Written Answers Nos. 448-459
448. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the €7 million announced in Budget 2024 to support the increasing number of children with a disability requiring AIM supports to access and participate in the ECCE programme; how this money will be allocated to ECCE providers; when the money will be allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51117/23]
View answerThe award winning Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) has supported more than 27,000 children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme since it was first introduced in September 2016.
In Budget 2024, I was very pleased to secure an additional €14m for AIM. €7m of this allocation will support the increasing cohort of children with a disability requiring AIM supports to access and meaningfully participate in the ECCE programme. This will be on the basis of an application and assessment and will be demand led as is currently the case. The increase is required to meet the increasing demand for the AIM programme.
An additional €7m provides for an expansion of targeted AIM supports to these children beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, in term and out of term from next September.
The specific rules underpinning this extension are currently being developed. However, the intent of the additional funding is to support ECCE-enrolled children with a disability to remain in services for the full day if they wish to do so.
The precise allocation model for this expansion of AIM is currently under design and will be communicated in early 2024.
It is my ambition that, over time, all children with a disability who enrol in registered early learning and childcare services will have access to supports under AIM. To this end, my officials will next consider how many more children with a disability can benefit from AIM supports and will allocate supports based on application and assessment on a case by case basis.
449. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will examine the practice of an organisation (details supplied) recouping monies under a circumstance from ECCE providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51118/23]
View answerThe Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme is a universal free two-year pre-school programme available to all children within the eligible age range.
As per the rules governing the ECCE programme, where attendance in the childcare setting differs from registration in a consistent pattern over a four-week period, the relevant registrations must be updated to reflect the actual pattern of attendance. The service provider will not have monies recouped for the first four-week period, but if the registration is not revised after the four-week period, then the service may have monies recouped for the days when the child is regularly not attending.
In certain special circumstances, such as a prolonged illness, a childcare service may apply to Pobal, who are the childcare funding schemes administrators, to retain the registration beyond four weeks up to a maximum of 12 weeks. In such cases, Pobal may seek supporting proof of the special circumstances, which may include medical certification.
450. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will urgently engage with Tusla to ensure that an agency (details supplied) is given the necessary funding to meet their costs and remain operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51121/23]
View answerCARI offers an important and vital service to Children who have experienced sexual abuse , and the support offered by the service to the parents of those children . The Minister, and the Department understand the vital role CARI play in providing therapy to those who have experienced sexual abuse and it is acknowledged how vital this service is for children and their families through an extremely distressing and difficult time .
CARI highlighted the issue of a financial deficit in August 2023 where it was expressed to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and the Department that CARI would need €243,000 until the end of 2023. Tusla and the Department have been actively engaging with CARI, and additional funding was provided by Tusla in October to address the projected financial deficit by CARI at that time. The conditional agreement between Tusla and CARI was based upon CARI providing a detailed financial governance business plan to Tusla to ensure on going core funding for 2024.
The CEO and Senior Management of Tusla are engaging with CARI actively to reach a solution. The key elements of the financial deficit for CARI have been identified by the Department. There are several key drivers which have led to cost increases including the using up of financial reserves built up over time to supplement funding shortfalls such as; an increase in running costs, decreased income from funding and under charging for the full cost of therapy.
As a Department the promotion of child welfare is the paramount concern. The initial amount required to ensure operations by CARI could function until end of year was outlined to Tusla in August 2023 and a plan was put in place on the 8th of November. This is an ongoing development that requires both Tusla and CARI to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. However, CARI's financial deficit has changed significantly from the original figure outlined to Tusla in August 2023 and upon which significant and additional once off financial funding was provided.
The Department officials are continuing to liaise with Tusla in this regard and the situation requires close review by Tusla regarding any future issues in this regard. The Department welcomes the continued communication between Tusla and CARI.
451. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when a child (details supplied) will receive appropriate interventions. [51169/23]
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.
452. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the figure provided by his Department to maintain existing levels of service in 2024, under his respective remits ahead of Budget 2024; the figure granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51173/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, budget negotiations are confidential. However, as announced on Budget Day, I can confirm that I negotiated a substantial increase in funding for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration & Youth in 2024, in line with the parameters agreed by Government in the Medium Term Expenditure Strategy. This includes a significant increase in funding to ensure that the existing level of service (ELS) which is provided by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), across Disability Services, early learning and childcare and youth services and other programme areas will continue to be provided.
