Written Answers Nos. 864-883
864. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child will receive an appointment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40458/23]
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.
865. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people with a declared physical, intellectual and learning disabilities and people with psychological or emotional conditions who are currently employed by HSE, in tabular form. [40557/23]
View answerPart 5 of the Disability Act 2005 details the obligations public bodies have to promote and support the employment of persons with disabilities. The minimum statutory employment target for persons with disabilities to be employed in the public sector is currently at 3%.
This will be increasing from 3% to 6% by 2025 as outlined in the recently enacted Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022.
The matter has been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for response to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
866. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an application (details supplied) can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40558/23]
View answerWhile the Child and Family Agency, Tusla operates under the aegis of my Department. It is a statutory body independent in its decision-making functions, and as Minister, I cannot intervene in individual cases.
I am deeply conscious of both the disappointment and frustration caused to applicants receiving a notification indicating that there will be a delay in the compilation and release of their information. However, I would note that once cases are complete and people have received their information, the feedback in the majority of cases has been very positive.
Both the Adoption Authority of Ireland (AAI) and Tusla are doing their utmost to respond to all the applications received within the shortest possible timeframe. To date, over 10,000 applications for information have been received by Tusla and the AAI. These applications are in addition to the over 5,000 applications made for tracing services, and over 3,500 preferences registered to the Contact Preference Register.
Processing the initial significant volume of information requests, reflecting decades of increasing demand, is proving to be a challenge. However, the two agencies have completed over 7,000 of these requests for information, with more due for completion and issue each day. I have been assured by both agencies, that they will continue to keep applicants updated as to the status of their applications, and anticipated timelines for the release of their information.
I would urge any applicant that has concerns or queries regarding the release of their information under the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, to get in touch with the relevant body to which they applied.
867. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what grant assistance could be provided by his Department, or by agencies under the remit of his Department, to assist an early education not-for-profit centre (details supplied) providing childcare in a disadvantaged area, to carry out repairs and renovations to their premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40559/23]
View answerSome €69 million has been allocated over the period 2023-2025 to the early learning and childcare sector under the revised National Development Plan (NDP). This will enable significant capital investment in early learning and childcare across three pillars:
1. Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
2. Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
3. Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, €9 million has been allocated in 2023 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects. Retrofit projects have included supporting services in carrying out larger scale renovations to their premises. This scheme is now closed and my Department does not have additional funding available in 2023 for this purpose.
Work is currently underway on the design and delivery of Pillars 2 and 3, which have a combined allocation of €20 million in 2024 and €40 million in 2025.
The Building Blocks – Capacity Grant will fund an expansion of existing services in areas of identified under supply. Funding will also be provided to support 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.
I hope to be in a position to provide more information on the delivery of the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant in the coming weeks.
868. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if as part of his Department's budgetary proposals this year will they propose measures to address issues raised by a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40563/23]
View answerThe Cost of Disability in Ireland report was commissioned by the Minister for Social Protection and was prepared by Indecon International Research Economists. It was published by the Department of Social Protection in December 2021. It provides important evidence of the additional costs that people with a disability face annually.
The Report has implications for many areas of public policy and noted the whole of government dimension to tackling the issues and challenges facing disabled persons that it explored. This need for a whole of government response, including in relation to budgetary measures, means that there is a shared obligation on all departments to consider the additional costs associated with disability, for disabled individuals and their families, and to be cognisant of the need for targeted supports on a mainstream basis.
This is in keeping with Ireland's long-standing mainstream-first approach to the development of disability policy.
I will continue to ensure that the Cost of Disability report informs actions and measures, within the context of the responsibilities of my Department and in engaging with colleagues to coordinate measures at a whole of government level.
Following the end of the scheduled period of operation for the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (2017 - 2022), work is ongoing to coordinate the development of a successor strategy. My department is currently engaging in targeted consultations with key stakeholders, including disabled person's organisations, which will help to shape the consultation and drafting process. It is important to me that this strategy is developed in a way that is cognisant of the shared obligation to reduce the day to day costs for people with disabilities in Ireland. I will be encouraging my ministerial colleagues to bring forward ambitious proposals for action under the new strategic framework to address the cost of disability within the context of their own ministerial portfolios.
869. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase the payment through the national childcare scheme for vulnerable children funded through sponsor referrals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40565/23]
View answerThe National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is a scheme of financial support to help parents with the cost of childcare. A component of the scheme is a sponsorship referral which makes special provision for vulnerable children.
Where a child is approved for NCS sponsorship, my Department will fund their childcare place in accordance to current sponsorship rates with no charge to the parents. The rates paid to ELC and SAC providers with a child with a sponsor referral attending their service is dependent on the age and educational stage of the child. Those sponsorship rates are the equivalent of the maximum possible NCS subsidy rate relative to the child's attendance, plus an additional 15% reflecting the potential additional needs of the child.
Officials in my Department are currently conducting an internal review of the sponsor referral and engaging with the sponsor bodies to consider the current referral criteria and overall structure, including payments. Changes to the National Childcare Scheme will be considered as part of the overall Budget 2024 process.
870. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to increase the fostering allowance, given that it has not been increased since 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40569/23]
View answerFoster carers are paid a weekly allowance, which is a payment to meet the needs of the child in their care. The foster care allowance is currently €325 per week for a child under 12 years of age and €352 per week for a child aged 12 years and over. The allowance is not considered as means for social welfare purposes, and is not subject to tax.
I am conscious of the disappointment expressed by foster carers that there has been no increase to the foster care allowance since 2009. I can inform the Deputy that a priority of mine is to seek to secure an increase to the foster care allowance in Budget 2024.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work with Tusla, with my Government colleagues, and with any other relevant stakeholders going forward, seeking to review and improve the suite of supports available to foster carers.
871. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will verify the total number of children on waiting lists for assessment of need; the number of children waiting on historical waiting lists; the number of new applications; the number of children or families still awaiting assessment following a preliminary team assessment review, broken down by CHO area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40580/23]
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.
872. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason that an accommodation provider (details supplied) is again suffering from late payment of invoices for months; and if his Department will review the interest due on late payment of invoices. [40597/23]
View answerWith regard to the service provider to which the Deputy refers, I am advised by my officials that they have engaged with the provider regarding issues with the outstanding invoices and, once valid invoices are received, these four invoices will be reviewed and paid promptly.
With regard to interest due on late payment of invoices, I am advised that a number of interest payments were made to this provider on overdue invoices and a review of any further interest due to this provider is currently being conducted.
Whilst there have been some delays in payment due to the very large volume of invoices received, over the past few months my Department has greatly improved processing times. My Department will continue to press on to eliminate any delay in payments while ensuring appropriate governance is in place to safeguard the proper spending of Exchequer funding. The Department is also working towards additional automation in the system which is expected to further streamline the process.
873. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what the staffing complement of the new community engagement team in his Department will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40662/23]
View answerUnder the Statutory Instrument, Recast Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018), the Government is legally required to provide accommodation to international protection applicants who seek it. In addition, all EU Member States agreed the Temporary Protection Directive, offering expedited stay, accommodation and work status for those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
Ireland is currently providing 23,425 people seeking international protection with state-sourced accommodation and support services. Since February 2022, Ireland is also providing accommodation to 71,040 people who have fled the war in Ukraine, resulting in over 94,465 people in state-provided or pledged accommodation in Ireland, and that number continues to increase.
The Departments of the Taoiseach; Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and Rural and Community Development have come together with agencies and Local Authority colleagues to develop a new community engagement model. Its aim is to assist with better communication regarding migration in general and, in particular, regarding the opening of new accommodation centres for those seeking refuge in Ireland.
A Community Engagement Team has been established within DCEDIY. This team is working with colleagues across Government, local government and the community and voluntary sectors, assisting with certain openings of accommodation centres, where possible.
Within DCEDIY, Eibhlin Byrne is leading this process as the National Lead for Civic Engagement. She is supported by Brendan Kenny, (formerly with Dublin City Council) and John Twomey (former Assistant Commissioner, An Garda Síochána).
Eibhlin and her panel will be assisted by an administrative team consisting of four civil servants (two full time and two part-time), of which two have been seconded from the Departments of Education and Rural and Community Development.
In addition to this, Community Response Fora have been set up in every local authority to coordinate community-led assistance available. Work is also ongoing at local authority level to establish integration teams in each local authority to provide support to those seeking international protection.
874. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to the IVF plans, there will be a rebate scheme in place to 'claim back' one round of assisted human production (AHR) if they are not accepted into the scheme in time, assuming they meet all criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40905/23]
View answer875. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Health if, in relation to the IVF plans, couples who are already engaged with private providers, and not the HSE hubs, will be offered a round of coverage by that provider (the same private provider who would be in place through a HSE referral), assuming there is no 'claim back' system in place. [40906/23]
View answer1016. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the new HSE fertility treatment service will be rolled out; and if any additional information is available on the scheme (details supplied). [40554/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 874, 875 and 1016 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, a commitment to “introduce a publicly funded model of care for fertility treatment” is included in the Programme for Government.
The Model of Care for Fertility was developed by the Department of Health in conjunction with the HSE’s National Women & Infants Health Programme in order to ensure that fertility-related issues are addressed through the public health system at the lowest level of clinical intervention necessary.
This Model of Care comprises three stages, starting in primary care (i.e., GPs) and extending into secondary care (i.e., Regional Fertility Hubs) and then, where necessary, tertiary care (i.e., IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) and ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection)), with patients being referred onwards through structured pathways.
Phase One of the roll-out of the Model of Care has involved the establishment, at secondary care level, of Regional Fertility Hubs within maternity networks, to facilitate the management of a significant proportion of patients presenting with fertility-related issues at this level of intervention without the need to undergo invasive IVF or ICSI treatment. Patients are referred by their GPs to their local Regional Fertility Hub, which provides a range of treatments and interventions, including: relevant blood tests, semen analysis, assessment of tubal patency, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, fertility-related surgeries, ovulation induction and follicle tracking. All six Regional Fertility Hubs are currently operational.
