Written Answers Nos. 179-198
179. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of non-coursing greyhounds microchipped and entered (details supplied) between 1 January 2022 and 30 April 2023, that were born in 2022. [25291/23]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the organisation charged with the role of Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) since 1923. The Stud Book records pedigrees, ownerships, breeding data and transfers of ownership of all greyhounds. The ICC is subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The ICC has informed this Department that there were 11,047 non-coursing greyhounds born in 2022 and microchipped up to 30th April 2023.
180. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown, by year of birth, of the 5,312 non-coursing greyhounds recorded as "exported" in 2022 on the Rásaíocht Con Éireann traceability system. [25292/23]
View answerRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
181. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure an assessment of needs is provided urgently for a four-year-old child (details supplied), who has been waiting over six months since August 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25155/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
182. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the progress of promised legislation on the banning of conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25091/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to ban conversion therapy. The National LGBTI Youth Strategy 2018 – 2020 and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 – 2021 contain commitments in relation to conversion therapy. The LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy provides for the prohibition of “the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland” and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy commits to investigating conversion therapy in Ireland and following up with appropriate counter measures.
The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth commissioned research into the issue of conversion therapy. The multi-phased mixed-methodology research was carried out by Trinity College Dublin, School of Nursing and Midwifery, and a report of the findings was published in February 2023. The research provides an insight into how conversion therapy practices operate in Ireland. It also includes an examination of the growing body of recent international research literature in the area. The findings of the research indicate that conversion therapy practices take place in Ireland, and has developed understanding of how these practices operate. It confirms the harm that is inflicted on those who experience such practices.
Given the potential complex and sensitive nature of the proposed legislation, the Government is carefully considering the underpinning policy matters to ensure that vulnerable members of society are protected from these harmful practices. Work on the plan to draft legislation is ongoing including the identification of the key legal issues, and is a priority for Government this year. It is planned that legislative proposals will be brought forward shortly, informed by this research and international best practice.
183. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the process of tendering for research that has been commissioned to outline the mechanisms in use in other countries and to provide practical advice regarding recognition for children under the age of 16 years (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25092/23]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment, in terms of gender recognition, to examine arrangements for those aged under 16.
DCEDIY has jointly commissioned research, with the Department of Social Protection, to identify the mechanisms used in other countries which govern legal gender recognition of children aged under 16 and to provide practical advice in relation to recognition for this age group.
The aim of the research is to examine and learn from other countries that have enacted legislation, supported and engaged with the issue of gender recognition for under 16s. The research will provide practical advice to inform consideration of how the issue may be approached in Ireland.
A Request for Tenders document was issued on eTenders on 24th June with a closing date of 22nd September 2022. The research was awarded to Cambridge University Technical Services Limited in September 2022 and is ongoing at present. The total cost of the research is €35,000, ex VAT.
184. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the current waiting lists for the community neurorehabilitation team in CHO 3, which are up to six months; and the plans in place to address the shortfall in staffing to this team to meet requirements. [25139/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
185. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure an adequate level of services in a disability service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25182/23]
View answerAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
186. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the appeal of the decision to exclude certain workers in an organisation (details supplied) from the Covid recognition payment; if officials from his Department or the HSE are dealing with this appeal; his views on the exclusion of these workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25184/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
187. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the outcome of an appeal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25219/23]
View answerMy Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) facilities. Grants range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.
Services that signed up for the Core Funding Scheme were eligible for funding under the scheme.
Overall, 946 services submitted applications, out of a total eligible cohort of 4,200 services, which have signed up to Core Funding.
Pobal, who are administering the scheme on my Department's behalf advise that applicants were advised of the outcome of the appraisal process on 4th April 2023. At this point, all unsuccessful applicants to the scheme were eligible to submit an appeal, in line with the applicant guidelines. Further guidance was also provided to all unsuccessful applicants, detailing a step by step guide for appeals.
The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant appeal window closed on Tuesday 18 April, 2023. All appeals remain under consideration at this time, with decisions to be communicated by 31 May, 2023.
188. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the outcome of an appeal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25220/23]
View answerMy Department has allocated €9m in 2023 for The Building Blocks - Improvement Grant for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School Age Childcare (SAC) facilities. Grants range from €35,000 to €75,000 across two separate strands: Green Energy and Retrofit.
Services that signed up for the Core Funding Scheme were eligible for funding under the scheme.
Overall, 946 services submitted applications, out of a total eligible cohort of 4,200 services, which have signed up to Core Funding.
Pobal, who are administering the scheme on my Department's behalf advise that applicants were advised of the outcome of the appraisal process on 4th April 2023. At this point, all unsuccessful applicants to the scheme were eligible to submit an appeal, in line with the applicant guidelines. Further guidance was also provided to all unsuccessful applicants, detailing a step by step guide for appeals.
The Building Blocks – Improvement Grant appeal window closed on Tuesday 18 April, 2023. All appeals remain under consideration at this time, with decisions to be communicated by 31 May, 2023.
189. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a property (details supplied) in County Clare is being acquired by the International Protection Accommodation Service to accommodate refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25238/23]
View answerThe International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has not examined nor considered the property in question for use at this time.
