Written Answers Nos. 721-737
721. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health if he will detail in tabular form the health infrastructure projects currently underway in CHO2; the projects completed since June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32831/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
722. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health if he will detail, in tabular form, the health infrastructure projects currently underway in CHO5; the projects completed since June 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32836/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
723. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Health the number of complaints made to HIQA in respect of nursing homes in each of the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023; the number of adverse findings made in each of those years; and the counties in which there were the highest per capita incidence of complaints made. [32841/23]
View answerHIQA was established under the Health Act 2007, as amended, to promote safety and quality in the provision of health and personal social services for the benefit of the health and welfare of the
public. HIQA’s regulatory role is to regulate designated centres for older people, people with a disability and special care units. HIQA also regulates medical ionising radiation exposure and
monitors standards in acute and community hospitals and some children’s social care services. HIQA does not currently have a remit to monitor private hospitals against the National Standards for Safer
Better Healthcare. In addition, HIQA has no statutory remit to manage or respond to individual complaints, this is the statutory responsibility of the service provider. However, while HIQA does not investigate or
resolve individual complaints it does welcome feedback about centres and services under its remit – we the Authority refers to as unsolicited information. All unsolicited information (UROI) received is acknowledged, logged and examined by HIQA. If the information relates to a service within HIQA’s remit, it is reviewed by an inspector to establish if the information received indicates a risk to the safety, effectiveness, and management of the service, and the day-to-day care the resident or patient receives. HIQA has advised my Department that the unsolicited information allows HIQA to:
• ensure services continue to meet high standards of care for patients and residents
• consider how well providers handle complaints and use them as opportunities to improve
care for patients and residents
• identify any trends or patterns that could indicate that something unacceptable is happening in a service
• make decisions when registering and or renewing the registration of designated centres.
If HIQA considers that the service provider may not be compliant with the regulations and or national standards, they can respond by:
• asking the service provider to submit additional information on the issue
• requesting a plan from the service provider outlining how the issue will be investigated and addressed
• using the information on inspection
• carrying out an unannounced inspection to assess the quality and safety of the care being provided in the service.
In addition, where the information indicates that people may be at immediate risk, HIQA will use its full legal powers and report the incident, where appropriate, to the Gardaí, the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) or the Health Service Executive (HSE’s) Adult Safeguarding Team.
Details of the total number or UROIs per year about designated centres for older people is attached.
724. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied with the current accommodation for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32852/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
725. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to increase accommodation for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32853/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
726. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to prevent paramedicine students from not having sufficient work experience during their degree to meet the needs of their chosen career. [32220/23]
View answerMy Department is strongly committed to supporting the health of the population through the provision of graduates with the key competencies, experience and skills to be effective in the health workforce, and support a range of clinical teams in our health services
The National Ambulance Service (NAS) for the most part educates its own workforce through its own college. The National Ambulance Service has advised that a body of work is currently ongoing from a workforce planning perspective to ensure capacity for not only National Ambulance Service students but also University of Limerick Paramedic students.
Last year, the Government invested a record €200 million in the NAS. This represented an overall increase in funding of approximately €30 million on 2019 and there is another significant investment this year. In addition substantial funding has been allocated to increase the number of student paramedics training in the NAS college.
727. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide a schedule of the grants, grant-aid, low-cost borrowing and funding that his Department can provide to an association (details supplied); heading under which the grants, grant-aid, low-cost borrowing and funding is provided; the maximum amount that can be accessed; and the dates on which the schemes operate. [32279/23]
View answerThe Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science was formed in August 2020. Since formation, the Department has not made any payments to the Gaelic Athletic Association, nor does it have any specific provision for an allocation directly to the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2023 in the form of grants, grant-in-aid, low cost borrowing and funding.
728. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if student accommodation being used to accommodate Ukrainian refugees and International Protection applications over the summer months will, again, be available for student accommodation when the 2023/2024 academic year begins; if he will specifically engage with management of Hubble in Galway to ensure that their facilities are again made available for students after the summer break; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32331/23]
View answerMy Department is engaging with the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) on an ongoing basis in relation to student accommodation for the 2023/24 academic year. It is agreed that all student accommodation contracted for the summer months to temporarily accommodate those fleeing the war in Ukraine, and those under International Protection will be fully vacated at the end of the respective summer contract periods. The durations of contracts are tailored to allow time for preparations to be undertaken for re-occupation by students for the upcoming academic year.
729. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost of rolling out a one-year blue cert certification process to professionalise the small and medium enterprise sector pilot project between organisations (details supplied). [32579/23]
View answerMy Department, working through Skillnet Ireland, is committed to supporting workforce and talent development of Irish SMEs and each year Skillnet Ireland supports over 23,000 SMEs across the country.
Skillnet Ireland, in partnership with ISME, currently supports the delivery of Management Development programmes designed specifically for SMEs through the ‘ISME Skillnet’ which in 2022 supported over 400 businesses and 800 owner managers and employees.
Skillnet Ireland and ISME are currently in dialogue regarding the future provision of management development programmes through the ‘ISME Skillnet’ however this engagement is in the early stages and I understand that there no final costings available at this stage.
730. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress to date in the determination of an appeal regarding a higher education grant in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32581/23]
View answerThank you Deputy for the question. My office will be in touch with you seeking further details on this matter.
731. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a case (details supplied) will urgently be reviewed within her Department considering that the private report submitted should suffice for the requirements requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32621/23]
View answerThe Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the higher education institutions who set the policy criteria for the scheme. Further information on IUA is available on www.iua.ie.
Applications to the scheme are submitted to the Central Applications Office (CAO) who coordinate the scheme for participating institutions. Therefore it does not come within the remit of my Department and it is not open to my Officials to intervene in individual cases.
DARE uses a Review and Appeals process to make sure that all DARE applicants are treated fairly and the assessment procedures have been applied consistently. Further information on the Review and Appeals process is available at: accesscollege.ie/dare/review-appeals/
Any applicant made ineligible for DARE will have been informed in writing via email and via their CAO portal. They are also informed of the Review and Appeals process. An applicant may contact the CAO, www.cao.ie through the ‘contact us’ facility where the DARE coordinator will respond directly and advise appropriately.
Officials from my Department have been in contact with a member of the Applicant's family who has confirmed that an appeal has been submitted.
732. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an update on the community services programme, which aims to encourage operational employment in the community sector; if June 2023 is still the targeted deadline for announcing successful recipients; if she will give serious and honest consideration to an application by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32830/23]
View answerMy department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 420 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
Qualifying organisations must be social enterprises capable of generating income from their activities in order to meet the full salary costs of the supported posts, for example, from income received from the public use of facilities and services.
A new call for applications under the CSP was launched on 6th March last. Two pre-application support workshops were provided to potential applicants to ensure organisations were fully equipped with the information that they needed to apply for this funding.
Following the pre-application support workshops, organisations were invited to submit a short concept note to Pobal outlining their proposal for assessment against the objectives of the call.
All of the concept notes received have been reviewed by Pobal, who manage and administer the programme on behalf of the Department, and are currently under review with the department. Pobal have confirmed that they received a concept note from the organisation in question.
Following the review process, successful organisations will be invited to participate in the formal application process. It is expected that organisations will receive notification of the outcome in July.
733. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development whether she plans to roll out further grants for existing community centres to assist with maintenance and upgrades; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32207/23]
View answerCommunity centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.
With this in mind, my Department has put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the Community Centres Investment Fund which provides a specific funding line to support centres.
The focus of the 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund was the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. Over €45.8 million has been committed to this important refurbishment work.
This year the focus of the Fund moved to new builds. I want to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs. In March, I was delighted to announce a €20 million Fund to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites to build new community centres.
This Measure will target areas which do not have an appropriate facility to meet the needs of their area. The minimum grant funding available is €1 million with the maximum being €6 million. The deadline for receipt of applications was 3rd July.
The refurbishment or upgrade of an existing building can be funded under my Department’s Town & Village Renewal Scheme, the LEADER Programme, CLÁR Programme, or the Community Support Fund and I expect to open the Town & Village Renewal Scheme to new applications in the coming days.
734. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the process by which a closure order for a premises engaged in dog breeding is withdrawn, including the list of rationales for a withdrawal. [32222/23]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Development has policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. The Act provides a regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments.
Under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, 2010, local authorities are responsible for all operational activities such as the registration, inspection and regulation of Dog Breeding Establishments, including enforcement activities.
Under Section 21(6) of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 a local authority may withdraw a closure notice. The circumstances of withdrawal are a matter for each local authority and my Department has no function in this operational activity.
735. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule of the grants, grant-aid, low-cost borrowing and funding that her Department can provide to an association (details supplied); heading under which the grants, grant-aid, low-cost borrowing and funding is provided; the maximum amount that can be accessed; and the dates on which the schemes operate. [32284/23]
View answerMy Department was founded in 2017 with a mission to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. To this end, there are numerous grant schemes administered by my Department with the support of third parties such as Local Authorities and Local Development Companies. Further information on funding schemes can be found on my Department's website www.drcd.gov.ie.
While my Department does not have specific funding streams for the association, or groups under the association, referenced by the Deputy they may apply under the various schemes operated by my Department. As with any applicant, their applications will be assessed against the criteria of the scheme or schemes that they apply to.
Groups under the association referenced have been successful in previous rounds of funding under such schemes as the Community Centre Investment Fund, the Leader Programme, the Clár Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Connected Communities Initiative.
My Department does not provide borrowing facilities to groups.
736. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline in tabular form any current available grants for communities seeking to develop a playground; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32397/23]
View answerMy Department operates the Leader Programme, the CLÁR Programme and the Community Enhancement Programme which have provided funding for playgrounds previously.
The Leader Programme is a multi-annual funding stream under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and is administered by a LEADER Local Action Group in each Local Authority area. The CLÁR Programme and Community Enhancement Programme are annual schemes and are advertised by my Department each year subject to budgetary constraints.
The three schemes may provide funding for the development and upgrade of playgrounds provided the groups applying for the funding are eligible and meet the outline conditions of each scheme. Further information on these schemes can be found on my Department's website www.drcd.gov.ie
737. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cost of the study at Roonagh pier, County Mayo; when the report will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32425/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Mayo County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure such as Roonagh Pier.An allocation of €45,000 or 90% of the cost was sanctioned by my Department in 2021 for the study referred to. Officials from my Department have met with the Local Authority on a number of occasions to discuss its progress.
I understand that an initial draft of the study has been forwarded to my Department very recently and is currently being reviewed by my officials. As the study has been commissioned by Mayo County Council, its finalisation and publication will be a matter for the Council.
