Written Answers Nos. 246-265
246. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how the hours provided for respite care are arrived at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41938/23]
View answerAs the query refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
247. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to detail all funding streams available to youth clubs, administered either by his Department or by outside agencies on behalf of his Department, that can contribute towards capital, staff and operating expenses. [42006/23]
View answerMy Department is providing current funding of some €72.948 million in 2023 to support the delivery of youth services and projects.
The Local Youth Club Grant Scheme, supports youth work activities at a local level by providing small grants to youth clubs and groups. €2.5 million has been made available for the Local Youth Club Grant Scheme this year. These grants are made available to all youth clubs and groups through their local Education and Training Boards (ETBs). Each year, up to 1,400 local youth clubs or groups are eligible to apply under the scheme.
In view of the limited capital funding available for distribution on an annual basis, the Youth Affairs Unit oversees the administration of annual youth capital funding schemes for the national youth organisations and the youth services and youth clubs within the functional areas of the sixteen Education and Training Boards. These capital schemes make available small grants which support the purchase of essential equipment and the completion of minor works, including adapting of outside areas for working with young people, ventilation, sanitary facilities and health and safety requirements.
Along with the above funding which is directly targeted at youth clubs, €46.29m is allocated to the UBU Your Place Your Space scheme, which provides funding to youth organisations who support disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalised young people. A further €13.4m in funding is made available through the Youth Service Grant Scheme on an annual basis to 30 national and major regional voluntary organisations.
248. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will confirm the number of contracts issued to property owners in County Kilkenny for the purpose of accommodating those fleeing the war in Ukraine and separately the number of contracts for the accommodation of asylum seekers; if he will state whether the contracts are for accommodation and food or accommodation only and if payment is based on the number of beds available or occupancy; if he will set out the payment history for each contract since commencement in tabular form and where there are arrears to confirm when payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42009/23]
View answerI am advised by my officials that there are contractual arrangements in place for 14 locations in County Kilkenny which accommodate Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection. Of these, five are provided on a self-catering basis and nine on a full-board basis.
I am further advised that there are two locations in Co Kilkenny in use for the accommodation of international protection applicants.
My Department does not publicly detail the locations of such accommodation centres in the interest of the privacy and security of residents and providers.
Details of payments made to specific providers for specific locations are not publicly supplied by my Department as such details are commercially sensitive. However, the Deputy may wish to note that payments over €20,000 to suppliers of the Department generally, including accommodation providers, are periodically published officially at the URL www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/.
My Department’s standard contractual arrangement with providers of Ukraine accommodation is to pay for minimum occupancy of each room at an agreed single adult rate and for any additional occupants at an agreed additional occupancy rate.
I am further advised by my officials that payments to each of the 14 Ukraine accommodation providers have been reviewed to ensure they are up to date. In a small number of cases, further engagement with providers is required to ensure invoices are in line with the agreed service provision and my officials are in ongoing contact with those providers in order to progress these.
249. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding is available through his Department for refurbishment and upgrades in naíonra childcare facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42028/23]
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:
Building Blocks - Improvement Grant;
Building Blocks - Capacity Grant; and
Building Blocks - Innovation Grant.
Under the Building Blocks - Improvement Grant, €9 million was allocated earlier this year in grants ranging from €35,000 to €75,000 for energy upgrades and retrofit projects, which supported services in need of upgrading, such as kitchen refurbishments, roof repairs and the replacement of flooring. This scheme is now closed and my Department does not have further funding available in 2023 for refurbishments or upgrades of early learning and childcare facilities.
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 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.
250. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of first assessments for speech and language therapy provided in each local health office area in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42062/23]
View answer251. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of treatments for speech and language therapy provided in each local health office area in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42063/23]
View answer252. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of first assessments for occupational therapy provided in each local health office area in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42064/23]
View answer253. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of first assessments for physiotherapy provided in each local health office area in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42065/23]
View answer254. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessments of need under the Disability Act 2005 provided in each local health office area in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42066/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 251, 252, 253 and 254 together.