Government agreed a total Government Expenditure Ceiling of €96.6 billion for Budget 2024. Of this expenditure, an additional €434 million was allocated for ELS to my Department excluding Ukraine related spending due to its once off exceptional nature.
This allocation will mainly fund the costs arising from implementation of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme, enhancement of person-centred supports and services in Disability Services, supporting the progressive rollout of the Action Plan for Disability Services and the Roadmap for Children’s Disability Services. It will also allow Tusla to continue to provide existing levels of care and support to children and families referred to Tusla for help and begin to address some of the increasing demand for Tusla services, in particular for complex residential care placements.
This ELS funding was agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and NDP Delivery and Reform as part of the budgetary process.
There is further engagement currently ongoing as part of the 2024 Revised Estimates (REV) stage of the annual Estimates process.
453. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an operation in Croom Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50521/23]
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, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
454. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health his plans to reassess the age range eligibility of the BreastCheck screening programme, in particular concerning women over 70 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50523/23]
View answerI am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
BreastCheck, the National Breast Screening Programme, currently invites women aged 50 to 69 years at regular periods to have a routine mammogram. Under commitments in the Programme for Government, BreastCheck eligibility has been expanded to women aged 69 years since 2021. The Programme for Government also commits to expanding the age range for BowelScreen to those aged 55 to 74 and the HSE has recently commenced expansion to those aged 59, in addition to the current age range of 60 to 69.
In response to the Deputy's question, I will highlight that any decisions about further changes in cancer screening, including further extension of the age ranges, will be made on the advice of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC). This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
I would stress that careful consideration must be given to any proposed expansion of Ireland’s screening programmes and that this process must be afforded the necessary amount of time to complete. This includes ensuring that decisions are made based on internationally accepted criteria and scientific rigour.
In this regard, I am pleased to report that the Committee is already progressing work to consider the further expansion of our cancer screening programmes and has asked HIQA to evaluate the evidence for the further expansion of the age range eligibility for both the BowelScreen and BreastCheck programmes.
The Committee holds Annual Calls, which invite all stakeholders, including members of the public, HSE and other medical professionals, to make proposals for the introduction of new population-based screening programmes or changes to existing programmes in Ireland. The Committee plans to launch its third Annual Call before the end of the year, and information will be posted on the Committee's website www.nsacommittee.ie with details on the submission process.
Finally, I would like to emphasise the importance of every woman being breast aware, regardless of whether or not they are eligible for or attend for screening. This means knowing
what is normal for them so that if any unusual change occurs, they will recognise it. If a person has any concerns or symptoms concerning their breasts, they should not attend screening and should instead contact their GP who will give them the appropriate advice.
455. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the average waiting time for a lower limb prosthesis in the public health service. [50539/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
456. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE consultant paediatric endocrinologists at CHI Crumlin in 2022 and to-date in 2023; and if this number will be further increased during 2024. [50540/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
457. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated for the provision of the Primary Childhood Immunisation Programme in each of the years 2021 to 2023, in tabular form. [50541/23]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the HSE, I have referred the question to the HSE for a direct reply.
458. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who, following three referrals to the breast clinic at University Hospital Limerick, has yet to receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50555/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
459. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health if an interim measure could be introduced as a solution (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50568/23]
View answerThe collection of taxes and issues relating to the interpretation of tax law are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. New guidance regarding the tax treatment of GP's GMS income has now been issued by the Revenue Commissions.
Officials from my Department and the HSE engaged with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance prior to publication to understand the context of the new guidance and to identify the potential operational issues which may arise following its publication. The guidance does not reflect a change in tax law, but clarifies how GPs’ GMS income should be treated for the purposes of tax under current tax law. To allow GPs and GP practices time to make any necessary adjustments to their arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable tax policy and legislation, Revenue have implemented transitional arrangements up to the end of 2023.
The Minister for Finance has announced his intention to bring forward an amendment at Report Stage of the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2023 to provide that where individual General Practitioners (GPs) enter into contracts with the HSE to provide certain medical professional services, and provide those services in the conduct of a partnership profession with other individual GPs, the income from those professional services can be treated for income tax purposes as income of the partnership.
My Department and the HSE continue to engage with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance, as well as with the IMO, on this matter.
The current contractual arrangements for the GMS, as well as other issues, will be examined under the Strategic Review of General Practice, which will propose measures necessary to modernise the contract.
