Written Answers Nos. 543-567
543. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the actions his Department is taking to secure properties either selected for asylum-seeker/immigrant accommodation or publicly deemed to be a prospect for same, given the spate of arson which degrades society and poses a threat to human life locally, and to that of firefighters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6544/24]
View answerThe International Protection Procurement Service (IPPS) carefully appraises each property that is offered for use as accommodation for international protection (IP) applicants before contracts are issued, and properties are also subject to pre-occupancy inspections to ensure they are adhering to the requisite standards. IPPS advises all potential providers of accommodation of the need to provide sufficient security to protect their property while the appraisal process is underway, and furthermore, to the requirement to maintain the safety and security of the IP applicants for which they will be providing accommodation once contracted.
The provision and management of security staff at IP accommodation centres is a matter for the centre management and service providers and is not dictated by the Department. However, the requirement to have adequate security generally forms part of the contract to accommodate IP applicants. The Department requires that centres are adequately staffed for the running of the centre and that there is a 24/7 staff presence. The particular security needs of each centre are assessed by each provider and agreed with the Department prior to the opening of the centre.
The Department has an obligation to report any allegations of criminality to An Garda Síochána (AGS) once brought to its attention. AGS is responsible for operational policing matters, and where intimidation or criminal acts have occurred, the Department is precluded from commenting or providing detailed information, as it may prejudice any consequent investigations or court cases.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) is in close contact with An Garda Síochána (AGS) and the management teams of IP accommodation centres in relation to the safety of IP applicants. There is a dedicated AGS Liaison Officer at Inspector level appointed to each IP accommodation centre. The IPAS Centre Management and Compliance Team are in consistent contact with these Liaison Officers in relation to the safety and security of those resident in IP accommodation centres, as well as staff who work in these accommodation centres. IPAS Senior Management also engages with AGS colleagues in relation to the proposed opening of new IP accommodation centres.
The Department also encourages those with information on any suspected criminal activity to report this to the appropriate authorities to be investigated.
544. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review correspondence from a person (details supplied) regarding two issues with an organisation; if she can assist with this matter and provide an update on both issues. [6558/24]
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. The Deputy will likely be aware that the industrial action by certain Forsa grades in the HSE has been suspended. The HSE has indicated that they have recommenced issuing replies to questions but there is a significant backlog of PQs and Reps to be responded to and has advised that they are working to get through these as soon as possible while at the same time managing the volume of current PQs and Reps
545. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will review a proposal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6559/24]
View answerMy officials and I have reviewed a policy proposal from Early Childhood Ireland (ECI) in respect of the establishment of a single agency for early learning and care (ELC) and school age childcare (SAC). As noted by ECI in their proposal, there is a commitment in the Programme for Government to establish a National Early Learning and Childcare Agency, to assist in the expansion of high-quality childcare, spearheading leadership, best practice and innovation, and professional development in community and private settings.
Furthermore, on 29th March 2022 Government accepted the findings of the independent Review of the ELC and SAC Operating Model that a dedicated State agency is the optimal operating model for the sector for the years ahead. It is envisaged that this dedicated agency will undertake the functions currently carried out by Pobal Early Years (including Better Start), the 30 City/County Childcare Committees, as well as operational functions currently undertaken by my Department. That independent review was underpinned by extensive stakeholder engagement in which the views of stakeholders, including ECI, in respect of the existing operating model, were sought.
A dedicated State agency will assist in the development of a more streamlined structure to better support the delivery of ELC and SAC, reduce complexity for parents and providers, and will facilitate my Department in implementing and progressing the significant reform agenda envisaged under First 5, the Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families.
Significant progress has been made in advancing this ambitious and transformative reform programme. My Department is currently engaging with independent consultants who have been contracted to carry out a phase of research, analysis and stakeholder engagement to inform the design of a dedicated early learning and childcare agency.
As noted by ECI, a Programme Board has been established and comprises both interdepartmental representatives and external experts with experience at senior level in change management and large-scale reform, leadership, governance, public policy and a knowledge of the early learning and childcare sector. The Programme Board is tasked with overseeing the analysis and design phase of the programme, and will ensure that proposals for a new agency are based on offering the best possible service to children and their families, educators, practitioners and providers while providing value for money.
