Written Answers Nos. 474-493
474. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will take action in relation to the implementation of a report (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45197/23]
View answerAs Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, I would like to commend the Joint Committee on Autism on its final report, published in June 2023, which contains detailed recommendations for action right across Government to better meet the needs of Autistic people and their families. This is a shared objective for me as Minister of State.
The recommendations contained in the report are being carefully considered in the context of development of a new national strategy on autism, the Autism Innovation Strategy, which will respond to the commitment in the Programme for Government to action on autism.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will identify ways to address the bespoke challenges and barriers faced by Autistic people and provide the building blocks for a more autism-inclusive society. It will be cross-government in nature and will take a holistic approach towards addressing these challenges.
Development of the strategy is currently at an advanced stage. This follows several months of engagements right across Government to agree a suite of clear, simple actions that can address gaps in existing supports and services for Autistic people within a 12-18 month timeframe. This process has included careful consideration of the recommendations contained in the final report of the Joint Committee on Autism.
From the outset of the development process, I have been clear that I want the Autistic community to be at the centre of this process. An initial public consultation was held in April/May 2022 to capture the views and priorities of the Autistic community. A report summarising the feedback received was published in April 2023. The feedback from the public consultation has been a central consideration in the development of the strategy to date.
The Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group was also appointed in December 2022, following an application process. This group, which is majority neurodivergent, will play a key role in monitoring implementation of the strategy, and in providing constructive advice based on the lived experience and expertise of group members.
Once drafting of the strategy is complete, there will be a further public consultation prior to the formal adoption of the Autism Innovation Strategy. It is my intention that implementation of the strategy will begin in early 2024 and that is the clear focus of work for my officials at present.
475. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will provide an update on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45200/23]
View answerWith all new properties contracted by my Department to provide accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs), the provider is required to provide detailed information in relation to suitability for use. The Department carefully appraises each property before contracts are issued and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections.
Contracts for accommodation are not agreed until such time as IPAS officials have been provided with evidence that all applicable building and planning obligations have been met by the provider.
The Class C20 F exemption was implemented in relation to Fairtown Apartments. The use of this property has been paused, and interpretation of the exemption is being clarified.
476. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the reason for the delay for the rise in payments to foster carers under Budget 2024 to end 2024; and if he will bring it forward to alleviate pressures on foster carers. [45216/23]
View answerIt was my priority to secure a meaningful increase to the foster care allowance in this year’s Budget in order to support the vital role being carried out by foster carers.
As outlined in Budget 2024, from 1st January 2024 the rates of the foster care allowance will increase by €25 per week, up to €350 per week for children aged under 12 and €377 per week for those over 12. The foster care allowance will be further increased in November 2024, up to €400 per week for children aged under 12 and €425 per week for those over 12.
These increases mean that foster carers will receive over €1,700 additional funding per child over the course of 2024, amounting to an extra €300 per month by the end of 2024 for each child placed with them, when compared with the current allowance.
In addition to the above, a double week of the foster care allowance will also be paid at the existing rates to foster carers before the end of 2023. Foster carers will also benefit from a double child benefit payment in respect of each qualifying foster child, which is due to be paid before the end of this year.
I understand the disappointment amongst foster carers that the full increase to the foster care allowance will not come into effect until November 2024. However, given the very many competing demands on the limited funds of the State, including from across the Tusla budget and from other responsibilities within the remit of my Department, necessary compromises had to be made. In this context, it was decided that it was necessary to introduce the increases to the foster care allowance on a phased basis over 2024.
My priority was to secure a significant increase to the allowance, albeit at the cost of a phased implementation. The changes in Budget 2024 will bring the annual rate of the foster care allowance to an amount of €20,800 for a child under 12 and €22,100 for a child over 12.
I hope that the supports contained within Budget 2024 will over time ease financial burdens on foster carers. In continuing to seek to improve the suite of supports for foster carers and to prioritise their needs, I shall continue to work closely with my Government colleagues and with relevant stakeholders.
477. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has enough sites to complete the Government's modular homes programme; to identify which sites were offered by each local authority; to identify any local authority that did not engage and identify sites; to identify any local authority that offered sites that were already designated under the Housing For All Programme; if so, which sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45278/23]
View answerSince the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the activation of the Temporary Protection Directive immediately afterwards, nearly 100,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in Ukraine and have sought refuge here in Ireland. Approximately 73,000 of those are being provided with accommodation from the State.
