Written Answers Nos 131-137
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the assistance being offered to persons (details supplied) in County Kildare towards the costs of an operation that will be conducted outside the State. [2675/16]
View answerIn my previous reply to the Deputy on this matter, on 17 December last, I advised that the HSE operates the Treatment Abroad Scheme (TAS) and that an application under the Scheme was the appropriate avenue available to this family in seeking assistance in respect of the proposed surgery. The HSE has again advised that an application under the Scheme has yet to be received in respect of this case. Full details of the scheme and application process are available on the HSE website or by phone from 056 7784059.
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.
132. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to clarify a situation regarding a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2553/16]
View answerHuman Rights issues form part of Ireland’s continuing dialogues with other countries, across all regions of the world. Human rights issues are discussed on a regular basis with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral and multilateral meetings, including during the visit of Premier Li Keqiang to Ireland in May 2015.
The Government follows closely reports of human rights violations against Falun Gong practitioners.
Through the formal framework of the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, which was established in 1995, the EU continues to share with China its experience in the field of human rights protection and promotion, and to urge China to take clear steps to improve the human rights situation. The latest session of this dialogue took place on 30 November – 1 December 2015 and provided the EU with the opportunity to have a detailed exchange of views on a wide range of human rights issues with China. The EU raised a number of issues including the rights of persons belonging to minorities, and freedom of religion or belief.
In 2013, officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade held a series of meetings with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and human rights lawyers. During these meetings the Irish Falun Dafa Association discussed ways in which human rights issues are raised with Chinese authorities by both Ireland and the EU. However, it should be noted that the Chinese Government denies accusations of human rights abuses against those who practice Falun Gong.
Ireland, together with our EU partners, will continue to address human rights issues with China, in frequent and regular dialogue, through our contacts in both Dublin and Beijing and through the relevant multilateral channels.
133. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if An Taoiseach has referred a case (details supplied) to him; the steps he is taking to address the issues involved; why he has not made any contact with the family involved and to indicate when he will meet this family. [2651/16]
View answerMy Department is aware of this case and has been in direct contact with the family since 2013. The case currently remains under consideration in the relevant country’s legal system. My Department is therefore constrained in what it can appropriately do. As in all cases where legal issues are involved, our advice to the family would be to seek and retain expert advice from local lawyers.
Should any updates be received by the Embassy from the relevant authorities, the information will be forwarded to the family immediately. Officials of my Department both in Dublin and at the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to meet with the family.
134. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will arrange for a person (details supplied) in County Louth to be contacted to discuss a passport issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2659/16]
View answerThe Passport Service last wrote to the person concerned in November to inform her that further enquiries were being made in relation to a passport book which had been submitted in support of her son’s Irish passport application. These enquiries, which have involved inter-agency contacts, are nearing completion and the Passport Service will be in communication with the person again in the near future.
135. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the consular assistance being given to a person (details supplied) detained in the Philippines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2661/16]
View answerMy Department is aware of this case and is providing consular assistance to the Irish citizen involved.
The Embassy in Singapore, which is accredited to the Philippines, has raised our concerns about this case with the authorities in that country. A request has been made that the appeal be expedited on humanitarian grounds while noting the independence of the legal process in the Philippines.
Our Ambassador is continuing to monitor developments closely and will raise the case with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Philippines on his next visit to Manila.
136. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills why Irish citizens who have emigrated with their families are classed as overseas students when they return to study at third level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2552/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in order to qualify for tuition fee funding, students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course.
Where students do not qualify for free fees funding they must pay the appropriate fee - either EU or Non-EU, as determined by each higher education institution. These institutions are autonomous bodies and the level of fee payable by students who do not meet the requirements of the free fees scheme is a matter for the relevant institution.
However, due to concerns that in some cases the higher non-EU fee was being charged to students who held EU/EEA/Swiss nationality but did not meet the residency clause for free fees, the Department requested higher education institutions to charge the more moderate EU fee to such students. Students must have completed at least five academic years of study (primary or post-primary level) in Ireland/EU/EEA/Switzerland and commence their first undergraduate course of study in an approved institution in the State in order to qualify for the EU rate of fee. This position took effect from the academic year 2014/15.
137. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address concerns raised in correspondence regarding a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2554/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs attending Special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support.
Staffing arrangements for special schools are in line with policy advice provided by the NCSE which did not recommend alteration to staffing ratios established under SERC Report in 1993.
Circular 0042/2011 provides information to schools regarding the staffing arrangements which apply in Special schools.
The Circular sets out that special schools are staffed based on their pupil profiles and the disability category of the pupils enrolled, as opposed to being based principally on school designation. Staffing levels therefore reflect the complexity of needs that exist within schools rather than being determined solely by a school's designation, in recognition that many Special schools enrol students from disability categories other than from those provided for by their school designations.
In determining the staffing allocation for schools, the NCSE takes into account up-to-date enrolment and pupil profile information. School staffing schedules are reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE. As such, the profile of Special school pupil populations is aligned with appropriate staffing allocations. Accordingly, the staffing allocation for the school referred to in the Deputy's question reflects the profile of pupils currently enrolled in the school, in accordance with each pupil's disability categorisation.
The NCSE has recently submitted their Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. In developing this policy advice, the NCSE has consulted widely with parents, professionals and other stakeholders and interested parties while also conducting research.
The advice is intended to identify the nature and extent of educational intervention/s, teaching practices and other supports which should be provided to enable children with autism to achieve educational outcomes appropriate to their needs and abilities.
The policy advice is currently under consideration in my Department.
