Thursday, 1 Feb 2024

Written Answers Nos. 343-362

International Protection

Questions (343)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

343. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4676/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it. To date, over 100,000 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have arrived in Ireland and approximately 75,000 of those have been referred to this Department seeking accommodation from the State.

Overseeing provision of accommodation on this scale during this timeframe for all those who require it remains challenging. A broad range of accommodation types have been contracted, including hotels, guest houses and B&Bs, religious properties, accommodation operated by voluntary bodies and certain emergency or repurposed settings. 

All accommodation contracted by this Department is temporary in nature, and BOTPs are advised of this when requesting emergency accommodation.

Where contracts with accommodation providers are ending, my Department undertakes to offer alternative accommodation for those Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection who continue to be in need of assistance. However, while my Department will endeavour to offer alternative accommodation in the region in which those affected are currently accommodated, this is not always possible.

Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements, including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at [e-mail] or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.

In relation to the properties to which the Deputy refers, it should 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. 

I wish to draw attention to the Government announcement in November 2023 regarding the refreshed call for offers of unoccupied houses, apartments or holiday homes. The campaign to assist those fleeing the war in Ukraine may be of interest in the context of the above offer. Further information can be accessed at offerahome.ie/  

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (344)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

344. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the childcare fees being paid by parents at present, by county; and the childcare fees that will be paid by parents from September 2024, by county, in tabular form. [4680/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

 The Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile (AEYSP) 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.

In December 2023, my Department launched the Early Learning and Childcare Data website, replacing the traditional paper-based AEYSP report. The website provides a new and innovative way of displaying administrative data as well as survey data collected annually from over 4,400 early learning and childcare services across the country, supporting evidence-informed policy development and planning.

This new website will include a series of interactive dashboards that will be released by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) over the coming weeks and months.

Released sequentially, the first iteration of this new dashboard will see the 2021/22 data published alongside the 2022/23 data. The dashboard is still under development, but my Department has asked that the data on fees be expedited.

The most recently published Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Profile, covers the programme year 2020/21, and during this period the average weekly fee nationally per child for full day care was €186.84, for part-time was €110.92 and for sessional care was €74.20. The fees for all types of provision remained almost the same, with less than 0.5% change for all types of care compared to 2019/20. It should be noted that this fee data is prior to the application of any subsidies.

Table: Average weekly fee by county and type of care provision 

Dublin – Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown	€244.08	€139.10	€84.71
Dublin – Fingal	€214.30	€121.96	€76.81
Dublin – South Dublin	€214.08	€127.90	€78.69
Dublin – Dublin City	€213.85	€127.16	€78.60
Wicklow	€213.36	€126.92	€77.65
Cork City	€204.36	€113.73	€76.58
Cork County	€193.53	€118.22	€77.15
Kildare	€191.68	€120.02	€77.78
Meath	€191.52	€112.35	€73.87
Westmeath	€181.83	€107.48	€79.32
Kerry	€181.01	€103.43	€67.01
Kilkenny	€179.66	€103.86	€71.81
Louth	€178.37	€117.06	€73.30
Wexford	€177.69	€103.99	€73.85
Waterford	€175.61	€101.27	€71.30
Limerick	€175.48	€103.54	€72.52
Laois	€174.89	€100.88	€73.62
Donegal	€174.24	€95.35	€68.25
Galway	€173.56	€105.61	€70.97
Offaly	€173.33	€112.98	€71.81
Clare	€172.00	€102.13	€72.20
Tipperary	€166.71	€99.25	€71.68
Sligo	€165.64	€97.02	€78.20
Leitrim	€163.81	€89.58	€69.85
Roscommon	€161.94	€99.36	€72.13
Cavan	€160.88	€95.39	€69.21
Mayo	€160.68	€95.02	€69.28
Longford	€159.17	€92.92	€71.65
Monaghan	€153.42	€87.76	€65.52
Carlow	€152.08	€88.36	€71.27
Overall average	€186.84	€110.92	€74.20

The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) provides two types of subsidies available to all children aged between 24 weeks and 15 years who are attending registered childcare:

• a universal subsidy of €1.40 per hour

• an income assessed subsidy which is means tested and is calculated based on the applicant’s individual circumstances. The subsidy varies depending on the level of family income, parent work status, the child’s age and educational stage, and the number of children in a family

All families accessing registered early learning and childcare receive a minimum hourly NCS subsidy of €1.40. This minimum hourly rate will increase to €2.14 from September of this year. From this date, any family on the universal or income assessed subsidy who was not already at the maximum hourly rate under the Scheme will see an increase in their subsidy. For those who receive an income assessed subsidy, the amount of the increase will taper down as they approach the maximum hourly rate. The exact reduction in costs will be unique to each family depending on their individual circumstances, and their early learning and childcare needs.