Consultation with ECI and the wider National Voluntary Childcare Organisations, as key sectoral stakeholders, will continue throughout the lifetime of this programme as we work together to devise a new operating model for the benefit of children and their families and for the ELC and SAC sector.
I look forward to bringing a further report to Government following the completion of this phase of what is a significant and transformative reform programme.
546. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide an update on the estimated date for the opening of applications for the redress scheme for survivors of mother and baby homes, and the amount and grade of staff allocated to administering the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6574/24]
View answerI am acutely aware of the sense of urgency surrounding the establishment of the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme and I am focused on opening it within this quarter.
The underpinning legislation for the Scheme - the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme Act 2023 – was signed into law last July. This Act allows for the establishment of an Executive Office in my Department to oversee the Scheme and the appointment of the Chief Deciding Officer to head up that office, as well as the staff needed to support the performance of his or her functions.
In terms of staffing for Scheme delivery, following careful consideration of a number of important factors, including the need to open the Scheme as soon as possible and the ability to be responsive and scale up and down to meet Scheme demand, a blended operating model has been developed. This provides for the Chief Deciding Officer to be supported by a core Executive Office based in my Department and also by experienced third party support, appointed after a procurement process. This blended approach will facilitate efficiencies in application processing and payments, with of the order of 90 staff involved in the Scheme at the outset, scalable as necessary depending on applicant numbers at any given time.
All staff in the Executive Office, as well as the third party support team, will operate under the direction and supervision of the Chief Deciding Officer and a comprehensive training programme for all staff involved in Scheme administration is being delivered at present.
547. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in view of the withdrawal of a crèche (details supplied) in Ballycullen from the core funding scheme, and resultant significant increases in fees for parents, the action he intends to take to ensure that affordable childcare is available in the area. [6578/24]
View answerCore Funding is in operation since 15 September 2022 and has achieved very significant success in terms of the high levels of participation. With 95% participation in year 1 and to date, 94% or over 4,300 providers have signed up for Core Funding Year 2, with applications still open. There are officially more services contracted for Core Funding year 2 than there were at the peak of Core Funding year 1.
Core Funding makes a significant additional contribution to services’ income, allowing them to better absorb increased costs. In Year 1 of Core Funding, some €259 million was allocated under the scheme and 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.
For the second year of operation, Core Funding increased by €28 million or 11% to €287 million allowing for substantial increases in the total cost base for the sector, related both to pay and non-pay costs.
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.
It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to benefit from this public funding or withdraw from the Scheme and remove the benefits of the Core Funding to parents, in particular the Core Funding Fee Freeze.
I do not want any services to be faced with financial sustainability issues and I am fully committed to working with any such service to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good. There are supports, financial and otherwise, available to services who need them.
In addition to Core Funding, Sustainability funding is available to services participating in Core Funding that are experiencing financial difficulty. Services experiencing financial difficulty and who would like support are encouraged to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. Services can be assisted on an individual basis through this route.
Services are encouraged to avail of these supports as an alternative to not participating in Core Funding and removing the benefits of Core Funding to parents.
Services not participating in Core Funding can, in this programme year, separately offer the NCS and the ECCE programme.
If the service chooses to offer the NCS, parents will be able to avail of a minimum of €1.40 an hour up to 45 hours a week, which will increase from September to a minimum of €2.14 an hour. Increases in the NCS across the last two budgets will significantly reduce the cost of early learning and childcare for parents. From September 2024, parents availing of 45 hours a week care will be able to avail of a subsidy worth just over five thousand euro a year which will help considerably to offset the cost of early learning and childcare. This subsidy may be higher depending on the circumstances of the family.
548. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what form of redress is available to former residents of an institution (details supplied). [6586/24]
View answer549. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether the unfair exclusion of an institution (details supplied) in County Wicklow from the residential institutions redress scheme which the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Inquiry highlighted was due to the fact that the State acted in a sectarian manner (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6587/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 549 together.
The Residential Institutions Redress Scheme was a scheme operated by the Department of Education and I cannot comment on that scheme or its scope.
My department is responsible for delivery of the comprehensive package of support measures agreed by the Government as part of the Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions.
