these directives will be transposed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53354/13]
View answerThere are four EU Directives, where the deadline has passed and have yet to be transposed into Irish law:
1. Directive 2011/62/EU on the Community code relating to medicinal products for human use, as regards the prevention of the entry into the legal supply chain of falsified medicinal products.
The Directive was due to be fully transposed by the 02/01/13. On 23 May 2013, the Minister for Health signed four statutory instruments which transposed into Irish law all of the Falsified Medicines Directive, with the exception of one article - Article 85c regarding the sale of medicines over the internet. It is expected that the transposition with be completed in the near future.
2. Directive 2011/24/EU of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare.
This Directive was due to be transposed by 25/10/13. Partial compliance has been achieved. Work is underway to achieve full compliance as soon as possible.
3. Commission Implementing Directive 2012/52/EU of 20 December 2012 laying down measures to facilitate the recognition of medical prescriptions issued in another Member State
This Directive was due to be transposed by 25/10/2013. It is anticipated that transposition will be complete shortly.
4. Directive 2012/26/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October, 2012 amending Directive 2001/83/EC as regards pharmacovigilance
This Directive was due to be transposed by 28/10/2013. It is anticipated that transposition will be complete shortly.
My Department is committed to ensuring that the transposition of all Directives is completed as soon as possible.
