Written Answers Nos. 90-104
90. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his views on the recent statistics from Health Consumer Powerhouse, which found Ireland to have the longest emergency department waiting times in Europe and placed Ireland second worst for access to specialists; the measures he is taking or planning to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3922/16]
View answerThe European Health Consumer Index (EHCI) report which was published on 26 January 2016, states that, according to its research, Ireland ranks 21 of 35 countries, up one place from the previous year. The report shows that Ireland is performing well compared with other countries in patient access to prevention services such as infant and HPV vaccinations and smoking cessation programmes and on patient outcomes such as cancer survival, reducing deaths from strokes and cardiovascular diseases and infant mortality.
With regard to ED waiting times, the report excludes any published official waiting list data in the analysis and this is acknowledged by the authors. The authors base their conclusions only on results from their commissioned surveys of patient organisations.
National waiting list data and ED waiting time data are reported directly by hospitals to the HSE, and published as a matter of public record in the monthly suite of HSE Performance Assurance Reports. In addition to regular analysis and examination by the Business Intelligence Unit of the HSE, the robust management of waiting lists is addressed by the Quality Assurance and Audit function of the NTPF.
Over the last number of months, a range of initiatives have been implemented to address ED overcrowding and waiting times. Work on these initiatives will continue to be a priority for the rest of 2016. Significant additional resources, €117m, additional beds and staffing have been put in place to address the problem.
It is recognised that patient access to Irish health care is an area that requires our continued focus and improvement. Nevertheless, when patients gain access to healthcare in Ireland it matches and in many cases exceeds international standards.
91. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the status of his provision of arthritis-specific front-line staff during his period as Minister for Health, including consultants, clinical nurse specialists, advanced nurse practitioners, physiotherapists and occupational therapists; the numbers in situ; if he will add to their number, with a particular focus on addressing the long waiting lists for those persons who are undiagnosed and untreated and living every day with crippling pain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3939/16]
View answerI met with Arthritis Ireland previously where the issue of Arthritis Champions was discussed. A model of care is being developed by the National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology and is currently undergoing the final stages of consultation/sign off prior to launch. The objectives of Arthritis Ireland will be considered by the National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology in its ongoing work to develop a model of care.
The proposed model of care will determine the service developments and associated personnel requirements which will best support the needs of patients requiring Rheumatology treatments and supports the delivery of a seamless, responsive and flexible system of patient care coordinated by the Consultant.
Even though health budgets have been tight in recent years, this Government has increased the number of consultant rheumatologists by 7 (or 25%) and put in place 22 musculoskeletal specialist physiotherapists. A further €200k is being provided in 2006 to expand the MSK programme, and this will increase to €400k in 2017. The National Clinical Programme for Rheumatology has submitted a business case based on the phased implementation of 12 ANP and 29 CNS posts nationally in order to implement nurse-led initiatives for patients with inflammatory arthritis. This will bring service provision for arthritis and allied conditions in line with evidence-based practice and international standards of care.
We need to reduce waiting times, improve the quality of services and ensure that they are standardised across all regions to the greatest extent possible. I am pleased to see that the number of rheumatology patients waiting more than a year to be seen has decreased in November and December 2015.
As the specific questions raised by the Deputy are matters for the Health Service Executive, I have therefore 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.
92. Deputy John Halligan asked the Minister for Health the number of academic appointments at University Hospital Waterford funded since the reorganisation of hospital services in the south east; the appointments he and the Health Service Executive have committed to make; when these appointments will be made; who will take on the permanent costs of these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3932/16]
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 on the matter with you.
93. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health the status of funding and services for survivors of severe acquired brain injury, including those currently provided, and the number of patients affected; and if he will improve these services in line with best practice with international agreements such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. [3943/16]
View answerBrain injury health services are provided across a range of settings, by different organisations and by many health professionals and carers. The Health Service Executive (HSE) provides for the health needs of those affected by brain injury through a range of measures. The HSE Clinical Strategy and Programmes Directorate have a number of clinical programmes working in the area of neurology, including Neurology, Epilepsy, Stroke and Rehabilitation Medicine. The HSE also provides services for those with brain injury through Primary Care Teams with community based therapy services and personal social services, often funded through partner agencies in the non-statutory sector. In addition, the HSE provides substantial funding to a number of organisations such as Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, Headway, Enable Ireland, Epilepsy Ireland among others, to provide supports and services to people with a neurological condition.
