Written Answers Nos. 704-724
704. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 453 of 10 October 2021, the reason a proposed review of an error in a case involving the non-processing of an appeal from a District Court conviction in Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, a submission for which was approved by her on 15 May 2019, did not ultimately proceed. [51067/21]
View answerI can inform the Deputy that, as noted in my previous response, the matter raised refers to the terms of reference for a proposed review of an error in a case involving the non-processing of an appeal from a District Court conviction in Carrickmacross. A submission on the review was received by the then Minister for Justice and Equality from the Department's Secretary General on 14 May 2018. This submission was subsequently approved by the then Minister on 15 May 2019. As previously stated, the review in question did not ultimately proceed. The failure to follow up on this decision was due to an administrative oversight.
As previously stated to the Deputy, it was also intended that the O’Farrell family would be sent a copy of the terms of reference for the review, as well as a copy of the original Courts Service report. However, due to the same administrative oversight, this did not occur.
These matters came to light in the process of compiling records for a Freedom of Information request. Following consideration of the matter, it was decided that the most efficient and expedient way of dealing with this oversight was to bring the matter to the attention of Judge Haughton, who had already commenced his independent scoping exercise into matters relating to the death of Mr Shane O'Farrell in February 2019. In response to a request, Judge Haughton agreed that the matter referred to in the Courts Service report could be dealt with in the context of his scoping exercise.
705. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the estimated amount spent by her Department on the procurement, purchase and rent of new office space; and the amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2021. [51108/21]
View answerThe majority of properties occupied by my Department are owned or leased on its behalf by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Information in respect of buildings/office accommodation leased directly for office space for my Department which are paid for from the Justice vote within the time range are set out in tabular form below.
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2011 |
691,080 |
|
2012 |
691,080 |
|
2013 |
691,080 |
|
2014 |
691,080 |
|
2015 |
779,080 |
|
2016 |
723,080 |
|
2017 |
698,200 |
|
2018 |
871,065 |
|
2019 |
1,244,097 |
|
2020 |
1,417,247 |
|
2021 |
1,105,202 |
The amount spent on the procurement, purchase and rent of office equipment in the time range are set out in tabular form below. This includes computers, laptops and IT hardware.
|
Year |
Cost |
|
2011 |
677,807 |
|
2012 |
636,778 |
|
2013 |
2,335,901 |
|
2014 |
2,078,502 |
|
2015 |
2,921,163 |
|
2016 |
2,220,958 |
|
2017 |
1,690,852 |
|
2018 |
1,563,978 |
|
2019 |
2,680,413 |
|
2020 |
1,215,418 |
|
2021 |
1,210,823 |
706. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Justice the number of offices currently being rented or in ownership of her Department which are currently not in use by the Department. [51125/21]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that there are no offices being rented or in ownership of my Department which are currently not in use by my Department.
707. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the procedure to be followed to regularise residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51145/21]
View answerThe records available to my Department indicate that the person referred to by the Deputy has no legal status in the State since 8 January 2020.
The person concerned is advised to write to the Immigration Service of my Department and request to regularise their position in the State. When submitting their request, they should outline their current circumstances, the date of their arrival in the State, their current or most recent permission, if any, to be in the State, along with their future intentions in the State.
They should enclose a copy of all pages of their passport, along with any documentation that they believe will support their case. The application should be submitted, via registered post, to Residence Division - Unit 2, Immigration Service, 13/14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, D02 XK70.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
708. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Justice if a student visa will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51213/21]
View answerThe person referred to by the deputy created an online study visa application on 19 August 2021. The supporting documentation and fee were received on 4 October 2021 in the Manila visa office. Following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on 14 October 2021, outlining the reasons for this refusal.
It is open to the applicant to appeal this decision, in writing, within two months of the date of the refusal. Appeals must be in written form and sent to the Visa Appeals Officer in the relevant Visa Office. Faxed or emailed appeals will not be considered.
All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on the Irish Immigration website (www.irishimmigration.ie). By following these guidelines, the applicant has a better prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.