A cornerstone of this Action Plan is the Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme which will provide financial payments and a form of enhanced medical card for people who spent time as mothers or children in Mother and Baby or County Home Institutions.
It is recognised that there are people who suffered stigma, trauma and abuse in other institutions, and outside of institutions also. However, the institutions covered by the Scheme are those identified by the Commission of Investigation as having a main function of providing sheltered and supervised ante and post-natal facilities to single mothers and their children. Westbank Orphanage is, therefore, not included in the Scheme as it does not meet those criteria.
Other important measures contained in the Action Plan response include access to birth information provided through the Birth Information and Tracing Act 2022, the intervention at the site of the former Tuam Mother and Baby Institution and the establishment of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street.
The Deputy may be aware that there are also processes ongoing in Northern Ireland to respond to these legacy issues.
550. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can address the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6588/24]
View answerThere are a number of issues raised in the correspondence to which the Deputy refers, a response to these issues are now set out.
Quality Action Plan
In line with a recommendation in Partnership for the Public Good, providers that have an active Core Funding Contract must submit a Quality Action Plans. All services are provided with a quality self-assessment template for this purpose. The quality planning options for year 2 of the Scheme include the following:
• Implement improvements on aspects of quality as identified in Inspection Reports (either Tusla or Department of Education Inspectorate)
• Participate in quality engagement actions through the Better Start Quality Development Service
• Participate in National Síolta Aistear Initiative (NSAI) opportunities
• Complete a comprehensive review and development of chosen statements, policies, procedures, and practices.
• Participate in quality improvement activities (workshops, communities of professional practice, mentoring & support, self-evaluation, and quality improvement) through DCEDIY-funded services e.g., City/County Childcare Committees, National Voluntary Childcare Organisations and Better Start.
The Quality Action Plan offers a means of systematically capturing and acknowledging the positive work providers have done to improve, and is an important component of the Core Funding Partner Services Agreement.
Core Funding Financial Reporting Requirements
In line with a recommendation in Partnership for the Public Good, providers that had an active Core Funding Contract during the 2022/2023 Programme Year must provide validated Financial Returns as per their Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.
Following constructive engagement with members and nominees of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum (ELCSF), my officials finalised transitional arrangements for financial reporting to cover year 1 and year 2 of the scheme.
Financial reporting requirements in this transitional phase have been significantly simplified and streamlined. Specifically, in this transitional phase, the financial reporting requirement is for an income and expenditure report based on a significantly reduced set of Core Funding Chart of Accounts nominal codes, the sector has already been provided with the templates and guidance documents in relation to this.
This Income and Expenditure Report will need to be submitted onto an online reporting portal by either a qualified accountant from a registered practice or a registered professional (ACA, ACCA, CPA, CIMA) by 22 March 2024.
My Department will be providing guidance to Partner Services in the coming weeks on how to access and upload the completed income and expenditure report. All early learning and childcare Department income information will be provided to the Partner Services through the financial reporting portal in the coming weeks.
My Department are also working on other supports for providers in preparing and submitting these returns, including training supports and targeted financial supports for those that may need it.
Fee freeze
A primary objective of Core Funding is to improve pay and conditions in the sector as a whole and improve, affordability for parents as well as ensuring a stable income to providers.
Core Funding offers greater stability and sustainability for providers by substantially increasing the overall investment in the sector, particularly through a supply-side funding approach and in providing funding for spaces rather than participating children. Services can choose to spend their Core Funding on any items connected to the high quality delivery of their service.
Core Funding operates in addition to and alongside ECCE, AIM, CCSP and NCS. It replaces the approach to paying for graduate lead educators through ECCE that operated under the previous funding model (higher capitation) and incorporates funding previously allocated to the discretionary Programme Support Payments (PSP). These developments allocate funding more fairly in respect of graduates and administration.
The original Core Funding allocation of €207m increased to €221m in spring 2022 at a time when cost pressures were significantly increasing. This further increased to €259m based on significant capacity growth in sector in Budget 2023 with additional contributions for staff pay and conditions, non-staff overheads, administration staff/time and graduates factored in.
