Written Answers Nos. 225-240
225. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children who died or were injured while in care in each of the past ten years to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3669/16]
View answerThe death of any child or young person is a tragedy, and a profound loss for their families and carers and I deeply sympathise with all those affected. In order to identify learning about how to better address the needs of vulnerable children and families, the National Review Panel (NRP) was established in 2010 to review serious incidents and deaths of children in care, in aftercare, and those known to Child Welfare and Protection Services. It is an independent body chaired by Dr Helen Buckley of Trinity College and its reports are published on the Tusla website.
As the National Review Panel was only established in March 2010, data for the years prior to this is unavailable in the format requested by the Deputy. Further information on the cases and the work of the Panel is published in the National Review Panel annual reports, which are available on the Tusla website.
The following table is a summary of the deaths of children and young people in care over the period 2010 to 2014.
Table 1: Number of Deaths notified for children and young people in care (National Review Panel Annual Report 2014)
|
Year |
Cause of Death |
Total |
|||
|
Natural Causes |
Homicide |
Suicide |
Drug Overdose |
||
|
2010 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
2011 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
|
2012 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
|
2013 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
2014 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
Totals |
7 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
13 |
For the information of the Deputy, I am also including the following table that sets out the deaths and serious incidents for children and young people who were in care, in an aftercare programme or were known to the Child Welfare and Protection Services.
Table 2: Number of Deaths and Serious Incidents notified for children and young people in care, aftercare or were known to the Child Welfare and Protection Services (National Review Panel Annual Report 2014)
|
Causes of Death, as notified to the National Review Panel |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Natural Causes |
6 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
|
Suicide |
4 |
3 |
9 |
4 |
8 |
|
Road Traffic Accident |
4 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
|
Other – Accidental |
2 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
|
Drug Overdose |
4 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
|
Homicide |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Cause of Death to be Verified |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
|
Total |
22 |
15 |
23 |
17 |
26 |
|
Number of Serious Incidents |
8 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
For completeness, I would note that the Report of the Independent Child Death Review Group gives data on deaths of 196 children during the period of 1 January 2000 to 30 April 2010 who were in care (18%), known to social services (65%) or in aftercare (16%). This report is available on www.dcya.gov.ie.
226. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011. [3762/16]
View answerIn order to deliver key commitments in relation to children and young people and to put in place a unified framework of policy, legislation and provision across Government in respect of children and young people, it is at times necessary to commission reports and utilise expertise from a range of expert individuals and bodies. My Department ensures that all reports commissioned are of direct relevance to the operational and policy commitments of my Department.
I have set out as follows the full range of external consultant reports commissioned by my Department. Costs may include, where applicable, copy editing, design and other costs relating to publication. Separate material is provided in respect of the Growing Up in Ireland study.
|
Name of External Report |
Date of Commission |
Date/expected date of Publication |
Name of External Consultant |
Cost of Report |
|
Audit of Children and Young people’s Participation in decision making in Ireland |
November 2009 |
November 2011 |
Cnag ar an Doras and Sandra Roe (joint contract) |
€19,890.42 |
|
National Consultation with Children Living in the Care of the State |
November 2010 |
July 2011 |
Cnag ar an Doras |
€25,610.00 |
|
Body Image Survey Report |
March 2011 |
October 2011 |
Anam Cara |
€6,800.00 |
|
Youth Work: A Systematic Map of the Research Literature |
September 2011 |
June 2013 |
Social Science Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of (EPPI-Centre) London. |
€67,000.00 |
|
Valuation report |
November 2011 |
Internal use only |
Elliott Fitzgerald Ltd. |
€1,230.00 |
|
Needs Assessment for the Redevelopment of www.childrensdatabase.ie |
December 2011 |
Internal use only |
Centre for Effective Services |
€18,400.00 |
|
Every Child a Home: A Review of the Implementation of the Youth Homelessness Strategy |
December 2011 |
July 2013 |
Centre for Effective Services Penhouse Design Intacta Print Carole Devaney for proofing of report and of briefing note |
€6,000.00 €5,522.70 €4,706.57 €1,360.00 Total: €17,589.27 |
|
Comhairle na nÓg and Garda Síochána survey on the Attitudes of Gardaí to Young People. Questionnaire for Gardaí and Young People |
July 2012 |
Publication date to be finalised |
Anam Cara |