In August 2015, my colleague, the Minister for Health, announced an additional €15 million for the redevelopment of the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dun Laoghaire. This allocation will enable the NRH and the HSE to proceed with a new 120 bed building on the Dun Laoghaire campus. The redeveloped facility will be purpose built to accommodate integrated therapy services, hydrotherapy and sports facilities.
The Government recognises that neurological illness or injury has significant implications for the individual and their family and impacts on their health, social, educational, vocational and recreational participation. It is important that the continuum of services and supports required are made available by the health system and by those other State agencies to provide specific services, consistent with their statutory remit. On the health side, waiting times, access, treatment and quality of care are priorities for reform for this Government, despite budgetary constraints.
I have also referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy in relation to funding and numbers. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, she can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
94. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health to ensure all persons with a disability who need speech and language and therapy services get adequate services in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3327/16]
View answerThe Government is committed to the provision and development of services for children with special needs, including those with autism, and to improving access by these children to therapy services insofar as possible within available resources.
Health related therapy supports and interventions for children, such as speech and language therapy, can be accessed through both the Health Service Executive's primary care services and its disability services, depending on the level of need. It is estimated that up to 95% of people's health and social service needs can be met within a primary care setting and most children with a disability or developmental delay will have their needs met by their local primary care services. The specialist disability services look after children with more complex needs, including autism.
Additional funding of €20m was allocated in 2013 to strengthen primary care services and to support the recruitment of prioritised front-line posts, including over 260 additional posts for Primary Care Teams, of which 52 were speech and language therapy posts. In addition, the HSE has introduced a number of initiatives specifically in relation to speech and language therapy such as therapists increasing clinic based work instead of domiciliary work and providing family centred interventions in a group as opposed to a one-to-one setting, whenever possible. This will help address the issue of waiting lists and ensure that services are delivered in as equitable a manner as possible, within available resources.
The HSE is also currently engaged in a major re-organisation of its existing therapy resources for children with disabilities, including autism, aged up to eighteen years, into geographically based specialist multi-disciplinary teams, as part of its National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years). The key objective of the Programme is to enhance equity of access to disability services and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of the individual child's difficulties, with health and education working together to support children to achieve their potential. The transition to this new model is taking place on a phased basis and includes consultation and engagement with stakeholders, including service users and their families. The Programme is a key priority for the Executive's Social Care Directorate. An additional €4 million was specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme, equating to approximately 80 therapy posts, including 27.5 speech and language therapy posts. Further investment of €4 million (equating to €6 million in a full year) was provided in 2015 to support ongoing implementation of the Programme. It is anticipated that this additional investment will have a positive impact on the provision of clinical services to all children with disabilities, including those who need speech and language therapy inputs.
Improving access to therapy services for children in primary care and in disability services remains a particular priority for the Government. Within this context, funding is being provided in 2016 to expand the provision of speech and language therapy through primary care services and to support the reorganisation and expansion of speech and language and other therapies under the Progressing Disability Services Programme. Full implementation of the Progressing Disability Services Programme is expected before the end of 2016.
The provision of speech and language therapy services to persons with a disability is an operational matter for the HSE and I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE 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 you.
95. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Taoiseach the number of participants on labour activation schemes, by scheme and by month, since July 2015, in tabular form. [4169/16]
View answerDetails of the number of persons availing of a range of programmes targeted primarily at the long-term unemployed (over 12 months) and other welfare recipients are provided for July to November 2015 in the following table below.
The most recent data available are for November 2015.
Persons on activation programmes are not counted as part of the monthly Live Register.
Number of persons availing of Activation Programmes, July to November 2015
|
July 2015 |
August 2015 |
|
|
Back to Work Schemes |
||
|
Back to Work allowance scheme - Employee strand 1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Back to Work Enterprise allowance scheme -self employed strand |
11,739 |
11,738 |
|
Short-term Enterprise Allowance 2 |
486 |
472 |
|
Total Back to Work payments |
12,225 |
12,210 |
|
Other Activation Programmes |
||
|
DSP Part-time Job Incentive |
358 |
369 |
|
TUS - Community Work Placement Initiative (2011) |
8,014 |
7,881 |
|
JobBridge (2011) |
4,969 |
4,640 |
|
Gateway (2013) 3 |
2,258 |
2,315 |
|
Total Other Activation Programmes |
15,599 |
15,205 |
|
Community Employment Schemes (excluding Supervisors) |
22,913 |
22,839 |
|
FÁS (Solas) Full Time Training for Unemployed People 4 |
6,533 |
5,843 |
|
Back to Education Courses |
||
|
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) 5 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) 6 |
4,976 |
4,519 |
|
Total Back to Education Courses |
9,976 |
9,519 |
|
Total Activation Programmes |
67,246 |
65,616 |
1 This scheme was closed to new applications from 1st May 2009.
2 This scheme was introduced from 1st May 2009. It provides immediate support for someone in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit who wants to start a business.
3 Gateway Scheme included from December 2013.
4 Specific Skills Training/Local Training initiative/Traineeship/Return to Work.
5 VTOS figures are estimated at 5,000 each year.
6 BTEA figures include all schemes but participants from JA & JB are not entitled to BTEA during the summer holidays.
96. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Taoiseach his views on a submission (details supplied); if he will reply to the requests in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3409/16]
View answerNo cases were made against my Department or the National Economic and Social Development Office by civil servants who objected on age grounds to being retired when they reached 65.
97. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Taoiseach the funding he allocated and the funding spent on capital projects and other initiatives in the constituency of Louth-East Meath, by project and initiative, by completion date and by cost, for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3569/16]
View answerThe table below details funding allocated by my Department for projects and other initiatives in Louth and Meath in the last five years.
Projects Supported by the Local Diaspora Engagement Fund in 2015
|
Location |
Details |
Project |
Grant Amount |
Completed |
|
Louth |
Omeath District Development Company |
Thomas D'Arcy McGee Friends/Society/Foundation |
€5,000 |
Completed in 2015 |
|
Louth |
Drogheda & District Chamber of Commerce |
Drogheda Worldwide Hero's |
€1,500 |
Completed in 2015 |
|
Meath |
Meath Community Action Plan Group |
Meath Community Action Plan |
€3,000 |
Completed in 2015 |
98. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Taoiseach the rates of unemployment in Limerick city and county in each of the years 2009 to 2012, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3408/16]
View answerThe exact information requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) is the official source of estimates of unemployment (ILO) in the State. The most recent figures available are for Q3 2015. Estimates of unemployment are produced by NUTS 3 Regions. The NUTS 3 Mid-West region includes Limerick City and County, County Clare and North Tipperary. Due to methodology and sample size it is not possible to produce reliable Limerick City and County estimates from the QNHS.
The table below shows the unemployment rate of persons aged 15-74 years classified by NUTS3 Mid-West region in Q3 of each year from 2009 to 2015.
Unemployment (ILO) rate of persons aged 15-74 years classified by NUTS3 Mid-West region, Q3 2009 - Q3 2015
|
Q3 09 |
Q3 10 |
Q3 11 |
Q3 12 |
Q3 13 |
Q3 14 |
Q3 15 |
|
|
Unemployment rate % |
14.0 |
16.7 |
17.0 |
16.7 |
13.8 |
11.4 |
9.8 |
Source: Quarterly National Household Survey, Central Statistics Office.';
Data may be subject to future revision;
Data may be subject to sampling or other survey errors, which are greater in respect of smaller values or estimates of change;
Reference period: Q3=Jul-Sep.
99. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach 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. [4204/16]
View answerMy Department did not subscribe to any external media clipping or media monitoring service on a routine basis during the period to which the Deputy refers. However, my Department engaged print and broadcast media monitoring services for the duration of the Referendum on the EU Fiscal Stability Treaty from April 23rd to June 1st 2012. Total spend on this service was €3,075. My Department also uses an online news research tool when required to search for and access relevant media issues.
The table below shows the cost of this service from 2011-2015.
|
Year |
Amount |
|
2011 |
16,018.56 |
|
2012 |
16,283.28 |
|
2013 |
15,521.46 |
|
2014 |
7,638.45 |
|
2015 |
7,581.69 |
100. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Taoiseach the expenses claimed, including the amount of mileage and the amount claimed, by each Minister and Minister of State, by calendar year, during the current Dáil Eireann, in tabular form. [4205/16]
View answerWhile there are four Ministers of State assigned to my Department, my Department only processes expense claims in respect of Minister of State Kehoe.
The table below details expenses paid to Minister of State Kehoe from March 2011 to end January 2016. Prior to March 2011, the Government Chief Whip was supplied with a State car and two Garda drivers. This facility was removed in 2011.
Expenses claimed by Minister of State Kehoe from March 2011 to end January 2016
|
Year |
Details |
Amount |
|
2011 |
Subsistence - Visit to Rome for Beatification of Pope John Paul II (30 April - 02 May 2011) |
€157.34 |
|
2012 |
Mileage - (1st May 2011 - 30th November 2012) |
€25,220.84 |
|
Subsistence - St Patrick's Day Visit to Germany (10 - 14 March 2012) |
€319.17 |
|
|
2013 |
Mileage - (1st December 2012 - 30th September 2013) |
€17,412.19 |
|
Subsistence- St Patrick's Day visit to Australia & New Zealand (08 - 16 March 2013) |
€610.69 |
|
|
2014 |
Mileage - (1st October 2013 -30th November 2014) |
€26,326.71 |
|
2015 |
Mileage - (1st December 2014 - 30th November 2015) |
€20,796.94 |
|
Subsistence - Attended Business Forum & World Games In Abu Dhabi on behalf of Government (04 - 08 March 2015) |
€294.65 |
|
|
2016 |
Mileage - (1st December 2015 - 31st December 2015) |
€1,730.37 |
101. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach the name, costs, date of commission, date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by his Department since March 2011. [4206/16]
View answerThe table below details the external consultant reports commissioned by my Department since March 2011.
|
Name |
Costs |
Date of Commission |
Date of Publication |
Consultant |
|
Health and Safety Statement 2011 |
€1,270 |
2011 |
2011 |
QTS Limited |
|
Health and Safety Statement 2012 |
€1,270 |
2012 |
2012 |
QTS Limited |
|
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan Assessment and Disabled Access Review |
€307 |
2013 |
2013 |
QTS Limited |
|
Health and Safety Statement 2013 and Risk Assessment |
€1,783 |
2013 |
2015 |
QTS Limited |
|
Local Diaspora Toolkit |
€14,300 |
2015 |
2015 |
Clinton Institute, UCD |
102. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Taoiseach 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, and 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. [4207/16]
View answerThe table below provides details of tribunals of inquiry, commissions of inquiry or investigations for which my Department has been responsible from 1991 to date.
|
Name |
Terms of Reference |
Cost (€ million) |
Date of Conclusion |
|
Tribunal of Inquiry (Dunnes Payments) (McCracken) |
www.oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1997020600008?opendocument |
€6.712 |
Report published in August 1997 |
|
Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin Bombings of 1972 and 1973 Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Murder of Seamus Ludlow Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Bombing of Kay's Tavern, Dundalk |
www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Publications/Publications_Archive/Publications_for_2005/FinalReportFeb2005.4262.shortcut.html www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Publications/Publications_Archive/Publications_2006/Final_report_on_the_report_of_the_Independent_Commission_of_Inquiry_into_the_murder_of_Seamus_Ludlow_March_2006_.4242.shortcut.html www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/Committees29thDail/Sub_Barron_Kays_Tavern.htm |
€3.511 (represents total costs of all 3 reports) |
June 2004 October 2005 November 2006 |
|
Inquiry into certain matters in relation to procurement (carried out by Dermot B Quigley) |
www.taoiseach.gov.ie/attached_files/Pdf%20files/quigleyreport.pdf |
None |
January 2005 |
|
Report of the Commission of Investigation into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings (MacEntee) |
www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Work_Of_The_Department/Economic_and_International/Northern_Ireland/Northern_Ireland_Publications/FinalReportMarch2007.html |
€2.633 |
March 2007 |
|
Tribunal of Inquiry into payments to politicians and related matters (Moriarty) |
www.moriarty-tribunal.ie/asp/displayall.asp?ObjectID=310&Mode=0&RecordID=1 |
€53.656 (to end-December 2015) |
Final Report published in March 2011. A small legal and administrative staff remains in place to deal with applications for third-party costs and with the ongoing business of wind-down. |
|
Inquiry by Sean Guerin, S.C., into allegations made by Garda Sergeant Maurice McCabe and related matters |
www.merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/News/government-announces-terms-of-reference-for-guerin-inquiry.html |
As yet no payment has been made |
6 May 2014 |
|
Inquiry by Judge John Cooke into reports of unlawful surveillance of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission |
www.merrionstreet.ie/en/News-Room/News/retired-high-court-judge-john-cooke-appointed-to-gsoc-inquiry.html |
Department of Justice and Equality responsible for payment |
4 June 2014 |
|
Fennelly Commission of Investigation |
Available in Statutory Instrument Number 192 of 2014 |
€1.730 (to end December 2015) |
Ongoing |
|
Cregan/IBRC Commission of Investigation |
Available in Statutory Instrument Number 253 of 2015 |
€0.472 (to end December 2015) |
Ongoing |
103. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Taoiseach the details of appointments to State boards, by name of appointee, date of appointment and appointment through a public application process or otherwise, from 7 March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under his remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4624/16]
View answerI make appointments to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the National Statistics Board (NSB).
The appointments are made in accordance with the provisions of the National Economic and Social Development Office Act 2006, the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order 2010 (SI No 603 of 2010), and Section 18 of the Statistics Act 1993.
In the case of the NESC I appoint:
- 20 members specifically on the basis of nominations from business and employer interests, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, farming and agricultural interests, the community and voluntary sector and the environmental sector;
- up to 6 public servants of whom at least one must represent the Taoiseach and one must represent the Minister for Finance;
- up to 8 independent members with skills, knowledge and expertise relevant to the functions of the Council as required by the legislation.
In the case of the NSB the 1993 Act provides for a Board comprising 8 people - 7 appointed by the Taoiseach and, ex officio, the Director General of the Central Statistics Office. It specifies that the 7 appointments be:
- five persons of proven ability and experience in relevant fields - two to be nominated by the Taoiseach and three to be nominated by such organisation or organisations as the Taoiseach considers to be representative of the users of official statistics and providers of information under the Act;
- an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of the Taoiseach; and
- an Assistant Secretary or equivalent or higher grade in the Department of Finance.
Appointments since 9 March 2011 are set out in the following tables. In the case of the NESC the independent members are mainly from the academic sector and were made following careful consideration of the necessary skills, knowledge and expertise relevant to the functions of the Council as required by legislation, before introduction of the new State Boards appointments procedures in 2014. I have delegated functions relating to the NSB to Minister of State Kehoe. When the previous Board's term expired in 2013 the Chairperson and Civil Servants on the Board were reappointed for a new term and expressions of interest were invited for the four remaining positions on the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Statistics Board websites. In March 2014 Minister of State Kehoe appointed four persons from among the expressions of interest received.
The 5 year term of the National Economic and Social Council will expire during the first half of 2016. There are currently no vacancies on the NSB. Where appropriate and consistent with the legislation it is intended that future appointments to the NESC and NSB will be advertised on Stateboards.ie.
NESC
|
Name |
Organisation |
Date of Appointment |
|
Mr. Martin Fraser, Chairperson |
D/Taoiseach |
August 2011 |
|
Mr. John Shaw, Deputy Chairperson of NESC |
D/Taoiseach |
January 2012 |
|
Prof. Edgar Morgenroth |
ESRI |
June 2011 |
|
Prof. John McHale |
NUI Galway |
June 2011 |
|
Prof. Mary Daly |
University of Oxford |
June 2011 |
|
Prof. Anna Davis |
Trinity College Dublin |
June 2011 |
|
Prof. Seán Ó Riain |
NUI Maynooth |
June 2011 |
|
Dr. Michael O'Sullivan |
Credit Suisse, London |
June 2011 |
|
Ms. Mary Walsh |
Chartered Accountant |
June 2011 |
|
Dr. Michelle Norris |
University College Dublin. |
July 2011 |
|
Mr. Shay Cody |
IMPACT |
September 2011 |
|
Mr. John Murphy |
D/Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation |
November 2011 |
|
Mr. Seán Ó Foghlú |
D/Education and Skills |
February 2012 |
|
Mr. John Moran |
Department of Finance |
March 2012 |
|
Mr. John McCarthy |
D/Environment, Community and Local Government |
March 2014 |
|
Mr. Derek Moran |
Department of Finance |
July 2014 |
|
Ms. Karen Murphy |
Irish Council for Social Housing |
September 2014 |
|
Ms. Patricia King |
ICTU |
March 2015 |
National Statistics Board
|
Name |
Date of Appointment |
|
Dr. Patricia O'Hara, Chairperson |
October 2013 |
|
Ms. Rowena Dwyer |
March 2014 |
|
Mr. Tom Geraghty |
March 2014 |
|
Dr. Helen Johnston |
March 2014 |
|
Mr. Gerard O'Neill |
March 2014 |
|
Mr. John Callinan, Assistant Secretary, Department of the Taoiseach |
September 2012 and October 2013 (Re-appointed) |
|
Mr. John McCarthy, Assistant Secretary, Department of Finance |
March 2014 |
|
Mr. Michael McGrath, Assistant Secretary, Department of Finance |
October 2013 |
|
Mr Padraig Dalton, Director General, CSO |
104. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the amount allocated and spent to date under the humanitarian fund for flooding, by county. [4420/16]
View answer106. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will include preventative works for persons affected by flooding such as flood barriers for doors under the humanitarian assistance scheme or the Government assistance scheme. [3962/16]
View answer131. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who applied under the humanitarian assistance scheme as a result of recent flooding; the number of these who received relief; the average amount of relief per applicant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4250/16]
View answer135. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the financial support available to a family (details supplied) who have no house insurance and have suffered great financial loss after their house was flooded twice. [4295/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 106, 131 and 135 together.
