Written Answers Nos. 538-551
538. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of occasions since the start of 2014 in which the Secretary General of his Department has been involved in the clearing or approval of material for release under freedom of information legislation. [11794/15]
View answerThe Secretary General of my Department has no involvement in the clearing or approval of material for release under Freedom of Information legislation.
539. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will reconsider the 6.5% reduction nationally in funding through Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, for the school completion programme in schools with delivering equality of opportunity in schools status; the reductions in Counties Galway and Mayo; if money could be ring-fenced for the school completion programme; the total reduction in euros; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12114/15]
View answerThe School Completion Programme 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 young people who are risk of educational disadvantage. The Programme is a targeted intervention aimed at 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. Each project involves a cluster of schools working collectively to provide a range of supports and interventions designed to support individual children identified locally as being at risk of early school leaving within those school communities
As with all programmes involving significant expenditure, the School Completion Programme budget was subject to examination under the terms of the 2011 Comprehensive Review of Expenditure. This process identified a requirement for savings of 6.5% per annum across the programme over the period 2012 to 2014, amounting to €5.5m. In 2014, the allocation to the programme was €24.756m.
Since 1st January 2014, the Child and Family Agency has operational responsibility for the School Completion Programme, including the allocation of funds to local projects. The first and second instalments of 2014/15 funding has issued to local projects and a third instalment is planned for payment in May 2015.
The estimate for the Child and Family Agency for 2015 is €631 million, a 4.3% increase on its 2014 allocation. My Department has recently issued a Performance Statement to the Agency under Section 45 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013. This includes my priorities for consideration in the development of the Agency's 2015 Business Plan. The Business Plan will set out the Agency's proposed activities, programmes and priorities for 2015, including provision for the School Completion Programme, in light of the monies available.
A review of the School Completion Programme by the ESRI is almost complete. The review will assist in identifying the reforms necessary to consolidate the programme on a sustainable footing for the future and to ensure that it is line with the aims of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures: the national policy framework for children and young people (2014-2020).
The aim is to ensure that available funds are targeted to those services that provide the greatest contribution to good educational outcomes for children and young people at risk of educational disadvantage. The review has an important contribution to make to these aims and the future development of the school completion programme. It is envisaged that the review will be completed shortly.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to School Completion Programme clusters in Galway and Mayo has been requested from the Child and Family Agency and I will respond directly to the Deputy when the information is received.
540. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the issue of water fluoridation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11150/15]
View answerThe Department of Health keeps water fluoridation policy under constant review. As part of this ongoing work, a review of evidence on the impact of water fluoridation at its current level on the health of the population is being conducted by the Health Research Board on behalf of the Department. The review is currently being finalised.
541. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health his views on a survey (details supplied) which states that noise sensitivity is particularly problematic for 40% of children with autistic spectrum disorders who are hypersensitive to sound; the steps being taken to address the valid concerns of the parents of these children in north County Kildare who live in close proximity to the proposed Maighne wind farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11375/15]
View answerPolicy responsibility with regard to planning and the legislative framework in relation to the siting of wind turbines rests with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. My Department provides appropriate medical advice from time to time when requested by the above mentioned Department.
According to the international literature currently available, there are no specific studies which have examined the effects of noise from wind turbines in children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. However, anyone who believes they are experiencing any health problems relating to wind turbines should consult their GP.
542. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when the Magdalen survivors will receive their enhanced medical cards. [11582/15]
View answer543. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the application process for the enhanced medical cards for Magdalen survivors. [11583/15]
View answer544. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when the Magdalen survivors will receive a guide to their enhanced medical card. [11584/15]
View answer545. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if a complaints and appeals process will be put in place for Magdalen survivors availing of the enhanced medical card scheme. [11589/15]
View answer546. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if his Department will contact all general practitioners, public and private, hospitals and other relevant health service providers of Magdalen survivors entitlements under the enhanced medical card. [11590/15]
View answer547. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the measures being taken to ensure that Magdalen survivors do not have to resolve any difficulties with the enhanced medical card scheme or explain their entitlements to health care professionals. [11591/15]
View answer548. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health when health care services do not have the facility to record enhanced medical cards, if cardholders will be reimbursed in the same manner as Health (Amendment) Act cardholders. [11593/15]
View answer549. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on the administrative arrangements for Magdalen survivors living overseas. [11598/15]
View answer550. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if his Department or the Health Service Executive has contacted the health service providers in each of the countries where Magdalen survivors are known to be living. [11599/15]
View answer551. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if guides will be made available to Magdalen survivors living overseas to assist them in understanding their entitlements under the administrative arrangements. [11600/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 542 to 551, inclusive, together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014 has completed its passage through both Houses of the Oireachtas and was enacted on 18 March 2015. The purposes of the legislation are to provide for a range of primary and community health services to be made available without charge to a person who was resident in a specified institution and who has accepted a formal offer made to her by the Minister for Justice and Equality under the ex gratia payments scheme; to provide that such women will not be required to pay the statutory charge for public in-patient services in a public acute hospital; and, to ensure that the ex-gratia payments will not be included in the financial assessment of means under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme Act 2009.
My Department has advised the HSE on the arrangements to be put in place so that the services and measures provided for in the legislation - and the administrative arrangements in respect of persons residing outside Ireland - can be put into effect immediately the legislation becomes operative.
The HSE will decide on the practical arrangements, such as a type of card, to be put in place in order to ensure that the women can easily demonstrate their eligibility for services under the Act and also to be fully apprised of their health entitlements.