€7,650.00 |
|
Public Knowledge and Attitudes Relating to Children’s Rights, Welfare, Protection and Services |
July 2012 |
Publication date to be finalised |
Behaviour and Attitudes Qualitative Research – Group Facilitation Quantitative Research – Interviews Barometer Research |
€42,864.98 €59,040.00 €1,107.00 Total: €103,011.98 |
|
Ireland’s Consolidated 3rd and 4th Report to the United Nations Committee in the Rights of the Child |
July 2012 |
July 2013 |
Ms. Carmel Corrigan – Drafting of Report Ms. Carol Devaney – Editing, Formatting and Indexing |
€12,600.00 €4,760.00 Total: €17,360.00 |
|
Strategic Human Resources |
December 2012 |
April 2013 |
Mazars |
€20,602.50 |
|
Internal Audit Report: Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme Internal Audit Report: ICT Shared Services Arrangements |
December 2012 December 2012 |
Internal Use Only Internal Use Only |
Capita Business Services Ltd Capita Business Services Ltd |
Combined for both reports €23,803.00 |
|
Summary Report for Young Voices Have Your Say- Structured Dialogue |
January 2013 |
March 2013 |
Cnag ar an Doras |
€4,918.00 |
|
Care Issues Review |
March 2013 |
Internal use only |
Victor McElfatrick |
€3,556.56 |
|
Report on Structural Damage |
March 2013 |
Internal use only |
Frontier Engineering Group Ltd. |
€7,668.74 |
|
Staff Roster Review |
April 2013 |
Internal use only |
McGuinness Killen Partnership |
€6,715.80 |
|
Role Review for Child & Family Agency |
May 2013 |
November 2013 |
Mazars |
€16,512.75 |
|
Care Issues Review |
September 2013 |
Internal use only |
Conal Devine & Associates |
€13,636.21 |
|
Internal Audit Report: Community Childcare Subvention / Childcare Education and Training Supports Programmes |
January 2014 |
Internal Use Only |
Capita Business Services Ltd |
€8,200.00 |
|
Care Issues Review |
February 2014 |
Internal use only |
Kieran McGrath |
€13,500.00 |
|
Policy Analysis and Development on Remission of Sentence |
March 2014 |
Internal use only |
Bramell Lane Ltd |
€29,151.00 |
|
Land Valuation Report |
August 2014 |
Internal use only |
Lisney Chartered Surveyors |
€2,152.50 |
|
Internal Audit Report: National Children’s Detention Facility |
October 2014 |
Internal use only |
Capita Business Services |
€12,623.00 |
|
Internal Audit Report: Programme Integration Platform (June 2015) |
November 2014 |
Internal Use Only |
Capita Business Services |
€15,675.00 |
|
Internal Audit Report: Transactions Audit |
November 2014 |
Internal use – Not yet complete |
Capita Business Services |
€16,858.00 |
|
Report on Ireland’s Implementation of EU Youth Strategy |
November 2014 |
Late 2015 |
Carmel Corrigan |
€6,300.00 |
|
"Becoming an Active Player" - Report on meeting of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures Advisory Council |
December 2014 |
Internal use only |
The Change Exploratory Ltd. |
€1,600.00 |
|
Internal Audit Report: Programme Integration Platform (January 2015) |
January 2015 |
Internal use only |
Capita Business Services |
€16,858.00 |
|
Internal Audit Report: DCYA Governance of Child and Family Agency (Tusla) (Working Title) |
February 2015 |
Internal use – Not yet complete |
Capita Business Services |
€12,100 (to date) |
|
Report of the involvement of children and young people in the recruitment of the Ombudsman for Children |
March 2015 |
December 2015 |
Sandra Roe |
€6,000.00 |
|
A report of consultations with children and young people for Ireland 2016 |
May 2015 |
March 2016 |
Ursula Kelly - UCC |
€9,827.70 |
|
Review of Public Spending Code Return (Quality Assurance) |
June 2015 |
Internal use only |
Capita Business Services |
€4,125.00 |
|
Report of the process of consulting children and young people living in Direct Provision |
July 2015 |
January 2016 |
Ursula Kelly - UCC |
€9,948.00 |
|
Audit of education and training on children’s rights and children’s and young people’s participation in decision-making in all third level and further education programmes and continuing professional development programmes in Ireland |
September 2015 |
March 2016 |
Ursula Kelly - UCC |
€19,978.00 |
|
Report of the workshop discussions at Dáil na nÓg 2015 |
October 2015 |
January 2016 |
Sandra Roe |
€4,000.00 |
|
Updating the Comhairle na nÓg Toolkit |
November 2015 |
June 2016 |
Cnag ar an Doras |
Per diem rate –number of days to be determined |
|
Provision of Services Pursuant to A National Consultation with Children (aged 3-5) on the National Early Years Strategy |
December 2015 |
For internal use to inform the Early Years Strategy. |
Imelda Coyne Trinity College, Dublin |
€23,865.00 |
|
Scoping Report on the Development of Data Relating to Children |
December 2015 |
February 2016 |
Research Matters Ltd |
€20,726.55 |
Growing Up in Ireland
In 2006 a contract to carry out the first phase the National Longitudinal Study of Children in Ireland was awarded by the Department of Health and Children (through the Office of the Minister For Children & Youth Affairs) to a consortium comprising of the ESRI and the Children’s Research Centre at TCD. Since then the Study has adopted the working title of 'Growing Up in Ireland'. Following another public procurement competition a contract was awarded to the ESRI/TCD consortium to carry out the second phase of the study over the period 2015-2019. As part of the overall contracts the ESRI/TCD are required to prepare and publish reports from time to time. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs meets the costs of printing these reports and since this Department was established in June 2011 the total cost of printing is €31,967.14.
227. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of tribunals of inquiry, commissions of inquiry or investigations for which he or his Department have been responsible by name; by terms of reference; by cost, including the cost to date where an inquiry has not been concluded; by date including the projected date of conclusion where an inquiry has not been concluded from 1991 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3777/16]
View answerMy Department was established on 2 June, 2011. There is one body of the type referred to in the question.
|
Commissions of Investigation |
Name: |
Terms of Reference: |
Cost to Date: (to 26/01/2016) |
Projected Date of Conclusion |
|
1 |
Commission of Investigation - Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters |
Set out in the schedule to S.I. No. 57 of 2015 |
€1.78 million. This includes set-up costs and costs incurred by DCYA in supporting the Commission |
The Commission is required to complete a final report not later than February 2018 |
228. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the expenses claimed, including the amount of mileage and the amount claimed, by him and Ministers of State of his Department, by calendar year, during the current Dáil Éireann, in tabular form. [3805/16]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Minister |
Year |
Total Distance in Miles |
Amount Claimed |
Subsistence |
Accommodation |
Total Cost |
|
Frances Fitzgerald TD |
2011 |
18214 |
€10,565.65 |
- |
- |
€10,565.65 |
|
2012 |
22145 |
€12,131.65 |
- |
- |
€12,131.65 |
|
|
2013 |
20328 |
€11,457.63 |
- |
- |
€11,457.63 |
|
|
2014 |
5752 |
€4,974.68 |
€2,254.95 |
- |
€7,229.63 |
|
|
Charles Flanagan TD |
2014 |
4327 |
€4,196.73 |
- |
€862.00 |
€5,058.73 |
|
James Reilly TD |
2014 |
10824 |
€4,956.30 |
- |
- |
€4,956.30 |
|
2015 |
17927 |
€10,179.17 |
€10,179.17 |
There are no Ministers of State in my Department.
229. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount he spent on media clipping and media monitoring services in each calendar year from 2011 to 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3820/16]
View answerThe costs of these services are set out in the following tables.
Supplier - MediaWorld
|
Year |
Total |
|
2011 |
€ 3,611.85 |
|
2012 |
€25,555.12 |
|
2013 |
€17,109.30 |
|
2014 |
€15,012.15 |
|
2015 |
€ 1223.85 (for Dec 2014) |
Supplier - NewsAccess
|
Year |
Total |
|
2015 |
€21,282.81 |
230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a ban on the low-cost selling of alcohol products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3681/16]
View answerThe Government approved the publication of the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and the introduction of the Bill in the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 8th December 2015. The Bill completed Second Stage in the Seanad on the 17th December 2015.
The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill will make it illegal to sell or advertise for sale alcohol at a price below a set minimum price. Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) sets a minimum price per gram of alcohol. The minimum price of an alcohol product would be based on the number of grams of alcohol in the product. MUP is a targeted measure, aimed at those who drink in a harmful and hazardous manner, and designed to prevent the sale of alcohol at very cheap prices. MUP is able to target cheaper alcohol relative to its strength because the minimum price is determined by and is directly proportional to the amount of pure alcohol in the drink. The MUP is set in the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill at 10c per gram of alcohol, which equates to a minimum price of €1 per standard drink.
