Sandra McLellan
Question:557. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding the area-based childhood programme; and her plans to further expand this successful initiative. [6664/14]
View answerChild Care Services Provision
Questions (557)
Written answers
The Area Based Childhood (ABC) 2013-2016 is being implemented by my Department, in partnership with Atlantic Philanthropies who are co-funding the programme's total allocation of €29.7m. The programme will deliver the Programme for Government commitment to adopt an area-based approach to child poverty, drawing on 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. The ABC programme will build on and continue much of the work of the Prevention and Early Intervention (PEIP) Programme, which was also implemented by my Department and co-funded by Atlantic Philanthropies.
50 applications to participate in the programme were received. Three of these were from the previous PEIP participants and these were evaluated and approved for entry to the programme earlier this year. The remaining 47 applications have since been evaluated with nine of these being recently approved for entry to the next, design stage of the programme. Applications were evaluated against the criteria set out in the applications process, namely Evidence of Need, Quality of the Proposal, Additionality & Sustainability, and Understanding and Capturing Outcomes, and ranked accordingly.
Proposals approved for design stage:
Ex PEIP:
- Tallaght CDI
- Young Ballymun
- Northside Partnership (Darndale/Moatview/Belcamp)
New Sites
- Bray
- Ballyfermot/Dublin 10
- Clondalkin
- Dublin Docklands
- Finglas
- Grangegorman/NW Inner City
- Knocknaheeny
- Limerick
- Louth
In addition, an application from the Midlands counties has been approved to enter the design stage of the programme as part of the previous PEIP project in Darndale.
My Department, in partnership with Atlantic Philanthropies, is currently engaged in supporting successful applicants through the design stage of the programme and will be supported in this process by Pobal and the Centre for Effective Services. An Information event was held in the F2 Centre, Rialto, Dublin on 30 January last. The purpose of the event was to assist new entrants to the programme. Representatives from all the new sites were present at the event.
While some projects are expected to advance to the final approval stage more quickly than others, I hope to see as many as possible of the projects at implementation stage by July 2014.
Education Welfare Service Provision
Questions (558)
Denis Naughten
Question:558. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she is taking to address the issue of truancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2278/14]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware the functions and operational responsibilities of the former National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) are now part of the new Child and Family Agency, which was established on 1st January 2014. The decision by Government to amalgamate education welfare services into the Child and Family Agency broadens the focus of the Agency and tackles educational welfare as a key outcome for children in its own right and as a positive contributor to other outcomes. It will provide opportunities for more effective working amongst the range of professionals involved in directly supporting children and their families to participate in and benefit from the education system.
The three service strands formerly under the remit of NEWB – the statutory Educational Welfare Service and the School Support Programme services under the DEIS Action Plan (namely, the Home-School Community Liaison Scheme and the School Completion Programme) collectively form the Educational Welfare Services (EWS) of the new Agency.
The EWS has specific responsibility for the Agency’s general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. I am advised by the Agency that the EWS worked with over 20,000 children in 2012. Some 2,420 cases involved intensive intervention and a multidisciplinary approach and the provision of sustained support by an Education Welfare Officer to address the child's needs and support school attendance.
The Child and Family Agency will deliver an integrated approach to educational welfare services through the continued reform of work practices to provide an enhanced response to the needs of children, families and schools. The education welfare interventions will be aligned with the overall assessment processes under the new Agency's national service delivery framework and as part of the process the Agency is reviewing the basis on which the EWS is configured to ensure services are available based on the needs of children and young people. This strategic national approach is a crucial reform in our efforts to improve school attendance, participation and retention.
I am advised that the EWS is developing guidelines for schools on the preparation of attendance strategies in line with Section 22 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000. The guidelines will provide further clarity to schools in terms of their responsibilities under the Act, and will focus on the practical supports which can be implemented at school level to enable children to maximise their attendance, participation and retention in schools. The EWS intends to complete this work within the current academic year.
