Written Answers Nos. 33-51
33. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs where a play school-preschool is in a RAPID area and the majority of the children attending it are from a disadvantaged background, if there is a programme to provide access to extra funding for extra external education classes and workshops to be delivered at their school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8613/16]
View answerMy Department provides funding to childcare facilities under a number of programmes, some of which are targeted at children from disadvantaged backgrounds, and others which make universal provision. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is the largest single programme administered by my Department - this provides free pre-school care and education to all children before they commence primary school. This programme has ensured that children from disadvantaged backgrounds who would previously have been unable to access pre-school services are in a position to avail of quality pre-school education.
In Budget 2016, the Government announced additional annual funding of €85 million for childcare - this included a major expansion of the ECCE programme to a total of €233 million in 2016, as well as funding for 8,000 extra places under the Community Childcare Subvention programme to help low income and disadvantaged families access quality childcare.
The expansion of the ECCE scheme from September of this year will mean that children can enrol in the programme at three entry points from the time they turn three until they make the transition to primary school. This will increase the current 38 weeks of free preschool provision by an average of 23 weeks (total of 61 weeks on average), and up to 88 weeks, depending on the child's date of birth and the age at which he or she subsequently starts primary school. This extension of free pre-school will increase the number of children benefiting from free pre-school from the current 67,000 per annum to 127,000 in a given programme year.
In addition to the ECCE programme, the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme mentioned above, and the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes, are implemented by my Department and focus on children from low-income families. In excess of €78 million is provided for these programmes, which support the provision of highly subvented, part-time or full-time, childcare and education. In February 2016, I announced the expansion of the CCS programme to private providers to enable all eligible children/parents to access this programme even if they lived in an area with no community service. CCS funding is targeted to ensure that the parents with the greatest need obtain the greatest level of financial support. In addition to the measures funded by DCYA, the Department of Education and Skills funds 40 Early Start centres in DEIS schools in areas of socio-economic disadvantage, which offer teacher-led pre-school education to participants for 2.5 hours per day.
The DCYA cannot currently provide funding to provide additional educational classes on top of the above.
34. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health when interventions will be put in place for a person (details supplied). [8523/16]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
35. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a medical appointment. [8527/16]
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.
36. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if funding for the National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Providing Services to People with Intellectual Disability will be brought to a level of investment in services and supports that they were at before the financial crisis; the timeframe within which this will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8528/16]
View answerThe Government continues to be committed to facilitating the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the life of the community through access to individualised personal social supports and services. This year the Government will provide €1.56 billion for health-funded services and supports to enable each individual with a disability to achieve their full potential and maximise their independence. The quantum of service to be provided, together with key deliverables and priorities, are outlined in the Health Service Executive's (HSE's) National Service Plan for 2016. The HSE is committed to protecting front-line services for people with disabilities, with targeted improvement in priority areas, including:
- the reconfiguration of children's therapy services, for which an additional €4 million has been provided;
- the provision of services for 1,500 young people on leaving school and rehabilitative training, which has been allocated an additional €7.25 million;
- the development of alternative respite models, with €1 million targeted funding;
- the reconfiguration of residential services, supported by €20 million in capital funding; and
- quality improvements to increase compliance with National Standards for Residential Centres for Children and Adults with Disabilities.
As the particular issue outlined in the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, he can contact my Private Office and they will follow the matter up with the HSE.
37. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to the home care package application of a person (details supplied). [8531/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
38. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the waiting times for autistic children seeking access to therapies in Beechpark Service in the Dublin North-West Health Service Executive area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8533/16]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
39. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the treatment of a person (details supplied) who requires access to speech therapies. [8534/16]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
40. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health the steps he has taken to address health and safety issues raised by the UNITE union and ambulance paramedics in Waterford and the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8537/16]
View answerAs 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.
41. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if a medical assessment can be expedited for a person (details supplied). [8547/16]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
42. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if an appointment for orthodontic treatment for a person (details supplied) will be expedited. [8553/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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 them.
43. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if funding can be made available to a charity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8561/16]
View answerThe National Office for Suicide Prevention does not provide financial support from a national perspective to SOSAD but funding has been allocated by the resource Officer for Dublin North East (covering counties Cavan, Monaghan, Louth and Meath) who is employed within the Health Promotion and Improvement Department of the HSE. This funding was made available through the Community Resilience Fund- a fund allocated through NOSP to support local Resource Officers with their suicide prevention efforts on a local level.
