Written Answers Nos. 695-712
695. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding voluntary youth organisations and their need to be involved in the roll-out of the youth guarantee as the Government's submission to Brussels does not mention them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19131/14]
View answerMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country by the voluntary youth sector. The work of the voluntary youth work sector, in the provision of these services, has a significant contribution to make to the Government’s jobs agenda including the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work and the implementation of the Youth Guarantee in Ireland. Many youth organisations are working closely with relevant Government Departments and delivering measures to implement the Guarantee for young unemployed people.
My Department, in consultation with the youth sector, has developed a ‘Youth Employability Initiative’ which involves the expansion of proven youth work initiatives that increase the employability of marginalised young people in the 15 to 24 age group. It aims to target the hardest to reach young people who are at risk of becoming NEET (i.e. not in employment, education or training) for intensive support to prevent unemployment. The development and expansion of the Youth Employability Initiative is a priority for me, should additional resources become available to my Department for youth services. In this regard, my Department continues to make efforts to secure the necessary resources for the initiative including exploring the potential of the initiative for ESF funding and is liaising with the relevant Government Departments in this regard.
My Department will develop a new Youth Strategy in 2014. This Strategy will have its basis in the Children and Young Person’s Policy Framework - Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures which I recently launched. The Youth Strategy will focus on ensuring greater coordination in policy and provision across Government for young people aged 10 – 24 years and will aim to be responsive to current and emerging issues such as youth employment.
My Department continues to work closely with the Departments of Education and Skills, Social Protection and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, to identify in what ways, the youth sector can contribute to shared policy objectives to address youth employment and the Youth Guarantee and in the context of the Action Plan for Jobs.
696. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the position regarding provisions in the Children First Bill 2014 for children sexually abused (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19212/14]
View answerThe aim of the Children First Bill 2014 is to improve the care and protection of children by raising awareness of child abuse and neglect. The Children First Bill provides for a number of key child protection measures, as follows:
- A requirement on mandated persons to report child protection concerns to the Child and Family Agency;
- A requirement on mandated persons to assist the Child and Family Agency in the assessment of a child protection risk, if requested to do so by the Agency;
- A requirement on organisations providing services to children to comply with best practice in child protection as set out in the Children First Guidelines and to produce an organisational-specific Child Safeguarding Statement; and
- Statutory arrangements to promote cross-sectoral implementation and compliance with Children First.
The Bill will form part of a suite of child protection legislation which already includes the Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012 and the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act, 2012.
The correspondence referred to by the Deputy refers to the provision of support services for the survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The focus of the Children First Bill is to make best safeguarding practice the cultural norm for anyone working with children; therefore the broader issue of support services for abuse survivors does not directly come within its scope. I understand that the provision of adult counselling services for survivors of childhood sexual abuse is overseen by the National Counselling Service (NCS), which is under the remit of my Ministerial colleagues in the Department of Health. As per the recommendations of the Ryan Report, the NCS received an additional €2 million in funding to purchase therapy services to deal with increased demand following the publication of that report.
However, the existing Children First Interdepartmental Group [which will, under the Children First Bill, be put on a statutory footing] has a specific responsibility to promote compliance and consistency of implementation of both the Bill and the Children First Guidance. The Group is also a forum where members can raise child protection issues of general concern, or with a cross departmental or cross sectoral dimension.
The Group has completed a benchmark phase of establishing structures, mechanisms and activities in place within each sector to support and drive the implementation process. In July 2013 the Government approved the publication of each Departmental Children First Sectoral Implementation Plan on the relevant Department websites. A key priority of the Group is the development of appropriate reporting mechanisms in respect of the implementation of Children First within each sector and the assurance arrangements to monitor implementation and compliance.
697. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to reports regarding a three year old boy escaping from a child care centre on the Balgaddy road, whereby two different versions were given in the media, one that the young boy was found by the police from Ronanstown and the other that he knocked on the door of his home, if she will confirm which version is correct; and if there was an investigation into this serious issue. [19256/14]
View answerI understand that the matter referred to by the Deputy relates to an incident at a child care service in West Dublin in June 2013 when an unaccompanied child left the service.
I understand that the service contacted the Garda when the incident occurred and that it was subsequently confirmed by them that the child had returned home.
Preschool services are governed by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006 and are subject to inspection by the Child and Family Agency, Tusla, which was established under the remit of my Department earlier this year taking on this role from the Health Service Executive. I understand that, on foot of a complaint in relation to the incident, an investigation was carried out by the Early Years Inspector for the area and that the matter is now closed.
698. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of times the 116000 number has been contacted; and her views on whether the 116000 number is sufficiently advertised and has wide public awareness. [19257/14]
View answer699. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will confirm that members of the public can call the 116000 if they see a missing child or if they have information to pass on regarding a missing child; and if so whether the public will be made aware of this fact on posters, advertisements and so on. [19258/14]
View answer700. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children requested funding for the 116000 number in 2010. [19259/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 698 to 700, inclusive, together.
With regard to the Deputy's question concerning an application for funding of the 116 000 Missing Children's Hotline in 2010, I can confirm that correspondence was received by the then Office of the Minister for Children from the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) in December 2010. The ISPCC expressed their belief in the need for the establishment of a Missing Children Hotline in Ireland and made known their desire to operate the service. As they were not in position to fund same, they requested funding for the Hotline. Following detailed consideration of the matter by a Project Group established by my Department, the Missing Children Hotline was established with financial assistance from my Department and EU funding. It has been operating on a full-time, 24/7, basis since end April, 2013.
Members of the public may call the 116 000 Hotline if they see a missing child or if they have information to pass on regarding a missing child. Information in this regard is published on the ISPCC web page entitled 'Missing Childrens Hotline.' It is important to appreciate that the Hotline is a support service rather than an emergency service. Where callers require assistance outside the scope of the services provided by the Hotline, they are referred to An Garda Síochána or whichever branch of the emergency services is appropriate. Staff of the Missing Children Hotline will also pass on information to the emergency services when it is appropriate to do so.
The 116 000 Hotline was set up to provide advice and emotional support to parents/guardians whose child is missing. This advice and support may also be accessed by the extended family of a child who is missing or, indeed, by the child themselves. A key component of the service is an awareness programme. It is vital that those who could benefit from the service know that it exists and that users are aware of the scope of the service and I am satisfied as to the approach taken by the ISPCC in that regard.
During the initial set up phase of the service, the ISPCC focused on community based promotion of the service. This included presentations to local community groups. Subsequently, posters, flyers and business cards have been distributed to all Garda stations from Garda Headquarters, and promotional material has been distributed to a variety of community based projects in various locations throughout the country. Further, the ISPCC makes extensive use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter to advertise this service on an ongoing basis. The successful launch of the service in 2013 together with the launch of the 116 000 Missing Children Hotline website (www.missingchildrenhotline.ie) also serve to promote the service.
Statistics provided to my Department by the ISPCC for 2013 confirm that a total of 523 calls were received via the Hotline.
701. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her attention has been drawn to issues faced by residential health care staff working on sleepover duty in view of the fact that some residential care staff are expected to work 63 hours per week instead of the statutory 48; the reasons for same; if sleepover duty, where a member of staff is on call while working overnight is part of the working week and if it is treated as such for pay purposes; her further views on whether these hours are in breach of EU and Irish working time legislation; her views on the low levels of hourly pay associated with sleepover duty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19287/14]
View answerI am informed by the Child and Family Agency that the issue raised is currently before the Labour Relations Commission. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment further at this point in time.
702. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a family support centre (details supplied) in County Cork can be recognised by the Child and Family Agency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19351/14]
View answerThe new Child & Family Agency brings together family support services previously delivered by a number of different agencies. The establishment of the agency allows for the provision of a more integrated service than heretofore to those families that require support.
There are currently 106 Family Resource Centres funded by the Child and Family Agency, including six in County Cork at; Ballincollig, Mallow, Cobh, Dunmanway, Adrigole, Midleton. There are also outreach centres at Bandon and Beara. Decisions with regard to the recognition of additional centres are appropriate to the Child and Family Agency. I am aware that the Family and Community Services Resource Programme previously administered by the Family Support Agency closed for applications in 2008.
703. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on the benefits of tax credits for persons using child care; if such a measure would assist working parents; if she will consider introducing such a measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19355/14]
View answerI am aware of the relatively high cost of child care in this country and of the difficulties that this presents, particularly where both parents are in employment outside of the home. To help address the issue, funding of €260 million is provided annually by my Department to support a number of targeted child care support programmes that assist parents in accessing quality and affordable child care.
For example, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community-based child care services to enable them to provide child care at reduced rates to parents in receipt of social welfare payments or parents in employment who are on low or relatively modest incomes. My Department also implements the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which provides one free preschool year to all eligible children before they commence primary school.
Tax incentives for working parents who incur child care costs were previously proposed, and the issue of tax allowances or credits was considered, prior to the introduction of the targeted child care supports. A number of issues emerged at that time which did not favour the introduction of child care tax relief.