For the second year of operation, Core Funding increased by €28 million, an 11% increase, to a total of €287m.
Fee management introduced with the substantial investment of Core Funding follows the recommendations in Partnership for the Public Good, to first limit increases in fee rates. This effectively freezes services fees at those they charged to parents in September 2021 to ensure that the introduction of Fee Management to the sector was done in a sustainable and considered manner. Increasing the Core Funding budget while maintaining the same level of conditions on fees, will help embed the Core Funding Fee Management system in the sector and prepare the sector for the ongoing development of fee management in future years.
Each service will vary depending on their operational decisions and models, however between ECCE and Core Funding, ECCE services will get a minimum of €79.20 per child per week in the 2023/2024 programme year, compared to €78.75 last year. This is before additional graduate premium of €4.44 per hour and the flat rate of €4,075 per year are added, where applicable.
Services that are experiencing difficulty and who would like support are encouraged to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. Services can be assisted on an individual basis through this route. Sustainability funding is available to Partner Services, community and private, who are experiencing financial difficulty.
ECCE capitation
My Department funds private early learning and care service providers to provide the ECCE programme at a standard rate of €69 per week per child attending the ECCE programme. With the addition of Core Funding, services providing ECCE who are also signed up to Core Funding receive a minimum of €79.20 per child per week in capitation. This figure can rise to a maximum of €95.85 with additional funding for graduate lead educators and graduate managers for sessional services. Core Funding is tailored to the individual service and is specifically designed to contribute to its operating costs and sustainability of the service making it a more flexible platform for investment towards the operating costs of services.
Services that are experiencing difficulty and who would like support are encouraged to contact their City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) to access case management supports. This case management process through the CCCs is the route to access additional sustainability funding if required.
Finally, I would note that I have appointed Stranmillis University College, Belfast to undertake an independent review of the ECCE programme. The review will assess whether the ECCE Programme is meeting its core objectives and will identify any changes or improvements that can be made to the Programme, based on international evidence and experience to date. The final report of the review is nearly complete, once it has been finalised I will consider the review in its entirety and consider any policy changes that may need to be made to the programme.
Expansion of AIM
The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) is in place to support children with disabilities in ECCE Programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. AIM achieves this by providing universal supports to settings, and targeted supports, which focus on the needs of the individual child.
An independent evaluation of AIM was published on 19 January 2024. The findings from the evaluation have already informed the phased extension of AIM announced in Budget 2024, commencing with the extension of targeted AIM supports to ECCE-age children beyond time they spend in the ECCE programme, both in-term and out-of-term from September 2024.
Retention and recruitment of staff.
Providers of early learning and childcare are private businesses. As the State does not employ staff in these services, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
However, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate terms and conditions of employment including minimum pay rates for different roles in early learning and childcare services. The JLC continued to meet during 2023 to discuss possible changes to the EROs. The committee was supported in its negotiations by my Department through the provision of the latest information and data on Government funding for the sector, while Core Funding has provided significant additional funding to services to meet higher wage costs arising from EROs, in addition to other objectives. I understand that the JLC published draft proposals for setting new minimum rates for workers in the sector in January this year. Broadly, they propose a 5% pay increase for all roles, following Labour Court recommendations.
In line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in the sector and to raise the profile of careers in the sector. It includes a career framework and commitments to support early years educators and school-age childcare practitioners to upskill and develop their careers. It also includes commitments to strengthen continuing professional development for staff working in the sector.
Auditing by Pobal
Pobal CAR (Compliance, Audit and Risk) inspections have a distinct focus on compliance with my Department’s funding scheme rules, for those services in the sector that have signed up for, and are in receipt of funding under these schemes. My Department recognises the valuable work carried out by providers and staff. However, Pobal inspections are vital to protect the integrity of schemes, by ensuring that such monies are being used appropriately and that risks to Exchequer funding are detected and minimised.
Inspection and regulation
The safety and protection of children remains the first priority of Government in early learning and childcare. Central to achieving this is enforcement of regulations, which have children at the heart of their implementation. Inspection and regulation of these services are a critical component of ensuring that services are safe and that the children attending receive high quality care and education.
A number of changes are being implemented to reduce the administration associated with regulation for providers.
