Written Answers Nos. 547-561
547. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the Roadmap for Progressing Disability Services; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29720/23]
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.
549. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for an update on the Cost of Disability Action Plan; when it will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29722/23]
View answerThe Department of Health published the Disability Capacity Review in July 2021. This report set out the capacity requirements for health-funded disability services for the period up to 2032 and it is intended to address the capacity deficits in a phased approach over this period. This reflects the obligation under the UNCRPD for progressive implementation of social, cultural and economic rights.
Following the commitment in the 2020 Programme for Government to work towards implementing the findings, a Disability Action Plan Framework was published in July 2021 alongside the Terms of Reference for an interdepartmental Working Group to develop this Action Plan.
The Working Group has now completed its work and the draft Action Plan, which will be an implementation plan for the first phase, is currently being finalised for approval. An exact date for publication has not yet been set. This detailed Action Plan sets out the first phase of work to build the necessary capacity. This Action Plan aims to;
• build the capacity of disability support services to meet changing needs;
• improve timely access to services;
• do the groundwork to tackle constraints on the development of services;
• strengthen the focus on individualised services and supports to enable people with disabilities to live a life of their choosing in the community;
• begin the realignment of services to deliver better value with a particular focus on early intervention;
In recent years, significant resources have been invested by the health sector in disability services. Building on the previous year, an unprecedented level of funding of €2.6b for Disability services has been allocated for 2023. This follows substantial increases in the budget in 2021 and 2022; and reflects this Government’s commitment to strengthening the funding provided for the disability sector and working to act to address the shortfalls identified in the Disability Capacity Review.
550. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of new children that have started working in special care units in each month in the past 24 months. [29735/23]
View answerFollowing correspondence with the Deputy, this information will be provided to amended Parliamentary Questions on 27 June 2023.
551. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of new children that have stopped working in special care units in each month in the past 24 months. [29736/23]
View answerFollowing correspondence with the Deputy, this information will be provided to amended Parliamentary Questions on 27 June 2023.
552. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of new of total whole-time equivalent staffing posts in special care units broken down by grade and special care unit. [29737/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
553. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of wholetime equivalent vacancies in special care units broken down by grade and special care unit. [29738/23]
View answerAs this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy.
554. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if Pobal will provide details on the reasons a grant application was refused for a child care facility (details supplied) in Dublin 10; if an application for this grant can be made again or when it can be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29739/23]
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 an application to the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant was submitted by the service referred to by the Deputy, applying for supports under Strand B - Retrofit, for costs associated with retrofit and accessibility of an existing building. Pobal further advise that the application did not meet a number of the scheme criteria.
Following appraisal, an unsuccessful decision was communicated to the service. At this point, all unsuccessful applicants to the Building Blocks – Improvement Grant 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. All appeals were eligible to be submitted on or before the closing date of 18th April, 2023.
I am advised by Pobal that the service submitted an appeal but was unsuccessful. Pobal issued a detailed communication to the service on 31st May 2023, setting out the grounds for their decision not to uphold the appeal.
As it stands, there is no further capital funding available to my Department for the early learning and childcare sector in 2023. Work is currently underway on the design and delivery of the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant which will address capacity gaps, fund an expansion in existing services and invest in the development of new services where most needed. The Building Blocks – Innovation Grant will pilot a range of innovative initiatives such as outdoor early learning and childcare services and I hope to announce details of these schemes in the coming months. Funding under both Grants will be allocated over 2024-2025.
555. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of unaccompanied or separated children on behalf of whom Tusla has made an application for international protection in 2022 and to date in 2023, broken down, by year, gender and nationality, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29786/23]
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.
556. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure a refugee family (details supplied) is facilitated to stay in accommodation as they have already integrated into the area, including gaining employment and children attending local schools. [29837/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, my Department has worked intensively as part of the cross-government humanitarian response to assist over 84,000 arrivals fleeing the war in Ukraine, of which 62,000 have sought accommodation from this Department.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, my Department has contracted in excess of 47,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 770 settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
The priority is to place people fleeing the war in safe and secure accommodation.
My Department cannot provide a guarantee regarding temporary accommodation provision. I am advised by my officials that the Department is aware of issues that have emerged regarding this accommodation setting. I am further advised that officials are in direct contact with the contractor referred to and cannot comment any further pending conclusion of discussions.
