Written Answers Nos. 344-367
344. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to introduce legislation to establish a register of interests for court judges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40711/15]
View answerThe Government Legislative Programme, which was published on 22 September 2015, includes the Judicial Council Bill among those Bills which are expected to be published in the period from the commencement of the current Dáil session to the start of the next session and my Department is working closely with the Office of the Attorney General to bring the Bill to a timely conclusion.
In its current form the Bill provides for the establishment of a Judicial Council and Board that will promote excellence and high standards of conduct by judges. It will also provide a means of investigating allegations of judicial misconduct and, in this context, a Judicial Conduct Committee, which will have lay representation, will be established. Finally, it will facilitate the ongoing support and education of judges through a Judicial Studies Committee and through the establishment of Judicial Support Committees. While the Bill does not provide explicitly for the creation of a register of interests, it does contemplate that one of the functions of the Judicial Council would be the adoption of guidelines concerning judicial conduct and ethics.
345. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans for educational supports for young persons who are struggling in school, for young persons who are out of school, and for young persons who are in danger of being out of school and not completing the junior certificate examination. [40284/15]
View answerSince 2014, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency under the remit of my Department, has a general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The education welfare services of Tusla, comprising the statutory Education Welfare Officers, the School Completion Programme and the Home School Community Liaison Scheme are key supports for children at risk of early school leaving and educational disadvantage.
Children who do not attend school regularly or who leave school early before age 16 or without completing 3 years of second level education are a priority concern for the Educational Welfare Service. Where school attendance problems arise for a child, Tusla’s approach is to concentrates on finding solutions, within a collaborative intervention framework involving children, families, schools and other relevant agencies. The work of the Educational Welfare Officer falls into two key categories. It can involve a brief intervention, at an early stage if the problem is identified and capable of being resolved, or, where the problem is more complex, it can involve the Educational Welfare Officer providing more intensive and ongoing support for the child and family. I am advised that more than 17,000 children were provided with brief interventions in 2013, while more than 2,400 children were assisted with intensive interventions.
The School Completion Programme and the Home School Liaison Scheme are preventative programmes. The School Completion Programme provides targeted supports to approximately 37,000 children throughout the country. The aim is to enhance children's engagement in education and school life. Typically, projects offer homework clubs; breakfast clubs; mentoring programmes; learning support; social and personal development programmes; out of school supports including music, art and sports and a range of activities during holiday periods. The Home School Community Liaison, with over 400 Home School Community Liaison coordinators serving over 600 schools, aims to build those important links between families, schools and local communities to support children’s learning.
The School Completion Programme has recently been the subject of a review, by the Economic and Social Research Institute, on behalf of Tusla. The review highlights the potential of preventative programmes such as the School Completion Programme to assist children to stay in education and prevent early school leaving and it made recommendations for the future operation of the programme. Tusla has already taken a number of actions to address the review's findings.
My Department will continue to work closely with Tusla to strengthen the operation of the programme and to realise its potential for these children. My Department will also participate in the Inter-Departmental Group that the Minister for Education and Skills proposes to establish to consider the roles of different Government departments in delivering the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion and secure good educational outcomes for children at risk of educational disadvantage.
346. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if a person (details supplied) can avail of a free place under the early childhood care and education programme from September 2016 to June 2017. [40566/15]
View answerChildren born between 1st January 2012 and 31st August 2013 are eligible to avail of the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme from September 2016. Based on the information supplied by the Deputy, this child is eligible to participate in the programme from September 2016.
347. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the arrangements he is putting in place to compensate couples who have paid deposits to an adoption agency here (details supplied) which has now ceased operations; why Government funding was agreed and then withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40085/15]
View answerI am aware that there is an issue regarding the repayment to clients of refundable registration fees they are owed by the agency the Deputy has referred to. These fees were paid as part of an agreement between this agency and its clients. My Department was not party to this agreement and therefore has no legal responsibility for repayment of these fees. While my Department made a once off payment of €10,000 to assist the agency in question in repaying clients that were due their refundable registration fees in July 2014, repayment of these fees and any other legacy debts are clearly a matter for the Board of the agency in question. Despite this, my Department indicated to this agency last December that I was willing to examine the question of legacy debt relating to refundable registration fees. This is a complex matter which requires careful examination, but my Department and I hope to reach a conclusion on the matter as soon as possible.
