Written Answers Nos. 464-474
464. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the options that are available for disabled people who cannot afford adaptions and are slightly over the means test threshold and therefore are not entitled to have it paid for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52999/23]
View answerThis is a matter for my Cabinet colleague, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
465. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 35 of 7 November 2023, if the derogation from the HSE recruitment freeze for organisations delivering disability services extends to the recruitment of administrative staff. [53015/23]
View answerThe successful recruitment and retention of staff across the Disability Services sector is integral to this sectors' continued growth and remains a key priority for me.
Beginning in May 2023, the HSE implemented a recruitment pause for a number of grades across the HSE and Section 38 service providers, to ensure that it can sustainably provide services within its existing resources. The core focus of the pause is to protect controlled growth and ensure the HSE has an adequate financial control environment. My Department has engaged consistently with the HSE to ensure the pause does not unduly affect the provision of existing Disability Services or strategic initiatives to support targeted expansion across key services.
The HSE have agreed to a derogation for Disability Services whereby essential staff across a number of grades can be replaced on a “one for one” basis. The derogation applies to Disability Services funded replacement posts and new development posts in the HSE and Section 38 agencies, in regard to the following staff categories: Medical/Dental, Nursing, HSCP, Support Staff Grades, Other Patient and Client Care. A process for application of the derogation has been prescribed by the HSE and communicated to relevant stakeholders.
Under the terms of the HSE recruitment pause, I understand that there is also a process whereby organisations may make a risk representation in respect of vacant Management or Administration posts. In these cases, a business case can be submitted to the relevant National Director for consideration.
466. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53047/23]
View answerMy Department's spend for advertising in X (formerly Twitter) in the timeframes requested is below in tabular form.
|
2021 |
2022 |
01/01/2023 - 27/11/2023 |
|
€18,114 |
€2,412 |
€3,372 |
467. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with two websites (details supplied) respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53067/23]
View answerMy Department spend on the Meta platforms (Facebook and Instagram) is below in tabular form for the time frames requested.
|
2021 |
2022 |
01/01/2023 - 27/11/2023 |
|
€68,828 |
€10,458 |
€37,838 |
468. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount his Department spent in 2021, 2022 and up to 27 November 2023 on advertisements with a website (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53084/23]
View answerMy Department's spend on advertisements with Google for the timeframes requested are below in tabular form.
|
2021 |
2022 |
01/01/2023 - 27/11/2023 |
|
€18,759 |
€24,207 |
€30,139 |
469. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to indicate the extent of follow up of allegations of child sexual abuse in a case (details supplied); if any protective measures have been implemented, or might be so implemented, including the use of medical evidence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53161/23]
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.
470. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health to outline the catchment areas for consultant psychiatrists in the Galway area; if an individual can be seen by these services outside of their catchment area; and to outline the options available to individuals who do not have a consultant psychiatrist in their catchment area. [52898/23]
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.
471. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health if there is currently a neurologist in Children's Health Ireland at Crumlin; if not how long has this been the case; if there is a plan to hire a neurologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52902/23]
View answerAs this Parliamentary Question relates to an operational issue, it is a matter for the HSE. However, members of the Oireachtas are advised that the HSE is currently not in a position to answer PQs due to industrial action. It is hoped that normal services will resume soon. In the meantime, this Department will continue to refer PQs to HSE for their direct reply as soon as possible.
472. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether it is accurate that a new HSE directive has said that no patients currently in St. James’s Hospital are allowed to be referred to a HSE nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52921/23]
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.
473. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health whether the pandemic bonus has been paid to an agency (details supplied) in respect of staff of the agency who were eligible for the bonus; if he is aware that some staff of this agency are yet to receive payment of the pandemic bonus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52925/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
474. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health whether he will take action to address the steeply rising insurance costs facing community drug services (details supplied). [52930/23]
View answerThe Central Bank of Ireland (the “Central Bank”) is responsible for the authorisation of and has primary responsibility for the prudential supervision and regulation of insurance and reinsurance undertakings in Ireland. The Department of Health has no statutory responsibility for the regulation of community insurance or of the price charged by insurance companies in Ireland.
My Department has introduced two initiatives this year to ease the impact of the cost of living and inflationary costs on services.
In February this year one off funding was announced for providers of health related community and voluntary services. Most drug and alcohol projects were awarded a one off 3.5% increase or a minimum of €1000. Further information on the scheme and the list of organisations benefitting is in the link: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/4fd65-health-ministers-announce-81m-in-once-off-funding-for-voluntary-and-community-providers/
In August, I announced €3.5 million in recurring funding to support existing levels of services provided by community and voluntary organisations, including community-based drugs services. This funding is being distributed by CHOs based on guidance issued by the Department of Health. An allocation of €445,000 was made to CHO 7, which covers Dublin south west.
Minister Naughton announces additional annual funding of €3.5 million for drugs and inclusion health services:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/5d2c8-minister-naughton-announces-additional-annual-funding-of-3-5-million-for-drugs-and-inclusion-health-services/
The funding recognises the important role of community and voluntary groups in providing drugs and inclusion health services, and acknowledges the increased costs of providing these essential services. Priority will be given to services which are experiencing increased demand and have not received additional funding in recent years, in order to ensure maximum positive impact.
I would encourage community-based drug services who are facing increased costs to engage with their regional CHO, who are responsible for funding these services via grant or service level arrangements.