The Scheme has an hours based design and is designed to fit around the needs of families. The family agrees the number of hours to be used with their provider and (within overall scheme limits) these hours are registered with the scheme administrator. The amount paid under the NCS is based on the actual hours of childcare used.

The standard weekly ECCE capitation is €69.00 for the 2023/2024 programme year. Where a child is availing of additional care in a part-time or full-time service the approved provider must reduce the fees paid by the parent/guardian by a minimum of €64.50.

International Protection

Questions (345)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

345. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 676 and 677 of 12 December 2023, if he intends to begin deactivating existing contracts for unsuitable accommodation and or with unsuitable providers; if he will provide an update in respect of his current contract in respect of a house (details supplied); the length of time that remains on the contract for use of the house; his plans to deactivate the contract on expiry of current term.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4722/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I thank the Deputy for her question. The information will be provided to the Deputy in the coming days.

International Protection

Questions (346, 347)

Michael McNamara

Question:

346. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 25 January 2024, if he will elaborate upon the improvements to his Department’s processes. [4736/24]

Michael McNamara

Question:

347. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 25 January 2024, when the improvements to his Department’s processes occurred. [4737/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 347 together.

My Department established a dedicated team in May 2023 to improve the processes around contracted vacancy identification and to provide a more structured approach to the validation and distribution of vacancies for use by operational teams.

The team monitor a dedicated inbox, examining each weekly register submitted by accommodation providers and ensuring that these are fully and correctly completed. Omissions and inaccuracies are followed up directly with the providers.

Each register is cross checked with my Department’s systems to ensure that any vacancies identified by the provider are within contracted capacity and to confirm that the particular accommodation provider is not under review for any reason. Where providers identify vacancies over their contracted capacity, they are referred to the offers portal to assess the suitability of these additional rooms for contract. Only contracted vacancies can be filled to ensure the safety and security of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs). Vacancies at providers which are under review by my Department will not be used until such time as the review is resolved to the satisfaction of officials.

Vacancies which can be used immediately are input to a dedicated online source developed by the team. All operational teams have access to the data and can view the details of the available vacancies in each property including information about the vacancy, such as room size and configuration, allowing them to match BOTPs to accommodation most suitable to their particular needs. It is my Department’s policy to maximise the use of existing contracted vacancies over new procurements.

The team also have a compliance role and have focussed on increasing accommodation provider compliance with the contractual requirement to submit a fully completed register for their property each and every week. Compliance with this requirement is now at over 95% and continues to improve. The team will pursue the small number of providers who are not submitting registers each week in line with contractual requirements so as to maximise my Department’s use of contracted vacancies.

While individual registers have always been fully examined in the context of specific circumstances, such as the relocation of BOTPs or in the case of larger accommodation centres, prior to the establishment of the dedicated team and given the given the large number of providers, the general validation of registers could only take place intermittently and usually with a random subset of providers. The dedicated team work exclusively on the identification of usable contracted vacancies within an operation of significant scale and new processes ensure that each and every register submitted by providers is examined, with vacancies which can be immediately used made available to operational times on the same day. My Department will continue to keep these processes under review to maximise effectiveness.

Question No. 347 answered with Question No. 346.

Child and Family Agency

Questions (348)

Patrick Costello

Question:

348. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a list of private residential service providers used by Tusla in 2023. [4746/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

As this relates to Tusla operational matters, the question has been forwarded to Tusla for direct reply to the Deputy. 

Early Childhood Care and Education

Questions (349)

Michael Creed

Question:

349. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in light of the financial pressure on the childcare sector, if consideration is being given to increasing the core funding provided to pre-school childcare facilities to cover the increased costs of operating in the sector, including the costs associated with the additional financial governance and accountability obligations on partner services under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 13/2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4762/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Investment in early learning and childcare is at unprecedented levels with public funding exceeding €1.1 billion in 2024 for early learning and childcare – a clear demonstration from Government of the value of the sector.

Core Funding improves:

• affordability for parents by instituting a fee freeze in participating Partner Services;

• access by expanding the capacity being offered by the sector, particularly for younger children;

• quality including through improved pay, conditions and career structure underpinned by Employment Regulation Orders; and

• stability and sustainability for providers. 

