Written Answers Nos. 271-291
271. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to detail the 100 highest salaries within the HSE; how many management staff in the HSE have salaries above €400,000; how many management staff in the HSE have salaries above €300,000; how many management staff in the HSE have salaries above €200,000; and how many management staff in the HSE have salaries above €100,000. [34651/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of this matter.
272. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health how many medical staff in the HSE have salaries above €400,000; how many medical staff in the HSE have salaries above €300,000; how many medical staff in the HSE have salaries above €200,000; and how many medical staff in the HSE have salaries above €100,000. [34652/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
273. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health how many contract staff in the HSE have salaries above €400,000; how many contract staff in the HSE have salaries above €300,000; how many contract staff in the HSE have salaries above €200,000; and how many contract staff in the HSE have salaries above €100,000. [34653/23]
View answerI have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
274. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if there are barter accounts in the HSE; if there are accounts from which there is spending on non-money remuneration; if so, if he will detail how many and the value of expenditure from these accounts through the past ten years; and how many HSE staff, management and separately medical staff have a car or a car allowance as part of their remuneration package. [34654/23]
View answerAs this question relates to HSE financial matters and expenditure data at an operational level, I have referred it to the HSE for direct response
275. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health what action is being taken to ensure that dental surgeries can take place at Cork university dental school and hospital, as patients are being told surgeries are on hold as there has been no access to a theatre since March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34678/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
276. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if, with regard to the Public Sector Performance Report and figures showing that only 80 of a targeted 235 intensive homecare packages were delivered, he can explain the reason for the 66% shortfall; what measures he and his Department will put in place to ensure that all intensive homecare packages are delivered in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34715/23]
View answer277. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he can explain the 66% shortfall where only 80 of 235 targeted homecare packages were delivered (Public Sector Performance Report 2022); what measures the Government intends to take to ensure targets are met in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34716/23]
View answer278. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health if, with reference to the Public Sector Performance Report 2022 and figures showing approximately 40% of target home support house undelivered, what measures the Government will take to ensure targets are met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34717/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 276, 277 and 278 together.
Improving access to home support is a priority for the Government. Since Budget 2021 we have provided an additional €228 million in funding. In 2023 the overall home care budget is €723 million.
The HSE’s National Service Plan for 2022 provided for the following: -
• Rollover of the 2021 target levels of service into 2022, inclusive of the additional 5m hours funded in 2021 to 23.67m hours nationally.
• 360,000 hours provided via Intensive Home Care Packages.
• 230,000 hours associated with the roll-out of the pilot Statutory Home Support Scheme, which commenced in late 2021.
Last year almost 20.8 million hours of home support was provided across the country. A further 109,240 hours was provided as part of a pilot testing the Statutory Home Support Scheme. In addition, 219,678 hours were provided from Intensive Home Support Packages to 80 people.
Delivering this enhanced capacity requires substantial recruitment and strategic workforce challenges are in evidence in the sector. In 2022 the Government established a Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants. In October 2022 the Government published the Group’s findings and their implementation has begun. A detailed implementation plan will be published in the coming months. The implementation group will meet quarterly, and progress reports will be published.
As the Deputy’s Questions are operational, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
279. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Health what measures he would consider to address the extreme shortage of GP services in Kildare, in circumstances where a person (details supplied) has been unable to find a GP willing to take them on as a patient, and where their partner (now expecting their first child) was, after considerable effort on their own and their partner's behalf, only able to find a GP willing to accept them as a patient outside their catchment area, so that they and their child could receive vital maternity care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34720/23]
View answerGPs are private practitioners, most of whom hold a contract with the HSE for the provision of health services, such as the GMS contract for the provision of GP services to medical card and GP visit card holders.
Where a patient who holds a medical card or GP visit card experiences difficulty in finding a GP to accept them as a patient, the person concerned having unsuccessfully applied to at least three GPs in the area (or fewer if there are fewer GPs in the area), can apply to the HSE National Medical Card Unit which has the power to assign that person to a GP's GMS patient list.