In response to the crisis, the Government has sought to provide a range of accommodation solutions in every county in Ireland. This has primarily involved the contracting of hotels, guesthouses and B&Bs, but also has included the use of Scout Halls, Religious Congregations’ accommodation, vacant student accommodation and other locations. .
As part of this considerable national effort, the Government also approved the construction of 700 rapid build homes on State owned land, which will aim to provide accommodation to 2,800 individuals in family units. Five of these sites in Cork, Cavan, Thurles, Sligo and Claremorris are now completed with a further 2 sites nearing completion in the next month.
The Office of Public Works (OPW) is leading on the design, development and delivery of the accommodation being produced through rapid build construction, including associated site enabling works on available and suitable State land. My Department is the Approving Authority for the Programme and has responsibility for the ownership of these rapid build homes and their future use.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage sought information from public authorities on potential sites in their ownership which might be suitable for the installation of rapid build homes. The DHLGH, then in consultation with local authorities and other public bodies, prepared an inventory of sites that may be suitable for rapid build housing as part of the Government’s humanitarian response. The request, at that time, was for sites which had "not already been earmarked for social and affordable housing under Housing for all". The ultimate decision on whether sites will be progressed for the purposes of rapid build accommodation is a matter for OPW and DCEDIY.
All Local Authorities are actively supporting the whole of government response to the humanitarian crisis, across multiple strands, including accommodation, integration and community engagement. Each Local Authority has put in place additional staff resources and each works closely with my Department and with DHLGH.
As the Deputy is aware, the development of rapid build homes to assist the Ukrainian humanitarian response will greatly support families fleeing from war and very difficult conditions in Ukraine.
For further information on the project please see attached link to a gov.ie webpage www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef882-rapid-build-housing/.
478. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 532 of 3 October 2023, if he will provide detail on the nature of the data breaches suffered by his Department; the severity of the breaches; if all individuals whose information was compromised were notified of the breach; if the Data Protection Commission was notified of all data breaches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45330/23]
View answerMy Department processes any personal data breaches that occur in accordance with its obligations under the GDPR including reporting requirements to the Data Protection Commission and communication with affected individuals in relation to a breach of their data, as appropriate.
The Department has an internal personal data breach reporting protocol. All breaches must be formally notified to the Department’s Data Protection Officer for assessment.
The majority of the breaches that occurred in my Department in the period 2017 – 2023 were as a result of administrative error. These were generally where an email was sent to an incorrect recipient, where an intended recipient incorrectly received data as part of an email attachment, or where an intended recipient inadvertently had sight of the full email recipient list.
The table below provides the details on the number of data breaches recorded in my Department, the numbers which were reported to the Data Protection Commission and the number of instances where communication with individuals took place. In instances where data breaches were not reported to the Data Protection Commission, the breach was deemed to comprise no risk to the individual. In relation to communicating with individuals, the Department as a data controller is obliged to notify an individual of a personal data breach where the breach is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of the individual.
|
Year |
Number of breaches |
Number reported to the DPC |
Instances where communication with an individual took place having regard to threshold being reached |
|
2017 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
|
2018 |
14 |
7 |
0 |
|
2019 |
10 |
3 |
0 |
|
2020 |
17 |
6 |
1 |
|
2021 |
25 |
2 |
0 |
|
2022 |
25 |
5 |
0 |
|
2023 |
22 (to date) |
1 |
0 |
479. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of legal cases taken against Tusla in each year since it was established and to date in 2023; if a breakdown can be provided on the number of cases which were successful; the number which failed and the number which are ongoing, in tabular form. [45375/23]
View answerThe issue to which the Deputy refers, is an operational matter for Tusla. As such I have referred this question to Tusla to reply directly to the Deputy.
480. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 832 of 11 July 2023, the estimated number of religious buildings which can avail of the exemption outlined in section 3 of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44640/23]
View answer481. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1724 of 11 September 2023, the scope of his engagement with Taillte Éireann, the information was elicited from this engagement, and how this informed the drafting of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44641/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 480 and 481 together.
I am committed to ensuring safe access to termination of pregnancy services.
Officials from my Department engaged with what was formerly known as Ordnance Survey Ireland, now Tailte Éireann Surveying, and other relevant stakeholders to develop the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services) (Safe Access Zones) Bill 2023. The involvement of Tailte Éireann Surveying, was limited to the provision of technical advice on matters related to mapping and of how such safe zones might be visualised.
This Bill will designate Safe Access Zones of 100 metres from an entrance or exit to a premises where obstetricians/gynaecologists and general practitioners provide services. The Zones will also apply to hospitals that provide acute inpatient services within the meaning of Section 51 of the Health Act 1970. Within those zones certain conduct aimed at impeding access or influencing decisions in relation to termination of pregnancy services will be prohibited.
It is recognised that this is a complex area of the law seeking to balance competing constitutional rights. The overarching aim of the legislation is to ensure that the effect on the rights of those affected is proportional to the objective sought to be achieved.
With this in mind there is a specific exemption under Section 3 of the Bill for places of religious worship. Place of religious worship is defined for the purposes of the Bill as a building that is used for religious worship, and to which the public have access whether as of right, or by permission, and whether subject to or free of charge.
482. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the current waiting list figures, average waiting time, number of people waiting more than six months, more than one year, more than two years, more than three years, more than four years, more than five years, more than six years, more than seven years and more than ten years in Galway, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44642/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by officials and a deferred reply will be submitted within ten working days.
483. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he will make funding available for a drug from Merck called sotatercept, this drug which has had positive results to treat pulmonary hypertension a condition that is progressive and incurable effecting heart and lungs. [44643/23]
View answer486. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health to respond directly to concerns raised (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44651/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 486 together.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical items, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
The HSE must comply with the relevant legislation when considering investment decisions around new medicines. Pharmaceutical companies are required to submit formal applications to the HSE if they wish their medicines to be added to the list of reimbursable items / funded via hospitals. In order to submit a formal application the medicine must hold a marketing authorisation.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is a centralised agency of the European Union (EU) responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of medicines in the EU. The EMA plays an integral role in the authorisation of medicines in the EU.
To date, the EMA has not granted a marketing authorisation for sotatercept for the treatment of pulmonary hypertension. As outlined above, the national assessment and decision process cannot commence in the absence of a marketing authorisation.
484. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health the funding that will be available for new drugs and clinical trials in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44644/23]
View answer485. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health to confirm if reports that no funding for new drugs and clinical trials will be available for 2024 are correct. [44645/23]
View answer545. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide funding for new treatments and new drugs in order to give every patient the best possible outcome for their treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44901/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 484, 485 and 545 together.
A record almost €3 billion, nearly €1 in every 8 spent by the State on health, will be spent this year on medicines. This is an unprecedented level of investment in supporting patients through the availability of the latest and wide range of medicines.
It is important that medicines expenditure is sustainable for the State and that we strive to maximise the available investment. This will enable us to provide as many people as possible with access to the necessary medicines.
Over the last 3 years the State has invested €98 million in new medicines funding to provide 127 new medicines or extended uses for medicines.
Going into 2024, I will ensure that my Department, the HSE and all relevant agencies and stakeholders place a priority focus on achieving the most efficient and effective use of available resources. This will require opportunities for savings to be identified and implemented. While dedicated funding for new medicines has not been allocated in Budget 2024, this does not mean that no new medicines will be approved for reimbursement in 2024. Any savings generated from identified initiatives will be immediately reinvested into new medicines for 2024.
487. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44657/23]
View answerI am aware of an issue with the supply of systemic anti-cancer therapy treatments from a private company that was notified to my Department on 29 September. This issue has now been resolved and the facility resumed normal production from Wednesday 11 October. My Department has been monitoring the situation closely in conjunction with the National Cancer Control Programme. Affected hospitals were notified when the issue arose and put contingency plans in place to ensure continuity of treatment for patients receiving chemotherapy. Hospitals been in communication with patients where it was necessary to change their treatment plan, and supplies should be back to normal levels from this week onwards.
488. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if a scan for a person (details supplied) will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44659/23]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
489. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if there are plans in place to return the C/T scanner to Monaghan Hospital; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44661/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
490. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health if funding will be provided to deliver an MRI scanner to Monaghan Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44662/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
491. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of referrals made to each of the CAMHS teams based in County Carlow in the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44670/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
492. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the number of hoists currently in use by the Radiology department of St. Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44673/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
493. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of staffing all emergency departments with liaison psychiatrists for two years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44674/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly as soon as possible.