Core Funding makes a significant additional contribution to services’ income, allowing them to better absorb increased costs including energy costs. In Year 1 of Core Funding, 99% of services saw their income increase through Core Funding with 1%, or close to 60 services, receiving top up payments to ensure their income did not decrease for the same level of provision offered. 

All services will have seen further increases to their Core Funding allocations from the second year due to the increased allocations towards non-staff overheads and administrative staff/time.

In addition, a number of targeted supports for small and sessional services were introduced in Year 2 of the scheme in order to improve sustainability of these services, specifically a flat rate top up of €4,075 for sessional-only services and a minimum base rate allocation of €8,150. These measures saw the average allocation under Core Funding for sessional-only service increase by 30% this year. 

In a continued commitment to supporting these services, these targeted measures will continue to apply in the 2024/2025 programme year.

Through ECCE capitation and Core Funding combined, services receive a minimum of €79.20 per child per week and a maximum of €95.85 with additional funding for graduate lead educators and graduate managers and sessional only services will also receive an additional sessional only flat rate of €4,075.

The €287 million Core Funding scheme allows for substantial increases in the total cost base for the sector, related both to pay and non-pay costs thereby creating the conditions to introduce fee management. It is reasonable and justifiable that on receipt of Core Funding, services must agree not to increase their fees given the level of funding available.

Arising from Budget 2024, the Core Funding allocation for year 3 of the scheme will increase by 15% - to €331 million. This will support the delivery of a range of enhancements in Year 3 of the scheme to support improved affordability and accessibility for families, improved pay and conditions for the workforce and improved sustainability for providers..

Under the Core Funding agreement, Partner Services have agreed to provide validated financial returns. All Partner Services that have had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide these validated Financial Returns for year one of Core Funding (1st September 2022 to 31st August 2023).

Following engagement with the ELC Stakeholder Forum, it was agreed that a transitional arrangement would be in place for financial reporting to cover year 1 and year 2 of the scheme. Specifically, in this transitional phase, the financial reporting requirements have been significantly simplified and streamlined, and is for an income and expenditure report based on a significantly reduced set of Core Funding Chart of Accounts nominal codes.

The Income and Expenditure Report must be completed and submitted by an accountant, from a registered practice or a registered professional body (ACCA, CAI, CPA and CIMA), on behalf of each Partner Service by 22nd March 2024.

My Department is working to ensure that adequate support is put in place to support Core Funding Partner Services with this requirement and is exploring additional supports, including financial supports for those that may need it. Once these financial supports have been fully developed, my Department will communicate these to the Sector.

Special supports are available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, accessed through local City or County Childcare Committee (CCC).

This support can take the form of assisting services with interpreting analysis of staff ratios and cash flow, as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to individual circumstances.

I would encourage any service experiencing financial difficulty and who would like support, to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. Contact details for their local CCC can be found at www.myccc.ie .

Mother and Baby Homes

Questions (350, 351)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

350. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on a reported refusal by the Church of Ireland to pay into a restitution fund for mother and baby institution survivors, on the basis that it "neither owned nor operated” mother and baby institutions as reported in the media (details supplied); and the action he will take on the foot of same. [4811/24]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

351. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the letter published in a newspaper (details supplied) that the Church of Ireland did in fact play a significant role in the operation of mother and baby homes; and whether he intends to take action on foot of same. [4812/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together.

Last May Government approved my proposal to appoint Ms Sheila Nunan to act on my behalf as Independent Negotiator in leading negotiations with religious organisations, which had a historical involvement with Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. This is with a view to securing a financial contribution towards the cost of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme. 

Both I and my Department are fully committed to the process of assisting the Independent Negotiator in her work. 

Religious organisations including the Church of Ireland are engaging with the process. These negotiations, while ongoing, are being treated as confidential. A full report will be provided to Government once the negotiations are concluded.

Question No. 351 answered with Question No. 350.

Mother and Baby Homes

Questions (352, 353)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

352. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when mother and baby institution survivors may apply for restitution payments as promised by him three years ago (details supplied). [4813/24]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

353. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on whether it is shameful that a person (details supplied) has been denied restitution, as a result of delays in implementing the restitution scheme; his plans to recognise the role played by them and other survivors who passed on while waiting for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4814/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together.

The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme will be the largest scheme of its type in the history of the State with an anticipated 34,000 people eligible for its benefits. Given its scale and significance the Scheme has been placed on a statutory footing and enabling legislation - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 - was signed into law last July.

