Written Answers Nos. 332-345
332. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will support a matter regarding funding or grants available to a sports club (details supplied) in Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7159/15]
View answerMy Department administers a range of funding schemes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. Particular regard is had to the needs of young people between the ages of 10 and 21 and to those who are socially or economically disadvantaged. The Department provides the supports through funding programmes including the Youth Service Grant Scheme which supports the national and major regional youth organisations: the Special Projects for Youth Scheme, the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund which target services for disadvantaged young people and certain other provisions including the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, Youth Information Centres, European Erasmus+ Programme (administered by Léargas – The Exchange Bureau) and Gaisce – the President's Award.
In 2015, an allocation of €49.9m has again been provided to my Department to support the provision of youth services. There is no reduction in the overall allocation for youth services in 2015 which was a key priority for youth organisations.
Funding is provided by my Department to the National Federation of Arch Clubs through the Youth Services Grant Scheme; an allocation of €49,810 has been made for 2015. In addition, I understand that the City of Dublin Youth Service Board operates a scheme to support local voluntary youth clubs, which may be of assistance to the youth club in question.
Full details of the schemes administered by City of Dublin Youth Services Board are available on their Website: www.cdysb.ie.
333. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will review an investigation, previously carried out, based on the evidence brought forward by the parents of the child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6657/15]
View answerPre-School services are regulated by the Child Care (Pre-School Services) (No 2) Regulations 2006. Responsibility for ensuring compliance with these regulations was a matter for the HSE at the time of the complaint, and is now a matter for Tusla.
I understand that this matter was examined by the Early Years Inspectorate and that following this a number of recommendations were made in relation to the provision of childcare services at this facility. This was considered by the Inspectorate to be the appropriate response following their evaluation of the issues raised. My Department wrote previously to the parents involved. Parents who are concerned about a decision of Tusla can appeal that decision. They can also take their complaint to the Ombudsman for Children.
334. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on concerns that the new Tusla – Child and Family Agency regulations for child care providers are putting an excessive administrative burden on child care providers, and diverting valuable time to administrative tasks, that would be better spent caring for children. [6813/15]
View answerThe revised Child Care Regulations, which are required under the new amendments to Part VII of the Child Care Act 1991, are currently being developed in association with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. These new Regulations, which will be finalised shortly, will provide for a number of reforms being introduced by my Department under the Early Years Quality Agenda. The reforms include new qualification requirements for staff working directly with children in the childcare sector, the introduction of a new registration process for new childcare services and the strengthening of the national pre-school inspection system.
Following the commencement of the new Regulations, all new childcare services will be inspected by the Early Years Inspectorate in Tusla to ensure that they meet the necessary criteria before registration is granted. A similar inspection will be carried out at three yearly intervals thereafter to ensure continued compliance. A second and separate phase of inspection, which will monitor the child care related criteria, will be carried out after the service has become operational and children are attending.
In addition to the above inspections, the Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills will lead and organise focused inspections of the quality of education provision in the early childhood education settings participating in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. These inspections will have a developmental focus looking in particular at the quality of children's learning experiences.
The Department of Education and Skills has indicated that they will be carrying out a consultation with the sector over the coming months and that they will work closely with Tusla to minimise any problems that may arise from these changes. It is not expected that the implementation of the changes will result in any significant increase in the administrative workload of childcare providers.
335. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department has received an application for funding from an organisation (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7060/15]
View answerThe organisation in question was not successful in its request to secure funds under the 2014 National Lottery Funding Scheme and was advised of this in writing by my Department in December 2014.
In this regard the Deputy might wish to note that over 800 applications for grant support were received from groups and organisations for funding under this scheme in 2014. The overall value of the applications amounted to €7.6m which far exceeded the available allocation of €910k. In these circumstances it was not possible, unfortunately, to assist all applicants.
Although my Department will not be administering a National Lottery Scheme in 2015, a number of other Departments are in receipt of National Lottery funding this year including the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The specific club mentioned by the Deputy may wish to make enquiries as to whether that Department is running any appropriate schemes this year.
336. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when an application from a person (details supplied) in County Cork, for their need of assessment, made in July 2014 will be arranged; the reason they have been waiting so long for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6927/15]
View answerAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
337. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if the cost of oxygen supply for medical reasons is eligible for refund under the drugs refund scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6978/15]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
338. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the nursing home support scheme will have their payments issued to them; the reason for the delay in commencing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6596/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
339. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the number of children and adolescents admitted to adult psychiatric care beds in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6602/15]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a response within 15 working days, please contact my private office and they will follow up the matter with them.
340. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health when a full re-imbursement will be made under the drug payment scheme in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6637/15]
View answerAs the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, the issue raised by you regarding the Drugs Payment Scheme has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
341. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health the process to be followed, where, in relation to the drugs payment scheme, more than one dispensing chemist is used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6638/15]
View answerUnder the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
If two or more pharmacies are used in one month and the amount paid is over the monthly threshold a claim for a refund can be made to the HSE.
Applications for refunds can be submitted in writing to DPS Refunds, PO Box 12012, Dublin 11. A claim form can be downloaded from www.drugspayment.ie where a check can also be made on the status of claims submitted.
342. Deputy Eamon Gilmore asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug Kuvan is not available from the Health Service Executive for children with the genetic condition phenylketonuria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6644/15]
View answerThe pharmaceutical company Merck Serono made an application to the HSE seeking pricing and reimbursement of Sapropterin or Kuvan® to give it its brand name, under the High Tech arrangements in 2009.
The HSE considered that application in line with the National framework agreement around pricing and reimbursement of new medicines that was in place at that time.
That process included requiring the company to submit a full dossier of the information it had available to support pricing and reimbursement. The application failed to satisfy the criteria in place at that time and required to allow reimbursement.
All applications for pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals are now required to be considered in line with criteria set out in the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
No application has been received by the HSE since 2009 in relation to the pricing or reimbursement of Sapropterin.
343. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will be assessed for home-help assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6647/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
344. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Health the funding his Department makes available to senior citizen community groups, in circumstances where it does not fall within the criteria for national lottery funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6652/15]
View answer345. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Health the funding available to a club (details supplied) in County Monaghan, in circumstance where it is not eligible for national lottery funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6653/15]
View answer403. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that has been granted by his Department to projects in counties Monaghan and Cavan since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7136/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 344, 345 and 403 together.
My 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. Senior Citizen, Community and Sports organisations have successfully applied for Lottery grants in the past, depending on the project complying with the relevant criteria. Detailed procedures, along with the application form for 2015, are set out on my Department's website at www.health.gov.ie.
Details of all organisations who received National Lottery funds from 2009 to 2014 is available on my Department's website.