The accommodation provided to people fleeing the war in Ukraine by this Department is temporary in its nature, and given the number of people that are being accommodated it is not possible to develop tailored solutions for individuals or families. We understand and sympathise that people may wish to be accommodated in specific locations for a variety of reasons, but we cannot facilitate these requests given the number of people wishing to be accommodated by this Department.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. To date, over 7,300 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection have been accommodated in over 3,200 pledged properties. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
I also wish to draw attention to the Government announcement of November 2022 regarding the call for unoccupied houses. The campaign to assist those fleeing the war in Ukraine may be of interest in the context of this request and further information can be found at offerahome.ie/. Again, in the context of the above request, it is advisable to contact the relevant Local Authority (relevant County Council in the area persons wish to reside in). As of June 2023, over 3,500 beneficiaries of temporary protection have been accommodated under the Offer a Home Scheme.
More information on support available to Ukrainian people while they are in Ireland and information on how people and community groups can help can be found at the Government website: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/bc537-irelands-response-to-the-situation-in-ukraine/
I trust this information is of assistance.
557. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 31 May 2023, to publish the findings of the Joint Review commissioned by the HSE and Tusla to establish the circumstances of this issue and the learnings from it (details supplied). [29838/23]
View answerAs the TD's query relates to service matters, I am referring it to the HSE for direct response to the Deputy.
558. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update with respect to the review currently being undertaken into the primary medical certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29849/23]
View answerThis is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Finance.
559. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health what additional services he and his Department are looking for pharmacists to be involved in as part of negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29697/23]
View answerI recognise the significant role community pharmacists play in the delivery of patient care and acknowledge the potential for this role to be developed further in the context of healthcare service reform.
In that regard, various approaches to extending the scope of practice of community pharmacists are being progressed by my Department. This includes the introduction of a Minor Ailment Scheme and an enhanced role for pharmacists in the current contraception scheme for women. The implementation of these necessitates engagement with a range of stakeholders and full consideration of all the relevant legislative and operational issues involved.
The regulations governing the pharmacy fee structure are set out in the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (No. 34 of 2017) and in S.I. No. 639 of 2019, the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 (Payments to Community Pharmacy Contractors) Regulations 2019, which put the current fee structure in place, with effect from 1 January 2020.
Under Section 42(14) of the Public Service Pay and Pensions Act 2017 the current pharmacy fee structure must be reviewed every third year after 2020. My Department is currently carrying out a review and Department officials have arranged to meet with the Irish Pharmacy Union in that regard.
I believe that there is a real opportunity to work collaboratively with community pharmacists, and with other healthcare providers, to make a significant difference to patient outcomes. Of course, any publicly funded pharmacy service expansion should address unmet public healthcare needs, improve access to existing public health services, and provide better value for money.
560. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the approximate estimate cost to upgrade Ennis Hospital to Model Three status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29851/23]
View answerIn 2013, the Smaller Hospitals Framework defined the role of smaller hospitals and outlined the need for both smaller and larger hospitals to operate within Hospital Groups. The Framework identified the activities that can be performed in smaller Model 2 hospitals, in a safe and sustainable manner. In developing our smaller hospitals, the first and overriding priority is the safety of patients.
This Framework provided a stronger role for smaller hospitals, like Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals, in delivering a higher volume of less complex care in many cases closer to patients’ homes. It also ensures that patients who require true emergency or complex planned care are managed safely in a larger hospital environment.
Regarding hospitals in the University of Limerick Hospital Group (ULHG), in April 2009, a process of reconfiguration commenced with the closure of the 24-7 emergency departments in Ennis and Nenagh. These emergency departments were replaced with Medical Assessment Units (MAUs) for GP referrals; and by local injury units/urgent care centres for self-referrals and operating 12 hours a day, seven days a week. These changes were supported by an Emergency Care Network, which had been set up in the region and led by Consultants in Emergency Medicine. These consultants, while based in UHL, have clinical responsibility for the Injury Units in Ennis, Nenagh and St John's. Additional Consultants in Emergency Medicine were recruited to support these changes in addition to Advanced Nurse Practitioners for the Injury Units in the smaller hospitals and for the ED in UHL.
