Written Answers Nos. 88-109
88. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of parents that have put in a complaint that their child did not receive an assessment of needs in a timely manner; the number upheld in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37976/24]
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.
89. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessment of need applications in each of the years since 2007; the number completed and not completed; the number outsourced privately; and the total cost of these, in tabular form. [37981/24]
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.
90. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of assessments of need which have been outsourced, by provider, in each of the years 2019 to date in 2024, in tabular form. [37982/24]
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.
91. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total cost of outsourcing of assessments of need for the period 2019-2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [37983/24]
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.
92. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the total amount of funding allocated for CDNTs and the number of WTE-approved posts for the period 2019-2024; the amount which went unspent or otherwise not spent on its originally intended purpose, in tabular form. [37984/24]
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.
93. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department has costed a publicly delivered childcare model in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38088/24]
View answerReform of the early learning and childcare sector has been a major focus of this Government.
The Programme for Government committed to reforming the system to create one that brings together the best of community and private provision and the development of a new funding model for affordable, accessible, sustainable and high quality early learning and childcare.
Significant progress has been achieved through the development of this funding model, which represents a substantively different approach to working with early learning and childcare services, as well as unprecedented levels of funding, exceeding €1.1billion in 2024, to progressively move towards a sector with greater levels of public investment and greater levels of public management.
The framework for reform of the sector is set out in Partnership for the Public Good , the 2021 report of an Expert Group which was established to develop a new funding model for the sector. The key theme of the recommendations in the report was to strengthen State involvement and enhanced public management in the sector, in conjunction with increased State funding. This is intended to be underpinned by a cultural shift to a partnership relationship between providers and the State that reflects the public good dimension of early learning and childcare, with new responsibilities on both sides.
The introduction of the new Core Funding scheme and its associated conditionality including in relation to staff pay and fee management; developments to the National Childcare Scheme and the Access and Inclusion Model; and the establishment of Equal Start this year represent the implementation of several of the specific recommendations in the report.
Under their terms of reference, the Expert Group was not asked to propose changes to the current model of delivery (i.e. privately-operated provision), rather that the Group should seek to further achieve policy objectives of quality, affordability, accessibility and contributing to addressing disadvantage in a privately-operated system through increased public funding and public management.
Notwithstanding their terms of reference, the Expert Group included in one of its 25 recommendations that “[I]n the medium term, the Minister should mandate the Department to examine whether some element of public provision should be introduced alongside private provision.”
In January 2024 I established a new unit in my Department which includes as part of its remit to begin an exploration of public provision as called for in Recommendation 25. There are different understandings of what public provision means to stakeholders in the sector. Issues relating to staff employment, pay and conditions; ownership and management of buildings; operating models; governance arrangements; service offering; fees for parents; and the overall funding model will need to be examined. Each of these issues would materially influence the costing of any possible proposals. These issues, along with the wider potential implications of introducing an element of public delivery, are being examined by officials.
Separately, as part of the pre-Budget Party Political Costings, officials in my Department have provided cost estimates in response to certain questions, some of which I am advised include requests for costings for public delivery based on assumptions specified by the requester. As is customary, I have not had any involvement in this process and am not privy to any detail in relation to the requests or the costings that have been undertaken. I understand that these costings will be published by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery, and Reform following the enactment of the Finance Bill.
94. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide extra funding to an organisation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38130/24]
View answerI have received the submission from the organisation referenced by the Deputy, and it is being reviewed within my Department.
Budget 2025 is currently being considered by Government in the context of the annual estimates process. Therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
However, from 2020 to Budget 2024, current Exchequer funding for youth services and programmes increased from €61.79 million to €77.95 million, a 26% increase overall.
My Department has made a significant investment in youth services in 2024, building on the increases in recent years and securing the achievements into the future. The current funding for youth services and programmes in my Department this year is €77.95 million, an increase of €5 million, or 6.8%, on the 2023 budget.
In the context of Budget 2025, I am committed to supporting this important sector which provides positive and transformative opportunities and supports to young people.
95. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is concerned that allowing childcare facilities to increase their fees has eroded the 2 September national childcare scheme subsidy increase for parents; if core funding will be increased in order that childcare facilities will not have to increase their fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38150/24]
View answerTo be eligible for Core Funding for the 2023/2024 programme year, it is necessary for all Partner Services to agree to the Core Funding Fee Management terms and conditions as laid out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement, and the fee management guidelines. These terms and conditions require services not to increase the fees charged to parents above what was charged on 30 September 2021.
For the third programme year, the Department has introduced a process whereby services whose fees are below their county average can apply for an assessment to increase their fees to an approved level.
This is an application-based process whereby a Partner Service, as a private business offering a service for the Public Good, will undergo an assessment to determine the need to increase fees. Where the need is identified, permission will be granted to increase fees to a level determined by the Department.
