Written Answers Nos. 301-17
301. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will adopt the recommendation of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission that contracts for subcontracted State services for children, including health, care work, immigration and asylum services, be awarded subject to mandatory requirements for human rights compliance. [2838/16]
View answerThe submission made by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), in December, included a proposition relating to Public procurement and children's rights. In that context the Commission stated that reform of the type it recommends could take place in the wider context of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. It noted that the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is in the process of developing a National Plan on Business and Human Rights and that this process presents an opportunity for human rights to be integrated across a wide spectrum.
The issues raised by the Deputy are the responsibility of several Departments. In the context of work on a National Plan being led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, my Department will work with other Departments to see how the submission of IHREC to the UNCRC can best be taken on board.
302. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs what steps he intends to take to ensure that anti-poverty and social inclusion targets in the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014-2020 are met within a specified timeframe, as recommended by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission report submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. [2839/16]
View answerAt my recent appearance at the Review of Ireland by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, I stated that the Irish Government acknowledges that dealing with child poverty in Ireland has been a major challenge.
In recognition of the higher risks and life-long consequences of child poverty, the Government set a child-specific poverty target in Better Outcomes, Better Future: the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People to reduce consistent child poverty by at least two-thirds on the 2011 level, a figure of 70,000 children by 2020. This is in line with the Irish Human Rights Equality Commission’s recommendation of setting a specified timeframe. Based on more recent (2014) current data, this target has been updated to 100,000 children.
The Department of Social Protection have the lead role in coordinating government strategies on child poverty and are the Sponsor of outcome 4 of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures - economic security and opportunity. The Department of Social Protection also has lead responsibility for the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion. Its work is also informed by the European Commission Recommendation on 'Investing in children: Breaking the cycle of disadvantage'. The Department of Social Protection have identified child poverty as a key cross-sectoral priority to be addressed in 2015 and 2016 under the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures structures.
In support of the target, the Government is implementing a whole-of-government approach to tackling child poverty. The whole-of-government approach includes: child and family income supports; prevention and early intervention services in disadvantaged areas; access to employment for jobless households with children; national programme to tackle educational disadvantage; physical activity plan and provision of school meals.
To assist in this, the Advisory Council for Better Outcomes, Brighter Future, which brings together key members of the community and voluntary sectors who work with and for children and young people, and the Department of Social Protection have co-convened a subgroup with officials from my Department and other relevant Departments to progress solutions to the issue of child poverty. The first meeting of this group was held in September 2015, the second was held in November 2015 and a third is scheduled for January 2016.
As part of this multi-dimensional approach and the importance accorded to the development of effective and quality focused services and support for children and young people, my Department in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection will hold an EU Peer Review next month to explore innovative responses in prevention and early intervention to improve outcomes for children in particular those experiencing child poverty and disadvantage. This event will involve ten Member States and the European Commission and a number of key Irish Stakeholders.
My Department continues to work closely with the Department of Social Protection supporting this multi-dimensional approach to child poverty. There are also a number of areas of focus that support our response to child poverty within my Department. My Department invests €260 million annually on early childhood care and education and after-school support programmes which provide care to 100,000 children. A number of these programmes are targeted at those on lowest incomes. In addition in early 2015, I established an Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Early Years and After-School Care and Education. The work of the group was focused on identifying policy objectives to guide future investment in this area. This report was published in July 2015 and informed the estimates process for Budget 2016. Budget 2016 provides for an additional €85 million investment in 2016.
My Department is also leading the implementation of the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme (2013-2017). The ABC Programme is co-funded by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies and will have a total funding allocation of up to €29.7 million. The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme aims to improve the outcomes for children, young people and existing service by drawing on best international practice to break the cycle of child poverty where it is most deeply entrenched. It is overseen by an Inter-departmental project team.
My Department also provides targeted support for disadvantaged, marginalised and at risk young people through a range of schemes. The allocation to support the provision of youth services by the voluntary youth sector for 2016 is €51.03 million. I launched the National Youth Strategy 2015-2020 on 8 October, 2015. The strategy sets out Government’s aims for young people, aged 10 to 24 years, so that they are active and healthy, achieving their full potential in learning and development, safe and protected from harm, have economic security and opportunity and are connected and contributing to their world. The implementation structures established by my Department under Better Outcomes Brighter Futures will oversee the roll out of the National Youth Strategy.