Firstly, the regulations for both pre-school and school-age childcare services were recently amended in order to streamline re-registration processes from 2022 onwards. This change reduced the administration attached to renewal of registration for services.
Secondly, my officials are currently working closely with the two inspectorates, the Tusla Early Years Inspectorate and the Department of Education Inspectorate, in order to reduce the administration for providers, support the quality of services, and support clear communications to the sector. A design and implementation planning process to bring together the functions carried out by the two inspectorates into a single body that provides integrated care and education inspections for early learning and childcare services has been committed to in First 5.
Reform of the legislation governing the early learning and childcare sector is also currently underway. While the primary purpose of the reform process is to enhance the enforcement powers of the Regulator and also remove the legal exemption relating to childminders, it will also seek to streamline the regulations where possible and bring clarifications to certain sections where needed.
Administrative Burden
I recognise the additional administrative work associated with my Department’s funding schemes such as Core Funding and the NCS. As such, Core Funding has allocated €32.13 million for administration under Core Funding in year two, and €35.34m for the third year of the scheme.
In addition, officials in my Department has been working with Pobal to enhance the provider and parent online administrative portals and to put in place a suite of provider and parent supports in order to reduce administrative demands, where appropriate. Engagement with providers has underpinned this work. A Sub-Group of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum was convened in November 2022 to identify ways to reduce provider administration for the January 2023 NCS rate increase. The increase required providers to issue tens of thousands of new parental agreements with the new co-payment rates.
In response, Pobal deployed a semi-automated parental agreement in December 2022, released the uplift portal details in early December and gave a 3-month window to complete the contracts. A combined parental agreement was also introduced for the 2023/24 programme year obviating the need to update agreements on subsequent co-payment changes. In additional a universal fees list was introduced.
On 19 September, I announced plans to develop an Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory Simplification for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector were announced, supported by a Working Group comprising representatives from the Department, Pobal and the City / County Childcare Committees. This initiative is being informed by an Advisory Group comprising providers, educator/practitioner and parent representatives, which was convened in December 2023 and to date has met on 4 occasions.
The Advisory Group aims to:
• Offer an overarching dedicated point of consultation and advice in relation to the review of the administrative and regulatory requirements for early learning and childcare sector and the formulation of the Action Plan for Administrative and Regulatory Simplification.
• Advise on the reports arising from the regional stakeholder consultation events
• Advise on means to address high-level operational or cross-sectoral challenges that may arise in the implementation of the Action Plan.
A series of regional consultation events will take place in Q2 2024 as a key input to the development of this Action Plan. An independent third party will also review end to end processes linked to publicly funded early learning and childcare schemes/programmes.
The Action Plan will be finalised and published in 2024 after the conclusion of the review and consultation.
551. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE social workers, by grade recruited by Tusla in 2023 and to-date in 2024; and the number of vacant WTE social workers posts currently in Tusla. [6604/24]
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.
552. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; the status of this case; and if a place will be expedited for them in the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoghaire. [6049/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
553. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Health the number of WTE medical professionals employed by the HSE; the number of same in receipt of pensions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6051/24]
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.
554. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details suppled) and ensure that their prescription only drug will be made available to them. [6065/24]
View answerOzempic is licensed for the treatment of adults with insufficiently controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus as an adjunct to diet and exercise.
Novo Nordisk, the company responsible for supplying Ozempic, has notified of supply issues with its glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist products including Ozempic.
Novo Nordisk has outlined that these supply issues are due to increased global demand for GLP-1 products coupled with manufacturing capacity constraints at manufacturing sites. The company anticipates that intermittent supply issues will continue throughout 2024.
Novo Nordisk has informed the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) that it has implemented monthly allocations to help ensure continuity of supply and equitable distribution of stock to patients and is working on increasing its capacity to increase production of Ozempic.
The HPRA is engaging closely with the company and the wholesalers involved in the supply of this product to keep the health system and the public informed - ozempic-availability-september---info-for-hcps-and-patients---1-sept-2023701f152697826eee9b55ff00008c97d0.pdf (hpra.ie).
