Written Answers Nos. 264-274
264. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Justice if she plans to create a renewable toleration status for persons who do not have permission to remain in the State but who are prevented from returning to their country of origin due to persecution or medical reasons as an alternative to a deportation order; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44343/21]
View answerThe Expert Advisory Group, led by Dr Catherine Day, was established to report on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process. As the Deputy may be aware, the Group recommended that ‘The State should develop a strategy and if necessary enact legislation for dealing with unsuccessful applicants who are deemed “non-returnable”’. This and all other recommendations made by the Group are being carefully examined by a Programme Board established in my Department for this purpose.
More broadly, I can say that my Department has taken a pragmatic and compassionate approach to immigration arrangements in the context of the pandemic and this will continue for as long as is necessary. The Deputy will be aware that in recent days Minister Humphreys and I have provided a final temporary extension to 15 January 2022 of all immigration permissions due to expire between 21 September 2021 and 15 January 2022 , providing certainty of status for thousands of people.
The Deputy will appreciate that my Department must operate within the confines of the immigration and international protection legislation enacted by the Oireachtas. The Deputy can be assured that all decisions are taken with the greatest of care and in full knowledge of the individual applicant’s circumstances, insofar as they have been made known to us. The existing legislative and operational processes cater for all situations which may arise, particularly in those cases where the exercise of ministerial discretion may be warranted.
265. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if she will ensure that all staff in her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit who, by necessity of their work, have to come into close proximity with others, including other employees or members of the public, are provided with medical grade masks in the EN14683 category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44378/21]
View answerMy Department is committed to providing a safe working environment for all staff and members of the public who interact with staff in the provision of services. In that regard, it follows the relevant guidance from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Health Service Executive and the Health and Safety Authority.
There are a number of areas in my Department where staff are in front-line, public-facing roles, primarily in the area of Immigration Service Delivery.
Where work cannot be carried out behind a screen and closer contact is required with members of the public, medical face masks in the EN14683 category are provided to staff in accordance with occupational health and safety risk assessments. Instruction on how to properly use and dispose of face masks is also provided.
As all the public services provided by my Department require the wearing of face coverings, these are provided to members of the public and visitors to the Department, where necessary. These face coverings are not medical grade. The agencies, bodies and offices under my remit, whose services require the wearing of face coverings, operate under the same overarching risk assessment principles.
The Irish Prison Service has a number of controls in place for staff including the compulsory wearing of medical grade masks and COVID awareness education. An Garda Síochána also has a large supply of medical grade masks which meet the EN14683 standard readily available to all staff.
I am informed that the Courts Service, as part of its Covid-19 Safety Management Programme, has adequate stocks of EN14683 standard masks available and accessible to staff, judiciary and members of the public should they require them.
Under the Probation Service’s existing COVID-19 protocols, Probation Officers meet with clients behind screens, and have additional preventative measures in place including sanitising, additional cleaning, and social distancing. In relation to staff, all offices have been risk assessed and the relevant control measures are in place and allow for social distancing. Medical grade masks are not supplied.
266. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of children with special needs living in south-western areas of Dublin; the number of therapists working in the area to provide essential services for these children; his plans to ensure that these services which are crucial for the families of these children will resume to pre-Covid-19 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44246/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
267. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the funding and supports that are available to cover the cost of hearing aids for adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44247/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
268. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 2566 and 2567 of 27 July 2021, the dates on which the working group to revise the drug and alcohol task forces handbook in line with Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery have met online or in person since its establishment by his Department in tabular form; and if he will commit to an ongoing interagency approach involving community and voluntary representatives to this work as was the case when the working group was first established as it finalises its work by the end of 2021. [44248/21]
View answerAs outlined in Parliamentary Questions Nos. 2566 and 2567 of 27 July 2021, the governance and operation of Drug and Alcohol Task Forces is set out in a handbook published in 2011. It defines the role of the task forces within the national and local framework required to address the existing and emerging threats from problem drug use.
The Department set up a working group in 2018 to revise the Drug and Alcohol Task Force Handbook in line with the national drugs strategy. A list of dates that meeting of the group took place is attached in tabular form. Work to complete the code of governance for task forces has been delayed due to resource constraints.
The Department is working with task forces to finalise an updated handbook. To assist in this process, the Department is developing a Governance Framework for Drug and Alcohol Task Forces.
I am committed to working with task forces to finalise the new handbook and governance framework. This is an important step in strengthening the performance of task forces to support the implementation of the strategic priorities 2021-25 under the national drugs strategy.
List of meetings of the ‘Working Group for the Handbook for the Local and Regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforces’
|
Meeting |
Year |
Date |
|
1 |
2018 |
12.9.18 |
|
2 |
10.10.18 |
|
|
3 |
8.11.18. |
|
|
4 |
26.11.18. |
|
|
5 |
19.12.18. |
|
|
6 |
2019 |
16.1.19. |
|
7 |
7.2.19. |
|
|
8 |
26.3.19. |
|
|
9 |
15.4.19. |
269. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way consultants and surgeons triage a patient for surgery in relation to elective surgeries; and the location in which this is recorded. [44249/21]
View answerI note that the issue raised has been resubmitted by the Deputy, as, at the time the question was first submitted, I was unable to refer the matter to the Health Service Executive due to the cyber-attack in May.
In my reply to the Deputy’s previous question, I provided an overview of patient pathways and associated protocols relating to elective care in acute hospitals.
In relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, as this relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
270. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the body or agency in which waiting lists of patients who are pending surgeries are recorded in relation to elective surgeries. [44250/21]
View answerI note that the issue raised has been resubmitted by the Deputy, as, at the time the question was first submitted, I was unable to refer the matter to the Health Service Executive due to the cyber-attack in May.
In my reply to the Deputy’s previous question, I provided an overview of patient pathways and associated protocols relating to elective care in acute hospitals.
In relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, as this relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
271. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the way consultants and surgeons communicate with the admissions office in relation to elective surgeries regarding patients and waiting lists changes. [44251/21]
View answerI note that the issue raised has been resubmitted by the Deputy, as, at the time the question was first submitted, I was unable to refer the matter to the Health Service Executive due to the cyber-attack in May.
In my reply to the Deputy’s previous question, I provided an overview of patient pathways and associated protocols relating to elective care in acute hospitals.
In relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, as this relates to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
272. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the length of time a person who is fully vaccinated needs to quarantine if travelling from Brazil; and if this requirement is subject to change. [44253/21]
View answerBrazil is currently included on the list of states designated under Section 38E (1) of the Health Act 1947.
All travellers from designated states are required to present proof of a relevant test result taken prior to arrival in Ireland. Arrivals from designated states who can show valid proof of vaccination, as defined in S.I. 135/2021, are required to complete 14-days of home quarantine at the address provided on their Passenger Locator Form. They have the possibility of an early exit from home quarantine with a negative PCR test result taken no earlier than 5 days after arrival.
Travel policy is kept under continuous consideration informed by the epidemiological situation and public health advice.
273. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the number of young persons, that is, age 16 or under, who have presented to hospitals with suicide attempts, self-harm or deliberate poisoning; the number that are linked to an overdose of paracetamol; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44255/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
274. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the status of the connecting for life plan; and the details of the plan with a particular reference to CHO7. [44256/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
