Written Answers Nos. 807 - 820
807. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health the number of child and adolescent inpatient beds available in psychiatric hospitals for young persons experiencing mental health difficulties; the location of these inpatient beds; the number of inpatient beds at each location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1019/14]
View answerA Vision for Change recommends the provision of 80 child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient beds nationally. There are at present 44 such beds provided throughout the country. It is intended that the Health Service Executive will increase this capacity, as part of its wider approach to developing mental health services over 2014 and beyond. I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply in respect of the detailed information sought, and the Executive's plans in this regard.
808. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health the progress being made to provide mental health services in the community; what such services consist of; in which locations and primary care centres mental health services are now provided; the number of Health Service Executive employed staff now working in this area; the number that are expected to be recruited in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1020/14]
View answerIn 2012, a special allocation of €35m and 414 additional posts were provided for mental health to be used primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both adult and children's mental health services, to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention, to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems, and to facilitate the re-location of mental health service users from institutional care to more independent living arrangements in their communities, in line with A Vision for Change.
A further additional €35 million was provided in Budget 2013 for the continued development of mental health services across a range of headings, including the further development of forensic services and community mental health teams for adults, children, older persons and mental health intellectual disability, and to the recruitment of 477 additional staff to implement these measures.
Recruitment of the posts approved for both 2012 and 2013 is continuing. As at the end of November, 2013 the recruitment process is complete or in the final stages for 394 or 95% of the 414 posts approved in 2012. Of the posts approved in 2013, the recruitment process is complete for 137.5 or 29% of the posts, 134.5 or 28% have been accepted and are being processed for clearance and 165 or 35% are at earlier stages of the recruitment or HR process. The posts related to the €35 million allocated in 2013 will continue to come on stream and are targeted to be completed in Quarter 2 of 2014.
There are, however, a number of posts for which there are difficulties in identifying suitable candidates due to factors including availability of qualified candidates and geographic location. The HSE's National Recruitment Service is currently working to ensure that the remaining posts will be filled as soon as possible, from existing panels or through competition in the absence of panels, at the earliest opportunity. Options to enable more local recruitment are also being considered where this will assist in filling specific posts. I have received assurances from the HSE that the recruitment process for these posts is being given priority within the HSE.
In Budget 2014, the Government has again re-committed to the continued development of our mental health services in these extremely challenging times, where the options for additional expenditure generally are very constrained. €20 million is being ringfenced for the further development of our mental health services in 2014. This means that, despite serious resource pressures overall, funding of €90m has been made available since 2012 up to end of 2014, which has been specifically ear-marked for mental health and suicide prevention. This funding will enable the HSE to continue to develop and modernise our mental health services in line with the recommendations of A Vision for Change and will allow for the recruitment of between 250 and 280 additional staff to further enhance our:
Adult Community Mental Health Teams
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams
Specialist Mental Health Teams.
The recruitment process for these new posts will commence in the first Quarter of 2014, with all posts targeted to be in place by Quarter 4 of 2014.
With regard to the locations and primary care centres in which mental health services are now provided, as this is a service issue I am referring this part of the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply.
809. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if the €35 million in ring-fenced funding for the development of mental health services in budget 2012 and the further €35 million in ring-fenced funding in this area in budget 2013 has now been fully spent in this area; the way this €35 million in 2012 and the €35 million in 2013 was spent; the number of additional staff that have now been employed in the delivery of mental health services as a result of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1021/14]
View answerIn 2012, a special allocation of €35m and 414 additional posts were provided for mental health to be used primarily to further strengthen Community Mental Health Teams in both adult and children's mental health services, to advance activities in the area of suicide prevention, to initiate the provision of psychological and counselling services in primary care, specifically for people with mental health problems and to facilitate the re-location of mental health service users from institutional care to more independent living arrangements in their communities, in line with A Vision for Change.
Budgetary pressures generally within the HSE delayed the full utilisation of the €35 million allocated in Budget 2012 for the development of community mental heath services. However this sum was available again in 2013, together with a further additional €35 million provided in Budget 2013, for the continued development of mental health services across a range of headings, including the further development of forensic services and community mental health teams for adults, children, older persons and mental health intellectual disability. The 2013 allocation provided for the recruitment of 477 additional staff to implement these measures. In addition, to ensure best use of the additional ring-fenced funding for both 2012 and 2013 the HSE carried out a comprehensive business planning process for the new posts envisaged for those allocations. This was completed by mid-2013 and enabled recruitment to move forward.
