Written Answers Nos. 279-302
279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of outstanding issues in respect of redress in the case of mother and baby homes; the extent to which he expects to address all such issues and to ensure equality in respect of redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9909/24]
View answerThe Action Plan for Survivors and Former Residents of Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions contains 22 commitments to survivors, intended to address the expressed priorities of those who spent time in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions, as well as respond to the findings and recommendations of the Commission of Investigation. Of these 22 commitments, 9 are completed and a further 11 are in progress. The two remaining actions are medium/longer term goals. Work is ongoing across all thematic areas to ensure that survivors see tangible results as soon as possible.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is a centrepiece of the Action Plan. It will open to applications on 20 March and will provide financial payments to an estimated 34,000 people, some 19,000 of whom will also benefit from an enhanced medical card or health support payment. These benefits are in recognition of experiences while resident in Mother and Baby and County Home Institutions. The overall cost of the Payment Scheme is estimated at €800 million.
The Mother and Baby Institutions Payment Scheme is just one aspect of the overall package of supports and measures set out in the Government’s Action Plan. Other important measures 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, the appointment of a Special Advocate for Survivors which I announced earlier this week, and the establishment of a National Centre for Research and Remembrance on the site of the former Magdalen Laundry on Sean McDermott Street.
The Action Plan seeks to provide an inclusive, comprehensive and enduring response to the priority needs of all survivors. Importantly, this package also includes counselling services which are available to all survivors and former residents.
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he can prioritise funding for the childcare sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9910/24]
View answerState investment in early learning and childcare has increased by 221% in the past eight years - rising from €345 million in 2016 to €1.108 billion in 2024. This year's State investment for the early learning and childcare sector provides for:
• The continuation of the ECCE programme that will benefit more than 103,000 children in 2024.
• The continuation of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) to ensure children with a disability can access and meaningfully participate in the ECCE Programme. Funding will provide for an increasing cohort of children with a disability availing of targeted AIM supports – approximately 7,000 - as well as the expansion of these supports beyond time spent in the ECCE programme, in term and out of term.
• The continuation of the NCS, and the introduction of enhancements to the Scheme with more than 150,000 unique children to benefit from changes to the minimum subsidy rate (from €1.40 to €2.14 per hours) and the sponsorship rate (to €5.30 per hour for children over 1).
• The continuation of Core Funding, with enhancements to the Scheme in year 3.
• The introduction of the Equal Participation Model (EPM), whereby services will be provided with a proportionate mix of universal and targeted supports to support children and families accessing their services who are experiencing disadvantage.
• The delivery of a range of regulatory and quality supports for the implementation of the National Action Plan for Childminding; Nurturing Skills, the Workforce Plan, and the ongoing development of the registration and inspection system as well as policy development commitments set out in First 5 and the Programme for Government
First 5, the ten year, Whole of Government Strategy for Babies, Young Children and their Families set an investment target back in 2019 to at least double investment in early learning and childcare by 2028 - from €485 million - €970 million. That target was exceeded in 2023 – five years early.
A key priority for this Government is to continue to increase the levels of State investment in early learning and childcare so that, by 2028, it is more closely aligned with the EU average, in order to continue improving quality and addressing the affordability and accessibility of provision for families. This target is a commitment in the latest First 5 Implementation Plan 2023-2025, which I published last November.
281. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which children with disabilities can expect to receive adequate care and attention and access to services now and in the future; the degree to which his Department has identified issues of interest in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9911/24]
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
282. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to receive updates in respect of children at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9912/24]
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.
283. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children currently in the various forms of care, institutional or otherwise; the degree to which he is satisfied with the level and quality of the care in all such situations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9913/24]
View answerThe question of total number of children currently in various forms of care has been interpreted to refer to children in alternative care. Tusla’s latest available Monthly Service Performance and Activity Report informs that there were 5,613 children in care at the end of December 2023. 90% (5,034) of children in care were in foster care (3,560 general foster care, and 1,474 relative foster), 7% (408) were in residential care (397 general residential care and 11 special care) and 171 (3%) were in “other” care placements (including at home under a care order, detention centre, disability unit, mental health unit, drugs/alcohol rehabilitation unit, hospital, special emergency arrangement, supported lodgings etc.). This data does not include children under the Service for Separated Children Seeking International Protection for which data was not available at this time.