As this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
255. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what plans he has to review childcare facilities guidelines for planning authorities that have been in situ since 2001; whether he agrees that a comprehensive review be undertaken so that a new set of guidelines be prepared for the sector, that reflects the current policy and regulatory context and gives relevant direction and guidance to local authorities and landowners alike; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42103/23]
View answerThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.
A key objective of First 5, the Whole-of-Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families is to 'maintain and extend the supply of high-quality publicly subsidised early learning and childcare to best serve the developmental needs of babies and young children, ensuring that it also reflects the needs and preferences of parents and families'.
Among a range of actions in this regard is the updating of the 2001 National Planning Guidelines for the development of Early Learning Childcare settings, in consultation with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
This work had begun in 2020 but progress was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Officials in my Department are in the process of reengaging with this work, in partnership with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. To date this has involved undertaking a review of the 2001 guidelines and the identification of proposed changes to the existing guidelines. A survey of the local authorities is being initiated by the DHPLG and consultation with the local authorities on the proposed changes before public consultation of updated guidelines forms part of future plans.
This will inform the work of my Department in this initial review phase and adds to information captured from the network of City/County Childcare Committees on their views of the existing guidelines.
It is hoped that draft updated guidelines will be available for consultation in 2024.
In addition to these measures, the Childcare Committees will continue to proactively engage with early learning and childcare services to identify unused capacity and explore the potential for services in increase capacity where there is evidence of unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
256. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if he can confirm whether children were automatically tested for SARSCoV2 on their arrival to ED and for admission at Crumlin Children's Hospital, Tallaght Children's Hospital and Temple Street in the past eight weeks; if so, the positivity rate for both sectors; how many children have been hospitalised for Covid-19; how many subsequently became Covid-positive in hospital; how many, if any, are in ICU or other high dependency; how many outbreaks of Covid-19 there have been in each facility; to provide all information in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41891/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
257. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Health if his Department is satisfied that all hospitals and public-health facilities are operating to the required statutory standard of ventilation; to publish the audits his Department has undertaken to establish same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41892/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly.
258. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if he has received important email correspondence from an individual (details supplied); when he intends to respond to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41895/23]
View answerI can confirm that correspondence has been recently received by the Department of Health in relation to the case referred to by the Deputy. This has been referred to the HSE in relation to potential aspects concerning the provision of mental health care for this person. Separately, issues raised in respect of Disability Allowance in this case would be a matter for the Department of Social Protection..
259. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health when the primary care centre in Clondalkin will be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41896/23]
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.
260. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health to confirm the number of occupational therapists based in Rowlagh health centre, Clondalkin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41897/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
261. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health for a breakdown of all hospitals in the State which provide pain management services; and their staff complement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41944/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
262. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health what pain management services and staff complement exist in a hospital (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41945/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
263. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the current and planned eating disorder services for adults and CAMHS in CHO8 under the National Model of Care for Eating Disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41948/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
264. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if he will examine appeals lodged by employees of the HSE for the pandemic recognition payment (details supplied). [41950/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
265. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if discussion is expected to make available the current HTA on all CGM and intermittent glucose monitors available to those living with type 1 diabetes in Ireland (details supplied). [41955/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement under the community schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In making a relevant reimbursement decision, the HSE is required under the Act to have regard to a number of criteria including clinical efficacy, the health needs of the public, cost effectiveness and potential or actual budget impact. I, as the Minister for Health, have no role in these decisions.
The Health Information and Quality Authority have undertaken a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) in respect of the provision of glucose monitoring devices to adults with Type I diabetes. It is expected that this will be published soon. This HTA will inform the HSE decision-making process.
While preparations in respect of Budget 2024 are ongoing, any health measures introduced will be in the context of the implementation of the health commitments in the Programme for Government and the funding available to progress healthcare priorities.