My Department provided interim funding of €10,000 per month to the agency in question from January 2014 to May 2015 to assist with operational costs and to allow an opportunity to work towards a sustainable model of service provision. It was never the intention of my Department to fund the operational costs fully, and this was always made clear to the agency. This funding was suspended earlier this year, while consideration of a review of the arrangements for the provision of intercountry adoption services was under way.
The Adoption Authority of Ireland advised my Department in mid-September that the agency in question would not be seeking re-accreditation next year. I and my Department’s immediate concern was to ensure that there is a contingency plan in place, to ensure that any adoptions which are progressing are not adversely affected. With this in mind, I approved operational funding for the agency up to a maximum of €40,000 on 14 October 2015, for a limited period, towards staffing and overhead costs to facilitate the transfer of case files to the Adoption Authority.
The Adoption Authority of Ireland is working with the agency in question regarding the transfer of client files to the Authority. The Adoption Authority and the agency meet on a weekly basis to review progress from the previous week and to plan for the week ahead. The Department also receives regular updates from both. The Adoption Authority of Ireland has advised my Department that nearly two thirds of the agency's client files have been transferred to the Authority to date, including 11 live case files which were transferred as a priority. The remaining client files are transferring on an agreed scheduled basis, with an expected completion date of November 20th.
Both the Adoption Authority and the agency in question have been in contact with clients to advise them of the current position. If clients have additional queries, a number of contact points within the Authority have been provided to them.
348. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when he expects the Adoption Amendment Act to be enacted with regard to children in long-term foster care being eligible for adoption; the length of time of care placement for these children; the safeguards for children who will be encompassed, as regards the contact with birth family, and also further supports throughout their lives. [40244/15]
View answerWork on the Adoption (Amendment) Bill is at an advanced stage. The Bill provides for the adoption of any child where the parents have failed for such a period of time as may be prescribed by law in their duty towards the child and where the best interests of the child so require. It also provides for the voluntary placement for adoption and the adoption of any child.
These legislative changes may have the effect of providing for the adoption of children in long-term foster care. In circumstances where an adoption order is effected, the birth parent/parents lose all parental rights and duties in relation to the child. However I am aware that, in practice, informal arrangements are often developed to support contact between the child and his/her birth parent/parents where that is in the best interests of the child.
349. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current Tusla, Child and Family Agency, operations in County Donegal; the locations of its local area offices; the range of services and supports it offers in each office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40252/15]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, provide and fund a wide range of services within the county of Donegal. These include social work services, such as child protection and welfare, alternative care including fostering services, children in care support and adoption services. Other services provided include family support, counselling, educational welfare services, domestic, sexual and gender based violence services, as well as inspecting early years services. Location and contact details for the following services are available on the Tusla website, www.tusla.ie.
- Child welfare and protection social work teams which provide social work services locally have a number of offices in Donegal.
- Fostering services to recruit potential foster carers, assess their suitability, arrange suitable training and provide ongoing support and supervision are also part of the services offered by Tusla.
- Children in care teams engage in care planning and after care planning.
- Social workers in adoption services undertake assessments to ensure the suitability of potential adoptive parents.
- Family resource centres provide universal and targeted services that address the needs of families in the local area such as family support, baby and toddler groups etc. In Donegal, there are nine family resource centres located in towns and rural areas throughout the county with details available on the website.
- Tusla also provide grants to voluntary and community organisations offering counselling and support services.
- Information and support is available regarding domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, adult survivors of child abuse, crisis accommodation and refuges, empowerment and women’s rights. Further information on contacting these services can be found at the following address: http://www.tusla.ie/services/domestic-sexual-gender-based-violence/rape-crisis-centres/.