In respect of quality of care in these settings, the Child Care Act 1991 is the primary piece of legislation providing for alternative care and child protection policy in Ireland. The Act is a wide-ranging piece of legislation, which, at its core, seeks to promote the welfare of children who may not be receiving adequate care and protection.
Consequently, the Act sets out a detailed statutory framework, which includes but is not limited to provisions requiring Tusla to have regard to the best interests of the child, the criteria for bringing children into care, the types of placements where they may be placed, and the responsibilities of the State to children in alternative care. The child protection and welfare landscape in Ireland has changed greatly since the Act’s commencement, and there are areas of the legislation that require updating to reflect this, our improved understanding of children’s rights, and to allow for positive practice developments to be enshrined in law where needed. In April 2023 I published the Heads and General Scheme of a Bill to amend the Child Care Act 1991, following a comprehensive review of that legislation. Work is ongoing in my Department in progressing towards publication of the Bill.
The placement of children in alternative care is also governed by Regulations and Standards for Foster Care, Residential Care, and Special Care. These Regulations and Standards set out the detailed criteria against which Tusla is inspected, in its provision of alternative care services. The application of these Regulations and Standards promotes safe and high quality practice in alternative care.
In November 2023 the Government published Young Ireland: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023 – 2028. This national policy identifies Foster Care, Care and Aftercare as a priority under National Outcome 3: Safe and Protected from Harm. In this regard, the national policy details concrete steps to be taken by my Department, Tusla and other stakeholders across Government in order to improve provision of services to all children in care and in receipt of aftercare services.
Tusla has statutory and operational responsibility for the provision of alternative care services. Since its establishment in 2014, it has led a comprehensive reform of child protection, alternative care, and family support services. Central to their vision is the development of services that ensure children are safe and achieving their full potential. In this regard, Tusla has developed a Strategy on Alternative Care. The Strategy comprises Strategic Plans for Residential Care, Foster Care, and Aftercare, each of which identifies key recommendations to further reform and improve service delivery in alternative care.
Further, Section 41 (1) of the Child and Family Act 2013 stipulates that I as Minister shall develop a performance framework to provide the Tusla with policy guidance, direction and prioritisation parameters for the preparation of its corporate plan, and provision is also made for the development of a performance statement to inform Tusla’s annual business plans.
The Government is committed to supporting the provision of high quality and safe services to children in care, which will help them to reach their full potential. Officials in my Department meet regularly with their counterparts in Tusla to discuss a range of issues, including availability of placements, workforce planning and interagency issues, with a view to supporting the continuous improvement of services delivered to children in care.
I will continue to engage closely with relevant stakeholders, including Tusla, to improve the delivery of high quality care to children and young people.
284. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the degree to which his Department proposes to address the extent to which children with disabilities can expect a high level of equality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9914/24]
View answerI am wholeheartedly committed to ensuring that children with disabilities are supported on an equal basis with every child in our society.
Ireland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in March 2018. Article 7 of the UNCRPD relates to children with disabilities and articulates the responsibility of States Parties to ensure the full enjoyment by children with disabilities of all human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis with other children. Ireland's approach to meeting the obligations set out in the UNCRPD is one of continuous advancement, each year moving forward on key reforms and building on the progress achieved.
The Convention was drafted to frame the fundamental human rights set out in the other major UN Conventions in the disability context - to express human rights as disability rights. In doing so it is extremely comprehensive in scope, capturing most aspects of daily life and going well beyond the remit of a single Department or Minister.
Coordination of the necessary whole of government work to advance the rights under the Convention is done my by Department but it falls to each of my ministerial colleagues to develop and implement specific measures on the basis of their ministerial portfolio. In that context, all public bodies must each ensure, on a "mainstream first" basis and in line with the Convention, that they are meeting their obligations under the UNCRPD and in relevant national legislation.
