Written Answers Nos. 187 - 195
187. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sí sásta nach bhfuil aon tagairt déanta don Ghaeloideachas ná don chóras tumoideachais i Ráiteas Straitéise na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna, 2016-2018; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [28968/16]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, is í an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 bunchloch pholasaí an Rialtais maidir leis an nGaeilge. Tá naoi réimse gnímh sonraithe sa Straitéis, lena n-áirítear an réimse oideachais. Go deimhin, tugtar aitheantas sa Straitéis don ról lárnach atá ag an gcóras oideachais chun tacú le cuspóir an Stáit an Ghaeilge a chosaint mar theanga pobail agus teaghlaigh sa Ghaeltacht. Aithnítear chomh maith an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an gcóras oideachais a bheith ag tabhairt gach tacaíocht is féidir do theaghlaigh atá ag tógáil a gcuid páistí le Gaeilge ón gcliabhán agus an ról criticiúil atá ag an gcóras oideachais d’fhonn na spriocanna atá sonraithe sa Straitéis a bhaint amach.
Mar sin, ainneoin nach bhfuil tagairt sonrach déanta don Ghaeloideachas ná don chóras tumoideachais i Ráiteas Straitéise na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna, 2016-2018, táim sásta go bhfuil gealltanas sonrach tugtha ann i dtaca leis na gnímh sa réimse oideachais atá sonraithe sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn.
Maidir leis an réimse oideachais den Straitéis, tá mo Roinnse agus an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna ag obair go dlúth as lámha a chéile ar bhonn leanúnach chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh sa réimse seo, taobh istigh de na hacmhainní atá ar fáil. Is léiriú follasach ar an gcomhoibriú sin go raibh mo Roinnse agus Údarás na Gaeltachta rannpháirteach sa phróiseas comhairliúcháin a stiúirigh an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna ar na dréacht-mholtaí i dtaca leis an bPolasaí Oideachais don Ghaeltacht. Tuigim go bhfuil bailchríoch á cur ar an bpolasaí sin faoi láthair agus go bhfuiltear ag súil leis an bpolasaí nua a fhoilsiú go luath tar éis é a bheith faofa ag an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna agus an Rialtas ar mhaithe lena chur i bhfeidhm in 2017.
188. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cé mhéad airgead breise a lorg sí d’Fhoras na Gaeilge agus d’Údarás na Gaeltachta ó ceapadh í mar aire atá freagrach as cúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta, an féidir léi a chur in iúl cá mhéad airgead sa bhreis a d’éirigh léi a chur ar fáil d’Údarás na Gaeltachta agus d’Fhoras na Gaeilge i rith na tréimhse sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [28970/16]
View answer189. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sí sásta gur laghdaíodh buiséad caipitil Údarás na Gaeltachta ó €25 mhilliún in 2008 go €7 milliún in 2016 ach go ndearnadh, san am céanna, méadú suntasach ar bhuiséad Údarás Forbartha Tionscail Éireann agus Fhiontraíocht Éireann; an bhfuil sí sásta an €12 mhilliún sa bhliain atá ag teastáil ón Údarás chun 1,000 post breise a chruthú thar trí bliana a chur ar fáil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [28972/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together.
Is tríd an phróiseas meastacháin agus cáinaisnéise a dhéantar leithdháileadh ar an soláthar airgid a chuirtear ar fáil ar bhonn bliantúil do mo Roinnse agus, go deimhin, do na Ranna Rialtais go léir. Sa chomhthéacs sin, tuigfidh an Teachta go ndéanfar an soláthar airgid ón Státchiste d’Údarás na Gaeltachta agus d’Fhoras na Gaeilge don bhliain 2017 a mheas i gcomhthéacs an phróisis sin, atá ar bun faoi láthair. Anuas ar phróiseas na Meastachán sa dlínse seo, ar ndóigh, is í an Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas a cheadaíonn an buiséad d’Fhoras na Gaeilge mar áisíneacht den bhforas trasteorann, An Foras Teanga. Mar is eol don Teachta, déantar Foras na Gaeilge a chómhaoiniú ar bhonn 75% ó mo Roinnse agus 25% ón Roinn Pobal i dTuaisceart Éireann. Anuas ar seo, cuireann mo Roinn maoiniú breise ar leith ar fáil d'Fhoras na Gaeilge i ndáil le nithe imfhálaithe mar a bhaineann le Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge agus Colmcille.
Cuireadh soláthar caipitil de €6.687m ar fáil d’ Údarás na Gaeltachta ón Státchiste in 2016, mar aon le foinsí maoinithe an Údaráis féin ó dhíol sócmhainní agus infheistíochtaí. Ní miste dom a lua gur fhógair mé le gairid go raibh €1m breise á chur ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta i mbliana i bhfoirm caipitil, rud a chuirfidh ar chumas an Údaráis dul chun cinn a dhéanamh le tograí caipitil áirithe atá ar na bacáin acu. Fágann sé seo go bhfuil soláthar caipitil iomlán de €7.687m á chur ar fáil d'Údarás na Gaeltachta ón Státchiste in 2016. Tuigim go maith go bhfuil togra straitéiseach ag an Údarás lena mbuiséad caipitil a mhéadú thar thréimhse ama go €12m in aghaidh na bliana. Leanfaidh mé liom ag tacú leis an éileamh sin feadh mo chumais, faoi réir na n-acmhainní a bheidh ar fáil dom.
