Written Answers Nos. 1195-1214
1196. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, with regard to the accommodation for people seeking temporary international protection in south Kildare, he can set out clearly what plans are in place for the provision of GP services to these people in circumstances where there is already a huge shortage of GPs in Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13161/24]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
1197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if consideration is being given to allowing parents to transfer parental leave if they work for different employers, similar to the current entitlement for parents who work for the same employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13183/24]
View answerThere have been significant developments in the entitlements to family leaves for working families in recent years. The Government committed in the Programme for Government to supporting parents, including by extending paid leave for parents to allow them to spend more time with their baby during the first year in the form of seven weeks Parent's Leave for each parent, to be taken within a child's first two years. Parent’s Leave and Benefit will increase by a further two weeks to nine weeks by August 2024.
Under the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2019, an employee who is a relevant parent in respect of a child under the age 12 is entitled to 26 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child. Where a child has a disability or long-term illness, the entitlement can continue until the child is 16. A relevant parent is a parent, an adoptive parent, or a person acting in ‘loco parentis’.
Both parents have an equal, separate entitlement to parental leave. Where both parents work for the same employer and the employer agrees, one parent can transfer 14 weeks of their parental leave entitlement to the other parent.
The 2019 Act extended the parental leave entitlements from 18 weeks to 26 weeks, and the extension of the time period in which the leave can be taken from when the child attains the age of 8 years to when the child attains the age of 12 years.
Family leave provisions are kept under review to ensure that they are effective and respond to the needs of families. Mindful of the recent significant increase in family leave entitlements through the Family Leaves and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2021 and the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023, the Government has no plans to make further amendments to parental leave entitlements.
1198. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he can assist a school (details supplied) and address the matter raised in correspondence in respect of CDNT services in the area highlighted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13188/24]
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.
1199. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide details on all planned PPP projects and ongoing PPP contracts; the status of each project; the anticipated or known capital cost; the anticipated or known cost to the Exchequer over the lifetime of the contracts; the annual total payment of PPP unitary charges and the percentage share of the total capital budget for his Department and all public bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13190/24]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that neither my Department nor the public bodies under its aegis have any planned PPP projects or ongoing PPP contracts to disclose at this time.
1200. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will advise on the areas of priority for disability in CHO3 under the national prioritisation plan, which is currently under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13303/24]
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.
1201. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total number of children awaiting a multidisciplinary assessment in County Clare, in chronological order, by number of days waiting, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13308/24]
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.
1202. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons with disabilities that are currently living in nursing homes under the age of 65 years; what steps he is taking under the Disability Action Plan 2024-2026 to decant these residents to age appropriate community settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13314/24]
View answer1203. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will comment on how many people with disabilities under the age of 65 years he has been able to decant from inappropriate nursing home settings; whether he is satisfied with this level of progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13315/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1202 and 1203 together.
For many people under the age of 65, nursing homes are not an appropriate placement and alternative, more sustainable supported living solutions are needed to give them greater independence and choice in their daily lives.
Measures to prevent people under the age of 65 nursing homes from entering nursing homes continue to be supported through a range of services including respite, home support and personal assistance services.
According to the HSE, there were 1,228 individuals under 65 years in Nursing Homes as of July 2023. 15% of these individuals are less than 50 years of age.
This Government is providing funding to facilitate supports to people to live in their own homes with disabilities, and where inappropriately placed in nursing homes assist young people to move to supported living arrangements.
In 2021 Government provided investment of €3m as part of the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) to enable 18 people under the age of 65yrs to transition to their own home with support.
Budget 2022 provided a further allocation of €5.5m (rising to €13.5m), to address the situation of people with disabilities who may be inappropriately placed in nursing homes. In 2022, 22 transitions took place.
I am informed by the HSE that by the end of August 2023, 20 individuals have moved from nursing homes to more appropriate homes in the community. Further transitions have occurred since August 2023 but figures in this regard are required to be validated. A further 55 individuals are in active planning for potential discharge.
The HSE are currently engaging with 575, or 45%, of individuals in nursing homes to establish the best course of action for their continued care.
It is also understood that nursing homes are, in certain circumstances, an appropriate care option where the person concerned has a clinically-assessed complex medical and social care requirement which cannot be supported in the person’s home. To date, 36 individuals have received additional enhanced quality of life supports while they are currently continuing their placement in a Nursing Home.
My Department continues to liaise with the HSE with regard to young people inappropriately placed in nursing homes to find the most appropriate living solutions for those under the age of 65 living in nursing homes.
Budget 2024 provides unprecedented level of funding of almost €2.9 billion for Disability services. This further reinforces the Programme for Government commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities.