This measure must balance the need of parents/guardians for stability with their early learning and childcare costs and the need for providers to operate viable businesses in order to continue providing this public good service for their community.
Any approved fee increases will not go above the increased universal NCS subsidy that a parent would be receiving for the full hours offered within the fee. This means that parents receiving the universal NCS subsidy for the full hours offered in these services will not face higher costs.
This was to ensure that the impact on parents of approved fee increases are controlled as much as possible for example, parents on the universal subsidy using the full hours of their session will not see any further out of pocket costs.
For example, an offering of 45 or more hours a week can be approved for an increase of no more than €33.30 a week. This was to ensure that the impact on parents of approved fee increases is controlled as much as possible.
Partner Services who increase their fees without entering the Fee Increase process will be in breach of the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement.
Where an individual identifies a case of a potential breach of Core Funding fee rules by a service, they may seek to have this examined and a conclusion reached through the Core Funding Fee Review process.
The Department would encourage any parent with concerns or questions about fees to contact their local CCC for support and guidance or to initiate a Core Funding Fee Review. The first point of contact for parents and providers in the Core Funding fee review process is their local CCC. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie .
96. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a list of all childcare facilities in Donegal that are funded under the national childcare scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38183/24]
View answerThe Scheme Administrator advises that there are 153 providers in Donegal that are currently in contract to provide NCS. I have arranged to forward these details to the TD directly.
A list of these services can also be found on the Childcare Service Search page of the NCS website, where full details, including fees and service types, of all providers currently contracted to the NCS can be found. This information and further resources in relation to the NCS can be found at www.ncs.gov.ie .
Parents may wish to contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for advice and support in relation to childcare places in a given locality. A list of CCC’s can be found at www.myccc.ie. Alternatively, the NCS Parent Support Centre is also available to assist parents, and can be contacted on 01 906 8530, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
97. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the caseload and headcount of staff and children awaiting intervention in Cavan children's disability network team as of 16 September 2024. [38204/24]
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.
98. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE medical social workers, by grade, working in Monaghan children's disability network team in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [38205/24]
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.
99. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) who, having been referred four years ago to a neurologist in the neurology department of University Hospital Limerick for treatment for trigeminal neuralgia, has yet to receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37962/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
100. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health if he plans to recruit an ophthalmologist in the Longford eye clinic to enable patients to continue their treatment there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37980/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
101. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will have a procedure carried out at Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37999/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
102. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health when a home care package or short-term care bed will be available to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38000/24]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
103. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Health if the cost of an ultrasound scan is included under the free contraception scheme when deemed medically necessary as part of the process for removing an implant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38017/24]
View answerThe free contraception scheme was launched in September 2022, initially for those aged 17-25. It has been gradually expanded and now includes women aged 17-35 from July 1st, 2024. Approximately 2,400 GPs and 2,050 pharmacies have signed up to provide services and products under the scheme to date. The scheme is open to women, girls and other people identifying as transgender or non-binary, who are ordinarily resident in Ireland and for whom prescription contraception is deemed suitable by their doctors.
The scheme covers the cost of consultations with GPs, primary care, student health and family planning centres and prescriptions for the wide range of contraceptive options available on the HSE Re-Imbursement List, including long-acting reversible contraception (LARCs: injections, intra-uterine devices and systems (coils) and implants) and emergency contraception in addition to the contraceptive Pill, patch and ring. LARC fittings, removals, injections and check-ups are also free of charge under the scheme.
Women who have had coils, IUDs, IUSs or implants inserted while eligible under the scheme remain eligible for subsequent checks and free removal of any devices inserted prior to reaching the eligibility limit (currently their 36th birthday), to ensure continuity of care.
The FCS has been set up primarily as a primary care led service; the removal of coils and implants is included in the range of services that are free of charge to patients accessing the FCS through participating medical facilities, including GP services, family planning, student health and primary care centres. As not all GPs have completed training for insertion, checking and removal of contraceptive devices, the scheme contains the facility for GPs to refer to other GPs, primary care, family planning and acute services with the appropriate expertise.
In the minority of cases where ultrasound is needed to locate long acting reversible contraceptive devices prior to removal, many GPs and family planning centres do not have direct access to ultrasound on their own premises. Under these circumstances, patients may be referred to a specialist centre to have the device removed with the help of an ultrasound scan. Whether or not charges apply may depend on the nature of the specialist centre to which the patient is referred (i.e., whether or not the centre in question is participating in the scheme, and whether it is public or private).
Within the public system, some funding has been provided to the National Women and Infants Health Programme (NWIHP) to provide free contraception to eligible women accessing SATUs, maternity and gynaecology services, where they are unable for a variety of reasons to access the service they need through primary care.