Community Care Provision
Questions (559)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:559. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding plans for the Health Service Executive to establish a child well-being centre at the former Ráth na nÓg premises at Castleblayney, County Monaghan; when she expects this new catchment-specific service to be fully functioning; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54119/13]
View answerWritten answers
I have been advised by the Child and Family Agency that significant progress has been made on the establishment of a Child Well-being centre on the Rath na nÓg premises to meet the needs of the children and families who require a targeted programme of community based interventions. The services that will be provided include intensive family support, assessment and intervention, an increase in the provision of aftercare and preventative and crisis intervention services for vulnerable adolescents. There will also be additional resources to provide access support to families and to support the development of Local Area Pathways and Family Support Services. I am advised that the Child Well-being centre will be fully functioning during the second quarter of 2014.
Youth Services Funding
Questions (560)
Heather Humphreys
Question:560. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the guidelines in place regarding remuneration levels in youth organisations funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6784/14]
View answerWritten answers
Funding of €50.530m including €750,000 for a new capital funding programme, has been provided to my Department in 2014 for the provision of youth services and programmes to young people throughout the country through a number of schemes. These schemes include the Youth Service Grant Scheme, the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund Rounds 1 and 2, Local Drug Task Force projects and certain other provisions including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme and Youth Information Centres. This funding supports the delivery of a range of youth work programmes and services for all young people, including those from disadvantaged communities, by the voluntary youth sector. There are some 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and over 40,000 volunteers involved in the provision of services and activities for young people.
Funding is made available on an annual basis to 31 national and major regional youth organisations under the Youth Service Grant Scheme. These organisations are voluntary, not-for-profit organisations or limited companies. The funding for the organisations is intended to ensure the promotion, development and growth of youth organisations with distinctive philosophies and programmes aimed at the social education of young people.
My Department does not prescribe the pay and conditions or terms of employment of the management or workers in the voluntary youth sector. These are matters for the boards of management/directors of the voluntary, not for profit or limited companies. Over the past few years, my Department, along with all government departments, has been required to deliver substantial savings on all funding programmes in line with the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. Circulars and notifications issued to national youth organisations and to organisations that administer funding on behalf of my Department, have drawn attention to the on-going requirement to identify the scope for efficiencies in the delivery of services to young people. National and local organisations and funding administration bodies have been told by my Department that they should be cognisant of any large variances in salary levels, conditions and administrative costs across the projects and services. They have been advised that consideration should be given to the full range of options to reduce pay and pension costs and to measures to increase productivity including extra working hours and reductions in annual leave. They have been asked to consider all potential cost saving measures so that the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people are protected, as far as is possible, from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.
During the course of the next few weeks officials of my Department will meet the national youth organisations that are funded under the Youth Services Grant Scheme. The purpose of the meetings is to share knowledge and information about developments to date and to explore further how best to manage efficiently the budgets available for 2014. All options to secure further efficiencies will be discussed, including payroll costs and potential for productivity measures in the interests of ensuring the continued provision of high quality services for young people.
Official Engagements
Questions (561)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:561. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide details of all official engagements by her or the Ministers of State in her Department that have taken place in Northern Ireland since she took office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6813/14]
View answerWritten answers
The details of all official engagements that I have attended in Northern Ireland are set out in the following table.
|
Date |
Location |
Group / Individuals |
|
20/07/2011 |
Armagh |
North South Health Sectoral Meeting |
|
02/02/2012 |
Armagh |
North South Health Sectoral Meeting |
|
03/03/2012 |
Belfast, Co. Down |
Attend ACCORD Golden Jubilee Conference Dinner |
|
04/03/2012 |
Belfast, Co. Down |
Attend Interdenominational Service for WAVE |
|
18/07/2012 |
Armagh |
North South Health Sectoral Meeting |
|
21/11/2012 |
Armagh |
North South Health Sectoral Meeting |
|
21/11/2012 |
Armagh |
Meeting with Junior Ministers Jonathan Bell & Jennifer McCann |
|
08/11/2013 |
Armagh |
North South Plenary Meeting |
Cúram agus Oideachas na Luath-Óige
Questions (562, 563)
Seán Kyne
Question:562. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Kyne den Aire Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige an féidir léi gné den Ghaeilge a ionchorprú in oiliúint oideachais agus oiliúint cúramóirí gairmiúla i gcomhthéacs na n-áiseanna cúraim leanaí, go háirithe i gceantair ina bhfuil céatadán measartha den phobal ag labhairt na Gaeilge. [6910/14]
View answerSeán Kyne
Question:563. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Kyne den Aire Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige an bhfuil an Ghaeilge mar ábhar de chuid na Scéime um Chúram agus Oideachas Luath-Óige (COLO) agus mura bhfuil, an féidir breathnú air sin, i gcomhthéacs na haidhme foriomláine líon na ndaoine a úsáideann an Ghaeilge a mhéadú agus tacú le hinmharthanacht leanúnach na Chéad Teanga, thrí ghné de mhúineadh na Gaeilge sa scéim sin a thabhairt isteach. [6911/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 562 and 563 together.