A detailed assessment must take place before any property can be deemed suitable as accommodation for international protection applicants.
190. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if TUSLA has contracted private companies to conduct inspections of private residential care homes for children in State care; if so, the details of the companies that have been contracted; and the total value of contracts awarded. [25251/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
191. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health if he will clarify how long forensic evidence collected in relation to the reporting of sexual assault is stored to enable the survivor to proceed with a prosecution at a future date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25124/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware there are six Sexual Assault Treatment Units throughout Ireland, located in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Mullingar, Letterkenny, and Waterford. Each unit aims to provide care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and respond within 3 hours. This is to ensure that people can access care in a timely fashion, as set out in the 2023 publication - SATU National Guidelines on Referral and Forensic Clinical Examination Following Rape and Sexual Assault.
One of the services provided by Sexual Assault Treatment Units is examination and the collection of forensic evidence. This evidence can then be provided to the Gardaí for processing by Forensic Science Ireland at Garda Headquarters. This evidence can be securely stored in Sexual Assault Treatment Units for up to one year, providing people with time to decide whether or not they wish to report to An Garda Siochána. There is also an opportunity for individuals to request to extend the period of storage, should they wish to do so.
The Government has always been very clear that – regardless of the circumstances in which sexual violence has occurred – a victim of these crimes can and should report their experience to An Garda Síochána. The implementation of the Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy (2022 – 2026), as well as the completion of a range of other projects across many Government Departments, will be essential towards achieving the aim of reducing sexual crime. Responsibility for responding to sexual violence is shared across Government.
192. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he will give positive consideration to the building identified by the local community in Newmarket-on-Fergus (details supplied) as a replacement venue for the local GP practice. [25031/23]
View answerGPs are self-employed practitioners and therefore may establish practices at a location of their own choosing. There is no prescribed ratio of GPs to patients and the State does not regulate the number of GPs that can set up in a town or community.
Under the GMS scheme, the HSE contracts GPs to provide medical services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. Currently there are 2,539 GPs contracted to provide services under the GMS Scheme. Where a vacancy arises in a practice with a GMS contract, the HSE becomes actively involved in the recruitment process to find a replacement GP. As of the 1st of May there are 30 GMS GP vacancies, this includes a vacancy in Kilrush and in Lisdoonvarna in County Clare.
The Government has undertaken several measures to improve the number of GPs working in the State and ensure patients continue to have access to GP services across the country.
Under the 2019 GP Agreement additional annual expenditure provided for general practice has been increased now by €211.6m. This provides for significant increases in capitation fees for participating GMS GPs, and new fees and subsidies for additional services. Improvements to GP’s maternity and paternity leave arrangements and a support for GPs in disadvantaged urban areas, have also been provided for. In addition, the enhanced supports package for rural GP practices was increased by 10%.
The number of doctors entering GP training has increased approximately ten percent year on year from 2019, rising from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022, with 285 new entrants places made available for this year. Working with the ICGP, it is aimed to have 350 training places available for new entrants per year by 2026.
The Terms of Reference for a Strategic review of General Practice were recently published. This review will commence shortly and is to be be completed this year. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice including issues around GP capacity, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a better general practice. The provision of GP services in certain rural and urban deprived areas that are underserved, and the possible mechanisms to attract more GPs to these locations, is a specific issue that will be examined under the review.
193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, to extend the special leave with pay for Covid-19 scheme, with particular reference to front-line healthcare workers who are still suffering from long Covid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25042/23]
View answerI am keenly aware that the temporary Special Scheme of Paid Leave in respect of long-Covid is due to conclude at the end of June. At present, those who remain unwell beyond that date may utilise the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, however I have asked officials to look at options in this regardThe EU Advisory Committee on Health & Safety have recommended the recognition of Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care, however Member States vary in respect of their treatment of Covid in this regard.I understand that Minister Humphreys has committed to reviewing the EU Committee recommendation regarding the occupational recognition of Covid in respect of the Department of Social Protection Benefits Schemes, and the list of prescribed diseases/illnesses set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The outcome of this review is awaited.
194. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional supports will be introduced for the private nursing home sector, particularly for smaller-scale providers; the proposals, if any, to introduce a stabilisation fund; when a review of the fair deal scheme will be undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25044/23]
View answerFair Deal was designed to protect and support vulnerable older people, to ensure equal access to nursing home care based on what they could afford. This gives certainty to people and families. Government funding for Fair Deal is to support vulnerable older people at a time in their lives where full time care is essential.Overall, €1.4 billion of the total Health Budget was allocated last year to support over 22,700 people under Fair Deal. This will increase to nearly €1.5 billion for 2023, and I am cognisant that the budget has to support all residents under the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) for the full calendar year.The Government is conscious of the financial challenges faced by the nursing home sector, especially smaller and voluntary nursing homes that may not have access to the same economies of scale as larger homes or groups. The Government has provided substantial support to the private and voluntary nursing home sector over the course of the pandemic. Over €149m of financial support has been provided to private and voluntary nursing homes through the COVID-19 Temporary Assistance Payment Scheme (TAPS) and the provision of free PPE and oxygen to private nursing homes continues, costing approximately €75 million to date.