- Educational welfare services are provided to children and their families regarding educational issues.
- Tusla is responsible for inspecting pre-schools, play groups, nurseries, crèches, day-care and similar services which cater for children aged 0-6, under the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations 2006, and inspection reports are published on their website.
I trust this information is helpful to the Deputy.
350. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if an aftercare package was provided to a person (details supplied) in County Laois after that person left foster care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40296/15]
View answerI want to thank the Deputy for his question. The Deputy will appreciate that this is an operational matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter raised. My Department has, however, referred this to Tusla for attention and asked that they liaise directly with the person concerned.
351. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding made available for child care services in budget 2016; the improvements this funding will deliver for families; the progress made to date in implementing these changes; if the changes include measures to support staff working in the sector and staff retention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40506/15]
View answerIn Budget 2016, I announced an €85 million package of additional investment for childcare. This includes funding for:
- An extension to the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme so that children can enrol in the programme at age three and continue in the programme until they make the transition to primary school. This will reduce childcare costs by an additional €1,500 and will increase the current 38 weeks of free pre-school provision by an average of 23 weeks, and up to 61 weeks depending on the child's date of birth and the age at which they subsequently start primary school. The extension to this programme, which will be introduced from September 2016, will cost an additional €47 million in 2016. The full year additional costs of this extended programme will be in the region of €112 million.
- A suite of supports to help children with a disability to participate fully in the ECCE programme. This delivers on my commitment to address these children’s particular needs in mainstream pre-school settings. Funding of €15 million has been provided to phase supports in during 2016, with a full year cost of €33 million from 2017 onwards.
- 8,000 extra places in 2016 under the CCS programme to help low income and disadvantaged families access quality childcare. These 8,000 places, which are in addition to a further 5,000 CCS places I announced recently with savings achieved in 2015, will cost in the region of €16 million.
- A range of measures to improve the quality of early years and school-aged childcare, including an audit of quality; an extended Learner Fund to support professionalisation of the sector; and an enhanced inspection regime. Funding of €3.5 million is provided for these quality measures in 2016 and will be built upon over coming years.
Budget 2016 also resources a dedicated Project Team to develop a single Affordable Childcare programme to provide working families with good quality childcare at a cost they can afford. Work on this programme will begin immediately, so that it can be in place by 2017. This programme will replace existing targeted programme - Community Childcare Subvention (CCS), along with the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes, comprising After-School Childcare (ASCC), Childcare Education and Training Support (CETS), and Community Employment Childcare (CEC), providing a new simplified subsidy programme, through both community/not-for-profit and private childcare providers.
€3 million is also being provided to support both community/not-for-profit and private childcare providers who need minor funding to develop after-school services using existing school and other accessible community facilities.
352. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to include children in the free school child care second year (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40562/15]
View answerAt present, children qualify for the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme when they are within the qualifying age range which is 3 years and 2 months to 4 years and 7 months in the September of the relevant year. This means, for example, that children born between 2 February 2011 and 30 June 2012 qualified for free pre-school from September 2015. Children who turn 3 from 1 July 2012 are below the age range for eligibility for ECCE in the 2015/2016 programme year but will qualify for the 2016/17 programme year.
The recent Budget decisions, which introduced an extended provision under the ECCE programme that allows children to access the free pre-school programme from the time they are 3 years of age until they start primary school, come into effect from September 2016. This extended provision, when fully rolled out, will mean that children will have access to free education - either in pre-school or primary school - from the age of three. The start up date for the introduction of this new measure was decided so as to allow pre-school providers an adequate timeframe to make any necessary infrastructural or service changes and to put in place extra staff resources to accommodate the additional numbers benefiting from the programme, which is estimated to increase from 67,000 to 127,000 in a given programme year.