Novo Nordisk has issued letters to relevant stakeholders, including healthcare professionals to ensure they are aware of this supply issue and its management –
ema-mandated-victoza-amp-ozempic-direct-healthcare-professional-communication-(dhpc).pdf (hpra.ie).
Further information and HSE guidance is also available relating to Ozempic supply interruption for healthcare professionals and patients - glp1-ra-shortage-clinical-advice-ncpd-01112023.pdf (hpra.ie).
I recognise that medicine shortages can be challenging for patients, carers, healthcare professionals and their teams. Based on shortages notified to the HPRA, this matter has been the subject of engagement across Health Service stakeholders. Where at all possible, all parties are focused on pre-empting and responding to any potential impacts on medicines supply. Where a shortage cannot be prevented, we will aim to provide useful information to healthcare professionals and patients.
The HPRA maintains a list of current and resolved shortages on its website, where the details, including the information above, are detailed. The webpage is updated daily as new information is received.
With regard to the pharmacy, S.I. 488 of 2008 provides for the safe and appropriate supply of medicines:
“Review of medicine therapy and counselling of patients in the supply of medicinal products on foot of a prescription
9. (1) A person carrying on a retail pharmacy business, the superintendent pharmacist and the supervising pharmacist shall ensure that, prior to the dispensing of each prescription and prior to the supply of the medicinal product concerned, a registered pharmacist reviews the prescription having regard to the pharmaceutical and therapeutic appropriateness of the medicine therapy for the patient.
(2) The review provided for in paragraph (1) shall include screening for any potential therapy problems which may arise out of the use of any medicinal product that may have been prescribed and which the registered pharmacist is, or, in the course of his professional practice, ought reasonably to be, aware of. The potential problems to be screened for shall include those which may be due to therapeutic duplication, interactions with other medicinal products (including serious interactions with non-prescription medicinal products, herbal products or foods), incorrect dosage or duration of treatment, allergic reactions, and clinical abuse and/or misuse.”
The legislation provides for a pharmacist to reject dispensing a medication if they feel it is not pharmaceutically and therapeutically appropriate. I don’t have knowledge as to why this patient hasn’t been supplied with the Ozempic and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on individual cases.
Where this shortage impacts ongoing treatment for a patient, prescribers and pharmacists, in conjunction with patients, should discuss with their Healthcare professional the most appropriate course of action, based on suitable alternative treatment options available.
If you are not happy with the treatment you have received in a pharmacy, or you have a concern about a pharmacist's conduct or behavior, you can make a complaint to the Pharmacy Regulator (PSI).
555. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the funding crisis in an organisation (details supplied); the steps being taken by the HSE to address the funding requirements necessary to continue to provide services to persons within the care of the organisation in order to ensure the immediate and long-term survival of the organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6069/24]
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 recently ended the industrial action which commenced on 6 October 2023. As a consequence, members in these grades were not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result of the accumulated backlog, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
556. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the necessary funding is provided by the HSE to an organisation (details supplied) for intellectual disability student nurses at DkIT to receive their pay rise in student subsistence payments, and for all other intellectual disability students nurses in the same position; if he will increase HSE funding to bring mileage allowances for intellectual disability student nurses in line with the rate of all other student nurse disciplines; the number of student nurses nationally awaiting the rise in subsistence payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6070/24]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, following approval by Government on 13 December 2022, I was pleased to announce €9 million in additional supports for student nurses and midwives. €5.4m of this funding provides for an enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme for eligible students in publicly funded undergraduate nursing and midwifery courses while attending their supernumerary clinical practice placements. Supernumerary students in midwifery, general, combined children's and general, intellectual disability and psychiatric nursing all have the same entitlement.
557. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if the shingles vaccine is covered on the medical card scheme; if not, there are plans to include it under the medical card scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6078/24]
View answerThe immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). The committee's recommendations are based on the prevalence of the relevant disease in Ireland and international best practice in relation to immunisation.
NIAC continues to revise recommendations to allow for the introduction of new vaccines in Ireland and to keep abreast of changes in the patterns of disease. Therefore, the immunisation schedule will continue to be amended over time.
Shingles vaccination is not currently provided as part of the national immunisation programme. The vaccine is not available through the medical card or drug payment schemes. Further information is available here: www2.hse.ie/conditions/shingles/.
It is open to any individual who is aged 50 years and older and who wishes to receive the vaccine to consult with their GP or pharmacist.
HIQA are currently carrying out a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) on the herpes zoster vaccine which protects against shingles. A HTA is a multidisciplinary research process that collects and summarises information about a health technology. The information can cover a range of fields, including clinical effectiveness and safety, cost-effectiveness and budget impact, organisational and social aspects, and ethical and legal issues. The information is collected and presented in a systematic, unbiased and transparent manner.
The outcome of the HTA, once it is complete, will inform future decision making on this matter in relation to whether or not any amendments are required to the National Immunisation Programme.
558. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health for an update on the new proposed HSE taskforce to target savings and productivity; who the members of the taskforce will be; if independent members will be included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6079/24]
View answerThe Department of Health’s Productivity and Savings Taskforce's Steering Group met for the first time in mid-January. It was agreed at this meeting, in line with the Taskforce's terms of reference, that the Taskforce would initially focus on:
- Increasing productivity in the HSE.
- Realising savings
Also as outlined in the terms of reference, the Taskforce's Steering Group will propose an initial work programme, with clear timelines, to the Minister for Health by end of February 2024.
As per the Taskforce's terms of reference, the Taskforce Steering Group will be jointly chaired by the Secretary General of the D/Health and the Chief Executive Officer of the HSE and will include the HSE's Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Secretary D/Health (Finance), and others as the Minister deems appropriate. Currently the steering group consists of a number of Assistant Secretaries from D/Health and a number of Chief Officers from the HSE. There are no independent members on the steering group at this time.
The establishment of the Department of Health’s Productivity and Savings Taskforce is a recognition that despite the unprecedented growth in health services provision in the last three years, the health service faces considerable pressures, both demographic and inflationary. To address these pressures, the Taskforce will aim to maximise productivity and identify and realise savings across the health services with the ultimate intention of maximising existing funding and providing as many services as possible to patients, while meeting the needs of a growing and ageing population.
559. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Health how many pregnancy loss clinics are in operation in Ireland; if there is a staffing shortage at present in these clinics; how often do these clinics offer appointments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6083/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
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.
560. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the commencement of termination of pregnancy services at Cavan General Hospital. [6093/24]
View answerCurrently 17 of the 19 maternity hospitals are providing full termination of pregnancy services, as prescribed in the 2018 Act, which includes termination in early pregnancy (i.e. under 12 weeks).
Cavan is one of the remaining two sites working towards the provision of services. The service is dependent on the recruitment of an additional consultant obstetrician gynaecologist, which is progressing, as is the establishment of the appropriate referral and care pathways within those hospitals.
The HSE envisages that termination services in early pregnancy will commence in Cavan in Q3 of 2024 subject to the completion of a successful recruitment campaign.
561. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Health if he will review the draft design guide for long-term care, to ensure the facilities remain viable and that this is taken into account in determining the maximum size of such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6100/24]
View answerLong-term residential care remains a crucial part of the continuum of care for older people and it is vital that the built environment and location of residential care settings support high quality care and positive experiences for our older population.
I therefore committed to introducing new design standards for long-term residential care settings for older people (inclusive of the public, private, and voluntary sector), which will articulate best practice in design across the sector and will provide a common benchmark against which standards can be measured. High-quality design, planning, and construction is vital in creating safe environments that enable high quality care. The new design guidelines will apply to the building, extension, and conversion of long-term residential care settings for older people.
This work was progressed by the Department of Health, in conjunction with the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). Following the publication of the design guide, the Chief Inspector within HIQA will support those seeking to deliver long-term residential care services for older people by offering a pre-application registration advice process prior to an application for planning permission from a Local Authority.
On 19 December 2023, I announced a new public consultation on the Design Guide for Long-Term Residential Care Settings for Older People, open until 15 February 2024. The public consultation will allow the Department of Health to hear the views of a wide range of stakeholders and the feedback received will inform the final version of the design guide.
562. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health his plans for the independent regulation of CAMHS under the Mental Health Act 2001, as recommended in a report (details supplied); the timeline for same; the reason for the delay in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6106/24]
View answer573. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Health his views on the regulation of CAMHS under the Mental Health Act 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6184/24]
View answer611. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns and details raised by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6614/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 562, 573 and 611 together.