A review of the child care support programmes is being undertaken by my Department this year with a view to identifying areas where they could be enhanced and improved to ensure the best use of the investment which is currently being made in this area. All proposals relating to child care supports will be considered as part of this review.
705. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason the cost of a death certificate has increased from €8 to €20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18596/14]
View answerThe Civil Registration Service is operated by the Health Service Executive on behalf of the General Register Office under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection. The cost of this service is met from within the HSE's budget, with some income generated through the issuing of certificates for life events. However, this income does not meet the economic cost of running the service.
In January 2013, given the serious nature of the HSE's finances, a number of fee increases were introduced in the Civil Registration Service as part of a range of budgetary measures across the health services for 2013. Fees for registration of births and deaths had not been increased since 2005.
706. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health in respect of the Haddington Road agreement, if persons in the health service who have a standard working week of 35 hours and who are now required to work an additional two hours for no extra pay will continue to be required to do so even though some other requirements for different categories of employees ceased on 31 March 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18941/14]
View answerI believe that the other requirements to which the Deputy refers concerns public servants with a net working week of 39 hours or greater. It is provided in the Haddington Road Agreement that the first hour of overtime worked each week by these grades was to be unpaid until 31st March 2014. The Agreement also provides that public servants, including those in the health service, with a working week of 35 hours or less will increase to a minimum of a 37 hour week. There is no provision in the Agreement for this requirement to end on 31st March 2014.
708. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath who retired from the Health Service Executive in February 2014 has not received entitlements by way of lump sum payment and pension and if same will now be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19020/14]
View answerAs this is an operational matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
709. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason income is calculated at 2.3% on savings of more than €72,000 for a couple for the purposes of applying for a medical card in view of the fact that Government bond yield is 1.23%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19191/14]
View answerThe interest rate, to which the Deputy refers, is only relevant to the supplementary assessment process for medical cards for persons aged 70 years and over, where means testing is on a gross income basis.
For the purposes of assessment for this medical card, savings or similar investments of €36,000 for a single person or €72,000 for a couple are disregarded. For amounts in excess of these limits, the applicant can have the actual interest rate that s/he received applied to the savings by providing a certificate of interest paid in the last full calendar year, or alternatively can have the current notional rate applied. It is always the applicants choice to have the actual interest rate or the notional rate applied.
The notional rate is set by the HSE quarterly by taking an average of the current deposit interest rates of a number of the major Irish Banks & Building Societies, e.g. regular saver deposits, instant access deposits, three month and six month deposits, one year fixed deposits, five year fixed deposits and 10 year savings bonds. The notional rate is 2.3 % with effect from 1st January 2014 and remains unchanged for Quarter 2.
710. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the cost to the State per annum and in total for every medical student that qualifies in Irish universities; his views that many of these students leave Ireland immediately after qualifying; if he is concerned with this drain on our finances and human resources; his plans to address the problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18538/14]
View answerThe first step in the medical career pathway is a five- or six-year undergraduate programme. There are six medical schools in Ireland; a number of which offer accelerated four-year medical programmes for graduates of other disciplines.
I have been advised by officials in the Department of Education and Skills that the total educational cost of a medical graduate is estimated to be in the region of €80,000 to €100,000. This cost does not all fall to be met by the State. In relation to undergraduate medical programmes, most students pay a student contribution; this is currently set at €2,500 per annum and will rise to €3,000 in 2015. Eligible students (grant holders) may have this paid on their behalf. Undergraduate students who are not eligible for "free fees" are liable to pay fees. In relation to graduate medical programmes, the student pays a fee of approximately €15,000 per year.
I am anxious that we retain Irish medical school graduates in the Irish public health system. I am also concerned that funding assigned goes to produce the world class medical service we all desire and expect. For these reasons, in July 2013, I established a Working Group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structure. The Working Group is examining relevant issues and making high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors, with a view to: improving graduate retention in the public health system; planning for future service needs; and realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training. The group began its deliberations in September 2013 and, to date, has submitted two reports, which are available on my Department's website. Professor MacCraith is due to submit the Working Group's final report by the end of June 2014.
711. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide capital funding for a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18546/14]
View answerMy Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations providing a range of health related services. If an organisation wishes to make an application for National Lottery Funding they should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures along with the application form are set out on the Department's website at www.doh.ie.
712. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on the potential savings in Health Service Executive current expenditure through a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18547/14]
View answerThe organisation in question is, I understand, in discussion with the Health Service Executive (HSE) regarding its plans and whether there is potential for the Executive to provide any financial support. The Deputy will appreciate the pressures on the HSE's budget and the extremely limited potential for any additional commitments to be entered into. I have asked the Executive to keep me informed of developments in this case.