People who do not hold a medical card or a GP visit card access GP services on a private basis, in which the Minister has no role, and can make enquiries directly to any GP practice they wish to register with. As private contractors, it is a matter for each individual GP to decide whether to accept additional private patients.
The Government is aware of the workforce issues currently facing general practice, including the limited access to GP services in certain areas, and is working to ensure that general practice is sustainable in all areas into the future.
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%.
Additional capacity supports are to be made available, as part of the recently announced agreement reached with the IMO to extend eligibility for GP visit cards to people who earn up to the median household income and to children aged 6 & 7, to enable the expansion and retention of staffing within general practice.
These measures will make general practice in Ireland a more attractive career choice and will see an increase in the number of GPs working in the State, improving access to GP services for patients throughout the country.
The number of doctors entering GP training has been increased in recent years, rising from 193 in 2019 to 258 in 2022, with 285 new entrants places made available for this year and 350 places now planned for next year. Furthermore, the joint HSE and ICGP programme to bring up to 100 non-EU GPs to Ireland in 2023 will help to quickly improve access to GP services, particularly in areas with limited access. It is planned to bring to Ireland up to 250 more non-EU GPs by the end of 2024.
Furthermore, the strategic review of GP services is to commence shortly and will be completed this year. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice, including issues related to GP capacity, and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future.
280. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health if he intends to undertake a review of the fair deal scheme; if he will detail the precise terms of reference that would underwrite such a review; if he intends either within the context of such a review or independently of such a review to establish the level of charges that nursing home residents are incurring from their disposable income for daily service charges, medical services, transport to medical appointments, prescription fees and other daily incidentals; if he agrees that the depletion of the 20% of the assessable income retained by nursing homes residents after paying 80% of their assessable income for their nursing home care in this manner is placing an insupportable financial burden on nursing home residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34729/23]
View answerThe Nursing Home Support Scheme (NHSS) covers the cost of the standard components of long-term residential care which are:
• Nursing and personal care appropriate to the level of care needs of the person;
• Bed and board;
• Basic aids and appliances necessary to assist a person with the activities of daily living; and
• Laundry service.
In determining the services covered by the NHSS it was considered very important that the care recipient and the taxpayer would be protected and would not end up paying for the same services twice. For this reason, medications and aids that are already prescribed for individuals under an existing scheme are not included in the services covered by the NHSS. A person's eligibility for other schemes, such as the medical card scheme or the drugs payment scheme, is unaffected by participation in the NHSS or residence in a nursing home.
It is important to state that residents of nursing homes should enjoy the same levels of support and access to services for which they are eligible as when they lived in their own homes. It is acknowledged that the reason they require 24-hour levels of support is due to their level of dependency, which in turn may require access to clinical services including hospital and other outpatient appointments in the community.
Private nursing homes hold responsibility for delivering care to their residents in line with their terms of registration and the relevant regulations under the Health Act 2007. It is clear that under the terms of the NHSS Act 2009, private nursing homes should not levy additional charges on NHSS residents for services coming within scope of the Nursing Home Support Scheme.
In acknowledgement of the concerns that have been raised in relation to additional charges, the Department of Health is currently reviewing the available evidence and a focused piece of work to examine the issues in relation to additional charges is underway. There are a number of separate factors driving this issue and potential actions to address each of these are being considered.
More generally, important strands of reform to the nursing home sector are being, or have been, brought forward. The Government remains committed to delivering on:
• The nine recommendations that emerged from the Value for Money Review on Nursing Home Costs,
• The 86 recommendations of COVID-19 Nursing Homes Expert Panel, especially those recommendations related to long-term sectoral reform,
• 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.
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.
281. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 118 and 119 of 19 April 2023, for an update on the acquisition of the site for the primary care centre in Collinstown, Clondalkin, Dublin 22; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34749/23]
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.
282. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the case of a child (details supplied); if he will ask his officials to review the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34752/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
283. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34765/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
284. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount paid by his Department in 2022 and to date in 2023 on outside or third-party reports of a technical nature or qualitative and quantitative nature, by payee, in tabular form. [34471/23]
View answerThe amount paid by my Department in 2022 and to date in 2023 on outside/third-party reports of a technical nature or qualitative and quantitative nature can be found in the table attached.
|
RPS Consulting Engineers Ltd |
Consultancy fees - National Maritime College of Ireland PPP |
€ 11,044.00 |
|
|
Turner & Townsend |
Consultancy fees – Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA) External Assurance Process |
€ 36,900.00 |
|
|
Dublin City University - Anti Bullying Centre |
Report on the National Survey of Staff Experiences of Bullying in Irish Higher Education Institutions |
€ 20,200.00 |
|
|
University College Dublin |
Bibliometric analysis services |
€ 24,354.00 |
|
|
H2 Learning Ltd |
Oversight Group for a Single Portal for Career Guidance and Information |
€ 7,195.50 |
|
|
Rory Byrne |
Research collection phase, Development and Submission of the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan 2023 |
€ 23,247.00 |
|
|
Accuracy Research |
Report on the findings from focus groups research into attitudes to careers in the construction industry, May 2023 |
€ 24,600.00 |
|
|
Accuracy Research |
Report on the findings from quantitative research into attitudes to careers in the construction industry, May 2023 |
€ 24,600.00 |
|
|
Indecon |
Review of the Student Grant Scheme |
€ 62,557.80 |
|
|
BDO Eaton Square |
To develop Business Processes for ICT Solution 21 – 27 |
€ 27,982.50 |
|
|
BDO Eaton Square |
To define the requirements for an electronic data exchange system for the management and control of Ireland’s European Social Fund Plus programme 2021-2027. |
€ 30,442.50 |
|
|
Total |
€ 176,580.80 |
€ 116,542.50 |
285. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will consider a revision of third level fees or a similar measure to assist families where more than one child is attending college (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34498/23]
View answerUnder the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.
The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) to determine.
The means test arrangements of the student grant scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants, gross income is assessed with certain specified social welfare and health service payments excluded.
The Student Grant Scheme provides for different levels of income thresholds where families have (i) less than 4 dependent children (ii) between 4 and 7 dependent children and (iii) 8 or more dependent children.
Also, in recognition of the additional cost to families where more than one person is attending college, an increment for each additional relevant person, can be applied to the income thresholds at the rates outlined in the student grant scheme. For 2022/23 academic year, I increased the maximum increment that can be applied for each additional family member attending college at the same time to €4,950. In this way, the Student Grant Scheme is responsive to the individual circumstances of particular families.
A further range of improvements to the student grant scheme announced in Budget 2023 will take effect for the 2023/24 academic year, including:
• An increase in income limit from €55,240 to €62,000 for the 50% student contribution grant;
• A new student contribution grant of €500 for incomes between €62,000 and €100,000;
• An increase in student earnings outside of term time from €4,500 to €6,552; and
The student contribution replaced the student registration fees levied by higher education institutions and, while the student contribution stands at €3,000 for academic year 2023/24, it is important to recognise that free fees students may be eligible to have the student contribution paid in full (€3,000) or part (€1,500 or €500) through the aforementioned student grant scheme.
Apart from the Student Grant Scheme, students in third-level institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support under the Student Assistance Fund. This Fund assists students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise be unable to continue their third level studies due to their financial circumstances. Details of this fund are available from the Access Office in the third level institution attended. This fund is administered on a confidential, discretionary basis.
In addition, Tax Relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education. Further information on this tax relief is available from a student's local Tax Office or from the Revenue Commissioners website, www.revenue.ie .
In advance of Budget 2024, and as I did last year, I will be publishing an options paper which will set out various possible measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options in respect of providing additional tuition fee supports or tuition fee contribution costs, when making proposals in the context of Budget discussions.
286. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure an invitation is extended to an organisation (details supplied) to the Research and Innovation Policy Advisory Forum; whether there are defined criteria within his Department for the selection of representatives at the advisory forum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34570/23]
View answerThe Research and Innovation Policy Advisory Forum is being established as provided for under Impact 2030, Ireland’s national research and innovation strategy.
This Forum reflects international good practice in the development of national R&I systems and forms the final piece of the governance and oversight aspect of Impact 2030, along with the Steering Group and the Implementation Forum.
I will be chairing the Forum which will comprise approximately 15 international and national experts which will bring relevant experience and perspectives to the discussions.
The objective of the Forum will be to inform and support national research and innovation policy development on system-level strategic issues that would benefit from national, as well as international, expertise and experience.
Sample policy themes include, for example:
• How to better evidence research and innovation impact
• Researcher career pathways beyond academia
• How equality, diversion and inclusion can affect, and contribute to, national R&I policy objectives and ambitions
• Future of research prioritisation and the use of strategic foresight
• Advancement of a synergistic and cohesive national R&I system
The Expression of Interest process for the Advisory Forum closed on Friday 30 June 2023 and my officials are currently assessing the applications received. The process was an open one and available to all interested parties.
As part of the process, the interested parties were asked to provide the following information:
1. Relevant expertise in the strategic advancement of national research and innovation systems.
2. Current role.
3. Indicative policy themes that they may wish to table at the Forum.
4. If a member of a representative organisation, description of the constituency being represented and powers to represent same.
Applicants were also advised that:
• In line with best practice as set out in the Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, it is open to the Minister to consider suitable nominees other than those identified through this process.
• The Minister may have regard to the desirability for diversity and for gender balance on the forum as the Minister considers appropriate and determines from time to time when making appointments.
• Participation is the Forum is unremunerated.
The assessment of the expressions of interest will be considered against a range of criteria including:
• Experience – at system-level – in the strategic development of Ireland’s research and innovation system.
• Ability to engage with, and add value to, the totality of the Forum’s prospective working themes.
• Experience in the strategic development of R&I systems internationally, at national level and/ or multilateral level.
• Knowledge of the Irish system and the overarching longer-term objectives of Impact 2030.
For representative bodies additional criteria will include:
• Scale of representation and their powers to represent same.
• Experience – at system-level – in the strategic development of the Irish R&I system.
• Ability to engage with, and add value to, the totality of the Forum’s prospective working themes.
It is anticipated that the inaugural Forum meeting will be held in autumn 2023.
287. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the allocation of State funding to each technological university in each year since 2019, in tabular form. [34578/23]
View answerMy Department allocates current funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to HEA designated higher education institutions towards their operating costs. Details of funding in the years 2019 to 2022, to Technological Universities and the relevant former Institutes of Technology by the HEA, are outlined in the attached table. The amounts listed include funding allocated as recurrent core funding, grant in lieu of free fees, and funding provided under certain initiatives (for example, landscape funding, research and innovation allocation, student well-being).The amounts listed exclude state funding provided via the HEA outside the recurrent grant funding allocations (for example capital funding, apprenticeships funding, skills related initiatives such as Springboard+) and other funding such as student grants (provided on behalf of the student); competitive research funding and funding from other Departments. Details of funding received from all sources are published in the relevant institutions annual audited accounts.