A new €10 million scheme (TIPS) was established last year to support private and voluntary nursing homes with increases in energy costs, covering 75% of year-on-year cost increases up to a monthly cap of €5,250 per nursing home. This scheme was extended to March 2023 and is now under review for a second extension to end of June 2023.
In addition, other options to support nursing homes are also being explored, such as to help with the often costly nature of compliance for nursing homes under necessary HIQA regulations.Overall, 425 private nursing homes negotiate with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF). The Department of Health and I have regular interaction with the NTPF and met them recently to discuss ways to support the sector, where necessary and appropriate, to complement the normal process of negotiating rate increases when contracts are renewed. Nursing homes which had a scheduled renegotiation of their Deed of Agreement with the NTPF this year have seen a significant uplift.Budget 2023 saw an over €40 million in additional funding for the Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) which will provide for an uplift in the maximum prices chargeable by private and voluntary nursing homes, as negotiated.The NTPF carry out this role independently under the NHSS Act 2009. It will be appreciated that particulars of all such negotiations and reviews are a matter between the nursing home and the NTPF. The NTPF has statutory independence, and neither the Minister for Health nor I have any role in NHSS price negotiations. Nevertheless, it should also be noted that the Department continues to work with the NTPF to take forward the recommended actions that emerged from the review of the NTPF pricing system published in June 2021.It is important to note that the HSE is statutory provider of last resort and will always step in where a resident’s needs are sufficiently complex that they are not able to be cared for elsewhere in the community. The HSE needs to be equipped to deliver that kind of complex care.It is essential that all future plans for the nursing home sector continue to prioritise the best interests of residents while seeking value for money for the Exchequer. The Government is committed to seeing greater public sector involvement in the residential care of older people in Ireland and to move over time towards a needs-based model of funding and pricing for the nursing home sector. Important strands of reform to the nursing home sector are being, or have been, brought forward. The Government remains committed to delivering on the 86 recommendations of COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel, especially those recommendations related to long-term sectoral reform, the nine recommendations of the Value for Money Review on Nursing Home Costs, the four recommendations of the NTPF Review of Pricing System for Long Term Residential Care Facilities and the 16 recommendations of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Health Care Assistants. Work continues within the Department of Health to deliver on all of these recommendations, as well as analysing the outcomes of the Skills Mix and Safe Staffing pilots which will inform future policy.Given the size, complexity and cost of the NHSS, implementation is complex and any changes in policy direction need to be carefully assessed and kept under review. The Department of Health is consistently seeking to identify improvements and introduce enhancements to the scheme, where feasible, which aims to ensure that long-term nursing home care is sustainable, accessible and affordable for everyone and that people continue to be cared for in the most appropriate settings.
195. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will advise when a Parkinson's nurse specialist will be assigned to the Westmeath area; and if any submissions were made regarding recruitment for this specialised area. [25072/23]
View answer
196. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Health if any financial support or HSE schemes are available to Irish citizens for a specific treatment which is available in the UK (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25079/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
197. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details on the discussions which have taken place to date in respect of the establishment of a national adult safeguarding authority; the expected timelines for the establishment if progressed and any other relevant information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25080/23]
View answerAdult safeguarding is an important matter for all of society, agencies and Government Departments. While every sector has specific safeguarding responsibilities for adults at risk within their remit, currently no one Department has an assigned lead or coordinating cross-sectoral role.
Safeguarding adults who may be at risk of abuse in the context of their interactions with the health sector is a key objective of my Department, every statutory body under its aegis, and every health and social care service that interacts with such adults. A framework of standards, policies and procedures is in place for safeguarding adults who may be at risk of abuse, harm, neglect, and exploitation within the sector. To further strengthen this framework, my Department is developing an overarching national policy on adult safeguarding in the health and social care sector, which will apply to all public, voluntary, and private healthcare and social care settings and agencies under the Department’s remit.
Separately, the Law Reform Commission is undertaking a review on A Regulatory Framework for Adult Safeguarding across all sectors. Upon completion, my Department will consider any recommendations the Commission may make and I anticipate that other Departments will do the same. In the event that the Commission's report includes recommendations relating to national cross-sectoral adult safeguarding structures, these would require consideration across all sectors and Departments and decision by the Government.
198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he intends to extend the special scheme of paid leave for healthcare workers suffering from long Covid given that it is due to end on 30 June 2023; the timeline his Department is working towards in concluding its examination of options in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25094/23]
View answerI am keenly aware that the temporary Special Scheme of Paid Leave in respect of long-Covid is due to conclude at the end of June. At present, those who remain unwell beyond that date may utilise the provisions of the Public Service Sick Leave Scheme, however I have asked officials to look at options in this regard.The EU Advisory Committee on Health & Safety have recommended the recognition of Covid as an occupational illness in health and social care, however Member States vary in respect of their treatment of Covid in this regard.I understand that Minister Humphreys has committed to reviewing the EU Committee recommendation regarding the occupational recognition of Covid in respect of the Department of Social Protection Benefits Schemes, and the list of prescribed diseases/illnesses set out in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005. The outcome of this review is awaited.