Section 37 of the Act provides that the personal representative of a deceased relevant person, who died on or after 13 January 2021, can apply to the Scheme. The personal representative will be acting on behalf of the deceased person's estate and any award from the Scheme arising from that application will be made for the benefit of the deceased person's estate.

A comprehensive body of work has been undertaken to develop the substantial administrative framework required to deliver a scheme of this size. This work includes:

• the making of the necessary regulations which must be in place prior to the Scheme opening;

• making arrangements for the staffing necessary to deliver the Scheme;

• Developing a comprehensive training programme for all staff involved in the Scheme;

• Developing hard copy and online application systems;

• Developing the case management IT infrastructure for the Scheme;

• Preparing for a substantive public awareness campaign to be delivered in Ireland and overseas. To this end, a recent stakeholder engagement process for the Payment Scheme has just concluded with representatives reviewing some of the application and information materials for the Scheme.

Opening the Scheme as soon as possible is an absolute priority for me and my Department and the Scheme will open within the first quarter of this year. 

Question No. 353 answered with Question No. 352.

Child and Family Agency

Questions (354)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

354. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether Tusla, arising from its investigations or supports, is obliged to furnish copies of its reports to both parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4857/24]

Written answers

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Statutory 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.

EU Regulations

Questions (355)

Duncan Smith

Question:

355. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Health the way in which Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 on infant formula and follow-on formula is policed and enforced in the State; whether offences are committed in the event of its breach or other sanctions apply; his views on whether retailers breach the regulation by including formula among items covered by a loyalty or voucher or discount scheme that applies to most other goods sold in a store; if so, the basis of that understanding; to outline any correspondence with the EU Commission on the interpretation of Article 10 (2) of the regulation as it applies to general supermarket discount or voucher schemes that are not aimed at promoting the sale of formula in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4748/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland and its official agencies, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are responsible for the enforcement of food legislation relating to infant formula and follow-on formula. The manufacture of infant formulae and follow-on formulae is supervised by the Dairy Controls and Certification Division of DAFM. Once placed on the retail market, official controls are carried out on infant formulae and follow-on formulae by the HSE/National Environmental Health Service.  

The European Union (Food Intended for Infants and Young Children, Food for Special Medical Purposes, and Total Diet Replacement for Weight Control) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 425 of 2019) as amended by S.I. No. 490 of 2023, gives legal effect to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 as regards the specific compositional and information requirements for infant formula and follow-on formula and as regards requirements on information relating to infant and young child feeding. The S.I. sets out the offences and provides for penalties for contravening the Regulations.  In addition to the specific powers available in S.I. No. 425 of 2019, authorised officers have powers to seize, remove, detain, and destroy products which are suspected by him or her of failing to comply with the Regulations.   

The requirements for promotional and commercial practices for infant formula are set out in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2016/127. This provides that there shall be no point-of-sale advertising, giving of samples or any other promotional device to induce sales of infant formula directly to the consumer at the retail level, such as special displays, discount coupons, premiums, special sales, loss-leaders and tie-in sales.  

In response to a query, the FSAI recently sought clarification from the European Commission on the application of Article 10(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/127. At this time no response has yet been received.  

FSAI Guidance Note 38 for Foods governed under Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 Foods for Specific Groups explains further that “examples of what is not permitted include: consumers should not receive points on their supermarket loyalty card for purchasing infant formula; Infant formula should not be included in ‘end of aisle’ specials or should not display discounted specials pricing.” 

Hospital Appointments Status

Questions (356)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

356. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4684/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) works with public hospitals, as opposed to with patients directly, to offer and provide the funding for treatment to clinically suitable long waiting patients who are on an Inpatient/Day case or Outpatient waiting list.

The key criteria of the NTPF is the prioritisation of the longest waiting patients first. While the NTPF identifies patients eligible for NTPF treatment, it is solely on the basis of their time spent on a waiting list. The clinical suitability of the patient to avail of NTPF funded treatment is determined by the public hospital.

Under 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 2023. 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. 

Hospital Facilities

Questions (357)

Robert Troy

Question:

357. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure the HSE issues funding of €110,000 to a facility (details supplied) without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4690/24]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this question relates to funding of healthcare services for people who are homeless, I have referred to HSE for direct response. 