The Deputy can be assured that as Minister for Children and Disability, I will continue to work to fulfil our commitments under Article 7 of the UNCRPD.
On a national level, the implementation of the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (PDS) programme is agreed Government and HSE policy. The PDS model addresses the previous inequity in service provision whereby there may have been an excellent service for some children and little or no service for others. This variance may have been linked to diagnosis, age group or geography. A key objective of PDS is to provide equity of access for all children with disabilities based on need, not on diagnosis. The PDS Roadmap for Service Improvement (2023-2026) was launched by the HSE on Tuesday 24th October 2023 and is a targeted Service Improvement Programme which sets out to achieve a quality, accessible, equitable and timely therapy services for children with complex needs and their families.
Further, a consultation process is currently underway for the next National Disability Strategy. Officials in my Department are endeavouring to engage widely across the disability stakeholder landscape to hear the views of people with disabilities including children and young people.
The next National Disability Strategy will be a fulfilment of a key Programme for Government commitment and will coordinate the continued implementation of the UNCRPD in Ireland and operate as a whole-of-government blueprint for disability policy. Children and young people will be an important consideration for government in the ongoing implementation of the UNCRPD.
285. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his various proposals for integration; the most successful models; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9915/24]
View answerThe Programme for Government committed to developing a successor to the Migrant Integration Strategy, which concluded in 2021. Currently work is underway to develop a new national strategy that will build on the momentum of its predecessor. The new strategy will address ongoing and emerging needs in supporting and promoting migrant integration in Ireland. A public consultation to inform the strategy concluded in November 2023. The purpose of the consultation was to gain insight into the migrant experience in Ireland, and to better understand the needs, challenges and opportunities for promoting integration in the future. My Department will consider all options for supporting integration as part of the development of the new strategy.
A number of initiatives are currently in place to support integration, including a new local integration model and integration funding streams.
In collaboration with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the City and County Management Authority (CCMA) and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), a new local integration model was developed. This model contains a new national network of Local Authority Integration Teams (LAITs), which will be located in each local authority and funded by DCEDIY. The aim is to better support International Protection applicants, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, and Programme Refugees to engage with the existing local services.
My Department also administers a number of funding streams addressing integration. For example, in the last two years, €2.8m has been made available through the International Protection Integration Fund to community-based organisations to carry out integration projects at a national, provincial or local level. A further €1.5m will be provided in 2024.
The National Integration Fund (NIF) supports communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants at a national or regional level. Approximately €750,000 is committed per year, subject to the availability of funds. This funding can be used for both once-off initiatives and projects rolled out over a maximum of three years. Projects must take an inclusive approach, aiming to bring migrants and host communities together.
Under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2021-2027, Ireland will build on the work done in the previous AMIF 2014-2020, and improve its effectiveness where possible. The programme will also support elements of State-run programmes, both at national and local level, which provide integration measures tailored to the needs of third-country nationals. A Call for Proposals from organisations planning projects to support the reception and integration of Third Country Nationals in Ireland took place in late 2023, and results are expected to be announced in March.
286. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps he proposes to address any or all inequalities affecting children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9916/24]
View answerClarification has been sought directly from the Deputy in respect of what cohort of children this refers to and to elaborate on the inequalities this question refers to. A more detailed response can issue once this clarification has been received.
287. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which reports of children at risk continue to be made to the appropriate bodies under his aegis; the extent to which these issues have been examined to the satisfaction of all; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9917/24]
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.
288. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to liaise with youth representatives in County Kildare and nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9918/24]
View answerMy Department officials and I regularly meet with representatives of the youth sector, including young people, youth service providers and the Education and Training Boards who administer a number of the key funding schemes on behalf of my Department.
The national youth representative network, made up on Comhairle na nÓg, Dail na nÓg and the National Youth Assembly, provides opportunities for my Department to regularly engage with young people, including those from Co. Kildare.
With regard to meetings with youth sector representatives in Kildare, my officials have recently with the youth service director and youth officers of Kildare and Wicklow ETB, as part of a series of bilateral meetings with each ETB. These meetings have given my officials the opportunity to explore the key issues of concern to each ETB.