For more information on the frequency of need for ultrasound on removal of LARCs and availability of ultrasound to aid complex LARC removals through public services, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
104. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if funding is in place for community organisations to apply for defibrillators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38029/24]
View answerAutomated External Defibrillators (AED’s) are available in many locations across society under the management of various organisations. AEDs are among the various items eligible for funding under the Sports Capital & Equipment Programme (SCEP).
The SCEP is operated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and provides grants to assist in the development of refurbishment of sports facilities and the provision of sports equipment. Grants are available to voluntary, not-for profit sports clubs, community groups, NGBs, and local authorities. Third level colleges, Education and Training Boards (ETBs), and schools may only apply for funding jointly with sports clubs or organisations.
In addition, funding is also available through the HSE’s national lottery grants schemes and other community grants schemes. At a local level, the network of local sports partnerships throughout the country delivers education and training opportunities across a broad range of areas to local sports clubs and community groups. This includes first aid workshops, which typically cover CPR and-or defibrillator training as part of the content.
From the 1st of January 2023, my Department through the Department of Finance removed VAT from AEDs to make the cost more feasible for groups, organisations or individuals looking to purchase an AED.
105. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health for children if the HSE will examine all avenues available to keep a nursing home in County Kerry open (details supplied) given the excellent care patients receive there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38035/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
106. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Health the progress made, if any, on the delivery of the new emergency department at Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38036/24]
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.
The HSE has advised that a report on the scheme design stage (Design Stage 2A) of the proposal is with it at present and a review of this report is currently ongoing.
The process for the Beaumont ED proposal is being managed through the HSE capital development process rather than requiring direct submission to the Department of Health or Government for consent. This is in line with the provisions of the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform’s updated Infrastructure Guidelines.
107. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene to keep a nursing home in County Kerry (details supplied) open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38037/24]
View answerThe Department of Health, the HSE and I are aware of the developing situation concerning nursing homes formerly operated by Aperee Ltd.Aperee Camp/Ocean View is the sixth nursing home from the Aperee group which has been de-registered by HIQA due to non-compliance with regulations. The Chief Inspector has identified significant levels of non-compliance including management of the centre, protection of resident’s finances and fire safety. In line with the provisions of Section 64 of the Health Act 2007, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has taken temporary responsibility for continuing services at the nursing home from 11 September 2024. I met with senior HSE leadership from the South West Health Region, including the Regional Executive Officer, on Friday 20 September to discuss the situation at Ocean View. Ensuring the welfare and safety of residents, their families and staff was the key focus of discussions. The HSE is seeking to provide safe care to residents, families and staff against a background of serious concerns about fire safety at the home. The HSE have duties as provider of last resort under Section 64 the Health Act 2007. The HSE, as the temporary provider, has requested the Chief Fire Officer from Kerry County Council to visit the centre to advise of fire safety and any immediate remedial actions necessary. The HSE team on site is committed to continue working closely with each resident individually, where appropriate supported by family members, to discuss their options in line with their wishes or ascertainable will and preference. Some residents have already identified alternative nursing home accommodation. The HSE is supporting those residents and families. Representatives of SAGE advocacy are available to provide independent support and guidance. The HSE does not own Ocean View and is currently supporting its operation on a specific and limited basis. If there are private investors interested in the nursing home, every effort will be made to facilitate any potential interest.The HSE has advised Ocean View nursing home staff that should they be interested in employment with the HSE, they would welcome their applications for employment across various public units in the region.The HSE continues to ensure that staff will be paid in the interim. The actions agreed at the September 20 meeting include:1. The HSE to immediately contact the Chief Fire Officer from Kerry County Council to visit the centre to advise of fire safety and any immediate remedial actions.2. Once the Fire Officer’s report is available, the HSE will liaise to ensure immediate actions are carried out to reduce fire risk to patients and staff.3. The HSE will continue to offer care and support to residents and families during this interim period.4. The HSE will work with Department of Health Officials to provide appropriate communication to residents, families, media and political representatives.
This is an evolving situation, and the Department of Health and HSE are keeping me updated.You should please note that HIQA have engaged in a series of inspection visits to Aperee nursing homes. The Chief Inspector had serious concerns about the registered provider’s ability to sustain a safe, quality service.Inspectors had serious concerns about the overall governance of the centre and the registered provider's ability to provide a safe service for residents. Further significant concerns were highlighted by inspectors relating to the management of the centre, and the protection of residents’ finances.During each of the last five inspections of Aperee Living Camp (Ocean View), between 2022 and 2024, HIQA Inspectors found this home was not compliant with Regulations 23: Governance and management, and Regulation 28: Fire precautions.During three of the last five inspections, Aperee Living Camp was found to be not compliant with Regulation 8: Protection.All inspection reports are available online at the HIQA website: www.hiqa.ie/reports-and-publications/inspection-reports
108. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health if the recruitment embargo by the HSE been lifted for the psychology assistant grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38041/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
109. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health the number of vacant psychology assistant posts currently in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38042/24]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible
