Written Answers Nos. 84-103
84. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a medical card application by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be fully examined as all the information has been returned by the person. [7968/16]
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 recently 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.
85. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who is awaiting a medical appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7975/16]
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 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.
86. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the policies his Department and the Health Service Executive are pursuing to encourage more persons to enter the home care package sector; the policies in place to secure sustainable levels of pay for the workers in that sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7982/16]
View answerThe Home Care Package (HCP) Scheme provides a range of services including primary care services such as nursing and therapies, enhanced home care hours, respite care etc.
Applicants for HCPs are assessed on the basis of need and packages allocated based on this need and having regard to available resources.
This year’s Health Service Executive (HSE) National Service Plan sets a target for 15,450 people to be in receipt of a HCP at any time.
The HSE provides HCPs through its directly employed home help staff who are paid at the public service approved rates of pay for this grade and receive travel expenses in line with the arrangements set out for this grade.
Where the HSE cannot provide the HCP through its directly employed staff arrangements are in place with external providers who meet the HSE requirements. The rate of pay and conditions of employment of staff who are employed by care providers is a matter for these providers, many of whom deliver high volumes of care outside the publicly funded sector.
87. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently availing of private health insurance in each of the following age groups: 17 years and under; 18 to 29 years; 30 to 39 years; 40 to 49 years; 50 to 59 years; 60 to 69 years; 70 to 79 years; 80 years and over. [7989/16]
View answerThe table below provides the most recent data available from the Health Insurance Authority and shows the number of insured persons by age group on the 1 January 2016. This information is compiled in respect of the commercial health insurers and excludes people serving waiting periods and members of Restricted Membership Undertakings (which provide insurance to people who are members of a particular group, normally a vocational group or employees of a particular organisation).
|
Age Group |
Membership for the Market as of 1 January 2016 |
|
0-17 |
474,716 |
|
18-29 |
209,503 |
|
30-39 |
297,443 |
|
40-49 |
322,195 |
|
50-59 |
276,258 |
|
60-69 |
223,872 |
|
70-79 |
132,417 |
|
80 years and over |
55,468 |
|
Total |
1,991,872 |
88. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment for a child (details supplied). [7992/16]
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 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.
89. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health the number of net additional beds that will be provided at University Hospital Galway on completion of the 75 bed extension; if he will provide, in tabular form, the current number of beds, the additional number of beds and the number of beds that will be eliminated. [7993/16]
View answerIn relation to the detailed query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
90. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to remove the only intermediate care vehicle, national ambulance service patient transfer service, in the north Cork area and the reason this service has been transferred to Cork city (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7994/16]
View answerWith regard to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
91. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the interventions his Department has made on behalf of a person (details supplied) who is incarcerated in prison in Egypt: the steps he has taken since the formation of the Thirty-second Dáil to expedite their release. [7823/16]
View answerThe case of this individual, who has been detained in Egypt for almost three years, continues to be of the highest priority for the Government and for my Department.
The Government remains focused on its two core objectives in this case, to secure the citizen’s release and to provide consular support for his welfare while he remains in detention. The Government and my Department have been engaging comprehensively with all relevant stakeholders throughout the period since this citizen was detained to progress these objectives. I and my officials have maintained constant and close contact with the Egyptian authorities. Last Thursday, I met with the Ambassador of Egypt, Ms Soha Gendi, in Dublin to discuss the latest developments and to once again underline our concerns about this case. On the same day, our Ambassador in Egypt, Mr. Damien Cole, engaged with the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to deliver similar messages.
We are providing ongoing consular assistance to the individual including through regular prison visits and the monitoring of all trial hearings. The most recent visit took place on Sunday last, 17 April, during which Ambassador Cole met with this Irish citizen in the prison near Cairo. The Embassy has attended all trial hearings to date and intends also to be present at the next hearing which is scheduled for 29 June.
My officials are also liaising closely with his Egyptian legal team, other states who have had citizens in similar situations, with our European and international partners represented in Egypt, and with the European Union.
We also liaise closely with the citizen’s family in Ireland and their representatives. The most recent meeting between my officials and the citizen’s family and their legal representatives took place on 20 April.
The Government and my Department will continue this work through all diplomatic and political channels to achieve our objective of seeing this citizen returned to Ireland as soon as possible.
92. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent European Union Foreign Affairs Council; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7859/16]
View answerI attended the most recent Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) meeting in Luxembourg on 18 April, where migration, Libya and the Eastern Partnership were on the agenda. Foreign Ministers also had an informal exchange with the Colombian Government’s High Commissioner for Peace, Dr Sergio Jaramillo.
The Council had a wide-ranging discussion on the ongoing migration crisis, including a detailed exchange on the agreement concluded with Turkey last month, as well as on developments along the main migration routes to Europe. Foreign Ministers noted the successful operation to date of the EU naval operation EUNAVFOR MED Sophia, which has saved some 12,000 lives at sea (this is separate to the Irish naval mission which has rescued 8,592 migrants to date); EU support to Africa through the Emergency Trust Fund, and the launch of a series of comprehensive high level dialogues on migration with African countries and the Sahel. Ministers also had a lunch meeting with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on the migration crisis in Europe, as well as broader global migration issues.
The Council adopted Conclusions on Libya welcoming the arrival of the Presidency Council in Tripoli and commending “the courage and determination of Prime Minister Serraj”. Ministers also had a video-conference discussion with Prime Minster Serraj. The Council underlined “Libyan ownership of the political process and the importance of its inclusiveness, notably through the continued participation of political and local actors, women and civil society”. Ministers agreed to offer security sector support to Libya should a request be made by the Government of National Accord. Should such a request be forthcoming and subject to consultation with the Libyans they agreed that a possible civilian CSDP Mission could offer capacity building support in the fields of police and criminal justice including counter-terrorism, border management countering irregular migration and smuggling of migrants and trafficking of human beings. They also agreed to give further consideration to providing support through EUNAVFOR MED Sophia by enhancing its capacity to disrupt the business model of human smugglers and trafficking networks through potential capacity building for the Libyan Coastguard and the implementation of international law.
The Council discussed the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative and political developments in the six partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) in preparation for the annual Eastern Partnership ministerial meeting which will take place in Brussels on 23 May 2016. The Eastern Partnership is a vital framework for cooperation and dialogue with the EU’s eastern partners. In line with the review of the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern Partnership takes a tailored approach to EU cooperation with each partner in order to strengthen stability in the region as well as to encourage ongoing reforms.
We had a good discussion on recent developments in the peace process in Colombia with the Colombian Government’s High Commissioner for Peace, Dr Sergio Jaramillo. I reiterated Ireland’s steadfast support for the peace talks between the government and the FARC rebels. These talks are now at a critical stage, and Ireland intends to contribute to the EU Trust Fund for Colombia which will be launched once a peace deal is signed. I also expressed appreciation for the work of Mr. Eamon Gilmore who was present in his role as EU Special Envoy to the Colombian peace process. Mr. Gilmore is tasked with providing visibility for the diverse strands of the EU’s efforts in the country and conveying the EU’s political support for the peace process, bringing to bear his experience in peacebuilding and reconciliation on this island.
Foreign Ministers also briefly discussed the latest developments in the negotiations towards an Association Agreement between the EU and Mercosur. Supported by a number of other Member States, I emphasised the need to proceed with caution in order to ensure a balanced agreement which takes account of the potential impact on the agricultural and other sectors.
93. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proposals he put forward at North-South Ministerial Council meetings in relation to the establishment of additional cross-Border bodies as provided for in the Good Friday Agreement; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7860/16]
View answerThe existing North South Bodies, particularly Tourism Ireland and InterTradeIreland, are making a considerable contribution towards economic growth right across the island and clearly demonstrate what can be achieved when we pool our resources in key strategic areas.
At the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meetings that I have attended the focus of Ministers has been on discussing the sectoral priorities for additional co-operation which they have identified in their respective areas of responsibility, particularly as regards assisting economic recovery, job creation, the best use of public funds and the most effective delivery of services for citizens across the island. There have already been considerable advances in some of the priority areas they have identified and I look forward to this continuing.
Proposals to establish additional North South Bodies have not been discussed at the NSMC meetings I have attended, and of course any such proposals would first require the agreement of the Northern Ireland Executive before decisions on them could be made by the NSMC.
94. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children with an autism spectrum disorder receiving special needs supports, special needs assistants, resource teaching and so on in primary and secondary schools in the Dublin Mid-West constituency and the number being supported in special classes in the constituency. [7967/16]
View answerChildren with autism may be enrolled in a mainstream school and can attend all mainstream classes. In such cases these children will receive additional teaching support through the learning support and/or the resource teacher and where appropriate will receive access to Special Needs Assistance and assistive technology if required. In circumstances where children with special educational needs require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available. Each special class for autism has a 6:1 pupil teacher ratio at primary level, and 6:1.5 pupil teacher ratio at post primary level as well as Special Needs Assistant support normally amounting to 2 SNAs for a class of 6 children. In December 2014 there were 13,873 students with ASD in the school system Of these students:
- 63 per cent were educated in mainstream classes
- 23 per cent were educated in special classes in mainstream primary and post-primary
- 14 per cent were educated in 118 special schools
- 23 per cent of all students with resource teaching hours were students with ASD
- 25 per cent of all resource teaching posts were allocated for ASD
- 73 per cent of all special classes approved were for ASD
- About 40 per cent of all students with SNA support had ASD
- 69 per cent of all students with ASD accessed SNA support.
The information sought in relation to the Deputy's constituency is not readily available to my Department, however I have arranged for the Deputy's request to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
95. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 495 of 10 February 2015, if she will provide details of the school buses referred to that are or were owned by the Department of Education and Skills, in tabular form, including such vehicles paid for by the Department from 1 January 2006 to end of 2015 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7971/16]
View answerBus Éireann has advised that the level of detailed information sought by the Deputy cannot be complied within the required timeframe. In this regard I have asked Bus Éireann to forward the information directly to the Deputy.
96. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the future use of a former primary school at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 12; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7824/16]
View answerMy Department officials and representatives of the Dublin Archdiocese and of the local parish have agreed that the property to which the Deputy refers will be made available to the Department for educational use. My officials and Archdiocesan authorities are continuing to work very closely on the practicalities of the property issues involved to ensure the property is made available for educational use as soon as possible and work is well advanced in this regard.
97. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current progress on building works at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7825/16]
View answerThe building project at the school to which the Deputy refers is currently on site and work is progressing. The contractor commenced on site in August 2015 under a 27 month contract.
98. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application under the summer works scheme for a school (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7849/16]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question under the Summer Works Scheme. Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0055/2015), is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants shortly.
99. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason animal shooting clubs are being allowed access to schools and pupils for public relations exercises; and if there are any restrictions on the type of groups which may access school grounds and pupils. [7877/16]
View answerSchools may invite visitors to support the work of the curriculum where appropriate. My Department has issued best practice guidelines to schools which include specific guidance relating to the role of any visitors in supporting the implementation of the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme. These guidelines require that visits are carefully planned with the relevant school personnel, and that the content of talks/programmes by outside facilitators is consistent with school policies, and with the SPHE programme. It is a matter for each school authority to decide on the suitability of any proposed visitors and to determine the suitability of the support materials and resources to be used.
100. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of a primary school construction project (details supplied) in County Mayo, if she will outline a projected timeframe for the sanctioning of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7906/16]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department approved funding to the school in question for additional accommodation in July 2015. However, I can confirm that my Department has recently received a revised proposal from the school to include additional accommodation as part of the project already approved. This proposal is currently being considered and my Department will be in further contact with the school authority concerned as soon as the assessment process has been concluded.
101. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application under the summer works scheme 2016 (details supplied) in County Cork. [7911/16]
View answerI wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application from the school in question under the Summer Works Scheme. Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications including that from the school concerned, will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0055/2015), is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list of successful applicants shortly.
102. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed building project to increase capacity at a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding she will allocate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7925/16]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the building project for the school to which he refers is included in the 6 year construction programme that I announced last November. Officials in my Department are working closely with officials from Wexford County Council under the memorandum of understanding in order to identify and acquire a suitable permanent location for the school. The school's current accommodation will be considered as part of this process in the context of suitability as a long term solution and value for money. Once the permanent location has been acquired, then the project to deliver the school will advance into architectural planning.
103. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a proposed building project for a school (details supplied) in County Wexford; when it will proceed to the next stage; when the tendering process will commence and be completed; when construction will commence; the funding she will allocate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7926/16]
View answerThe major building project referred to by the Deputy, is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b),which includes the applications for the Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. Planning permission has been secured. The school building project for this school was included on the 2012/16 five year construction programme and is scheduled to proceed to construction in 2016. The design team will submit the stage 2(b) report to my Department when it is completed and my Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project following consideration of that report.