My officials are in regular contact with ETBI, the representative body for all of the ETBs. ETBI acts a conduit for information between the ETB youth divisions and my Department, providing advice and guidance to ETBs on my Department's funding schemes, and updating my officials of issues of concern to the ETBs.
My officials also maintain regular contact with the 30 national youth organisations funded under the Youth Service Grant Scheme and with Gaisce - the President's Award. This includes the National Youth Organisations Meeting which I attend twice a year to hear directly from the sector. The next meeting takes place in May of this year. These organisations provide volunteer led youth services on a national basis, including to the young people of Kildare.
Officials from my Department meet with various youth organisations on an individual basis when the need arises.
289. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department continues to monitor any breaches of equality legislation of gender, race or sexuality in origin; the extent of progress made towards corrective measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9919/24]
View answerAll public bodies have responsibility under Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014 to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users and everyone affected by their policies and plans. The public sector duty assessment and implementation for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth was published in 2021 and the Department continues to report on developments relating to the implementation of the Duty in its Annual Report.
Discrimination on specified grounds is prohibited by law in the field of employment under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2021 and in the supply of and access to goods and services under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2018. Complaints regarding breaches of equality legislation may be pursued before the Workplace Relations Commission. The Workplace Relations Commission publishes statistics regularly on its decisions in regard to equality complaints, disaggregated by discriminatory ground.
I am conducting a review of the Equality Acts to examine, among other issues, the functioning of the Acts and their effectiveness in combatting discrimination and promoting equality. This exercise includes a public consultation during 2021 which remained open for contributions until December 2021.
A report on the submissions to the Public Consultation on the Review of the Equality Acts was published last summer and can be accessed here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/cafb4-minister-ogorman-publishes-report-on-the-submissions-to-the-public-consultation-on-the-review-of-the-equality-acts/.
Work is currently underway on legislative proposals for reform of the equality acts and legislative proposals arising from the Review will be brought forward in the coming months.
The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, which is independent in the exercise of its statutory functions, includes among those functions keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of law and practice in the State relating to the protection of human rights and equality, including in relation to the provision of goods and services.
290. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department has noted various experiences of women and children who may be under threat from domestic, sexual and gender-based violence including those in the care of the State and/or by orders of Courts; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9920/24]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague the Minister for Justice.
291. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the action he will take to address the ongoing disincentive to practising medical and dental professions in Ireland due to the prohibitive cost of insurance stemming from a huge increase of clinical negligence cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9755/24]
View answerClinical indemnity cover in respect of clinical negligence claims occurring in public hospitals and HSE facilities and other health agencies/state authorities is provided by the State’s Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS). This Scheme is managed by the State Claims Agency (SCA) and is funded by the exchequer on a 'pay-as-you-go basis.'
In addition, the Caps scheme was established in 2004 and operates on the basis that the State’s Clinical Indemnity Scheme would cover claims over a certain cap (amount) against private consultants arising from adverse clinical events occurring after 1st February 2004 for work undertaken in private hospitals.
Dentists and GP’s in public practice employed directly by the HSE are covered by the CIS arrangements.
In relation to GPs, as private practitioners, they arrange professional indemnity insurance from private medical indemnity providers. This is an arrangement between the two private parties in which the Minister for Health has no role.
Most GPs hold a GMS contract with the HSE for the provision of healthcare services without charge to medical card and GP visit card holders. GPs are remunerated for these services primarily on an annual capitation basis, with a range of additional support payments and fees for specific items of service and some consultation types. Under the GMS scheme a significant contribution is also made towards participating GPs' medical indemnity insurance costs. GPs with a GMS panel of 100 patients or more can apply to the HSE for a partial refund, based on panel size, of their net indemnity insurance cost.
In May 2022, the fees paid to contractors within the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS) for adult medical card holders were substantially increased by 40-60% across most items of care. This was in recognition of the various costs of providing routine dental care to DTSS patients, including the cost of indemnity.
