Wednesday, 27 May 2015

Written Answers Nos. 161 - 180

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (161)

Paul Murphy

Question:

161. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Question No. 580 of 24 March 2015, and in view of the reply from the Health Service Executive, if he will provide an update on the treatment of a person (details supplied); when that person can expect to see a consultant who will operate on the person's upper limb; the length of the waiting list for such a procedure; his views on the resourcing of upper limb surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21019/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (162)

Denis Naughten

Question:

162. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the reason the primary care reimbursement service is seeking a valuation of a family land holding, given that the land is being farmed and accounts were enclosed with the original medical card application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21022/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.

If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (163)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a cataract operation at Cork University Hospital in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21024/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.

In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Orthodontic Services Waiting Lists

Questions (164)

Brian Stanley

Question:

164. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the waiting times for orthodontic assessments in each county in Leinster; and following assessment, the waiting times for treatment in each county. [21025/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that in up to 5% of cases it is necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need i.e. Grade 5 or Grade 4 are provided with treatment by the HSE. Information on waiting times is collated by the HSE by region rather than by county and for the intervals as shown in the following table. The most recent information on assessment and treatment waiting lists relates to the first quarter of 2015.

Waiting time for assessment	1 - 6 months	7 - 12 months	13 - 24 months	>24 months	TOTAL
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster	1,196	9	3	3	1,211
HSE Dublin North East	511	460	0	0	971

Waiting time from assessment to commencement of treatment	1 - 6 months	7 - 12 months	13 - 24 months	25-48 months	Over 48 months	TOTAL
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster	1,140	875	1,432	1,208	199	4,854
HSE Dublin North East	258	483	1,010	1,546	672	3,969

Orthodontic Services Provision

Questions (165)

Brian Stanley

Question:

165. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to address the extremely poor orthodontic services in County Laois. [21026/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that in up to 5% of cases it is necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need, i.e. Grade 5 or some with a Grade 4 are provided with treatment by the HSE.

The HSE has established a pilot scheme in Dublin North East which will involve the use of orthodontic therapists in the treatment of a number of eligible children. Consideration will be given to expanding this Scheme to other HSE areas in the future. In addition to the services provided by HSE staff, orthodontic treatment for certain categories of misalignment will be provided by a panel of independent practitioners under contract to the HSE over the next three years. A national procurement process is being finalised. This initiative will especially focus on those waiting for 4 years or longer. It is expected that this initiative will commence later this year and will have a positive impact on waiting times.

I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy regarding specific issues concerning Co Laois. If a reply has not been received from the HSE within 15 working days the Deputy should contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Audiology Services Provision

Questions (166)

Brian Stanley

Question:

166. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to improve audiology services in County Laois. [21027/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Expenditure

Questions (167)

Gabrielle McFadden

Question:

167. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Health the average cost of care in a public nursing home and community nursing unit under the fair deal scheme; the average cost of care in a private nursing home under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21044/15]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The current average weighted cost of care in a private nursing home under the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is €931. The average weighted cost of care in a public facility is €1,405. It is true that costs for public nursing homes are higher than in the private sector and vary considerably even within the public system. There are valid factors for a difference, in that more complex and highly dependent residents are often catered for by the public system, and conditions of employment and tenure etc. are different too.

It is, however, important that public facilities operate as efficiently and economically as possible and towards that end, the HSE is already engaged in a comprehensive exercise to review and streamline the operation and cost structures of public facilities. The Department of Health will also be conducting a Value for Money Review of public nursing home costs to identify more fully the factors that may be increasing costs and any areas that require correction.

Hospital Appointments Delays

Questions (168)

Tom Fleming

Question:

168. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21047/15]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.

The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.

Overseas Development Aid Provision

Questions (169)

Martin Heydon

Question:

169. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding funding provided by Irish Aid for the Global Schoolroom programme; if the funding will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21002/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

I can confirm that the organisation, Global Schoolroom, applied for funding under the Irish Aid Civil Society Fund in 2014 and was awarded a grant of €40,000 for one year for its project in India in 2014. Global Schoolroom applied again in 2015 for further funding but, on this occasion, was unsuccessful.

The Civil Society Fund application and appraisal process is completed in an open and transparent manner by a committee comprising external consultants in addition to officials from Irish Aid. The detailed assessment of the external consultant is then communicated to all organisations that have applied for funding. The funding process is always very competitive and it is not possible to allocate funding to all applicants.

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Questions (170)

James Bannon

Question:

170. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) in County Longford will receive a full grant under the Student Universal Support Ireland scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20899/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.

This service compliments the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at [e-mail]. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

Departmental Properties

Questions (171)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter regarding the use of a former national school building (details supplied) in County Kerry as a community resource; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20911/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The school referred to by the Deputy closed in 2012.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department had a vested interest in the property by means of a charging lease which expired in 1970. The future use of the property is a matter for the property owners.

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Questions (172)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

172. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application under the emergency works scheme in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20927/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

My Department's Planning and Building Unit has recently received the additional information it sought from the school authority in respect of their application and this information is currently being assessed. The school authority will be notified of the outcome as quickly as possible.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (173)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

173. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if and when the much required low incidence teaching hours and special needs assistant support can be facilitated in the case of a child (details supplied) in County Kildare, whose application has the full support of the mainstream school that the child will attend in September 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20928/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support to schools to support children with special educational needs and additional care needs, respectively.

The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

The NCSE has now published details of the resource teaching allocations which will be made to each school for September 2015 on its website www.ncse.ie. The NCSE will also have a second round allocation process to respond to late enrolments, or from diagnosed disabilities emerging after the closing date for the first allocation round, to the start of the new school year.