I am conscious that, depending on their date of birth, some children enrolling in the ECCE programme in September 2016 will not benefit from this extended free pre-school provision. I am also aware that, when the programme is fully in place (i.e. from 2017), there will be some children who will benefit for a shorter extra period of free pre-school than others. Again, this will depend on the child's date of birth and the age at which they make the transition to primary school. Ultimately however, when this extended programme is fully in place, all children will be better off than in the present programme. Indeed, the net effect of the improvements for children overall will be an increase of an average of 23 weeks over the current programme. I think that this is a significant step forward for children and their families.
353. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs regarding the changes in funding provided by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, to rape crisis centres and the transfer of research responsibilities to gather statistical information to help inform policy, how such information is being collected in-house by the agency, as opposed to the previous arrangement through the rape crisis centre's network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40641/15]
View answerThe funding previously provided to Rape Crisis Network Ireland by Tusla was to develop and maintain a database of information recorded by workers in Rape Crisis Centres. Tusla had concerns that this database did not capture information from all 16 Rape Crisis Centres as not all centres were affiliated with the Network.
In addition, Tusla did not always have timely access to the data collected, which is essential to support the delivery of high quality services across both the domestic violence and sexual violence services sector.
Consequently, Tusla took the decision to put in place a comprehensive data system that best meets the current and future data needs of a developing service. In order to plan properly for the future, Tusla needs timely access to complete and reliable information.
As part of revised governance arrangements, funded sexual violence services will provide information directly to Tusla, creating, for the first time, a comprehensive dataset on all such services funded by the Agency. This information and evidence is critically important as Tusla continues to reform services to ensure the best possible response is provided to survivors of sexual violence.
In my discussions with Tusla earlier this year, I requested that particular priority be given to protecting front-line services, and in that context, funding for the 16 Rape Crisis Centres nationwide which provide services directly to rape survivors was protected in 2015. Almost €4.0m in funding is dedicated to Rape Crisis Centres in 2015, with funding maintained at 2014 levels.
As the Deputy will be aware, I announced a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla for next year. Tusla will have available to it some €676 million in funding, representing an increase of €38 million over 2015.
The precise level of funding to be provided to Rape Crisis Centres for next year will now be considered by Tusla in developing its Business Plan for 2016, which will be sent to me for consideration.
The Government, since its establishment, has attached particular priority to supporting vulnerable children and families and the significant increase in funding being made available to Tusla next year represents further evidence of our delivery on this ambition.
In summary, Tusla is committed to the development of domestic, sexual and gender based violence services in line with its statutory remit to provide such services. The immediate focus is on ensuring that front-line services are protected and this is happening. Beyond that, in planning for the future provision and development of services, Tusla is committed to addressing identified gaps in service provision, eliminating duplication where it exists and ensuring the provision of a more equitable service. The availability of comprehensive national data will support Tusla in this work.
354. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding and the number of organisations receiving funding to support victims of physical or sexual abuse allocated in 2015; and the funding to be provided in budget 2016 for 2016. [40644/15]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual or gender based violence whether in the context of the family or otherwise.
In 2015, Tusla will have provided over €19 million in funding to the provision of domestic and sexual violence services. This funding is allocated to specialist organisations responding to sexual violence and domestic violence and this amount includes the funding of 60 domestic and sexual violence services throughout the country comprising:
- Over €15m for 44 organisations providing domestic violence support services, including 20 emergency refuges;
- €4m for 16 rape crisis centres.
Future planning for domestic violence and sexual violence services will seek to address gaps, avoid duplication and support effective delivery of front-line services nationally. Developments for domestic and sexual violence services in Ireland will be considered as part of Tusla’s future commissioning processes.
As the Deputy will be aware, I announced a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla for next year. Tusla will have available to it some €676 million in funding, representing an increase of €38 million over 2015. The precise level of funding to be provided to services for victims of physical or sexual abuse will be considered by Tusla in developing its Business Plan for 2016, which will be sent to me for consideration.
Tusla will communicate with individual funded organisations about funding arrangements for 2016 at the earliest opportunity.