While SCA data shows that the number of new clinical claims being managed by the Agency has remained relatively stable, the cost to the State of funding health-related claims has been rising. In recognition of this, Government established an 'Interdepartmental Working Group to examine the rising cost of health-related claims' in January 2023. The Group is chaired independently by Dr. Rhona Mahony and is comprised of membership from across relevant Government Departments and Agencies. The work of the Group is well underway and it is expected to report early in 2024.
292. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health for a list of services offered in the Thurles primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9747/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
293. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health following the installation of an MRI machine in Thurles primary care centre, if ultrasounds are also provided in the centre; and if not, if the Minister will consider introducing this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9748/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
294. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if he has considered offering breast screening services in County Tipperary, given that Tipperary residents must travel to other counties; why these services have not been offered in Tipperary to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9749/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
295. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health if it is possible for a Tipperary resident, located in the Thurles area, to be sent to Kilkenny for breast screening services instead of Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9750/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
296. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health what patient transport services/supports are available to elderly patients based in the Thurles area and travelling to Nenagh Hospital, University Hospital Limerick or Saint Luke’s General Hospital Kilkenny, who do not have access to or cannot afford private transport, and public transport is difficult due to limited mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9751/24]
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 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.
297. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health for an update on the procurement of a gallium scanner to be installed in Cork University Hospital for cancer patients and survivors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9757/24]
View answerIn Ireland Gallium-68 (Ga 68) is used as the radionuclide for two different PET/CT examinations. These examinations are for patients with prostate cancer and for patients with neuroendocrine tumours (NETs).
St. James's Hospital currently provides this examination for patients with prostate cancer. The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) supports the use of an alternative, PSMA scans, in certain prostate cancer patient cohorts as outlined in the National Clinical Guideline: Diagnosis and Staging of Patients with Prostate Cancer 2022.
St. Vincent’s University Hospital uses a gallium PET/CT scanner for the diagnosis of NETs. St. Vincent’s University Hospital is the National Centre for NETs. There are satellite centres for this tumour type in Cork and Galway. Currently, patients at the satellite centres requiring this type of scan are referred St Vincent’s University Hospital for scanning. There is a prioritisation system for this based on clinical urgency. The waiting time has improved for access to these scans, from 5 months to 3 months, and is expected to improve further by Q2 2024. This compares with an average wait time in Europe of approximately 2 months.
The overall number of patients requiring these scans is small, with between 200 and 250 patients requiring the scan per year. The centralisation of services is a key part of the National Cancer Strategy, ensuring that expertise and resources are concentrated to provide the best possible service for patients, as this has a direct impact on patient outcomes.
298. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if he will issue planning guidelines in relation to the development of residential care homes and primary care centres to ensure that they are appropriately designed and located in areas with access to public transport and other amenities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6953/24]
View answerThe Government’s strategic goal is to deliver a new model of integrated health and social care services, across the care continuum, supporting older people to remain living independently in their own homes and communities for longer.
I also understand the vital importance of strengthening the capacity and resilience of our health system through the delivery of health and social care infrastructure, including residential care settings for older people, and primary care centres. This Government is committed to continued investment in healthcare infrastructure that is provided in the right locations and that supports the highest quality care.
It is recognised that long-term residential care is a crucial part of the overall continuum of care and, across the country, our HSE Community Nursing Units (CNU) and Community Hospitals play a vital role in the provision of long-term care and other services. Investment in residential care includes the Community Nursing Unit Programme, which was launched to ensure that up to 90 of our public Community Nursing Units and Community Hospitals would be refurbished or replaced to ensure the best quality environments for our older people. As of January 2024, 49 projects have reached construction completion.
Investment also continues in primary care facilities across the country to help ensure the appropriate provision of, and access to, services in the community. By enhancing and expanding capacity in the primary care sector, we will be able to provide high quality, safe, accessible, and sustainable care at the local level and allow people to be cared for in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.
In order to ensure that the built environment and location of residential care settings for older people support the highest quality care for our older population, I committed to creating new design standards for long-term residential care settings for older people (public, private, and voluntary).