Schools will be advised of their revised SNA allocations for the 2015/16 school year, prior to the end of the current school year.

It is a matter for schools to monitor and utilise their allocation of additional teaching support to best support the needs of identified pupils, in accordance with my Department's guidance. The teaching time afforded to each individual pupil is managed by schools, taking into account each child's individual learning needs.

In relation to SNA support, it is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management.

Should a parent be dissatisfied with the manner in which the resources or facilities which have been provided to support their child's education are being applied in school, they should raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

Special Education Review

Questions (174)

David Stanton

Question:

174. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made by the National Council for Special Education with regard to the preparation of policy advice on the education of children within the autism spectrum disorder; the professionals and support organisations which have been consulted by the council as part of the preparation of this policy advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20938/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is at an advanced stage in the preparation of its policy advice on educational provision for students with autism spectrum disorders.

I understand that, as requested by my predecessor Minister Quinn, the NCSE has consulted widely with parents, a range of professionals, other stakeholders and interested parties in the preparation of this policy advice, the details of which will be included in the publication of the report.

The NCSE has advised me that they expect the report to be concluded and delivered shortly. On receipt of this report my Department will consider its contents and recommendations and will decide on an implementation framework and timeframe.

I expect that the final report will reflect the broadest possible range of views and provide recommendations which will assist the development of policy for future years.

School Staff

Questions (175)

Mary Lou McDonald

Question:

175. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in Dublin 3 has been successful in its appeal to her Department regarding saving a teaching post in the school. [20939/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the coming school year 2015/16 are set out in Circular 0005/2015 which is available on the website. An appeals process is also available to schools. Details of the appeals criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements.

The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the March, 2015 meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. Having considered the application in the context of the published grounds, the Board deemed the application ineligible. The school was notified accordingly.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (176)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

176. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a request for special needs assistance in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20944/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are allocated to Special Schools and to mainstream Primary and Post Primary schools to assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.

At present there is no scheme in place to provide for additional care support needs of children with disabilities attending pre-school. However, there are a number of measures currently in place in the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure that the free pre-school year is more accessible to children with special needs.

These include an exemption from the upper age limit where a child would benefit from starting primary school at a later age. In addition, children with special needs can apply to have the pre-school year split over two years on a pro-rata basis, for example availing of the programme for 2 days a week in the first year and for 3 days a week in the second year.

Improving access to the pre-school year for children with special needs is a priority for the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

The Departments of Health and Education and Skills and Children and Youth Affairs are currently working together to identify a workable model for supports to pre-school children with special needs. This will be followed by very close co-operation between the sectors in defining/developing such a model and in making an agreed cross-departmentally supported proposal for the resources required to implement it.

Student Grant Scheme Payments

Questions (177)

Joe Carey

Question:

177. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the delay in the payment of a grant under the Student Universal Support Ireland scheme, given that the grant was sanctioned in January 2015 in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20965/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage the assistance of their public representatives in making enquiries about their grant applications.

This service complements the established channels provided by SUSI which include online application tracking, a dedicated website, a telephone helpdesk, email and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

Enquiries may be emailed direct to SUSI at [e-mail]. SUSI are responding to email queries within a matter of days.

School Accommodation Provision

Questions (178)

Michael Ring

Question:

178. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision to refuse additional accommodation to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo will be reviewed, in view of the circumstances outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20971/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

An application in respect of additional accommodation has been received in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy.

As the Deputy will appreciate, in view of the financial constraints within which my Department is operating, the position is that priority is being given to school applications for essential mainstream classroom accommodation. In the circumstances, my Department is satisfied, having considered the application submitted, that the school in question has sufficient accommodation to meet its needs and this has been outlined in detail to the school.

Educational Disadvantage

Questions (179)

Colm Keaveney

Question:

179. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reconsider the decision to cut a home school community liaison officer from a school (details supplied) in County Galway, particularly in view of the high numbers of students from a disadvantaged background, its designation under the delivering equality of opportunity in schools scheme and the likely impact this loss will have on a minority who have traditionally suffered from poor educational outcomes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20989/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

As the Deputy will be aware, DEIS - Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, is my Department's main policy instrument for tackling educational disadvantage. The recently published ESRI report on "Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS" which was commissioned by my Department, draws together the learning to date from the implementation of DEIS and identifies some of the challenges for future policy in this area. I see this Report as a starting point for a new discussion on the future of DEIS.

To this end, I have commenced a consultation process with education partners to inform the development of appropriate future measures to combat educational disadvantage. Given the broader social context in which educational disadvantage is situated, an inter-Departmental group will consider the roles of relevant Government Departments in delivering DEIS. A Technical Group will consider appropriate eligibility criteria for a revised identification process for schools over the course of the coming school year.

The outcome of this process will form part of an overall proposal for the delivery of future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage. While this process is underway, there will be no changes to current policy as regards DEIS designation or HSCL allocation to the school referred to by the Deputy.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (180)

Martin Heydon

Question:

180. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the hours of a special needs assistant in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kildare can be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21001/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.

Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional support to be able to attend school, the NCSE may make an allocation of SNA support to the school to assist that child.

The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria by which SNA support is allocated to pupils is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.

In considering applications for SNA supports for individual pupils, the SENOs take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources.

Once allocated, the deployment of SNAs within schools is then a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.

All schools have been asked to apply to the NCSE for SNA support for the 2015/16 school year by 18th March, 2015.

The NCSE will consider all applications for SNA support which have been made by schools.

All schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy, will be advised of their revised SNA allocations for the 2015/16 school year, prior to the end of the current school year.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.