I firmly support the regulation of all mental health services, including community CAMHS, and I am progressing priority legislation to underpin this regulation.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring all mental health services, both inpatient and community, and both adult and child and adolescent, are fully registered, regulated, and inspected by the Mental Health Commission in its role as the independent regulator of mental health services.
Under the Mental Health Act 2001, the Mental Health Commission registers, inspects, and regulates all inpatient mental health services, including inpatient CAMHS. The current Mental Health Act 2001 does not include any provisions for the registration or regulation of community mental health services and therefore, it is not considered that the Act provides the necessary legal basis to expand the Commission’s regulatory remit.
The expansion of the Mental Health Commission’s role into regulating all community mental health services, including community CAMHS, is being addressed in the forthcoming Mental Health Bill. This new Bill is a complex and lengthy piece of legislation. It will provide the necessary legal underpinning to ensure that the Mental Health Commission can regulate all community services. Additionally, the Bill will overhaul the involuntary admission and detention process, modernise provisions related to consent to treatment, provide enhanced safeguards for people accessing inpatient treatment, and provide a new, discrete Part that relates exclusively to the care and treatment of children and young people.
Drafting of this Bill has been prioritised and it is now in its final months of drafting. I will introduce it to the Oireachtas in the summer legislative session, which begins in April.
Work also continues to improve CAMHS at service level. Year-on-year funding for mental health services increased by €74 million from €1.221 billion in Budget 2023 to nearly €1.3 billion in 2024, and with a strong focus on investing in child and youth mental health. This is the fourth consecutive year of an increase for mental health services, and highlights in real terms the importance this Government places on the mental health of those living in Ireland.
CAMHS receives €146.5 million in dedicated funding annually. In addition to this, approximately €110 million in funding is provided by the Government to community-based mental health organisations/NGOs each year to deliver supports and services. A significant proportion of this is dedicated to supporting young people. A few weeks ago, I announced a further €10 million in funding for mental health to support the delivery of clinical programmes and youth mental health, again highlighting the Government’s recognition of mental health as a central component to overall health.
For the first time in the history of the State we now have a dedicated National Office for Child and Youth Mental Health in the HSE. This is a very significant development and it will improve leadership, operational oversight, and management of all service delivery and improvements. Both a new HSE National Clinical Lead for Child and Youth Mental Health and a new HSE Assistant National Director for Child and Youth Mental Health have recently taken up post.
There continues to be growing demand for CAMHS across the country with over 22,000 referrals last year. Between 2020 and 2021, referral rates into CAMHS increased by 33%, while the number of new cases seen increased by 21%.
It is a priority for the Government and for the HSE to improve access to CAMHS and to address CAMHS waiting lists. The new dedicated HSE National Office for Child and Youth Mental Health will focus on improved service delivery. This includes taking account of the recent Maskey and Mental Health Commission reports on CAMHS. The National Office is currently finalising the Youth Mental Health Service Improvement Plan which will set out agreed actions for focused service improvement through identified, timely, and measurable actions.
There are now 75 CAMHS teams and 4 in-patient units nationally. Staffing in community CAMHS has increased in recent years, with an increase of 500 full time equivalent posts between 2011 and 2024. I secured funding for additional new posts under Budget 2024, with a focus on child and youth mental health posts.
The Government and I remain committed to the development of all aspects of mental health services nationally.
563. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the review of CAMHS at a national level; if a county review of Wicklow is ongoing; if so, what findings can be reported at this stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6114/24]
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 recently ended the industrial action which commenced on 6 October 2023. As a consequence, members in these grades were not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result of the accumulated backlog, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
564. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide information on a case (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6131/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
565. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health what supports are being put in place nationally, and particularly in counties Cavan and Monaghan, to help people with a condition (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6132/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
566. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the situation at a health centre (details supplied) whereby children’s developmental screenings cannot proceed in the community due to a lack of nurses at the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6148/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
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.
567. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Health the number of electroencephalographic machines in use currently at the Mater Hospital. [6158/24]
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.