The Government, since its establishment, has attached particular priority to supporting vulnerable children and families and the significant increase in funding being made available to Tusla next year represents further evidence of our delivery on this ambition.
I would like to assure the Deputy that I and Tusla will continue to support the provision of services for victims of abuse. Developing stronger, more effective and responsive services will continue to be a key priority for me as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
355. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs why young persons at 17 years of age will not be included under the eligibility criteria for an aftercare plan under the aftercare Bill given that approximately 14% of young persons are admitted to care at 16 and 17 years of age (details supplied) and given that this group comprises the most vulnerable young persons who are currently ending up accessing homeless services; and if he will amend the aftercare Bill to give Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, a statutory duty to providing aftercare plans for these young persons. [40652/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Bill is primarily concerned with aftercare – the planning and support put in place to meet the needs of a young person who is leaving statutory care at 18 years of age, to assist him or her in making the transition to independent living. The Bill obliges the Child and Family Agency, following an assessment of need, to prepare an aftercare plan identifying relevant aftercare supports for an eligible child or eligible young person.
The Bill builds on the existing provisions of section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 and obliges the Agency:
(i) to prepare an aftercare plan for an eligible child before they reach the age of 18;
(ii) to prepare an aftercare plan, on request, for an eligible adult aged 18, 19 or 20; and
(iii) in relation to an eligible adult to review the operation of an aftercare plan where there has been a change in that adult’s circumstances or additional needs have arisen.
An eligible child means a child aged 16 years or over who has spent at least 12 months in the care of the State between the ages of 13 and (up to) 18 years old. An eligible adult means a young person aged 18, 19 or 20 who has spent at least 12 months in the care of the State between the ages of 13 and 18 years.
Therefore children aged 17 will be entitled to an aftercare plan if they have spent 12 months in State care since the age of 13.
Where risk of homelessness is concerned, unaccompanied children under 16 who present as out of home to emergency services are taken into care. Children aged 16 and 17 may be taken into care, or provided a service under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991.
The Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2015 provides that where a child or adult has been in care (for any period of time between the ages of 13 and 18) and has also been accommodated under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991, then any periods of time spent in such accommodation and that spent in care can be combined to meet the 12 month threshold for eligibility for an aftercare plan.
Overall the Bill underpins significant initiatives and reforms that have taken place in recent years, which have been developed with the goal of improving aftercare services so as to deliver better outcomes for young people leaving the care of the State.
356. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the current funding situation for Westmeath Support Service Against Domestic Abuse (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40731/15]
View answerOne of Tusla’s key priorities is to ensure that the needs of victims of domestic violence are being met in the best way possible. For this reason, the 2015 budget was directed towards front-line services and working towards ensuring that no potential service user is disadvantaged because of geography.
Tusla recognises that organisations providing services to meet the needs of victims of domestic violence have made huge efforts to maintain services in the face of funding and other challenges and is committed to enhancing support for front-line domestic violence services. Tusla considers that there is scope for a more coordinated and more equitable approach to the provision of domestic violence services across the country.
Tusla in its budget for 2015 provided funding of €47,146 to the service referred to by the Deputy. This is the same level of funding that the service received in 2014.
I recently announced a significant increase in the funding allocation to Tusla for next year. Tusla will have available to it some €676 million in funding, representing an increase of €38 million over 2015. The precise level of funding to be provided to Domestic Violence Services for next year will now be considered by Tusla in developing its Business Plan for 2016, which will be sent to me for consideration.
The Government, since its establishment, has attached particular priority to supporting vulnerable children and families and the significant increase in funding being made available to Tusla next year represents further evidence of our delivery on this ambition. Tusla will continue to engage with stakeholders in Co. Westmeath around how best to provide domestic violence support services as part of integrated community-based services.
357. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of the company or companies that supply Irish Water or the local authorities with fluoride in the State; the terms of these contracts; and if he has any supervisory role in ensuring that the stated level of fluoride in tap water throughout the State falls within the permitted guidelines. [40228/15]
View answerChemifloc Ltd. is the company currently contracted by the HSE for the supply and delivery of hydrofluorosilicic acid, the chemical used for water fluoridation. Irish Water, acting as agents for the HSE, has responsibility for the fluoridation of public water supplies, including the daily testing of fluoride content of the water, under the Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 42 of 2007). The HSE has a supervisory role, which includes taking monthly samples of water for analysis by Public Analyst Laboratories.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to forward the terms of the contract 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.
358. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will reinstate the mobility allowance for persons with a physical disability so they may avail of the taxi service; if she will provide an update on this allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40316/15]
View answer359. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the ongoing review of the mobility allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40835/15]
View answer380. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made on policy proposals for the drafting of primary legislation for a new mobility allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40217/15]
View answer426. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health his plans to reintroduce the motorised transport grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40454/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 358, 359, 380 and 426 together.
Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of both the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes on 26th February 2013.
The Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. The Department is seeking a solution which would best meet the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income to contribute towards the cost of their mobility needs, while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns.
Payments of up to €208.50 per month are continuing to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time the scheme closed. Any proposals put to Government will seek to take account of this group.
Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. The proposals seek to ensure that:
- There is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation;
- There is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme;
- Resources are targeted at those with the greatest needs; and
- The Scheme is capable of being costed and it is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.
Heads of Bill have now been developed in draft form and are currently subject to detailed legal examination. The approval of a General Scheme and Heads of Bill by the Government will be followed by publication and pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Health and Children Committee. The Health (Transport Support) Bill is included in the Government Legislation Programme.
360. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of full-time consultant gynaecologists who are assigned to Galway University Hospital and to the entire Health Service Executive west administrative area; the details of their deployment; the facilities within this area; the waiting times for appointments and procedures, other than those directly related to routine pregnancy and childbirth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39994/15]
View answerImproving waiting times for scheduled care for patients is a priority for the Government. In January, taking into account current pressures on acute hospital services, I put in place maximum permissible waiting times for inpatient and day case treatment and outpatient appointments of 18 months by 30 June and 15 months by year end.
The HSE was provided with additional funding of €51m to ensure that these maximum waiting times would be achieved. The funding provided is intended to maximise capacity across public and voluntary hospitals as well as outsourcing activity where the capacity is not available to meet patient needs within the maximum allowable waiting time. In order to maintain progress and to make further improvements to achieve a 15 month maxima by end December, the HSE is now fining hospitals that have breached the maximum permissible waiting time for 18 months. These fines are designed to incentivise performance.
I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the other matters raised. 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.
361. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health why a surgical procedure for a person (details supplied) in County Clare was cancelled; when the procedure will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39996/15]
View answerUnder 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.
362. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a wheelchair to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39997/15]
View answerAs the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for 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.
363. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for a new false eye for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40045/15]
View answerUnder 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.
364. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 53 of 14 October 2015, in which the annual cost of providing home care to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal was disclosed, for a breakdown of the costs, including the number of hours of care and the individual expenses; the costs involved if a comparative level of care were provided by staff employed directly by the Health Service Executive rather than by agency staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40046/15]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
365. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) in County Louth who holds a medical card cannot receive dental treatment under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40050/15]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply 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.
366. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the procedure to be followed by members of the national ambulance service who identify themselves as having mental health issues; if the Health Service Executive and the national ambulance service have a duty of care to such persons once they have identified themselves as such; where this information is imparted to a direct manager, to whom does he or she have the right to disclose it; if it is procedure to acknowledge correspondence from persons identifying themselves as having mental health issues; if ignoring such a revelation constitutes a failure of duty of care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40052/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
367. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his Department's annual spend on agency nursing staff; the current number of permanent nursing vacancies; if there is a current policy of non-recruitment of part-time staff and non-facilitation of full-time staff to move to a part-time position; if this is contributing to the use of agency staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40073/15]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on this matter. 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.