Within the ULHG, there are two Model 2 Hospitals, Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals. St John's Hospital is classified as a Model 2S Hospital, i.e. St. John's can carry out intermediate surgery, which requires in-patient stay and accommodation in addition to day case surgery. These hospitals play a pivotal role in the delivery of high-quality patient care within the region. The model 2 hospitals accept transfers of appropriate patients from UHL on a daily basis. These patients can either be stepped down from an in-patient ward in UHL or they may, where a clinician has decided it is appropriate, transfer to Ennis, Nenagh or St John's directly from the ED in UHL.
ULHG remains committed to investing in their Model 2 hospitals to enhance non-acute patient care. In April 2022 the new purpose built €2m Injury Unit at Ennis Hospital opened replacing the existing unit that had operated out of the main hospital building since 2013. The new Unit has brought an immediate improvement in the clinical environment and experience for healthcare staff and the thousands of patients who use this service every year. There has also been investment in equipping the Outpatient Department, including provision of X-Ray Room and other diagnostics, in Phase 1b of the redevelopment of Ennis General Hospital and in redevelopment works to provide two replacement theatres and supporting facilities.
In addition, ULHG has confirmed that, through funding of €5.2m secured from the HSE, the MAUs at Ennis Hospital, Nenagh, and St John’s now all operate seven days per week. This funding will see 51 additional WTEs recruited across a number of specialties for the MAU services. Ennis General Hospital will see the benefit of approximately 20 additional WTEs once all staff are recruited.
Another development in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals has been the introduction of the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) pathway for 112/999 patients. This allows patients that meet agreed clinical criteria to be transferred by ambulance and treated in a Model 2 hospital. This pathway is resulting in patients receiving medical treatment in a hospital closer to their home, is reducing patient presentations to Emergency Departments and is helping to release ambulances more quickly to respond to other emergency calls. The MAUs in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals treat patients referred by GPs, ShannonDoc, and now National Ambulance Service paramedics. 112/999 patients that do not meet these clinical criteria will continue to be transported to Emergency Departments for assessment and treatment. In addition to Ennis and Nenagh, the pathway will be operational in St. John's Hospital in the near future.
There has also been significant investment in infrastructure in UHL in recent times. For example, in October 2022, I broke ground on the new 96-bed in-patient block project at University Hospital Limerick. This project represents a total capital investment of just over €90 million, and will deliver a 4-storey, 96 single bed acute in-patient ward block and will go some way toward addressing capacity issues in the region.
In 2021, a new 60-bed modular ward block opened. This follows the completion of two separate rapid-build projects, constructed in response to the Covid-19 emergency, which provided an additional 38 in-patient beds on site at UHL.
Complementary to the development of the new Elective Hospitals, the HSE also plans to work with Hospital Groups and forthcoming Regional Health Areas to progress proposals for a shorter-term measure by developing ‘Surgical Hubs’ in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford and Dublin with a narrower scope of procedures. Regarding the Surgical Hub for Limerick, planning is at an early stage, and I have asked the HSE to expedite the development, so it is operational as soon as possible.
Following these and other investments in Ennis General Hospital and the wider ULHG, consideration is also being given to future capacity requirements. It is noted that ULHG has developed proposals in this regard. These proposals will be considered by the hospital group and the HSE in line with their governance processes.
I would like to assure the Deputy that my department continues to work closely with the HSE to ensure that the UL Hospitals Group is fully supported and that the necessary improvements to address capacity issues are actioned in a timely manner.
561. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 468 of 5 November 2019, if he will provide an update in respect of bloodspot screening cards that were retained without consent from 1984 to mid-2011. [29070/23]
View answerMy Department has received confirmation from the Office of the Chief Executive of Children’s Health Ireland that the relevant 1984 - 2011 Bloodspot Screening archive was disposed of on 16 May 2023.
This is in line with a long-standing agreement with the Data Protection Commissioner, which has been informed of this outcome.
The final implementation of this disposal was delayed somewhat due to the impact of the pandemic, and the efforts of colleagues in CHI and the HSE for the progression and conclusion of this work are acknowledged.
To note, newborn screening cards obtained after July 2011 comply with Data Protection legislation. Parents/guardians receive information on how the screening cards are to be used and the duration for which they are to be retained. Children’s Hospital Ireland have also confirmed a process has been put in place for the disposal of cards going forward.
