Written Answers Nos. 164-181
» ...
»
Written Answers Nos. 164-181
164. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health in respect of the Health Act 1970 and the requirement with regard to the provision of ophthalmic services for children that the cost of lenses or frames must be borne by the individual in question where there is a requirement for a higher specification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24964/14]
View answerOphthalmic treatment and appliances are available to children, as provided for in the Health Act, 1970. The HSE provides standard frames and/or lenses to children free of charge. The additional cost of higher specification lenses or frames is not covered by the HSE.
165. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of anaesthetists who work in our health services; his plans to recruit more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24970/14]
View answer166. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will give the maximum support to anaesthetists in the health service in 2014-15 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24971/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.
Though the HSE has the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to do so in order to ensure patient safety and to support service delivery, there are difficulties in recruiting consultant anaesthetists and NCHDS training to be anaesthetists, at present. I am currently progressing measures to ensure that we will have an adequate supply of consultants and NCHDs into the future.
While the number of consultants (Whole Time Equivalents) has increased by 700 since the establishment of the HSE, more recently it has become more difficult to fill posts and there are some specialties, including anaesthesia, where this is especially so. The Personnel Census shows that the number of consultant anaesthetists at the end of April 2014 was 351 (WTEs), 4 less than the corresponding figure in April 2013.
The ability of the public service to attract and retain high quality front-line staff shapes the extent to which the HSE can maintain and develop the range of health services required. I set up a group under the chairmanship of Professor Brian McCraith last July to carry out a strategic review of medical training and career structures. The Group is making recommendations aimed at improving the retention of medical graduates in the public health system and planning for future service needs. It provided an Interim Report in December 2013 focusing on training. In April 2014 the Group submitted its second report to me and this dealt with medical career structures and pathways following completion of specialist training. The final report of the Group will deal with workforce planning and this is due to be submitted by the end of June 2014. The work of the Group is fundamental to ensuring that we have attractive propositions for consultants and doctors in training, NCHDs, in the years ahead.
Where front-line staffing shortages exist, the HSE makes alternative arrangements to ensure service provision, including recourse to agency and locum cover. However, it is preferable that sufficient numbers of key staff are recruited to permanent posts to support the most efficient and effective delivery of services.
167. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the Mayo General Hospital maternity services along with other hospitals in the west are under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24972/14]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware my Department is currently developing a National Strategy for Maternity Services which will determine the optimal configuration of maternity services to ensure that women in Ireland have access to safe, high quality maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs. As part of the development of the Strategy, all maternity services in the country will be reviewed and evaluated.
In the context of the implementation of the recommendations of the HIQA Report into the death of Savita Halappanavar at University Hospital Galway, and the Report on the establishment of Hospital Groups, the West/North West Hospital Group undertook a review of maternity services within the Group. The review included the maternity units at Mayo General Hospital, Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe, University Hospital Galway, Sligo Regional Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital. While the draft report on maternity services in the West/North West Hospital Group may help inform the new National Strategy, any decision on maternity service reconfiguration will be taken on a national rather than a local basis.
168. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will take measures to regulate the tattoo and piercing industry; his views that regulation is required to protect the health and safety of customers and artists working in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24974/14]
View answerTattooing and body piercing businesses are not the subject of specific legislation in Ireland. However, these businesses are required to comply with general public health and safety legislation in the same way as any other business.
The responsibilities of all business operators include taking all reasonable precautions for the safety of persons using the premises. The Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 2005 imposes a duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety, health and welfare at work of employees.
High standards of hygiene are necessary when carrying out tattooing and body piercing in order to minimise the risks of infection for both the person carrying out the tattooing and/or piercing and the client. Standard Infection Control Procedures were developed for the healthcare setting but they can and should be applied to any settings where there is a potential for persons to be exposed to blood or other body fluids including tattooing and body piercing premises. It is also advisable that persons carrying out the procedures receive Hepatitis B vaccination.
My Department and the HSE are currently reviewing policy regarding tattooing and body piercing. In the first instance, the focus is on the development of a best practice guidance document aimed at practitioners in the area. The main objective of this guidance is to encourage best hygiene practice by tattooists and piercers, thereby minimising the risk of infection and so protecting them and their clients.
The draft guidance document has been the subject of consultation within the health sector and it is expected that my Department and the HSE will be in a position to bring the guidance to completion later this year.
169. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the extraordinarily high car insurance quotations being given to many of our citizens who are returning from years of forced emigration and the failure of insurance companies to acknowledge previous driving experience; if he will raise this issue with the regulator; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24840/14]
View answerMy Department's role in respect of motor insurance relates to the primary legislation requirement that the use of mechanically propelled vehicles in a public place be covered by insurance. Motor insurance is a private contract between the insurer and the driver and I have no role in the control of motor insurance costs as this is essentially a consumer affairs matter. I would point out that the National Consumer Agency website sets out useful information regarding car insurance costs at: http://www.consumerhelp.ie/car-insurance and persons with specific queries or issues regarding car insurance can contact the Agency on their helpline on 1890 432 432.
170. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider including Cromane, Killorglin, County Kerry, in the Wild Atlantic Way route as this unique, unspoilt picturesque area is a prominent feature of the Kerry coastline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24871/14]
View answerI have no direct role in relation to individual tourism projects. This is a matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
171. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the procedure when a newly issued driving licence is lost in the post because of an error by the National Driver Licence Service in the postal address; if the National Driver Licence Service has the ability to reissue the licence and post it again to the proper address; if so, if the applicant is required to go to the NDLS office again to resubmit any forms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24885/14]
View answerThe subject matter of this question is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
172. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are ways to finance the completion of the Dingle inner relief road; if he will bundle the project with future planned works on the N86 or if there is some other way of progressing it in view of the fact that the local authority cannot afford to finance the project from its own resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24922/14]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
It is important to state that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils like Kerry County Council in their own resources spending this area. While Councils could apply in the past for grant funding for certain road improvement projects, the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme is being curtailed from this year onward in order to maximise the limited funding available for repair and strengthening work of the road network.
The N86 is a national road and therefore is within the remit of the National Roads Authority. The Dingle Inner Relief Road is a regional road and as previously mentioned they are within the remit of the local authority, in this case Kerry County Council. In the first instance, the NRA do not have the remit to carry out or fund works relating to the a regional road. Secondly, while the resources of Kerry County Council are constrained so too are those of the NRA and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an up to date position on efforts to bring the Rugby World Cup 2023 to Ireland; if he sees potential for Killarney being a host town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24923/14]
View answerLast November the Government considered a Memorandum on the discussions and analysis to date on a potential bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
While the Memorandum identified a number of challenges, the great potential of the event is also clear and I believe that hosting the Rugby World Cup on a cross-border basis in 2023 would be a great opportunity for Northern Ireland and Ireland. In response to the Memorandum, the Government expressed strong support for the proposal and for the conduct of further work to get to the stage of making a formal decision to bid.
To progress the matter further, Minister Ring and I met with Minister Arlene Foster and Minister Carál Ní Chuilín, who are the Ministers respectively responsible for tourism and sport in the Northern Ireland Executive, in Armagh on 22 January. We established a working group to examine some key issues further and to report back to Ministers in the summer. The working group, on which the IRFU and relevant Government Departments from both jurisdictions are represented, has held a number of meetings to date. I look forward to receiving their report.
In relation to proposed venues, this will only be decided as part of the formulation of a formal bid to host the event and in response to the stadia requirements contained in the Invitation to Tender for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, which has yet to be issued by the International Rugby Board.
174. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he expects to announce allocations under the 2014 sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24924/14]
View answerApplications received under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme are currently being assessed by officials in my Department. Every application will be assessed by one official and reviewed by another. Given the number of applications received and the detail contained therein, this process will take a number of months to complete. I hope to announce allocations later this year.
175. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be provided by the National Roads Authority for a road (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24939/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act. As the implementation of individual schemes is a matter for the NRA, I have referred the position on the N86 scheme to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
If the road in question is a regional or local road the improvement and maintenance of the road is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on such roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.
In January 2014, my Department allocated a total of €332 million for regional and local roads. €12.7million was allocated to Kerry County Council, including €6.55 million for the Restoration Improvement Grant Programme (RI).
Furthermore, on 20 May, my Department announced a further €20m in stimulus funding for regional and local road improvements, of which Kerry received a further €507,531 for Restoration Improvement works and €440,037 for Community Involvement Schemes. The selection and prioritisation of works to be undertaken under the additional RI allocation is a matter for the local authority and the authority also has flexibility in relation to re-prioritising it's original RI programme as necessary.
It is, therefore, open to Kerry County Council to undertake works on this project under the additional RI allocation, to re-prioritise its RI programme if it wishes, to fund the works from its Discretionary Grant or through its own resources.
176. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of different versions of the report into corruption in Bus Éireann's administration of the school transport contract did the audit review group in Bus Éireann sign off on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24965/14]
View answer177. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of different versions of the report into corruption in Bus Éireann's administration of the school transport contract on which the chairman of Bus Éireann (details supplied) sign off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24966/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.
Responsibility for the School Transport Scheme lies with my colleague Mr. Ciarán Cannon, T.D, Minister for Training and Skills.
There was an article in the Mail on Sunday on 13th April, 2014 detailing allegations of bribery and corruption in the award of contracts under the School Transport Scheme. On foot of this, Minister of State for Public and Commuter Transport, Alan Kelly, Minister of State for Training & Skills, Ciarán Cannon, and I sought a full report from Bus Éireann about this matter.