Vaccination Programme

Questions (358)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

358. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Health to outline the plan to continue with the Laura Brennan HPV catch-up vaccination programme beyond December 2023; the next steps for the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4700/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines work by preventing infections prior to exposure to the HPV virus. Thus, the vaccines are more effective at a younger age prior to exposure to the HPV virus. The HSE offers a single dose of HPV vaccine to all first-year boys and girls in secondary school as part of the routine HPV vaccination programme.

A vaccine uptake of 90% in girls by the age of 15 is one of the targets required to achieve the goal of cervical cancer elimination by 2040. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked every country to put measures in place to reach this target, and the HSE is working to increase the vaccine uptake in the routine HPV programme from the current uptake of just under 80%.

In line with NIAC advice, in 2022, I asked the HSE to facilitate and operationalise the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccination Catch-Up Programme.

Funding was provided to support this catch-up programme up until end of 2023. The Department is considering the possibility of an extension to this programme.

Health Services

Questions (359)

Paul Murphy

Question:

359. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 6 December 2023, if he is aware of a statement by an organisation (details supplied) on the appointment of a Clinical Lead for Transgender Services; and if he will agree to meet with transgender community groups to discuss the lack of engagement with them to date. [4703/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My department is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centered health care service for adults and children in the transgender community.

The HSE is establishing a team to lead the development of an updated and integrated model of care for transgender services in Ireland, informed by the best evidence-based clinical care for individuals who express gender incongruence or dysphoria. The position of Clinical Lead for Transgender Services has been offered to an applicant, however, the independent recruitment process is currently ongoing and as such it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on that process.

When the team is established, the HSE will consult with a wide range of stakeholders in the development of transgender healthcare and the new model of care, including those who use the services and advocacy groups.

I welcome the development of a model of care which will deliver a high quality, seamless and integrated service for people with gender identity issues, in line with the Programme for Government.

Health Services

Questions (360)

Paul Murphy

Question:

360. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the reason in his comments on the appointment of a Clinical Lead for Transgender Services (details supplied) he portrayed the disagreement on trans youth healthcare as one between two clinical teams without any reference to the trans community themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4705/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

My department is committed to the development by the HSE of a well-governed and patient-centered health care service for adults and children in the transgender community.

The HSE is establishing a team to lead the development of an updated and integrated Model of Care for transgender services in Ireland, informed by the best evidence-based clinical care for individuals who express gender incongruence or dysphoria. The position of Clinical Lead for Transgender Services has been offered to an applicant.

The HSE will consult with a wide range of stakeholders in the development of transgender healthcare and the new model of care, including those who use the services and advocacy groups. 

I welcome the development of a model of care which will deliver a high quality seamless and integrated service for people with gender identity issues, in line with the Programme for Government.

Health Services

Questions (361)

Paul Murphy

Question:

361. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health the status of the National Gender Service’s complaint to HIQA made late in 2023; and the resolution they are hoping for. [4706/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is an independent authority that exists to improve health and social care services for the people of Ireland. HIQA monitor healthcare services provided or funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE). As an independent organisation, the Authority is committed to an open and transparent relationship with its stakeholders. It’s independence within the health system is key and central to being successful in undertaking it’s functions. As such, it would not be appropriate to discuss a lodged complaint.

Gender Recognition

Questions (362, 363, 364, 366, 367, 368, 369)

Paul Murphy

Question:

362. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 189 of 6 December 2023, to confirm that for transgender adults that treatment decisions are clinical matters between the patient and their choice of clinician. [4707/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

363. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 6 December 2023, what evidence base backs the necessity of a comprehensive holistic multidisciplinary assessment prior to hormone therapy. [4708/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

364. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 6 December 2023, whether the National Gender Service believes that providing transgender care virtually is unsafe; and if so, on what basis. [4709/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

366. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 6 December 2023, if hormone concentrations are unrelated to risk the reason the National Gender Service’s recommendations for endocrine care consider higher than recommended testosterone concentrations an elevated risk for thromboembolic and liver disease. [4711/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

367. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 6 December 2023, what are the benefits of monitoring hormone concentrations. [4712/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

368. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 6 December 2023, if the National Gender Service only provides solicited advice in relation to the provision of transgender healthcare by other services. [4713/24]

Paul Murphy

Question:

369. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 190 of 6 December 2023, what evidence base supports the claim that the most common complications of medical transition are decline in social and-or occupational function, and deterioration of mental health. [4714/24]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 362 to 364, inclusive, and 366 to 369, inclusive, together.

As this is a service matter I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.