Bernard Durkan
Question:156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she supports community-based arts and heritage groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14007/16]
View answerArts Funding
Questions (156)
Written answers
The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council, as the economy continues to improve. The Arts Council in turn supports the work of local authorities in promoting the arts at local and community level. My Department also provides capital grants to assist in providing and maintaining cultural venues.
The Programme for a Partnership Government also includes a number of commitments which are relevant in terms of community-based arts and heritage groups, including:
- Encouraging local authorities to strengthen the role of arts and heritage officers by building stronger links with local development groups.
- The introduction of a new capital grants scheme to provide upgrades to existing regional arts and cultural centres around the country. Further encouraging strong mutually beneficial links between the business community and arts organisations.
- Supporting a built heritage investment scheme on an annual basis to support the conservation of heritage structures and the regeneration or urban and rural areas.
Abuse in Hospitals
Questions (157)
Pat Buckley
Question:157. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the historical allegations of physical and sexual abuse at a hospital (details supplied), particularly those raised by Templemore Forgotten Victims, and a person (details supplied); his plans to appoint a panel to investigate these allegations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13911/16]
View answerWritten answers
I am not aware of any recent contact with or correspondence to my Department from the person concerned.
However, I understand that correspondence was received by the then Minister for Health and Children back in 2012 regarding this person and others who had concerns about their general treatment in psychiatric hospitals in the past.
I understand that the person was advised of the response received by the HSE in relation to her specific case at that time and that she was also advised that if she considered that a criminal offence was committed against her while she was a patient, then it is open to her to make a complaint to An Garda Síochána for investigation, should she wish to do so.
On the more general point, I should also add that the involuntary admission of persons to a psychiatric hospital or unit in the 1950s and 1960s was governed by the 1945 Mental Treatment Act. The 1945 Act allowed for the admission and detention without their consent, of a person as a 'temporary patient' or a 'person of unsound mind' following an application received and accompanied by a medical certificate, signed by a doctor and on foot of a reception order signed by a consultant psychiatrist.
I would acknowledge that there were no specific provisions in the 1945 Act for an automatic right of appeal to an independent judicial body against a person's involuntary detention in a psychiatric hospital. However, the Act did provide patients with the right to write a letter to the Minister for Health, the Inspector of Mental Hospitals or the President of the High Court. It also required the Inspector of Mental Hospitals, in the course of his inspections, to visit any patient "the propriety of whose detention he had reason to doubt".
The Deputy will be aware that the Mental Health Act 2001 significantly modernised procedures relating to involuntary admission by establishing for the first time independent Mental Health Tribunals which review, and affirm or revoke detention orders. Patients now have the right to be heard and to be legally represented at the Tribunal.
In addition, following the publication in 2015 of the Expert Group Review of the Mental Health Act 2001, work is underway at official level on the preparation of the General Scheme of a Bill to revise the 2001 Act on the basis of the recommendations of the Expert Group. An initial draft of the Bill is likely to be completed by year end.
Pension Provisions
Questions (158)
Michael Moynihan
Question:158. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health his views that the staff of the Central Remedial Clinic have been advised that their pension plan has been dissolved, putting those who are on the older private pension plan in a very difficult situation as they were never changed over to the public service pension plan; how he will resolve this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13940/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) is funded by the Health Service Executive under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004 and employs in the region of 287 employees. It is understood that 47 employees are members of the funded pension scheme in question.
Following receipt of information from the CRC in relation to the wind up of the scheme the CRC was requested, as a matter of urgency, to seek a viable alternative proposal in conjunction with the HSE. This proposal will then be submitted for approval to my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The latter is responsible for Government policy in relation to public service pensions. Pension schemes and pension terms for public servants generally require the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
The CRC has indicated that it will submit detailed proposals to the HSE shortly in relation to this matter.
National Drugs Strategy Implementation
Questions (159)
Micheál Martin
Question:159. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health why he appointed a Minister with responsibility for drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13107/16]
View answerWritten answers
It is a matter for the Taoiseach in the first instance to determine the approach to the allocation of portfolios to Ministers of State. Government has, in line with Programme for Government commitments, put a stronger emphasis on important policy areas, and particularly on the Department of Health, to which four Ministers of State are attached to work to deliver real improvements in this vital public service.
The National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 is a cross-cutting area of public policy and service delivery which requires a coordinated response to tackling the drugs problem. The Minister for Health has overall responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy at Government level. I am delighted to have been afforded the opportunity to undertake the vital role of Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy. I am fully committed to the drugs brief, and am eager to tackle the issues in the area in as comprehensive a way as possible.
Hospital Procedures
Questions (160)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:160. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when he will provide an operation for a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13841/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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 HSE, 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 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (161)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:161. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13842/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under 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 HSE, 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 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.
Cancer Screening Programmes
Questions (162)
Anne Rabbitte
Question:162. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the number of women BreastCheck screened in quarter 4 of 2015 and quarter 1 of 2016, by age 65, 66, 67, 68 and 69, by local authority, in tabular form. [13843/16]
View answerWritten answers
The implementation of the age extension of BreastCheck to 65-69 year olds commenced in Quarter 4 of 2015. The age extension is being implemented on an incremental basis, starting mainly with those aged 65, in line with the capacity of the system to manage the additional screening and follow up workload.
A total of 411 women were screened in Quarter 4 of 2015 and a further 3,935 were screened in Quarter 1 of 2016. By 2021 all women in the 50-69 year age group will be able to avail of the programme. The additional eligible population is approximately 100,000 and, when fully implemented, 540,000 women will be included in the BreastCheck Programme.
A breakdown of those screened by age and location is in the following table.
Quarter 4 2015
|
Region |
Age 65 |
Age 66 |
Age 67 |
Age 68 |
Age 69 |
Total 65-69 |
|
South: Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary South & Waterford. |
102 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
104 |
|
East: Dublin City and County, Cavan, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford & Wicklow |
162 |
20 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
183 |
|
West: Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo & Tipperary North |
101 |
22 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
124 |
|
Total |
365 |
44 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
411 |
Quarter 1 2016
|
Region |
Age 65 |
Age 66 |
Age 67 |
Age 68 |
Age 69 |
Total 65-69 |
|
South: Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary South and Waterford. |
914 |
56 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
972 |
|
East: Dublin City and County, Cavan, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford & Wicklow |
2,002 |
64 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2,069 |
|
West: Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo & Tipperary North |
868 |
25 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
894 |
|
Total |
3784 |
145 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
3935 |