Maidir le Foras na Gaeilge, tháinig laghdú carnach 12% ar an maoiniú don eagraíocht thar na blianta 2014-2016 i gcomhréir le treoir na Ranna Airgeadais sa dá dhlínse go gcaithfidh na forais trasteorann go léir sábháiltí éifeachtúlachta de 4% ar a laghad in aghaidh na bliana a chur i bhfeidhm ar bhonn carnach thar an tréimhse sin.
190. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will address an issue with regard to Muckross House and Killarney House (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29131/16]
View answerThe final phase of works at the location mentioned in the ‘details supplied’ are now substantially complete. The interpretation/exhibition phase of the project is advancing. I expect that the various elements of works will be completed in the coming months and it is intended that these amenities will be open to the public during 2017. Staffing requirements at this location, as with all other areas of my Department, remains the subject of on-going consideration in light of the overall business needs and within the pay framework approved for 2017.
Once the interpretation/exhibition phase has been moved forward sufficiently, the staffing requirements of this project will be addressed. Staff currently employed by my Department may, of course, express their interest in any positions arising.
191. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if a use it or lose it by year end rule is or has been in operation within her Department when devolving funding to agencies under her remit on an annual basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29190/16]
View answerAll grant payments from my Department are subject to the provisions of Circular 13/2014 from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds. This includes paragraph 11(i) on the retention of end-year balances which specifies that, where grantees are pre-funded and there are unexpended balances of grant money at year’s end, these balances, or a portion thereof, may be retained by the grantee if deemed necessary to meet outstanding financial requirements. The prior sanction of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is required for pre-funding. The Circular also advises that such balances should be kept to a minimum and be taken into account when considering the following year’s grant.
192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will increase investment in community and home based care to support and enable people with dementia to remain living at home for as long as possible, in budget 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29166/16]
View answerThe Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014, with the objective of increasing awareness, ensuring early diagnosis and intervention and developing enhanced community based services.
In parallel with the Strategy the Department of Health and the HSE have agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This Implementation Programme represents a combined investment of €27.5m, with the Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12m and the HSE €15.5m.
Key elements of the initiative include:
- the roll-out of a programme of Intensive Home Care Packages for people with dementia valued at €22.1 million;
- the provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs and Primary Care Teams to include training materials and guidance on local services and contact points valued at €1.2 million;
- measures to raise public awareness, address stigma and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia valued at €2.7 million.
The roll out of Intensive Home Care packages commenced in January 2015 and monitoring of the allocation and uptake of these packages to persons with dementia is ongoing. To date 133 people living with dementia have benefitted under the funding allocated from the National Dementia Implementation Programme at an average cost of €1,000 per package per week. There are currently 72 people with dementia in receipt of an Intensive Home Care Package. Up to 500 people with dementia and their families are expected to benefit from Intensive Home Care Packages over the lifetime of the implementation programme. In addition to the Intensive Home Care Packages the HSE will continue to provide mainstream home help and routine Home Care packages to people with dementia whose needs have been assessed as requiring these supports and within available resources.
It is Government policy that, wherever possible and appropriate, people should be cared for in their own homes and communities, and the National Dementia Strategy specifically restates this commitment to those living with dementia.
The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2016 provides for a target of 10.4 million Home Help Hours to support about 47,800 people. It also provides for 15,450 Home Care Packages and 130 Intensive Home Care Packages for clients with complex needs. A further 60 clients with dementia will be supported with co-funding from Atlantic Philanthropies under the Irish National Dementia Strategy.
Home support services across the country are being stretched by demands from more people, and for more hours at times outside of core hours, in the evenings and at weekends, all of which cost more. Activity in the first quarter of 2016 was ahead of the same period last year as efforts continued to alleviate pressure on the acute hospital system.
The Government has been able to respond to this demand by providing an extra €40m for home care in 2016. This will ensure that the home support services provided in 2015 are maintained and that the rate of service allocation can be maintained during the summer months. €10m of this money has been ring fenced for home care as part of the new winter initiative. The targets for 2016 will be reviewed in light of these additional resources.
The Programme for a Partnership Government also commits to increasing provision for home care in the years ahead. This will be considered in the normal way in the context of each annual Estimates process.
193. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications received per county in each of the calendar years 2012 to date in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29001/16]
View answer194. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications refused per county in each of the calendar years 2012 to date in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29002/16]
View answer195. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of medical card applications awarded on appeal per county in each of the calendar years 2012 to date in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29003/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 193 to 195, inclusive, together.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine these matters 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 was issued to Oireachtas members.