Recruitment of the posts approved for both 2012 and 2013 is continuing. As at the end of November, 2013 the recruitment process is complete or in the final stages for 394 or 95% of the 414 posts approved in 2012. Of the posts approved in 2013, the recruitment process is complete for 137.5 or 29% of the posts, 134.5 or 28% have been accepted and are being processed for clearance and 165 or 35% are at earlier stages of the recruitment or HR process. The posts related to the €35 million allocated in 2013 will continue to come on stream and are targeted to be completed in Quarter 2 of 2014.
There are, however, a number of posts for which there are difficulties in identifying suitable candidates due to factors including availability of qualified candidates and geographic location. The HSE's National Recruitment Service is currently working to ensure that the remaining posts will be filled as soon as possible, from existing panels or through competition in the absence of panels, at the earliest opportunity. Options to enable more local recruitment are also being considered where this will assist in filling specific posts. I have received assurances from the HSE that the recruitment process for these posts is being given priority within the HSE.
810. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1029/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
812. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update to a parliamentary question submitted in June 2013, (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1036/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy with an update in this case.
813. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of the national carers strategy; if he will also provide in tabular form a list of the recommendations and actions contained within the strategy; the current status of each such recommendation or action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1051/14]
View answerThe National Carers’ Strategy was published in July 2012 and sets the strategic direction for future policies, services and supports provided by Government Departments and agencies for carers. It sets out a Vision to work towards and an ambitious set of National Goals and Objectives to guide policy development and service delivery to ensure that carers feel valued and supported to manage their caring responsibilities with confidence and are empowered to have a life of their own outside of caring. The Strategy also contains a Roadmap for Implementation which contains a suite of actions, and associated timelines and identifies the Government Department with responsible for their implementation. It is important to note that the actions that are contained in the Roadmap for Implementation in the Strategy are those that can be achieved on a cost neutral basis.
The National Carers' Strategy committed to the production of an Annual Report of progress which would be published on the websites of relevant Departments. The first Annual Report on implementation of the Strategy which will provide the Deputy with a list of actions that were identified in the Strategy and what progress has been made on each one since the Strategy’s publication, is now available on my Department's website.
814. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details in tabular form of all organisations receiving funding under section 39 of the Health Act; the amount received by each organisation in each of the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive; the amount they will receive in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1057/14]
View answer816. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on any discussions he has had with officials in his Department or in the Health Service Executive relating to the funding of organisations under section 38 or section 39 of the Health Act; his views on corporate governance structures within these organisations and across the voluntary health and disability sector as a whole; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1059/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 814 and 816 together.
Details of the funding of organisations for the years 2010 to 2012 are set out in Appendix 1 to the Annual Reports and Financial Statements of the HSE which are available online atwww.hse.ie. I have asked the HSE to consider your request for the years 2013 and 2014 and to respond directly to you.
The HSE operates a Governance Framework with all funded agencies and all such agencies are required to sign up to National Standard Governance Documentation according to their respective funding level. This governance documentation contains appropriate corporate, clinical and financial governance requirements according to the level of funding received, with those in receipt of over €0.250m being managed by a comprehensive Service Arrangement. Financial statements are requested from all funded agencies on an annual basis. Where funding is in excess of €0.150m these accounts are required to be audited. The Governance Framework documentation, guides and ancillary information are all available on the HSE's website.
815. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details in tabular form of all organisations receiving funding under section 38 of the Health Act; the amount received by each organisation in each of the years 2010 to 2013, inclusive; the amount they will receive in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1058/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
817. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health the amount of public funding provided by his Department to build, extend or renovate St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin; the year in which any such funding was provided; the specific purpose of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1060/14]
View answer818. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if his Department was made aware by a hospital or health care group of its intention to use one hospital facility (details supplied) as financial collateral for the development of a private hospital; when it was made aware of this; if any record exists in his Department relating to this matter; if his Department consented at official or ministerial level to such an arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1061/14]
View answer825. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he or the Health Service Executive provided funding for the building of a car park at St. Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin 4; the amount of funding provided; the overall cost of the project; the year that the building work took place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1090/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 817, 818 and 825 together.