I have been advised by Bus Éireann that the company completed one report entitled ‘Report into allegations of misconduct of Bus Éireann employees with respect to the operation of the School Transport Scheme’ on April 28th. This report was submitted to Ministers Kelly, Cannon and I. It was also submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and the Public Accounts Committee.
It was decided by Bus Éireann that the report be published on the company website but should not identify any parties. Bus Éireann advise that as a result, some small amendments were made to protect the identities of these individuals. Bus Éireann has stated that, unfortunately, an earlier draft version was mistakenly amended and then published on the website. This was an error on the company’s behalf, which was acknowledged and has now been rectified. Therefore there are two almost identical versions in existence: one given to the Ministers and the Committees and a slightly amended version of this final report now published on the Bus Éireann website, for the protection of identities.
178. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in view of recent revelations regarding the discarding of approximately 800 children's bodies in a septic tank at the Bon Secours mother and baby home in Tuam, County Galway, if the interdepartmental review being co-ordinated by his Department will consider a full public inquiry into all mother and baby homes that existed in the State; if the review will seek to establish any wrongdoing by the State; if the reasoning for any decisions it comes to will be fully disclosed to the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24882/14]
View answer181. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if in the context of the recently announced review and scoping exercise being carried out in relation to the mother and child home operated in Tuam between 1925 and 1961, if it is his Department's intention to expand this review to include other such homes around the country in such a review, including the mother and child home in Castlepollard, County Westmeath, which was run by the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24905/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 181 together.
The revelations in Tuam, Co Galway have brought to the fore the situation in other Mother and Baby Homes throughout the country. The practices in Mother and Baby homes have to date not featured prominently in the various reviews and investigations which have dealt with many of the past abuses which were inflicted on vulnerable citizens, many of them women and children.
It is fully recognised by me and my Government colleagues that we need to establish the truth. Active consideration is being given to the best means of addressing the harrowing details emerging regarding the children who died many years ago in Mother and Baby Homes and the many questions raised regarding these deaths.
The Government has agreed to the establishment of a Commission of Investigation into matters relating to Mother and Baby Homes. Such a Commission will seek the voluntary cooperation of people whose evidence it requires, but is entitled to compel witnesses to give evidence. The Commission’s investigation will not be confined to Tuam and will deal with other related matters regarding the operation of these homes.
The terms of reference of the Commission and its composition are to be worked out with the assistance of the high level Interdepartmental Committee which has been undertaking preliminary scoping in relation to the Mother and Baby Homes issues. Departments involved include the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. The Interdepartmental Committee will report to me before the end of the month.
179. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will make no further cuts to the school completion programme funding this year 2014-15; if he will restore funding to 2008 levels over an agreed timeframe; and if he will declare all DEIS initiatives exempts from cuts to funding. [24827/14]
View answerThe School Completion Programme (SCP) aims to retain young people in the formal education system to completion of senior cycle and to generally improve the school attendance, participation and retention of its target cohort. The SCP is a targeted intervention aimed at those school communities identified through the Department of Education and Skills’ DEIS Action Plan for Educational Inclusion. It involves 124 locally managed projects and related initiatives operating across 470 primary and 224 post-primary schools to provide targeted supports to approximately 36,000 children and young people. The programme's project model approach gives local communities the autonomy to devise innovative approaches to address the needs of young people most at risk of early school leaving.
As with all major spending programmes, the School Completion Programme budget was subject to examination under the terms of the 2011 Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE). This process identified a requirement for savings of 6.5% per annum across the programme over the period 2012 to 2014.
Since its establishment the Child and Family Agency has operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme, including the allocation of funds to projects within the programme. I am advised that proposals have yet to be formulated by the Agency in relation to the funding for SCP projects in the coming 2014/2015 academic year. As an initial step the Agency has invited all SCP Projects to commence planning for the next cycle of the programme within the available funding parameters. The Agency will continue to work closely with Local Management Committees, schools and local SCP co-ordinators to assist projects through this process.
The potential for any changes in the funding allocated to this programme in future years is a matter to be considered in the estimates and budgetary process having regard to the resources available to Government.
The broader question of other initiatives under the DEIS school support programme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, as lead responsibility for DEIS policy resides with his Department.
180. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has personally been in touch with the relevant authorities in Russia since his appointment last month to get an up-to-date position regarding ongoing bilateral negotiations regarding inter-country adoption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24837/14]
View answerThe Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation have advised the Irish Embassy in Moscow that all proposed adoption agreements are currently on hold while the Russian Government considers proposals in relation to how they deal with adoption agreements in general. It is understood that the Russian Federation's Supreme Court recently made recommendations regarding adoption agreements and these are currently being considered by the Russian Government. It is hoped that following the Russian Government's consideration of these matters they will be in a position to examine and respond to the Irish proposals.