Finally, as part of my Department's response, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency is also responsible for the delivery of a range of services focusing on the welfare, protection and support for children, young people and their families which are key to supporting outcomes which assist in actively mitigating the impact of child poverty.
303. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will allocate funding to a service (details supplied) in County Donegal through Tusla, the Child and Family Agency; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2876/16]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency, has statutory responsibility for the care and protection of victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence. A network of 60 organisations provides services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence in Ireland, including 20 services providing emergency refuge accommodation to women and children and 24 community-based domestic violence services.
The Agency has established a co-ordinated approach for provision of these services with an increased national budget of €20.6 million in 2016, a single line of accountability and greater support and oversight for service provision through appointment of a dedicated national team for domestic and sexual violence services.
Tusla's priorities in 2016 will focus on putting services to victims of domestic and sexual violence on a sustainable footing and implementing measures to address obligations under the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) and the Second National Strategy for Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, which was recently published by the Minister for Justice and Equality.
Under current contractual arrangements with Tusla, the support of Donegal Women's Domestic Violence Service is available to women across Donegal, including Inishowen. I am advised by Tusla that initial contact can be made with the service through the Freefone 24-hour Helpline and that appointments are made by arrangement at a location that is convenient and safe for women who want to access the service.
At all times Tusla’s key priority is to ensure that the needs of victims of domestic and sexual violence, are being met in the best way possible, with a focus on addressing inequities in access to services and assuring availability of consistent and high quality services.
304. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in the lifetime of this Government, the number of proposals managerial staff in any agency or managerial body under his remit put forward to alter the roll-out of public services which were delayed, postponed or abandoned as a result of non-co-operation by trade union representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3168/16]
View answerThe Deputy will appreciate that changes in public services may be subject to the normal industrial relations processes which may include discussions with union representatives and referral to the independent industrial relations machinery under the relevant public service agreements.
The information requested by the Deputy would not normally be held by my Department and I have asked each Agency under my Department's remit to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of their own area of operation.
305. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 was denied a medical card. [2844/16]
View answerThe 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.
306. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health if he has sanctioned a pay increase for workers (details supplied) further to recommendations by the Workplace Relations Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3132/16]
View answerConsideration of pay rates for fourth year student nurses undertaking the 36 week clinical placement and whether the placement should attract incremental credit was provided for in a Chairman's Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
The Department of Health and the HSE with the relevant nursing unions considered these issues at the Workplace Relations Commission on 14 December, 2015. Following that meeting the terms of the Chairman's Note were extended to include broader potential savings and service impacts. It was also agreed that the process would be progressed as a priority.
Following engagement between the relevant parties, a Joint Document encompassing proposals on the rate of pay for the placement and on granting incremental credit for the placement was finalised on 23 December. The Joint Document was submitted to my Department for consideration, in the first instance. Any changes to the rate of pay and the treatment of the placement as regards incremental credit will be subject to the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Separately, the current rates of pay for the placement, was increased from the 1 January 2016, pro rata to the increase in the minimum wage for trainees announced in Budget 2016 and provided for in the National Minimum Wage Order 2015 (S.I. No. 442 of 2015).
307. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath to ensure that preschool assistant support is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2707/16]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, is the responsibility of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. While certain flexibilities had been built in to the Programme to facilitate the inclusion of children with a disability the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures children and young people's policy framework contained a commitment to develop a plan to facilitate the full participation of such children in the ECCE Programme. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has lead responsibility for the implementation of this commitment and has concluded an intensive process of deliberation and consultation on the matter in conjunction with the Departments of Health and Education and Skills and has brought forward a new model of supports to facilitate the full participation of children with a disability in the ECCE Programme.
As part of Budget 2016, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs announced the necessary funding to implement the new model of ECCE supports for children with a disability. The new model will provide supports including enhanced continuing professional development for early years practitioners; grants for equipment, appliances and minor alterations; and access to therapeutic intervention. Funding of €15 million has been provided to phase these supports in during 2016. Full year costs for these supports are estimated to be €33 million from 2017 onwards. This model of supports was launched on 18 November last by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs with my full support and the support of my Government colleague Jan O'Sullivan T.D., Minister for Education and Skills.