The Disability Action Plan 2024 - 2026 sets targets for addressing demographic pressures, making significant progress on unmet needs, working to replace remaining congregated and institutional residential care with community-based models, and continuing the reform towards individualised, person-centred models of service while growing service capacity appropriately.
1204. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will clarify the position of a disability (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13317/24]
View answerThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Health.
1205. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children awaiting first contact from Clare CDNT, by the number of days waiting in chronological order, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13322/24]
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.
1206. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the reason the understanding and managing adult ADHD programme was not chosen for funding by the HSE for 2024; what supports he intends to provide to it in its place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11517/24]
View answerADHD has long been recognised as one of the most common psychiatric disorders in children and it is now known to persist into adulthood. Core symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
It can cause many issues in areas such as personal and social relations, education and occupation, managing money and organising life in general, there is also an increased risk of having other mental health difficulties with it such as anxiety and depression.
Children can access ADHD assessments through the National Educational Psychological Service. In addition to this, as per the CAMHS Operational Guidelines, CAMHS take referrals for children and adolescents up to age 18 with moderate to severe ADHD.
I am aware that prior to the inception of the National Clinical Programme for Adults with ADHD which I launched in 2021, there were no specific ADHD public services available for Adults in Ireland.
The NCP for ADHD is delivered as part of the HSE’s mental health service provision to ensure an integrated, person-centred response to adults with ADHD. The programme includes both assessment and treatment of the disorder and works collaboratively with voluntary agencies. It envisages a national service of ADHD teams, with each Team comprised of Consultant Psychiatrist, Senior Psychologist, Senior Occupational Therapist, Clinical Nurse Specialist Mental Health, and an administrator.
Enhancement of specialist mental health services such as ADHD is a key priority for myself as a Minister, the Government as a whole and the HSE. Since 2021, over €3 million has been made available for funding ADHD posts from Programme for Government funding. This has enabled the set-up of 5 ADHD Teams with recruitment of over 25 posts, and two more teams are currently in development with posts funded for them.
In addition, as part of the National Clinical Programme adults funding of €150,000 was allocated to facilitate a collaboration with ADHD Ireland and the UCD School of Psychology to develop an ADHD app and the UMAAP Programme (Understanding and Managing Adult ADHD Programme). Both the ADHD App and the UMAAP Programme have proven to be two very positive resources for people with ADHD.
The UMAAP Programme is delivered as a 5-week workshop, and its aim is to provide education and tools for adults on how to manage ADHD.
I am pleased to confirm that further to recent discussions between the Department of Health and the HSE to finalise 2024 mental health funding, ADHD Ireland will be provided with funding for provision of the UMAAP Programme in 2024 and beyond. I look forward to launching the UMAAP Programme in April as agreed with ADHD Ireland.
1207. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he can expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied). [11518/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1208. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the outpatient waiting lists in each department of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, including details of the number of people waiting on the list and details of waiting times, in tabular form. [11527/24]
View answerAdult and child waiting list information by hospital and specialty is published monthly and is available on the National Treatment Purchase Fund's website at: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm.
1209. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent medical staff by section at Naas General Hospital; the number of vacancies in each of those sections; and the last documented workforce planning strategy that was developed for the hospital. [11530/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1210. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when HSE Services at the new primary medical centre on Station Road, Newcastle West, County Limerick will take up occupation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11535/24]
View answerAs the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1211. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Health when it is scheduled for Beaumont Hospital to open a new accident and emergency department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11536/24]
View answerThe proposed new Emergency Department (ED) at Beaumont Hospital, (which includes the reconfiguration of the existing ED), is a large and complex capital proposal, which is in the early stages of design development.
The HSE has appointed a design team to progress the proposal for the new ED. The Design Team intend to commence the planning and statutory consents process in Q2 2024, subject to compliance with the HSE Capital Development Procedure and Protocols and the Infrastructure Guidelines (which replaced the Public Spending Code in December 2023).
The project team is currently finalising the Preliminary Business Case (PBC) in line with Infrastructure Guidelines requirements. As a proposal of projected cost less than €200m, the process for the new Beaumont ED proposal will be managed through the HSE capital development process rather than requiring direct submission to the Department or Government for consent.
The final decision to proceed with construction and estimate the timeline to completion, cannot be made until there is a Final Business Case, the tender process is completed, and determination made that the proposal remains affordable and continues to represent value for money.
1212. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a CORU application will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11539/24]
View answerAs this question concerns an individual's application for registration with CORU, I have asked CORU to respond to the Deputy directly.
1213. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of whole-time equivalent speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists employed by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11543/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
1214. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Health the number of therapists that have been recruited by the HSE, Section 38 or Section 39 organisations in the past three years; the measures taken to compensate for the loss of staff while recruiting replacements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11546/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive, the HSE has been asked to respond directly to the Deputy.
