Written Answers Nos. 214-222
214. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied with the number of women currently serving on State boards under her remit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10019/14]
View answerI would like to inform the Deputy that since my Department was established in June 2011 to the present time, five non-commercial State agencies have been funded by the Exchequer through my Department's Vote, namely the Child and Family Agency, the Adoption Authority of Ireland, the Family Support Agency, the National Educational Welfare Board and the Ombudsman for Children. With effect from 1 January 2012, I have taken responsibility for the Children Detention Schools as provided in Part 10 of the Children Act 2001.
Apart from the Ombudsman for Children's Office which does not have a board, I am responsible for all board of management appointments. In making my decisions on appointments to Boards, subject to the governing legislation, I consider the most suitable persons for the positions available with due regard to the body or agency in question and its particular responsibilities and I seek to ensure that the appropriate mix of skills and experience is in place to achieve the best result.
The proportion of women on the Boards of Management of non-commercial state agencies under the Department of Children and Youth Affairs stands at just over 50%
Since taking Office, I have appointed 48 persons to those Boards of whom 29 were female. Given this balanced gender ratio, I am satisfied with the number of women currently serving on State boards under my remit.
215. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of employee share ownership plans in operation in the commercial semi-State sector under the remit of her Department; her views on whether they offer good value to the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10044/14]
View answerI can confirm that there are no bodies in the commercial semi-State sector currently in operation under the aegis of my Department.
216. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive their appointment for a hearing aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9910/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive Community Audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
217. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that applied behavioural analysis for children with autism is viewed as a medical treatment in the US rather than an educational service; his views on same; his plans to ensure that ABA is considered a medical treatment in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9753/14]
View answerApplied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is one of a number of approaches that are used, predominantly in educational settings, when working with children with autism spectrum disorders. While noting the matters raised by the Deputy in relation to applied behavioural analysis (ABA) for children with autism in the United States, I am advised that it is not considered a medical treatment in Ireland and there are no plans to modify this position.
The Deputy may be interested to note that my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills has asked the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to provide policy advice specifically on the educational provision for children with autism spectrum disorders and this should be delivered by Spring of 2015. It is expected that the NCSE final report will reflect the broadest possible range of view and provide recommendations which will assist the development of policy in this area for future years.
218. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health the reason a doctor (details supplied) has not received a response from his Department to their query regarding the refusal of St. James's Hospital to provide certain forms of dermatological treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9756/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
219. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the reason a full-time residential placement used currently by a patient four nights a week cannot be shared by another patient willing to use it three nights a week; the number of times that full-time care is provided and only used part time; and the amount this costs the State. [9764/14]
View answerThe vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.
The Health Service Executive National Service Plan 2014 and the recently published 2014 Operational Plan for the Social Care Division outline the quantum of specialist services, the key reform initiatives and the additional investment in 2014 which it has assured me will give effect to this vision in 2014. The HSE will spend €1.4 billion and employ a staff level of approximately 15,000 whole time equivalents in 2014 to provide specified levels of services.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
220. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding treatment in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9765/14]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
221. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the total number of vacancies in all early intervention teams in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Meath and Louth; if he will provide a county breakdown of same; the length of time each position has been vacant; his plan to fill these vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9768/14]
View answer222. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on waiting lists to be seen by members of intervention teams in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Meath and Louth; the average waiting time on lists broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9769/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together.
The Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with a disability, including early intervention services, within available resources. While these services are in the process of being reconfigured under the HSE’s National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years), it is important to note that all HSE areas have significant services in place for children with disabilities aged up to eighteen years. These are provided directly by the HSE or by voluntary service providers funded by the HSE.
The aim of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme is to achieve a national, unified approach to delivering disability health services so that there is a clear pathway to services for all children, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of their disability. An additional €4m has been specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme. This equates to approximately 80 therapy posts.
Almost 60 geographic-based multidisciplinary teams have been established to date under the Programme as part of the reconfigured service model. It is hoped that a further 30 teams will be reconfigured this year, bringing the overall total to approximately 90 teams by the end of 2014. These figures reflect all children's disability teams that provide early intervention and school age services to children aged up to eighteen years. The transition to this new model is taking place on a phased basis and, importantly, includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, such as service users and their families.
Within this context I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with the detailed operational information requested concerning early intervention services for children with disabilities living in counties Monaghan, Cavan, Meath and Louth.