Tugadh an clár um Chúram agus Oideachas na Luath-óige (COLÓ) isteach i Mí Eanáir 2010 agus cuireann sé bliain réamhscolaíochta ar fáil atá saor in aisce do gach leanbh incháilithe sula dtosaíonn siad ar an mbunscoil. Bhain thart ar 68,000 leanbh leas as an mbliain réamhscolaíochta saor in aisce sa bhliain acadúil 2012/2013 agus cuireadh maoiniú de €175 milliún ar fáil le tacú leis an soláthar. Táthar ag súil leis go mbainfidh oiread céanna leanaí leas as an gclár sa bhliain reatha.
Tá gach doiciméad a bhaineann le clár COLÓ, foirmeacha iarratais agus foirmeacha dearbhaithe thuismitheora san áireamh, ar fáil i nGaeilge faoi mar atá riachtanach faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus is féidir teacht orthu ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinnese nó go díreach ón Roinn. Tá an conradh ar fáil i nGaeilge freisin agus is féidir le soláthróirí seirbhíse a gcuid tuairisceán leictreonach a chur faoinár mbráid i nGaeilge.
Tá thart ar 4,300 seirbhís cúraim leanaí ag soláthar an clár réamhscolaíochta saor in aisce, agus 234 de na soláthróirí seo ag úsáid an téarma Naíonra mar chuid de theideal a seirbhíse. Níor iarr ach dornán beag de sholáthróirí seirbhíse an leagan Gaeilge den chonradh, áfach, agus i mbliana níor chuir ach 60 seirbhís a gcuid tuairisceán leictreonach faoinár mbráid agus iad ag úsáid leagan Gaeilge den fhoirm thuairisceáin leictreonach.
Cuirtear an bhliain réamhscolaíochta saor in aisce ag idir sholáthróirí tráchtála agus pobail agus is ar an soláthróir seirbhíse atá an fhreagracht an meán a chinneadh trína seachadtar an soláthar réamhscolaíochta.
Cuireann mo Roinnese maoiniú tacaíochta bliantúil ar fáil d’Fhorbairt Naíonraí Teoranta, atá ina heagraíocht dheonach uile-Éireann a thacaíonn le cothú na seirbhísí oideachais agus cúraim do leanaí trí mheán na Gaeilge. Ba é luach an mhaoinithe seo ná €241,000 i 2013. Tá réamhscoileanna Gaeilge bunaithe ar fud na gceantar Gaeltachta le tacaíocht ó Údarás na Gaeltachta. Is é Comhar Naíonraí na Gaeltachta Teoranta an comhlacht neamhspleách a bunaíodh leis na réamhscoileanna seo a riar agus a bhainistiú.
Child and Family Agency Remit
Questions (564)
Robert Troy
Question:564. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the protocols put in place for the new child and family agency in dealing with service providers such as child and adolescent mental health services and public health nursing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6964/14]
View answerWritten answers
A key policy objective for the Child and Family Agency is to ensure that the fundamental principles of co-operation and co-ordination in the development and delivery of services are in place. This objective is reflected and is underpinned through formal agreements with the Health Service Executive as follows: -
- Joint Protocol for Inter-Agency collaboration between the HSE and the Child and Family Agency to promote the best interests of children and families. This protocol aims to ensure a consistent national approach to service delivery where the delivery of two or more services are involved in the same case.
