Written Answers Nos. 110-125
110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the extent to which voluntary retirements, ordinary retirement or redundancies throughout the public sector have impacted particularly on the ability of some Departments to deliver their services; the extent to which he expects to be in a position to address this issue in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31174/16]
View answerThe Moratorium on Public Service Recruitment and Promotion was removed by the previous Government in 2015, and there has been considerable recruitment across many areas of the Public Service since then. In 2015, Public Service numbers increased by just over 8,500, and up to mid-point this year numbers have increased by a further 4,000. Also since 2015, Government Departments have been operating under delegated sanction arrangements, giving them authority to make staffing and resource allocation decisions according to their business needs, within agreed overarching pay ceilings. As part of this, Departments have also made significant investment in enhancing internal strategic HR capacity and have adopted a workforce planning framework to plan over the medium term for the impact of staffing and operational changes, including the impact of losing experienced staff to retirement. These are the mechanisms that allow Government Departments to plan and manage their business needs in a more stable and strategic manner.
With regard to the impact of redundancy, it should be noted that instances of redundancy in the Public Service are small, and where it occurs it takes place on a voluntary basis and is always informed by business related decisions aimed at improving service efficiency and/or effectiveness. The Government introduced scope for voluntary redundancy in late 2012 to support its ambitious programme of Public Service Reform, which included proposals for shared services and increased use of online services, but it has not been a significant feature of change in the Public Service. The number of people who have left the Public Service under a voluntary redundancy scheme is of the order of 1,000, out of a total staffing level of more than 300,000.
115. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will request a wildlife officer to visit the property of a person (details supplied) to investigate and deal with serious erosion of 150 m of the bank of the River Feale on their property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31036/16]
View answerAt the request of the landowner concerned, an official from my Department’s regional staff recently examined the area referred to in the Deputy’s question to consider works that the landowner proposed to carry out to protect his lands on the banks of the River Feale. Consent was granted to the landowner, subject to some conditions, for repairs to be carried out to rock armouring, as well as for the cutting back of scrub, in accordance with Regulation 30(3) of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.
116. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will request that the National Parks and Wildlife Service re-erect boundary fences where the national park backs up onto the properties in an area (details supplied) as there are serious issues with deer entering the properties, which is causing damage and is a health and safety issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31040/16]
View answerOfficials from my Department’s regional staff have examined the area in question. If a contact name and address for a representative of the residents could be provided, my officials will be happy to meet with that representative to discuss the matter.
117. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when she will release the €10 million available to local authorities under the town and village renewal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31066/16]
View answerOn 9th August this year, I launched the Town and Village Renewal Scheme as part of the Government’s programme to support rural development. I have allocated €10 million in capital funding for the scheme this year. Local Authorities, in conjunction with local communities and businesses, were invited to submit proposals to my Department by the end of September for approval.
My officials are currently assessing the 172 applications received under the scheme and these assessments will be completed by the end of October. Funding will be released to all approved projects once the assessments are complete.
The Town and Village Renewal scheme is just one of a range of measures in the Programme for a Partnership Government which will support rural development. Some of the other initiatives which have been announced by my Department recently include:
- the new 2014-2020 LEADER programme which has a budgetary allocation of €250 million over the lifetime of the programme;
- a new round of Rural Recreation project funding, with total approvals of €4.5 million to 75 projects across the country;
- the re-opening of the CLÁR programme, with funding of €3 million for this year;
- the launch of a new round of the REDZ (Rural Economic Development Zone) initiative with €5 million in funding for this year; and
- the establishment of two Regional Broadband Action Groups, involving all of the Local Authorities in the country, to prepare for the roll-out of broadband under the National Broadband Plan once contracts are awarded in 2017.
It is my intention to build further on these initiatives next year, as reflected in the €18 million increase in funding for rural programmes announced for my Department in Budget 2017.
118. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs given the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas and given Údarás na Gaeltachta's confirmation that an increase in its capital budget to €12 million per annum would enable it to create an additional 1,000 new jobs over three years, if she will commit to this funding request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22913/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that job creation in the Gaeltacht, through Údarás na Gaeltachta, is recognised as a key priority in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The programme also includes a commitment to an additional €300m, over the 5 year period 2017- 2021, for Enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
I wish to reiterate that as Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I very much appreciate the importance of job creation in retaining sustainable Irish speaking communities in Gaeltacht areas. In that context, I wish to acknowledge the very important enterprise and employment function of Údarás na Gaeltachta as the regional economic agency for the Gaeltacht. In that role, Údarás na Gaeltachta, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, will continue to work towards attracting investment to the Gaeltacht, in addition to supporting micro-enterprises and developing the skills base in the Gaeltacht.