Funding allocated by the HEA* to Technological Universities and the relevant former Institutes of Technology
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
|
|
€117,055,674 |
||||
|
GMIT |
€34,300,155 |
€35,649,818 |
€38,833,947 |
|
|
LYIT |
€20,533,212 |
€20,288,640 |
€22,832,118 |
|
|
IT Sligo |
€25,733,612 |
€29,711,322 |
€31,848,988 |
|
|
€83,960,028 |
€101,407,082 |
|||
|
Cork IT |
€55,609,698 |
€63,090,847 |
||
|
IT Tralee |
€19,690,497 |
€16,662,838 |
||
|
€93,309,065 |
||||
|
IT Carlow |
€24,700,825 |
€27,390,124 |
€31,256,728 |
|
|
WIT |
€38,087,604 |
€42,667,592 |
€47,386,043 |
|
|
€118,552,190 |
€125,502,701 |
€132,579,129 |
€163,963,601 |
|
|
€67,993,494 |
€87,648,968 |
|||
|
AIT |
€24,774,823 |
€28,672,287 |
||
|
LIT |
€32,374,342 |
€33,173,946 |
* Notes:
The amounts listed include funding allocated to the Technological Universities and the relevant former Institutes of Technology by the HEA, which comprises of: recurrent core funding, grant in lieu of free fees, and funding provided under certain initiatives (for example, landscape funding, research and innovation allocation, student well-being etc.).
The amounts listed exclude: capital funding, apprenticeships funding, and funding provided in relation to other initiatives such as for example Third Level Access, Covid-19 support funding, and skills related initiatives (Springboard, HCI).
288. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will urgently intervene to ensure an apprentice (details supplied) is offered a placement in September to complete stage 6 of his course. [34722/23]
View answerUnder the Further Education and Training Act (2013), SOLAS has statutory responsibility for planning, funding, and co-ordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland.
My officials have referred your query to SOLAS for direct reply to the individual in this matter.
289. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development whether there are plans to run the community centres investment fund, launched in 2023, again in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34460/23]
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.
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 deadline for receipt of applications was 3rd July and the assessment process has now commenced.
Decisions in relation to any future rounds of the Fund will be taken in the context of the upcoming annual budgetary process.
290. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount paid by her Department in 2022 and to date in 2023 on outside or third-party reports of a technical nature or qualitative and quantitative nature, by payee, in tabular form. [34476/23]
View answerDetails requested by the Deputy, regarding amounts paid by my Department for outside/third-party reports in 2022 and to date in 2023, are outlined in the attached table.
|
Project |
External service provider |
2022 expenditure |
2023 expenditure |
|
Public Participation Network Structural Review |
Mazars |
€21,504.09 |
Nil |
|
Volunteer Centre Funding Model Review - Consultation |
Crowe |
Nil |
€5,842.50 |
|
New Foundations Scheme 2022 - Volunteering Research |
Irish Research Council |
€39,942.00 |
Nil |
|
Proposal for an effective Rural Proofing model for Ireland |
William Parnell Ciaran Lynch |
€ 2,500.00 € 2.500.00 |
Nil NIL |
|
Social Enterprise in Ireland: A Baseline Data Gathering Exercise |
Amárach Research |
€81,560 +vat |
€20,390 +vat |
|
Lawlor Burns and Associates |
€23,247.000 |
Nil |
|
|
Molloy QS |
Nil |
€10,079.85 |
|
|
Quantity Surveyor services as part of the due diligence process for Rural Regeneration and Development Fund approved projects |
Seamus Fagan & Associates |
Nil |
€18,204.00 |
|
Event management support including Report Publishing for Civic Forum |
Crowe Ireland |
19,931.54 |
14.311.05 |
|
Longitudinal evaluation of the Community Development Pilot Project. |
Values Lab Consultants |
€6560.00 |
Nil |
291. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34501/23]
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 Programme was launched on 6 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 these workshops, organisations were invited to submit a short concept note to Pobal, who administer the programme on behalf of my Department, outlining their proposal for assessment. The deadline for receipt of concept notes has passed.
I understand that the concept note from the organisation in question was not received by Pobal due to an incorrect email address being used. However, my Department has requested Pobal to review the content of the concept note. The organisation will be advised of the outcome of the assessment of their application in due course.
