Written Answers Nos. 466-486
466. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the updated estimated cost, broken into current and capital, of providing State-owned and operated accommodation per 100 international protection applicants/asylum seekers. [49886/23]
View answerMy officials will require more time to collate information for a response to this query. My officials will contact the Deputy with the details as soon as it is possible.
470. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what his Department’s plans are for a family home in County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49909/23]
View answerIreland has responded to the largest displacement of people on the European continent since the Second World War. Since February 2022, as part of the Whole of Government response the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has worked extensively to support approximately 100,000 people who have sought temporary protection in Ireland in fleeing, over 80% of whom have sought State supported accommodation.
Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains immensely challenging. Due to the urgent need to source accommodation, the Department has contracted in excess of 59,000 beds to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in more than 980 mainly private settings including hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, hostels, commercial self-catering accommodation and certain other repurposed settings.
I am advised that my Department is not aware of the property to which the Deputy refers.
It should also be noted that my Department does not procure or contract private houses or apartments for a variety of reasons including impact on the private residential market.
471. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 18 October 2023, if an inquiry was ever held by the Eastern Area Health Board with regard to allegations of child abuse (details supplied) in 1996, as stated in the media at the time; what the outcome was; if a copy of the report is available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49926/23]
View answerStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
472. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people currently in the direct provision system; to list the type of accommodation IPAs are being housed in; the length of time spent by IPAs in these accommodation types; to provide those figures in increments of three months and based on accommodation types; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49971/23]
View answerAs at 5th November, there are 25,260 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole, compared with 16,000 people at this time last year. The Department continues to explore all offers of accommodation for international protection applicants (IPAs) in as far as it can.
The Department is currently availing of repurposed office buildings, decommissioned Defence Forces barracks and tents to try to address shortfalls in reception capacity. While the Department is aware that some types of accommodation are less than ideal it is working hard to find solutions, through the use of facilities management companies in some cases, to offer emergency food, shelter and sanitation provision.
Due to the emergency nature of the accommodation crisis, it is not possible to state what the average length of stay is for residents.
Please see in tabular format, the type of accommodation provided by IPAS; the number of centres in each category; and the figures for IPAs currently residing in each category of accommodation. Please note, the number accommodated every day changes due to arrivals and departures, so figures are at a point in time
|
Accommodation Type |
Total number of Centres |
Number of IPAs Accommodated |
Of Whom are Children |
|
IPAS Accommodation |
49 |
7,122 |
2,142 |
|
Emergency Accommodation |
191 |
16,536 |
3,079 |
|
National Reception Centre |
1 |
502 |
47 |
|
CityWest Transit Hub |
1 |
669 |
0 |
|
Tented Accommodation |
3 |
431 |
0 |
473. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he expects the Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49979/23]
View answerThe Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile provides a detailed overview of the Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC) sector in Ireland, including the numbers of children in receipt of state subsidies, information on ELC and SAC fees, staff wages, qualifications and turnover.
The Sector Profile has played a key role in informing policy development and in assessing the impact of policy change for over 20 years. It is based on a survey of ELC and SAC providers in Ireland and administrative data from my Department's funding schemes.
While the Annual Early Years Sector Profile has been published by Pobal on behalf of my Department as a paper-based report, this year it has been decided that it will be released in a new format. My Department, in partnership with Pobal are currently in the process of developing a new interactive online dashboard for the Sector Profile.
Released in a staggered manner, the first iteration of this new dashboard will see the 2021/22 data be published alongside the 2022/23 data. As the dashboard is still under development there is currently no set release date. It is anticipated that more information will be made available in the coming weeks.
474. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what measures, if any, are in place for the provision of space/venues for sports and fitness activities for those with intellectual disabilities in Kildare, as groups which provide such activities are having problems sourcing suitable venues, and are experiencing difficulty in providing this essential service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50007/23]
View answerAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible. As the Deputy may be aware, the industrial action that commenced on Friday 6th October, by management and administrative grades in Fórsa Trade Union in the HSE, will impact on the response times to Parliamentary Questions and Representations.
475. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Health if his Department, and all the agencies to report to his Department fully respects and understands the Ruth Morrissey Supreme Court judgement, which was ruled on in March 2020. [49729/23]
View answerThe judgement referred to by the Deputy is particularly relevant to two agencies, the HSE and the SCA, the latter of which does not come under the aegis of my Department, but which has had the conduct of clinical medical cases delegated to it. I can confirm that both of these agencies, along with my Department understand and respect the judgement.
476. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health to take the necessary steps to ensure that the individual placement and support service is equally accessible for people with mental health difficulties throughout the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49876/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
477. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if there is any restriction on the opportunity to advertise e-cigarettes in Irish media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49892/23]
View answer593. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health if he is concerned about the ease of access to, and advertising for, e-cigarettes; if the risk of recruiting new users to dependence on nicotine necessitates new regulation; and if he has undertaken any analysis of the matter.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49891/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 477 and 593 together.
Under the EU Tobacco Products Directive, there is a ban on advertisements for e-cigarettes on television, on radio, online and in printed publications other than those that are internal to the trade.
The Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill will also prohibit advertising e-cigarettes in cinemas, near schools and on public transport. This Bill has passed all stages in the Dáil and it is expected that it will be enacted before the end of the year.
478. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health for an update on the provision of a medical service for Newmarket-on-Fergus, County Clare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49267/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
479. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health to indicate the period of time residents are expected to be temporarily moved from a hospital to a private care facility (details supplied) for; and if he will provide a commitment that the standard of care provided by HSE staff will remain and be consistent within the private facility. [49274/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
480. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an urgent appointment for a person (details supplied) for a cataract removal can be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49275/23]
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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, there may be a delay in the Deputy receiving a response from the HSE.
481. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost in 2024 to recruit 12 additional WTE clinical nurse specialists in Dementia, in tabular form. [49303/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
482. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the specific measures taken to enhance ambulance services in advance of the opening of new major trauma centres; the specific funding allocated to each measure and its date of operation; and when each of the network trauma hospitals will become operational. [49304/23]
View answerAs this question relates to service matters I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
483. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE dentists, dental hygienists and dental nurses working in each HSE health centre and primary care centre within CHO9 in the years 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [49305/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
484. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that were admitted to the National Spinal Injuries Unit at the Mater Hospital in the years 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [49306/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
485. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the number of persons that were admitted to the National Burns Unit at St. James's Hospital in the years 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [49307/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
486. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health if he will launch an investigation into the unacceptable delay on 4 November of over six hours for an ambulance to attend a gravely ill person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49319/23]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsbile for the delivery of health and personal social services, including ambulance services. I have asked that the HSE responds to the Deputy directly on this matter, as soon as possible.