Phase Two of the roll-out of the Model of Care will see the introduction of tertiary fertility services, including IVF, provided through the public health system. In this regard, funding was secured in Budget 2023 to support access to advanced AHR treatments, including, crucially, to allow the commencement of Phase Two of the roll-out of the Model of Care.
This investment will facilitate the first steps to be taken towards the provision of a complete publicly-provided fertility service, which is the ultimate objective of Government. In particular, it will allow the historic development of the first National Advanced AHR Centre, delivering IVF and ICSI through a wholly public clinic and scheduled to open in 2024. Subject to the provision of additional funding in future, it is envisaged that additional National Advanced AHR Centres will be developed and become operational on a phased basis elsewhere in the country.
As an interim measure, I instructed that some funding be made available to support access to advanced AHR treatment via private providers from September 2023. As well as IVF and ICSI, this allocation is also being used to provide, initially through private clinics, IUI (intrauterine insemination), which can, for certain cohorts of patients, be a potentially effective, yet less complex and less intrusive treatment.
In July 2023, I updated the Government in relation to the commencement of publicly-funded, privately-provided IVF, ICSI and IUI. I provided details in relation to the new initiative, including the set of criteria prospective patients must meet to access fully-funded AHR services. The criteria were agreed following consultation with experts in the field of reproductive medicine and include limits in respect of the age of the intending birth mother, body mass index (BMI) and the number of children a couple already have. They are very much in keeping with those applied in other jurisdictions, even though in most European countries, for instance, such treatments are only partially funded and require often significant out-of-pocket payments by patients. More details on public fertility services, including information on the new publicly-funded AHR treatment initiative, are available at: www2.hse.ie/conditions/fertility-problems-treatments/fertility-treatment/
It has been decided that one cycle of IVF or ICSI should be publicly funded for eligible patients and be undertaken in an authorised private clinic of their choice. This is to ensure that as many eligible patients as possible can avail of publicly-funded AHR treatment during the initial phase. It should be noted that one cycle shall consist of an episode of ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval, fertilisation and transfer of one fresh embryo (if appropriate, with single embryo transfer as standard). All other suitable embryos created should be frozen and can then be subsequently transferred through a publicly-funded procedure if the access criteria are still being fulfilled. Therefore, a publicly-funded IVF/ICSI cycle may consist of a number of separate embryo transfers.
Regarding your query whether there will be a rebate scheme, please note that referrals for publicly-funded AHR treatment for eligible patients from the Regional Fertility Hubs to approved private clinics are due to commence from the week beginning September 25th 2023. It is important to ensure that patients are clinically determined by a consultant in a Regional Fertility Hub for IVF, ICSI or IUI before being referred for such treatment, having undertaken at the Hub, as appropriate, extensive consultation, assessment, and the types of procedures and interventions outlined above which are available at the secondary care level. Therefore, only eligible patients who are referred from a Regional Fertility Hub after this “go live” date can avail of the new publicly-funded AHR treatment initiative and there will be no reimbursement for patients who have paid for treatment privately either prior to this date or after this date without having been referred by a Regional Fertility Hub.
My Department and the Government are focused, through the full implementation of the Model of Care for Fertility, on ensuring that patients receive care at the appropriate level of clinical intervention and then those requiring, and eligible for, advanced AHR treatment such as IVF will be able to access same through the public health system. The underlying aim of the policy to provide a model of funding for AHR, within the broader new AHR regulatory framework, is to improve accessibility to AHR treatments, while at the same time embedding safe and appropriate clinical practice and ensuring the cost-effective use of public resources.
876. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure a person (details supplied) will be allocated a residential care bed at a suitable facility. [39467/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
877. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the current total number of respite beds available in County Wexford; how many of the respite beds are allocated to older person services; how many of the respite beds are allocated to disability services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39468/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
878. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of new persons approved for HSE home care supports hours in County Wexford to date in 2023; the number of existing clients approved for additional home care supports hours in County Wexford to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39477/23]
View answer879. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons awaiting delivery of approved and additional home care support hours in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39478/23]
View answer880. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Health the total number of persons in County Wexford currently in receipt of home care support hours; the total current number of home care support hours being delivered in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39479/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 878, 879 and 880 together.
As these are operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
881. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health whether there are drugs available, or there are any plans to make available, drugs for the long-term illness Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a chronic, long-term, incurable disease, on the HSE reimbursement list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39490/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
882. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health for an update on the planned Ballyhaunis primary care centre, Ballyhaunis, County Mayo, which had a scheduled operational date of Q4 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39510/23]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
883. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1005 of 8 November 2022, if a case manager has been appointed and met with the family of a person (details supplied); the steps currently being taken to provide them with the care required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39514/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
I wish to advise the Deputy that responsibility for specialist Disability services transferred from the Department of Health to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with effect from 1 March 2023.
