Michelle Mulherin
Question:171. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when applications for the national lottery grant scheme will be open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17161/14]
View answerNational Lottery Funding Applications
Questions (171)
Written answers
The operational arrangements including eligibility criteria for the administration and implementation of the National Lottery Scheme in 2014 is being finalised by my Department at the present time and the related information will be available on the Department's website (www.dcya.gov.ie) in the near future.
The overall allocation for the scheme in 2014 is €910,000.
Youth Cafés Expenditure
Questions (172)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17236/14]
View answerWritten answers
In recent years there has been a significant investment in the development of youth café facilities in Ireland which has been made possible, in the main, through the provision of capital funding to my Department. In 2013 a capital allocation of € 1.5 million was made available to my Department for the Youth Café Scheme and some 30 new youth café projects were approved and will move into development stage over the coming months.
My Department estimates that between 75 and 100 youth café facilities now operate across the State and more are coming on stream. These facilities are proving hugely beneficial to local communities offering support to young people, and opportunities to participate in activities that are of interest to them and that are on offer at times that suit their normal activities.
The Youth Café Scheme is intended to enable fit-out, refurbishment or building enhancement projects for the start-up of new youth cafés through the provision of ‘once off’ capital funding. The scheme does not provide for grant aid or on-going funding to meet current costs such as staff, management or other on-going costs. To support youth cafes in development and maintaining their services for young people, my Department has published two guides Youth Cafés in Ireland, A Best Practice Guide (2010) and Youth Café Toolkit, How to set up and run a youth café in Ireland (2010).
The criteria for the capital funding scheme places a high priority on the need to plan for youth café projects to be sustainable in the long term; for example new applications must demonstrate how day to day running costs (not eligible for funding) would be met, for example, through partnering with existing services for young people. This is an important aspect of the programme as there is no funding available in my Department to support running costs associated with youth cafes.
I am aware of the project in question and the valuable services it provides to young people in the local community. I have arranged that Pobal, which assists my Department with the administration of the youth capital scheme, make contact with the project to discuss their situation and to provide information on the practice and experience of youth cafes in running of their services, which may assist the project in question in devising its plans for sustainability into the future.
Mental Health Services
Questions (173)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:173. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals made to the child and adolescent mental health services to date in 2014; and the number of children and adolescents currently waiting to attend an appointment with the CAMHS. [17032/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a direct reply this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Questions (174)
John O'Mahony
Question:174. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the primary care centres or proposed primary care centres for Counties Mayo, Sligo, Galway and Roscommon in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17051/14]
View answerWritten answers
Delivery of healthcare facilities is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Health Services Access
Questions (175)
Michael McGrath
Question:175. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) in County Cork is awaiting an assessment of need; when the assessment will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17054/14]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Prescriptions Charges
Questions (176)
Jack Wall
Question:176. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the cost of drugs in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17055/14]
View answerWritten answers
As announced in Budget 2014, it has become necessary to increase the prescription charge due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment which requires the Government to achieve additional savings in health expenditure with €619 million of savings targeted in 2014. The increase in prescription charges will account for €43 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible.
Medical card holders are currently required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family.
Hospital Transfers
Questions (177)
Robert Troy
Question:177. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will facilitate the admission of a person (details supplied) from the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar to Tallaght hospital. [17056/14]
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 him directly.