The aim of the design guide is to describe and illustrate what good building design looks like for long-term residential care settings for older people and will provide a common benchmark against which the standard of these settings can be measured. The new design guidelines will apply to the building, extension, and conversion of long-term residential care settings for older people.
On 19 December 2023, I announced the public consultation on the draft Design Guide for Long-Term Residential Care Settings for Older People, which closed on 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, which is currently under review, will inform the final version of the design guide.
299. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will bring forward a statutory instrument (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6425/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly in relation to this matter.
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.
300. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the legislative programme. [3503/24]
View answerThere are fourteen bills on my Departments legislative programme, of which two are on the priority for publication list and four are on the priority for drafting list.
The Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill and the Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill are on the priority for publication list while the Mental Health Bill; the Health Information Bill; the Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill; and the Health (Amendment) Bill are on the priority for drafting list.
In terms of the current status for priority for publication bills, the Health (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, which aims to provide regulatory enhancements to the Health Act 2007 to enhance governance and oversight of nursing homes and other designated centres, is expected to be drafted and published during the spring legislative session.
The Health (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 seeks to provide for an exemption of Rent a Room income from the medical card assessment process and amendments to the Irish Medicines Board Act 1995. This bill is currently at Second Stage in the Dáil.
In terms of the current status of the priority for drafting bills, the Mental Health Bill, which aims to update and replace the Mental Health Act 2001 to give effect to recommendations of an Expert Group Review on mental health legislation is expected to make significant progress in drafting during this session with a view to it being published during the summer session.
The Health Information Bill seeks to provide a robust legislative framework for the processing of health information to support a modern integrated health service. Drafting of the bill will be progressed further during this session.
The purpose of the Health (Amendment) (Licensing of Professional Home Support Providers) Bill is to provide a regulatory framework comprising of primary legislation for the licensing of home support providers, secondary legislation in the form of regulations, and HIQA national standards with the aim of ensuring that all service users are provided with high quality care. The General Scheme has been finalised and once it is approved by Cabinet, pre-legislative scrutiny can take place and the drafting of the bill by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel can commence.
The Health (Amendment) Bill 2022 aims to amend the Health Act 2004 to provide for changes to corporate and service planning processes amongst other provisions. It includes new requirements on the HSE Board and CEO in regard to appropriate systems, procedures and practices to exercise the highest standards of prudent and effective financial and budgetary management and that proposals for corrective action are put in place where expenditure levels have been exceeded. The drafting of this bill is ongoing.
There are eight bills that have not yet been included on the priority for publication or the priority for drafting list but work is ongoing to bring them to a stage where they can be included on those lists.
In addition to the bills that are in development, there are also two bills that are currently making their way through the Houses of the Oireachtas (the Health (Termination of Pregnancy (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022 and the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022) and one which has recently passed both houses and is awaiting signature by the President (the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination, and Public Display) Bill).
The purpose of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022 is to ensure safe access to termination of pregnancy services for women, service providers and their staff throughout the country. This bill has now passed all stages in Dáil Éireann and Committee stage in Seanad Éireann took place on 27th February.
The Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022 is also before the Oireachtas and the focus of this Bill is on the regulation, for the first time in this country, of a wide range of assisted human reproduction (AHR) practices undertaken within the jurisdiction. Cabinet recently agreed a proposal for Committee stage amendments in respect of the regulation of international surrogacy agreements and the recognition of certain past surrogacy arrangements and these will now be considered by the Select Committee on Health. Committee Stage for this bill commenced on 24th January 2024.
Finally, the Human Tissue (Transplantation, Post-Mortem, Anatomical Examination, and Public Display) Bill, which will deal with organ donation and transplantation; post-mortem practices and procedures; anatomical examination and the public display of bodies after death, has now passed through both Houses and is awaiting the signature of the President.
301. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the current system in place by his Department to provide healthcare for residents of IPAS centres and other refugee accommodation; if his Department is providing additional resources to support GP capacity in areas with higher than average numbers of IPAS centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9658/24]
View answerAs the question relates to service matters, I have requested the Health Service Executive respond directly to the Deputy.
302. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9764/24]
View answerUnder the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