It should be noted that while the Health Service Executive has no statutory obligation to provide assistant supports for children with special needs wishing to avail of the ECCE scheme, it has, to date, worked at local level and in partnership with the relevant disability service providers to address individual needs as they arise. This has been done, for example, by funding special pre-schools that cater specifically for children with disabilities. In some limited cases at local level, disability services have also facilitated children with a disability to attend mainstream pre-schools by providing assistant supports where possible and where resources are available. The provision of such pre-school assistant supports should not be confused with Special Needs Assistants who are funded by the Department of Education and Skills to support children with special educational needs in primary and post-primary school settings.
Within this context, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the individual case she has 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.
308. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the hospice and end-of-life care services available in County Donegal for children under 18 years of age who have high complex medical needs; if he will remedy the lack of such services in the county, including the establishment of a dedicated hospice service for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2710/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If the Deputy has 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.
309. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Health the pay rights of undergraduate and intern student nurses following the long and protracted discussions with the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation; and when these discussions will be completed. [2713/16]
View answerConsideration of pay rates for fourth year student nurses undertaking the 36 week clinical placement and whether the placement should attract incremental credit was provided for in a Chairman's Note to the Lansdowne Road Agreement.
The Department of Health and the HSE with the relevant nursing unions considered these issues at the Workplace Relations Commission on 14 December, 2015. Following that meeting the terms of the Chairman's Note were extended to include broader potential savings and service impacts. It was also agreed that the process would be progressed as a priority.
Following engagement between the relevant parties, a Joint Document encompassing proposals on the rate of pay for the placement and on granting incremental credit for the placement was finalised on 23 December. The Joint Document was submitted to my Department for consideration, in the first instance. Any changes to the rate of pay and the treatment of the placement as regards incremental credit will be subject to the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Separately, the current rates of pay for the placement, was increased from the 1 January 2016, pro rata to the increase in the minimum wage for trainees announced in Budget 2016 and provided for in the National Minimum Wage Order 2015 (S.I. No. 442 of 2015).
310. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2721/16]
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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
311. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will introduce a sugar tax for food and drink sold in hospitals, along the lines of the one recently announced by the National Health Service in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2722/16]
View answerI would support all evidence based effective measures to tackle obesity. As you are aware, I wrote to the Minister for Finance about a sugar tax before the Budget. The HSE has established a policy on 'healthier vending' and calorie posting. My department will work with them to ensure that healthier food is provided across HSE facilities.
The determinants of obesity are many and involve a myriad of interactions. The range of factors include biological, genetic, environmental, education, skills, income, employment, transport, availability of healthier foods and physical activity. Taxing sugar added drinks is but one of many measures that I am addressing in the National Obesity and Action Plan which is in the final stages of its development. Furthermore, my Department is working on a number of measures which include legislation for calorie posting on menus, a Code of Practice for the food industry in relation to advertising, product placement and sponsorship and new healthy eating guidelines and food pyramid. The matter of reformulation of food products to reduce the sugar, fat and salt contents of food is also under active consideration by my Department.
312. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will reconsider the eligibility of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal for a repayment given that prescription charges were applied despite the person being in receipt of a long-term illness card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2737/16]
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. If the Deputy has 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.
313. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2770/16]
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 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 the Deputy directly. If he has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
314. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if the relevant authorities, in particular, the Health Service Executive, made all efforts to contact a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 at the various addresses known for her; and the specific actions taken, by whom and when, to address the very serious issues with which the person presented. [2775/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly. If the Deputy not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
315. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2780/16]
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 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 directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
316. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the status of the experience of a person (details supplied) in a hospital. [2798/16]
View answerWith regard to specific complaints in relation to experiences of individuals in our hospitals, there is a formal complaints policy, entitled “Your Service Your Say”, details of which are on the HSE website, at:http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/feedback/complaints/
In accordance with this procedure, a complaint must be made in the first instance to the hospital in which the incident causing the complaint occurred.
If an individual is not satisfied with the response from the hospital, a review can be sought from the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman, whose details are set out as follows.
HSE Director of Advocacy
Oak House
Millennium Park
Naas
Co Kildare
Tel 1890 424 555.
Office of the Ombudsman
18, Lower Leeson Street
Dublin 2
Tel 1890 223 030
Email: ombudsman@ombudsman.gov.ie.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow up the matter.
317. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2799/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If he has 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.