The University of Sheffield study reported that the alcohol products most affected by this policy are those that are currently being sold very cheaply, often below cost prices, in the off-trade, i.e. supermarkets and off-licences. On the other hand, the study found that a ban on below-cost selling (implemented as a ban on selling alcohol for below the cost of duty and Value Added Tax) would have a negligible impact on alcohol consumption or related harms.
231. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when he will give approval to enable the project in respect of the extension to Naas General Hospital, County Kildare, if the project is compliant with the guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3870/16]
View answer288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when the project in respect of the extension at Naas General Hospital, County Kildare will go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3869/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 288 together.
As I stated in my reply of 13 January 2016 it is expected that the project will be offered for tender in early 2016. The position has not changed.
The HSE has submitted its draft Capital Plan for the multi-annual period 2016-2021. This is being reviewed. It requires my approval together with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. When approved the HSE will publish the schedule of projects on its website.
232. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if further stakeholder engagement, particularly with the independently owned companies in the vape product sector, is planned as the transposition of the tobacco product directive progresses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3463/16]
View answer234. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health to acknowledge the harmful nature of tobacco smoking, and to keep an open mind to vape products, as a means to counter tobacco smoking; to acknowledge that vape products are providing a non-carbon monoxide, non-tobacco and non-tar alternative to cigarette smoking, and therefore regulation should be carefully examined, and the scientific evidence of international experts utilised before making blanket decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3465/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 234 together.
Member states must transpose the mandatory requirements under the Tobacco Products Directive (2014/40/EU) into national legislation by 20 May 2016. Within a number of those mandatory requirements, Member States may determine certain discretionary elements. The Department recently undertook a public consultation seeking views on those discretionary elements. Interested parties, including those from the e-cigarette industry, provided their views through this process. The submissions from the consultation are being analysed and will inform policy decisions. The Department is working to transpose the Directive into national legislation by the May 2016 deadline and the e-cigarette industry will be informed of their obligations under the Directive.
In relation to e-cigarettes and refill containers, the Directive will:
- set mandatory safety and quality requirements e.g. on nicotine content, ingredients and devices, as well as refill mechanisms etc., for e-cigarettes;
- make health warnings and information leaflets obligatory;
- introduce notification requirements for manufacturers and importers of e-cigarettes; and
- impose stricter rules on advertising and monitoring of market developments.
While e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, they do contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance which is the driver for cigarette smoking. Because they are a relatively recent product, there is limited scientific information available to balance the potential harms and benefits that might arise from more widespread public use. Hence, there are legitimate concerns about the public health benefits of allowing such products to exist without regulation. The Department will continue to monitor evidence on the potential harms and benefits of these products so as to inform decisions around any future additional regulation in this area.
233. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if members of the Health Information and Quality Authority report group examining the implication of vape products will be made public by his Department. [3464/16]
View answerThe Department of Health, in pursuing the recommendations of Tobacco Free Ireland requested the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) to carry out a health technology assessment (HTA) of smoking cessation interventions. By conducting this HTA, HIQA will be in a position to provide impartial, expert advice on the value (clinical and economic) of a range of smoking cessation therapies to ensure the best outcome for the public and a prudent use of resources. The results of this health technology assessment will inform health policy decisions about potential improvements to the provision of smoking cessation services within Ireland’s public health service.
The HIQA HTA evaluation team will be advised by an expert advisory group during the course of this assessment, who will also review the team’s outputs. Once the expert advisory group has been constituted, HIQA will make the membership of the group publicly available on the HIQA website.
Interested parties will be invited to submit feedback via a public consultation on a draft HTA report before it is finalised and submitted as advice to the Minister for Health.
235. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the assistance available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for an appointment for treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3468/16]
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.
236. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is waiting for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3470/16]
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.
237. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for surgery and physiotherapy for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [3475/16]
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.
238. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 319 of 19 January 2016 (details supplied), the number of the 500 women in the 65 to 69 age cohort who were screened in 2015 who were aged 69. [3480/16]
View answerThe BreastCheck extension began in Quarter 4 of 2015. The first cohort of 1,000 women involved those aged 65 being invited for a repeat mammogram. Over 640 of these women aged 65 were screened. The process will continue with women being invited for routine screening every two years until they are 69 years of age.
Thus none of the women in the 65 to 69 age cohort who were screened in 2015 were aged 69.
239. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of upstairs beds in Kenmare Community Hospital in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3491/16]
View answer240. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of opening extra beds in the community hospital in Daingean Uí Chúis in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3492/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together.
As these are service matters they have 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.