In order to enable Údarás na Gaeltachta to fulfil its job creation and job retention role in the Gaeltacht, capital funding of €6.687m has been provided by the Exchequer to Údarás in 2016, in addition to its own resources from the sale of assets and investments. I have also secured €2.4m in additional capital to an tÚdarás in 2016. This additional funding will allow an tÚdarás to progress a number of capital projects on hand, thereby protecting existing jobs and assisting in the creation of new jobs in the Gaeltacht.
As announced in Budget 2017, a capital funding baseline of €6.687m will be provided by the Exchequer to Údarás in 2017.
I am, of course, well aware of Údarás na Gaeltachta's proposal to increase its capital budget over a period of time to €12m per annum. I am also very aware and supportive of the case advanced by the organisation that such an increase in funding would enable it to create an additional 300 jobs per annum. I can assure the Deputy that I will be continuing to seek additional capital funding for an tÚdarás in the future.
119. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he has given approval to the restoration of the incremental credit for the 36-week clinical placement undertaken by graduate nurses between 2011 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31112/16]
View answerApproval has been given to the restoration of incremental credit for all nurses in respect of the 36 week clinical placement undertaken by 4th year student nurses in the context of the 2017 Estimates. This decision means that all nurses and midwives will have incremental credit for the 36 week placement restored from 1 January 2017, restoration of the credit to 2016 and future graduates having been approved earlier this year. It is estimated that the inclusion of 2011 to 2015 graduates will benefit around 4,000 nurses who graduated between 2011 and 2015 and are currently working within the public health service and potentially another 3,000 who may wish to return to the public system in the future.
120. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the status of the task force that was to be established within three months of the formation of the Government to examine the issue of personalised budgets; if this task force has been established; if so, if it has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31114/16]
View answerThe establishment of a Task Force on Personalised Budgets is key to progressing the Government's objective of providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide them with greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I established the Task Force on 20 September last.
The Task Force has two components - a Strategy Group and an Advisory & Consultative Group - and its remit will be to make recommendations on a personalised budgets model which will give people with disabilities more control in accessing health funded personal social services, giving them greater independence and choice in accessing services which best meet their individual needs.
The Task Force comprising both the Strategy Group and Advisory & Consultative Groups met in plenary session on 13th October. The Strategy Group and Advisory & Consultative Groups also met separately on 20th September and 6th October respectively and I attended the commencement of both meetings to impress upon the participants the importance I attach to their work and to wish them every success in their endeavours.
121. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the cost of drugs required by sufferers of Crohn’s disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30993/16]
View answerIn recent years a number of new initiatives have been implemented to reduce the cost of all medicines paid by the State and patients.
The implementation of pricing agreements with the pharmaceutical industry has delivered lower prices. Most recently, the new four year Framework Agreement on the Supply and Pricing of Medicines with the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association provides for an annual downward only price realignment which will ensure that the prices of medicines in Ireland continue to reduce in line with price reductions across the reference countries. This Agreement is expected to deliver savings of €600 million from IPHA companies, with an additional €150 million expected to be delivered by non-IPHA suppliers of branded medicines.
The implementation of generic substitution and reference pricing has also contributed to significant price reductions. The prices of reference priced products are generally of the order of 70% - 80% lower than the prices paid when medicines were on patent. The implementation of generic substitution and reference pricing delivered savings of €47 million in 2014 and €94 million in 2015. This ensures that generic drug prices in Ireland will continue to fall towards European norms.
As a result of these measures, the average price of an item dispensed on the General Medical Services Scheme has reduced to below the price paid in 2001 and the average Drug Payment Scheme price is below the price paid in 2000.
The State also provides a number of supports for persons with the cost of medicines. Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange health services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Crohn's disease suffers aged over 70 will also benefit from the prescription charge changes outlined in Budget 2017. The Government intends to reduce the per item prescription charge by 50c, from €2.50 to €2.00, and reduce the monthly cap by €5, from €25 to €20. This initiative will require changes in primary legislation and pharmacy payments systems. Subject to the enactment of the necessary legislation, the Government intends that the reductions will take effect on 1 March 2017.
Patients may also be able to claim tax relief on the cost of certain medical expenses. This includes medicines prescribed by a doctor, dentist or consultant. Relief is at the standard rate of 20%.
The Programme for Partnership Government also includes a commitment to reduce the cost of medicines by reducing the annual required co-payment on the Drugs Payment Scheme and further reducing prescription charges for medical card holders.
122. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for surgery at Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31003/16]
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.
123. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Health when the HSE will start releasing money for privately funded operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31022/16]
View answerThe National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) previously arranged for the provision of hospital treatment to classes of persons determined by the Minister. Since 2011 this function has been suspended.
The NTPF supports the management of in-patient, day-case and outpatient waiting lists, by working with the HSE to assist hospitals in developing local demand and capacity planning and providing technical guidance materials to ensure the highest standard of data quality and practice. The expertise amassed by the NTPF in respect of waiting lists has proven invaluable in assisting the HSE to administer previous waiting list initiatives and in carrying out smaller-scale targeted initiatives in areas such as endoscopy.
A Programme for A Partnership Government emphasises the need for sustained commitment to improving waiting times for patients, with a particular focus on those patients waiting longest. At my request, in August, the HSE developed an action plan to reduce, by year end, the number of patients currently waiting 18 months or more for an inpatient / daycase procedure. Also within current resources, the NTPF is currently implementing an Endoscopy Initiative which aims to ensure that, by year end, no patient will be waiting 12 months or more for an endoscopy procedure.
In line with the Government priority, the Budget 2017 provides for the treatment of our longest-waiting patients. Funding of €20m is being allocated to the NTPF, rising to €55m in 2018. Planning of this initiative is at an advanced stage by the NTPF, my Department and the HSE.
124. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the status of the fair deal scheme and the way such scheme applies to farmers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31034/16]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) is a system of financial support for those in need of long-term nursing home care. Participants contribute to the cost of their care according to their means while the State pays the balance of the cost. The Scheme aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is accessible and affordable for everyone and that people are cared for in the most appropriate settings. A financial assessment is carried out by the HSE to determine how much a participant in the Scheme will contribute to the cost of their care.
Participants in the Scheme contribute up to 80% of their assessable income and a maximum of 7.5% per annum of the value of assets held. In the case of a couple, the applicant’s means are assessed as 50% of the couple’s combined income and assets. The first €36,000 of an individual’s assets, or €72,000 in the case of a couple, is not counted at all in the financial assessment. The capital value of an individual’s principal private residence is only included in the financial assessment for the first three years of their time in care. This is known as the three year cap.
The Scheme has a number of important safeguards built into the financial assessment which ensures that:
- Nobody will pay more than the actual cost of care;
- An applicant will keep a personal allowance of 20% of his/her income or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-Contributory), whichever is greater. This is in recognition of the fact that, although the NHSS covers core living expenses, residents can still incur some costs in a nursing home, such as social programmes, newspapers or hairdressing;
- If an applicant has a spouse/partner remaining at home, he/she will be left with 50% of the couple’s income or the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-Contributory), whichever is greater;
- If both members of a couple enter nursing home care, they each retain at least 20% of their income, or 20% of the maximum rate of the State Pension (non-Contributory), whichever is greater;
- Certain items of expenditure, called allowable deductions, can be taken into account for the financial assessment, including health expenses, payments required by law, rent payments and borrowings in respect of a person’s principal private residence;
- A person’s eligibility for other schemes, such as the Medical Card Scheme or the Drug Payment Scheme, is unaffected by participation in the Nursing Homes Support Scheme or residence in a nursing home.
In addition to these safeguards, where an applicant’s assets include land and property held in the State, the contribution based on such assets may be deferred and collected from their estate. This is known as the Nursing Home Loan (Ancillary State Support), the purpose of which is to ensure that a person does not have to sell their home during their lifetime to pay for long-term nursing home care. A nursing home resident can apply for this deferral at any stage.
When the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (NHSS) commenced in 2009, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The Report of the Review was published in July 2015. Arising out of the Review, a number of key issues have been identified for more detailed consideration across Departments and Agencies, including the treatment of business and farm assets for the purposes of the financial assessment element of the Scheme. In advance of the Review, submissions were sought from groups or bodies who wished to make a contribution, and the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) made a submission in this context on which they expanded at a subsequent meeting with officials of the Department of Health.
An Interdepartmental/Agency Working Group has been established to progress the recommendations contained in the Review. This group is chaired by the Department of Health and includes representatives from the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the HSE, the Revenue Commissioners and, when required, the National Treatment Purchase Fund. I have recently met with the IFA and invited them to present their submission at the next meeting of the Working Group. The Working Group met on the 11 of October and the IFA gave a verbal presentation to the Group. The issue is currently being considered.
The Programme for a Partnership Government has committed to reviewing the NHSS to remove any discrimination against small business and family farms.
125. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide funding for expansion works (details supplied); the discussions he has held in the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31042/16]
View answerFunding has been made available in the current Capital Plan to bring the project to the design and planning stage. The expansion of the Intensive Care Unit is currently at design stage. Further funding is dependent on the costing and timing of the project, the availability of resources in the context of many other demands across the country and the future capital envelope for the health service and the overall priorities for future service development in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.