Between 2000 and 2004 my Department provided the following capital grants for St Vincent's University (SVUH). These block capital grants were paid to the ERHA for agencies within its remit, including SVUH, following its establishment on 1st February 2000. In addition to the capital grants set out in the table below, my Department also provided the EHB/ERHA with block capital grants for minor capital works, replacement equipment, fire precautions etc in respect of agencies within its remit. Following its establishment on 1st January 2005, the HSE became responsible for funding all health agencies including SVUH.
|
SVUH |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
Total |
|
Project Detail |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
€m |
|
Phase 1 development |
4.914 |
10.197 |
22.657 |
35.897 |
52.177 |
125.842 |
|
Breast Screening Unit (Permanent Unit) |
0.079 |
0.097 |
1.793 |
0.053 |
0.326 |
2.347 |
|
Breast Screening Unit (Temporary Unit) |
0.127 |
0.277 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.404 |
|
Dialysis & Cohort Unit |
0.112 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.112 |
|
Standby Generators |
0.114 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.114 |
|
PACS in ICU & A&E on a pilot basis |
0 |
0.317 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.317 |
|
Bed Capacity - additional beds 2002 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.670 |
0 |
0.670 |
|
National Emergency Plan for Nuclear Accidents |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.072 |
0.072 |
|
Replacement Equipment & Minor Capital Works 2000 |
0.927 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.927 |
|
Fire Precautions |
0.063 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.063 |
|
Total |
6.336 |
10.888 |
24.450 |
36.620 |
52.575 |
130.869 |
In relation to the use of the public facility as collateral for the private facility the Department was made aware of this issue in the context of the 2010 C&AG Report (Chapter 46) which was published in 2011 and which followed from the HSE's notification of the issue to the C&AG. There was neither Departmental nor Ministerial consent to this. The issue was discussed at the Committee of Public Accounts session on 26 January 2012.
The development of the car park may have formed part of the Phase 1 development. It is not possible to state at this stage if this was the case. Archived files in relation to Phase 1 development have been located and will be reviewed and the Deputy will be advised accordingly. The Deputy's questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply on aspects related to its remit. The C&AG report is located at http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/annualreports/2010/2010_Volume_2_En(1.05).pdf. The Committee of Public Accounts session is located at http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/committeetakes/ACC2012012600001?opendocument.
819. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if any records exist in his Department in relation to senior executives or managers in organisations receiving funding under section 38 of the Health Act seeking sanction to be paid above the agreed salary with the Department or latterly the Health Service Executive between the years 1997 and the present day; if he will provide details of any such records which his Department may have; if he will ask the HSE to also check their records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1062/14]
View answerMy Department funded the larger voluntary providers of hospital and disability services on behalf of the health boards up to 1999. When the HSE was established in 2005, it assumed responsibility for the funding of those agencies which provide services under Section 38 of the 2004 Health Act and for ensuring the application of public pay policy in those agencies. As part of the HSE Internal Audit Directorate's review of remuneration paid to senior managers in Section 38 agencies, a search for relevant papers held in my Department was carried out in 2012. The files indicated that, historically, allowances/additional payments were approved from time to time in individual cases to reflect additional workloads, responsibilities or to bring remuneration into line with equivalent posts elsewhere in the health service.
While requests for additional allowances were received from a range of agencies, only three sanction letters, relating to the approval of allowances in Beaumont Hospital and the Mater Hospital, were located which may be relevant to the Deputy's query. I have arranged for copies of these to be forwarded directly to the Deputy, together with the Department's response to the HSE. I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy regarding their own records.
820. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify the emergency mental health services available during the Christmas and new year season for an adult who is under enormous stress and possibly suicidal. [1067/14]
View answerWhere there are symptoms of depression or suicidal behaviour, the most appropriate course is to advise the individual to seek help from their GP, who can then make a referral to other services such as the mental health or addiction services, if the suicidal behaviour is drug or alcohol related. In an emergency the individual should be referred or taken to the nearest hospital emergency department for a medical assessment, treatment and if necessary referred to other services.
