Wednesday, 25 Nov 2020

Written Answers Nos. 176-191

Garda Stations

Questions (176)

Richard O'Donoghue

Question:

176. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Justice the budgeted cost for small capital works to Garda stations in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39025/20]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter and I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.SUBSTANTIVE ANSWER: I refer to your Parliamentary Question No. 176 which was for answer on 25 November 2020, where you requested the budgeted cost for small capital works to Garda stations in 2020.

As you may recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to contact you again when the information was to hand.

The requested information has now been provided by An Garda Síochána and accordingly, please note the following.

As you will appreciate the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Works in relation to Garda accommodation are progressed by the OPW working in close cooperation with the Garda authorities and I have no direct role in this matter.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Small Capital Works budget in 2020 is €2.642M. This funds elective works carried out in Garda Stations and other Garda Buildings. Small capital works include all elective works carried out to the Garda Estate. These works are sanctioned on a daily basis and include jobs ranging from the provision of extra power and data to the upgrade or improvement of an existing facility necessitated by change in use or need.

It should be noted that the funding for capital and maintenance work would also be provided in the OPW Vote for the maintenance of the Garda estate.

The resources provided by Government to An Garda Síochána have reached unprecedented levels, with an allocation for 2021 of €1.952 billion.

Significant investment is also being made in the Garda estate. The Garda Síochána Building and Refurbishment Programme 2016-2021 is an ambitious 5-year programme, based on agreed Garda priorities, which continues to benefit over 30 locations around the country, underpinned by significant Exchequer funding across the Garda and OPW Votes. The goal of this investment is to address deficiencies in the Garda estate and provide fit-for-purpose facilities for Garda members and staff, as well as the public interacting with them.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Question No. 177 answered with Question No. 168.

Public Procurement Contracts

Questions (178)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

178. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice if her Department and any commercial or non-commercial State bodies and private entities subsidised by 50% or more of public funding under the aegis of her Department have implemented social clauses in their public procurement contracts in the past three years (details supplied); and if so, the nature of these social clauses. [39053/20]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is at an early stage of commencing an initiative to implement social and environmental clauses in public procurement contracts. My Department has made a commitment to secure social clauses within 10% of the Department’s procurement contracts within the lifetime of the upcoming strategy, which is from 2021 to 2023.

I have sought the information requested from agencies under the remit of my Department, and I will write directly to the Deputy with information relating to these agencies when received in line with standing orders.

Question No. 179 answered with Question No. 168.

Deportation Orders

Questions (180)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

180. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Justice the number of deportation orders issued since 1 March 2020 to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39132/20]

Written answers

Minister for Justice

Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in March 2020, a total of 469 Deportation Orders have been issued by the Immigration Service of my Department.

The enforcement of Deportation Orders is an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). I can assure the Deputy, that both my own Department, and the GNIB are taking a pragmatic approach in relation to the enforcement of Deportation Orders during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Section 3 (11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) also allows an Order to be amended or revoked by making a request to me as Minister for Justice.

Question No. 181 answered with Question No. 168.

Disability Services Provision

Questions (182)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

182. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health his priorities relating to disability services for 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38930/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Disability services focus on enabling people with disabilities to achieve their full potential, living ordinary lives in ordinary places, as independently as possible while ensuring that the voices of service users and their families are heard, and that they are fully involved in planning and improving services to meet their needs.

In line with the Governments Resilience & Recovery Framework (2020 – 2021), the HSE regards the provision of disability services as essential to maintaining a response to people with a disability, in the same way that schools and creches are. It is important to note that Government’s intention is that disability services will remain open at each level of the Resilience and Recovery Framework, subject to public health guidance.

In the first budget of this government, I am pleased that we have secured significant additional funding to start delivering on the commitments we made to people with disabilities in the Programme for Government. Budget 2021 provides for an unprecedented level of investment in disability services, with an investment of €100m for new initiatives in 2021. This will build on the investment already in place, and on the €20 million once off funding being made available in 2020 for disability voluntary service providers engaged in the Transforming Lives Reform programme. Additional funding to support recovery of services in the context of COVID-19 has also been provided this year.

The €100 in new funding in 2021 will be targeted at five key areas: children’s services, day services, community supports, residential services, and integration. The HSE are currently finalising their National Service Plan for 2021 and in this context, the HSE have been asked to examine how these key priorities can be progressed in 2021 within the overall increased envelope of funding for disability services.

Disability Services Funding

Questions (183)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

183. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the counties needing investment in disability services in tabular form; the way in which the needs are being prioritised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38931/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.