The most recent figures in relation to the amount of funding allocated through this fund by the Resource Officer for the Dublin North East was as follows:
- 1 October 2013 to 1 October 2014 €20,000.00;
- 1 October 2014 to 1 October 2015 €25,000.00;
- Final Quarter 2015 September to December €6,250.00.
44. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when dental treatment will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8565/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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 them.
45. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a dental appointment will be provided to a person (details supplied) [8566/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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 them.
46. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for a medical device will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8567/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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 them.
47. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for dental treatment will be provided to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8568/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive 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 them.
48. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the total amount that it is intended to cut from the mental health budget in 2016; and if he will provide a breakdown of which services will be affected and the amount of funding removed from each service [8570/16]
View answerFunding for mental health services will increase this year, no matter what developments take place during the year. Funding for mental health in 2016 will increase from the 2015 outturn of €785m, to a projected budget of €826m in the 2016 NSP, an increase of €41m or 5.2%. which includes the €35m ring fenced for mental health.
The last Government increased the ring-fenced mental health funding by a total of €160 million over 2012-16 inclusive. The €12 million in 2016 is being transferred temporarily to social care, including home care packages for older people and step-down beds.
The €35m allocation for mental health involves the recruitment of extra staff for new service developments. As staff recruitment takes time, the Service Plan provides that time related savings of approximately €12m from this, as well as other funding from primary care, therapy services for young people and nursing task force pilot implementation would be used, on a once-off basis, to maintain services in home care and transitional care beds and for vaccine procurement. As the initiatives planned for mental health and other areas identified in the Service Plan are approved, arrangements will be made for the release of funding, having regard to the overall Service Plan.
Funding has not yet been allocated to specific areas. The HSE National Service Plan 2016 identifies priorities for allocation of the €35 million, including the continued development of early intervention and prevention counselling services by mental health and primary care as well as improved provision of psychotherapeutic interventions and children with mental illness. The Department of Health is currently examining proposals from the HSE relating to the development of these specific enhanced priority services, as well as proposals for the ongoing development of a range of existing and new specialist mental health services. It is expected that a decision on the release of the funding will be made shortly.
In the context of the overall funding increase I have indicated for mental health in 2016, I am satisfied that good progress will be maintained on improving all aspects of this key service into the future.
49. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will reconsider and not proceed with the planned cut to the €35 million funding for mental health services in 2016 [8572/16]
View answerMental health funding for 2016 was set out in the 2016 HSE Service Plan. The plan was subsequently published and made available to all interested parties.
Funding for mental health services will increase this year, no matter what developments take place during the year. Funding for mental health in 2016 will increase from the 2015 outturn of €785m, to a projected budget of €826m in the 2016 NSP, an increase of €41m or 5.2% which includes the €35m ring fenced for mental health.
The last Government increased the ring-fenced mental health funding by a total of €160 million over 2012-2016 inclusive. The €12 million in 2016 is being transferred temporarily to social care, including home care packages for older people and step-down beds.
€35m additional funding has been ring fenced for mental health as part of an additional €97m that has been earmarked for new developments in the HSE's 2016 Service Plan. €58.5m of that is held by the Department of Health, comprising the €35m for mental health services, €13.5m for primary care, €8m for therapy services for young people and €2m for the nursing taskforce pilot implementation.
Some of these proposals for the €35m allocation for mental health involve the recruitment of extra staff for new service developments. As staff recruitment takes time, the Service Plan provides that time related savings of approximately €12m from this, as well as other funding from primary care, therapy services for young people and nursing task force pilot implementation would be used, on a once-off basis, to maintain services in home care and transitional care beds, and for vaccine procurement. As the initiatives planned for mental health and the other areas identified in the Service Plan are approved, arrangements will be made for the release of funding, having regard to the overall Service Plan.
In line with the provisions of the Service Plan which was agreed and published last December, additional funding for specific initiatives in mental health will be allocated as specific implementation plans are agreed. The Department of Health is examining detailed proposals from the HSE for the redevelopment monies.
50. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the proposals he has to provide a significant increase in home help hours and improve home care packages in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8575/16]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. 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.
51. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the rationale for allocating time -related savings on the recruitment of mental health staff to other services and the reason these cannot be retained for other mental health services of investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8592/16]
View answerAs this is a detailed service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