When making an appeal, the applicant should take into account the reasons for refusal listed in the refusal letter. The appeal should include any further information or additional documentation they wish to have considered, and should be sent for the attention of the Visa Appeals Officer, in the relevant Visa Office, where the matter will be considered afresh. Full consideration will be given to any appeal received on behalf of the applicant, however the onus is on the applicant to satisfy the Visa Officer that a visa should be granted.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
709. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the healthcare sector is losing out on a number of healthcare professionals who are foreign nationals due to their visas expiring while they are waiting for their employee permits to come through; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that many of these healthcare professionals are having applications for extensions to their visas denied; if she has plans to examine the prospect of a bridging visa for such applications from healthcare professionals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51224/21]
View answerAny person who is seeking to travel to Ireland for the purpose of employment, including in the healthcare sector, can only apply to my Department for a visa once they have applied for and been granted an employment permit by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Any healthcare workers who are currently in the State and with a permission that is due to expire, will have benefitted from the final temporary extension of immigration and international protection previously announced to 15 January 2022. They are legally permitted to remain until that date, even if their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card has expired and they are awaiting a new one. Renewal is on the same basis as the existing permission and the same conditions will continue to apply.
They should either register or renew their permission by 15 January 2022 to ensure that they have a qualifying permission to remain in the State after that date, if that is their intention.
710. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health the reason only one week was given for organisations to apply for the €1 million provided for sensory gardens announced on 5 October 2021 with a deadline of 12 October 2021; if he plans to extend the timeframe for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51023/21]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide 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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
711. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Health if schools can apply for funding under the recently announced €1 million provided for sensory gardens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51024/21]
View answerThe Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide 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.
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
713. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if private homecare providers are receiving State funding towards mileage for care assistants to travel to patients' homes. [51183/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
714. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for an ophthalmology operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50360/21]
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
715. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the status of the recruitment of the remaining four epilepsy nurse specialist posts of six agreed in 2018 for the implementation of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50367/21]
View answer767. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if his Department will urgently fill the four unoccupied positions for epilepsy nurse specialist posts agreed in 2018 for the implementation of the pregnancy prevention programme. [50603/21]
View answer833. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the recruitment of four unfilled epilepsy nurse specialist posts agreed in 2018 for the implementation of the Pregnancy Prevention Programme (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50998/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 715, 767 and 833 together.
As these questions relate to operational matters for the Health Service Executive (HSE), I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly.
716. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health his views on whether the HSE recommended medication cariban should be added to the approved drugs list under the drugs payment scheme; his views on whether the drug should be made available on the medical card; and the treatments available under each scheme to treat hyperemesis gravidarum. [50369/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
717. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the staffing levels at Ballina District Hospital, Swinford Community Hospital and Belmullet Community Hospital on 1 October 2020 and 1 October 2021 (details supplied); the way these staffing levels compare to other community and district hospitals across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50373/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
718. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of debt collectors and or debt collecting agencies engaged by the HSE in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of the collection of fees and charges on patients; the yield raised by these agents in respect of their tasks; the number that have involved litigation proceedings; the policy in respect of hiring debt collection agents; and if there is a policy in place for providing a system in which a schedule of payments can be set out. [50378/21]
View answerPatient charges are a key element of the overall funding envelope of the Irish health system and are taken into account when agreeing the Annual Estimates and the subsequent preparation of the annual National Service Plan.
These charges typically include:
Out-patient charges;
Emergency Department charges;
Daily in-patient charges; and
Long-term stay charges.
There are cohorts of people who are exempt from these charges, including, but not limited to persons with full eligibility, women receiving services in respect of motherhood, children up to the age of six weeks, children suffering from diseases prescribed under section 52 (2) of the Act, and persons receiving services for the diagnosis or treatment of infectious diseases.
In addition, patients who opt for private in-patient services in public hospitals are liable for a range of private accommodation charges. There are no exemptions from these charges.
Non collection of debts owed directly impacts on the affordability of services provided by the Health Service Executive in any year. It is therefore incumbent on the HSE to take all reasonable steps to pursue amounts owed for services delivered. Debt collection agencies are engaged when normal billing arrangements have been unsuccessful.
The operational detail of this question is a matter for the HSE and I have asked them to respond to you directly in relation to that detail.
719. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide general practitioner settings with cancer diagnostic tools. [50379/21]
View answerGeneral practitioners have a key role in the detection of cancer as the GP is often the first contact for patients presenting symptoms of cancer. Where a diagnosis of cancer is suspected, the GP can refer the patient for appropriate diagnostic testing or to see the appropriate consultant, to confirm or disconfirm the GP’s suspicion.
The National Cancer Control Programme has worked with the Irish College of General Practitioners and hospital-based cancer specialists in the development and implementation of GP referral guidelines for numerous types of cancer. These guidelines are accompanied by disease-specific standardised referral forms which assist the GP to document important clinical features which helps the hospital to triage patients.
720. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health the current position in respect of the supply of wheelchairs and other medical devices for 28 children in the children’s community health network areas 4 and 5; when the appropriate funding will be made available in order to deal with the waiting time which is in excess of 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50381/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
721. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the status of the application to the HSE for the provision of a new ward at Ballina District Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50388/21]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
722. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place a consultation framework to prepare for a public enquiry into the tragic loss of life in nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic. [50402/21]
View answerThere has been a very clear commitment to continue to learn from the pandemic as the national and international understanding of the COVID-19 virus evolves, and where necessary to ensure that the public health-led approach evolves, as evidence and learning materialises. The COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel report is particularly pertinent in that regard and progressing the implementation of its recommendations is ongoing. Findings of this report as well as other examinations throughout the pandemic confirm that the very infectious nature of COVID-19 makes it difficult to prevent and control in residential care settings. The reports produced nationally identify findings consistent with international evidence, which have highlighted that the probability of COVID-19 introduction into nursing homes depends on the levels of the disease circulating in the community, with a higher risk associated with higher incidence rates in the community.
The Government has provided extensive support to the Nursing Home Sector since the start of the pandemic. The Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) was established in April 2020 as a temporary, administrative measure to respond to the challenges being faced by the nursing home sector at the start of the pandemic. Up to €134m for the Scheme was made available for 2020 and 2021. In recognition of the residual risk presented by the virus, Minister Donnelly and I have agreed to the continued availability of the outbreak assistance element of the Scheme until the end of this year. This will ensure that contingency is available in the event of an outbreak.
As the pandemic has continued, many further support measures for private and voluntary nursing homes have been made available through the Health Service Executive (HSE), including the provision of PPE on a no-cost basis, the implementation of serial testing, the support and engagement of COVID-19 response teams and public health teams, the temporary accommodation scheme for nursing home staff and further supports. Many of these supports will continue to be provided by the HSE for the foreseeable future.
The Government’s commitment to longer-term reform is underlined in Budget 2022 with €17.6 million allocated for the further implementation of the COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel Report, with a focus on the establishment of multidisciplinary Community Support Teams, safe staffing framework piloting and the safeguarding of residents.
As the Deputy is aware the prevalence of the more transmissible Delta variant has increased in Ireland and this poses ongoing risk, in particular to those who are not yet fully protected though vaccination. It must be recognised that the pandemic has not concluded and at this time a priority focus of Government remains on the ongoing management of the COVID-19 response, to ensure that the positive gains now been experienced are preserved, and that those most vulnerable to the virus continue to be safeguarded, having regard to the residual risk. The Government is continuing to look at options which may be available to the State in relation to listening to the voices of those who have lost a loved one. The establishment and parameters of any broader review or evaluation of the State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic would be a matter for Government to decide on at the appropriate time.
723. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an appointment at Sligo University Hospital pain management clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50404/21]
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
724. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for the pain management clinic at Sligo University Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021. [50405/21]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for scheduled appointments and procedures have been impacted in the last nineteen months as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic and more recently as a result of the ransomware attack. While significant progress was made in reducing waiting times from June 2020 onwards, the surge in Covid-19 cases in the first quarter of 2021 and the associated curtailment of acute hospital services, coupled with the ransomware attack of May 2021, has impacted waiting times.
My Department, the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) are focusing on improving access to elective care in order to reduce waiting times for patients. These plans include increased use of private hospitals, funding weekend and evening work in public hospitals, funding “see and treat” services where minor procedures are provided at the same time as outpatient consultations, providing virtual clinics and increasing capacity in the public hospital system.
On the 7th October I published the Acute Waiting List Action Plan. This plan, to run until December 2021, has a series of targeted measures that are designed to address the growth in waiting lists caused by Covid-19 and the cyber-attack.
In addition, my Department, the HSE and the NTPF are also working on a Multi Annual Waiting List Plan to bring waiting lists in line with Sláintecare targets over the coming years. This process will be overseen by a Ministerial Taskforce, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and includes representatives from the HSE and National Treatment Purchase Fund. The plan will be informed by the lessons learned from the successful Vaccine Taskforce.
For 2022 an additional allocation of €250 million, comprised of €200 million to the HSE and €50 million to the National Treatment Purchase Fund has been provided in respect of work to reduce hospital and community waiting lists. The €250 million will be used to fund additional activity in both the public and private sectors. The €50 million additional funding provided to the NTPF brings its total allocation for 2022 to €150 million, and as a consequence there will be a budget of €350 million available to support vital initiatives to improve access to acute hospitals and community health services.
The information requested by the Deputy concerning, the waiting times for pain management at Sligo University Hospital in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, is outlined in the document below.