Mental Health Services

Questions (184)

Denis Naughten

Question:

184. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the percentage of total national budgetary spend allocated to mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38975/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (185, 213, 214)

Denis Naughten

Question:

185. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the way in which expenditure on mental health compares with UK and EU average spend on mental health for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38988/20]

Denis Naughten

Question:

213. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the way in which the expenditure on mental health for children compares with UK and EU average spend on mental health for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38979/20]

Denis Naughten

Question:

214. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the way in which the expenditure on mental health for adults compares with UK and EU average spend on mental health for adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38980/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 185, 213 and 214 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (186, 217, 218)

Denis Naughten

Question:

186. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a summary of the annual mental health budget in 2020 to date for children up to 18 years of age; the projected outturn for 2020; the actual estimate approved at the start of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38989/20]

Denis Naughten

Question:

217. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a summary of the annual mental health budget in 2020 to date for children up to 18 years of age; the projected outturn for 2020; the actual estimate approved at the start of the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38983/20]

Denis Naughten

Question:

218. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a summary of the annual mental health budget in each of the years 2015 to 2019 for children up to 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38984/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 217 and 218 together.

As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Mental Health Services

Questions (187)

Denis Naughten

Question:

187. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a summary of the annual mental health budget for children in each of the years 2015 to 2019 up to 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38990/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

National Children's Hospital

Questions (188)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

188. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the extent of the drawdown of approved spending to date by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board; the estimated scheduling of outstanding moneys within the original approved envelope; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39163/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health (Deputy Stephen Donnelly)

The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building and equipping the new children's hospital.

Since the commencement of the National Children’s Hospital construction a total of €555.86m has been drawn down for ongoing works on the project.

At the start of 2020, an estimated €315m expenditure was anticipated for the year. However, the stoppage of planned construction work due to the impact of Covid-19, has resulted in a lower than originally planned drawdown for the NCH projects. In 2020, €118.8m has been drawn down. This is €166m less than the pre-Covid anticipated drawdown for the year to date. Funding is only provided for incurred expenditure, and there will therefore be an underspend on the project in 2020.

A revised cash-flow profile has recently been received from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, and the HSE Capital Plan has been adjusted accordingly. The NPHDB is also working on a project update to take account of the impact of the delay experienced on the project to date, including that related to Covid and this will have an impact on future cash flow.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (189, 198, 223, 224, 230, 231, 270)

Pearse Doherty

Question:

189. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if women who are 28 weeks pregnant are at an increased risk of becoming severely ill should they contract Covid-19; the information the HSE has on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38906/20]

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

198. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if concerns raised by a person (details supplied) with the HSE's recommendation regarding week 28 plus of pregnancy will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38939/20]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

223. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to a document (details supplied); the steps being taken to update guidance on pregnancy and Covid-19 regularly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39018/20]

Cian O'Callaghan

Question:

224. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the basis on which the HSE Covid-19 guidelines for women who are 28 weeks pregnant are established; if his attention has been drawn to the recommendations of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine regarding women who are 28 weeks pregnant or over; if he has raised these matters with the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39020/20]

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Question:

230. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that according to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Royal College of Midwives and the Faculty of Occupational Medicine that women who are 28 weeks pregnant and beyond are at an increased risk of becoming severely ill should they contract Covid-19; his further views on the information in view of the fact that women who cannot social distance when working are being denied health and safety leave by medmark in line with the HSE’s advice that states persons face a higher risk only if they are pregnant and have a heart defect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39038/20]

David Cullinane

Question:

231. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advise on matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); the guidance that has been issued on pregnancy and Covid-19; when the advice will be updated in view of the most recent research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39040/20]

Ged Nash

Question:

270. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health his views on recent research (details supplied); if he plans to update guidelines pertaining to health and safety leave for teachers that is occupational health care on this basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39250/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 189, 198, 223, 224, 230, 231 and 270 together.

Given the role of the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme in the dissemination of pregnancy related clinical guidelines, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (190, 191, 209)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

190. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health the supports, guidance and information available to patients experiencing long Covid-19 symptoms; his plans to establish a dedicated centre to help those suffering from long Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38908/20]

Seán Canney

Question:

191. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health his plans for the recognition of the long-term effects of Covid-19; his plans to introduce support for patients affected by the condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38926/20]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

209. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to ensure long-term care and support for persons experiencing symptoms of long Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38970/20]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 190, 191 and 209 together.

It is recognised that in some people who have been infected with Covid-19 continuing symptoms or side effects can occur during recovery. These can include physical, mental or emotional difficulties.

A person recovering from COVID-19 infection should speak to their general practitioner or their hospital team about accessing relevant care pathways to ensure that they are enabled to receive support and advice for any long-term symptoms or health problems they may be experiencing.

The general practitioner or the hospital team will understand the clinical history and the personal circumstances relating to an individual and can provide the necessary advice and guidance that suit the particular needs of the individual’s circumstances.

You may wish to note that the HSE has provided information for those recovering after Covid-19, which is available at the following link:- https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/recovering-after-coronavirus.html.