The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for capital flood relief activities. However, the Department of Social Protection has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as flooding.
The Department's humanitarian assistance scheme was approved by Government in November 2009 and the Government authorised the spending of up to €10 million. Almost €4 million has been paid under the scheme from 2009 to end 2015.
In early December 2015, the Department activated this scheme, administered by the local Community Welfare Service (CWS), to assist householders affected by the severe weather conditions. Since early December 2015, support has been provided to some 424 households at a cost of over €498,700 (overall average payment c. €1,176). A breakdown of these payments by county is provided in the following tabular statement. Statistics are not maintained on the number of applications received under the humanitarian assistance scheme.
In dealing with emergency events of this nature, the Department generally adopts a three stage approach as follows:
- Stage 1 is to provide emergency income support payments (food, clothing and personal items) in the immediate aftermath of the event. A relatively small amount of financial assistance is generally provided initially with payments around the country ranging from €100 to €500 depending on family size.
- Stage 2 generally involves the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items. It is not until the flood water abates and houses dry out that the full extent of the damage to homes will become known.
- Stage 3 is to identify what longer term financial support or works are required. It could take several months before this stage of response commences and this may involve a cross Departmental/Agency response. Works carried out can include plastering, dry-lining, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting.
The scheme is demand led and there is a time lag between the flooding event and actual claims for financial support. In relation to the case mentioned by Deputy Calleary, the person concerned received assistance under stage 2 of the humanitarian assistance scheme in December 2015. Department officials advised the person to submit quotes regarding the extent and costs of damage incurred and requested further information in relation to insurance cover. Once the necessary information is provided to the Department, a decision will be made regarding the provision of supports under stage 3 of the scheme.
People seeking assistance should contact their local DSP Intreo Centre or CWS office who will be able to offer assistance. Department contact phone numbers for persons in affected areas are available on the Department's website, as follows:
www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Humanitarian-Assistance-Scheme.aspx.
The purpose of the Department's humanitarian assistance scheme is to provide assistance to households whose homes have been affected by flooding and other severe weather events, but would not include preventative works such as flood barriers. The OPW is the lead agency for flood risk management. The OPW's food risk management programme, the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme will publish its Flood Risk Management Plans, this summer, with the feasible flood prevention measures to manage flooding in those areas at significant risk and impact from flooding. In the context of the CFRAM Programme, the Government recently announced two pilot Individual Property Protection (IPP) projects. These are community based pilots to inform the mechanism to deliver IPP, as part of a community based approach or scheme and also the potential costs and benefits attached to IPP for areas where a flood defence scheme is not likely to be completed for some time. I am advised by the OPW that these pilots will, in time, inform any extension of IPP to other areas.
Humanitarian Assistance Payments by County (4 th December 2015 - 29 th January 2016)
|
County |
Number of Households |
Amount |
|
CORK |
63 |
€119,231 |
|
GALWAY |
143 |
€99,396 |
|
MAYO |
31 |
€74,296 |
|
TIPPERARY |
38 |
€35,169 |
|
KILKENNY |
19 |
€23,798 |
|
WESTMEATH |
31 |
€20,478 |
|
SLIGO |
13 |
€18,318 |
|
WEXFORD |
6 |
€17,469 |
|
KERRY |
9 |
€13,622 |
|
WICKLOW |
9 |
€13,224 |
|
DONEGAL |
4 |
€12,737 |
|
CLARE |
16 |
€10,994 |
|
WATERFORD |
6 |
€10,654 |
|
LIMERICK |
9 |
€8,895 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
10 |
€8,194 |
|
OFFALY |
5 |
€3,910 |
|
CARLOW |
2 |
€2,415 |
|
LEITRIM |
4 |
€2,400 |
|
CAVAN |
2 |
€1,389 |
|
MONAGHAN |
1 |
€1,000 |
|
LONGFORD |
2 |
€650 |
|
MEATH |
1 |
€500 |
|
Total |
424 |
€498,739 |