- Memorandum of Understanding: Strategic Agreement between the Child and Family and the HSE
These agreements safeguard ongoing access to specialist services such as Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Furthermore, children and their families will continue to access, in the usual way, the range of services provided within Primary Care including Public Health Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Dietetics.
Alcohol Pricing
Questions (565)
Terence Flanagan
Question:565. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the pricing of alcohol (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6293/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government has approved an extensive package of measures to deal with alcohol misuse, on foot of the recommendations in the Steering Group Report on a National Substance Misuse Strategy. Legislation is being developed to provide for, inter alia, a minimum unit price for alcohol. This is a mechanism of imposing a statutory floor in price levels per gram of alcohol that must be legally observed by retailers in both the on and off trade sector.
This is a targeted measure, designed to prevent the sale of alcohol at very cheap prices. It is mainly aimed at those who are higher risk, such as adolescents and people who have a harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption pattern. It should therefore only have a marginal effect on moderate drinkers.
It is not expected that minimum unit pricing will affect the price of alcohol in the on-trade sector or the majority of alcohol products sold in the off-trade sector.
A health impact assessment, in conjunction with Northern Ireland, has been commissioned as part of the process of developing a legislative basis for minimum unit pricing. The assessment will study the impact of different minimum prices on a range of areas such as health, crime and likely economic impact. The study should be finalised by the end of Quarter 2 this year.
Medicinal Products Availability
Questions (566)
Luke 'Ming' Flanagan
Question:566. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the conditions under which incontinence products are being made available to those on disability allowance; the reason prior to 2013, when full-time care was introduced, people in the Roscommon Health Service Executive area were not provided with free incontinence ware while those in the County Galway HSE area were given free incontinence ware products; the position regarding a HSE care recipient (details supplied) in County Roscommon and the provision of incontinence ware to that person; the reason they had to pay for such items prior to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6849/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Patient Data
Questions (567)
Joe McHugh
Question:567. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health the figure for all double transplant patients here over the past ten years; the number of these patients that have received medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6172/14]
View answerWritten answers
The total number of organ transplants carried out over the last ten years is shown in the table.
|
- |
2004 |
2005 |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
Kidney |
146 |
129 |
146 |
146 |
146 |
172 |
121 |
192 |
163 |
185 |
|
Pancreas |
4 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
12 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
1 |
11 |
|
Liver |
45 |
57 |
65 |
59 |
58 |
64 |
38 |
61 |
50 |
55 |
|
Combined kidney/liver |
1 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Heart |
7 |
11 |
14 |
7 |
4 |
11 |
3 |
6 |
10 |
11 |
|
Lungs |
0 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
14 |
32 |
|
Lungs(incl above) single/double |
0 |
*nk |
*nk |
*nk |
*nk |
4/1 |
0/4 |
7/1 |
10/4 |
14/18 |
|
Total |
203 |
206 |
239 |
223 |
224 |
261 |
174 |
275 |
238 |
294 |
* Not Known
Figures in relation to other double organ transplants are being collated by the HSE's National Organ Donation and Transplantation Office and will be forwarded by that office to the Deputy. The medical card status of transplant recipient patients is not recorded.
Health Services
Questions (568)
Clare Daly
Question:568. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has not been given the medical treatment they were promised [6176/14]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to her directly.
EU Directives
Questions (569)
Anthony Lawlor
Question:569. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health when he expects full compliance with Directive 2011/24/EU of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients' rights in cross-border health care, which was due to be transposed into Irish law on 25 October 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6184/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Directive on Patients’ Rights in Cross Border Healthcare provides rules for the reimbursement to patients’ of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member State of Affiliation) and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (regulation 883/04).
The Directive seeks to ensure a clear and transparent framework for the provision of cross-border healthcare within the EU, for those occasions where the care patients seek is provided in another Member State rather than in their home country. However, it should be emphasised that the vast majority of EU patients receive healthcare in their own country and prefer to do so.
The Department of Health is continuing to work on the necessary statutory provisions to implement the Directive. Nevertheless, there are arrangements in place in respect of the key provision of the Directive in relation to a national contact point (NCP), which has been set up within the HSE – the email address is crossborderdirective@hse.ie.
The principle function of the NCP is to facilitate exchange of information for patients concerning their rights and entitlements relating to receiving healthcare in another Member State, in particular the terms and conditions for reimbursement of cost, the procedures for accessing and determining those entitlements. The NCP also has a responsibility to ensure that all enquirers are informed of the rights, if any, that they may have through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (regulation 883/04) and which may be more beneficial to them. The NCP will be able to inform patients what the cost of their treatments would be in Ireland to allow them make a comparison with the costs they are being quoted for comparable treatment in another Member State.
While it has been possible to have these aspects of the NCP up and running by the 25th October on an administrative basis, it has not been possible to have prior authorisation or reimbursement operating on a statutory basis. The Department is working on the legal arrangements to put in place the statutory provisions for these systems and will be implementing them as soon as possible.
Further information on the Ireland's implementation of the Directive is available on the NCP's webpage: http://hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/cbd/CBD.html.
Medicinal Products Availability
Questions (570)
Tom Fleming
Question:570. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will make the drug MabCampath available to multiple sclerosis patients under the long-term illness scheme and the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6185/14]
View answerWritten answers
Alemtuzumab is no longer marketed under the trade name MabCampath. The manufacturer, Genzyme, withdrew the marketing authorisation for MabCampath in 2012. Genzyme subsequently has received a new marketing authorisation in Europe for Alemtuzumab under the brand name Lemtrada for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. In the USA the FDA has refused marketing authorisation to date for the multiple sclerosis indication.
Alemtuzumab is a medicine which must be administered in a hospital. It is not suitable for administration in the community and therefore would not be provided through the Community Drug Schemes. Treatment can only be initiated and supervised by a neurologist experienced in the treatment of patients with MS. Specialists and equipment required for the timely diagnosis and management of the most frequent adverse reactions, especially autoimmune conditions and infections, should be available. Resources for the management of hypersensitivity and/or anaphylactic reactions must be available. This means in practise that the medicine could only be provided through the hospital system.
The HSE has confirmed that it has received a pricing application for Alemtuzumab / Lemtrada through its national pricing and reimbursement assessment process. The application will be assessed in line with the procedures and timescales agreed with the pharmaceutical industry under the 2012 Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association agreement. The HSE assessment process is intended to arrive at a decision on the funding of new medicines that is clinically appropriate, fair, consistent and sustainable.
The HSE cannot comment on the possible outcome of any individual assessment process whilst the actual assessment is ongoing. The assessment will be completed in as short a timeframe as possible subject to timely submission of relevant data by the applicant company.
HSE Staffing
Questions (571)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:571. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the 84 positions filled by the Health Service Executive under JobBridge in 2013. [6186/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Medical Card Administration
Questions (572)
Sandra McLellan
Question:572. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to delays in the issuing of medical cards to persons awarded them and to delays in the issuing of refusal letters and renewal applications; his plans to deal with this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6205/14]
View answerWritten answers
I am advised by the HSE that, once the assessment of eligibility for a medical card or a GP visit card has been finalised, the physical card is printed and posted to customers, generally within 48 hours.
Following an assessment of eligibility that determines an applicant is ineligible for a medical card, or the assessment of eligibility determines that the applicant is eligible for a GP visit card, a letter issues advising the applicant of the eligibility assessment outcome.
The PCRS would be obliged to receive specific examples where, once eligibility has been determined, delays have occurred resulting in customers not receiving their cards in a timely manner, or examples of delays in correspondence being issued informing customers of the outcome of their eligibility assessment.
Home Care Packages
Questions (573)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:573. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if a home care package can be put in place in respect of a person (details supplied) as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6213/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Orthodontic Service Provision
Questions (574)
Áine Collins
Question:574. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an orthodontic appointment in respect of a person (details supplied). [6217/14]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to her as soon as possible.