Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:
438
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
further to Parliamentary Question No. 169 of 8 May 2003, the number of study groups, fora or expert groups that have been set up by him since taking office; if they have reported; the action which has been taken on their reports; and the cost of preparing the report in each case.
[18746/03]
The information requested by the Deputy in Questions Nos. 512 of 7 May, 169 of 8 May, 530 of 10 June and 438 of today appears in the following schedules. The collation of this information has involved a considerable amount of work in my Department and has taken longer than expected to compile. The delay in responding to the Deputy is regretted.
Name of Report
|
Cost of Preparation/Publication
|
Action Taken to Date
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First Report of Working Group on Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (Feb 2001)
|
Minimal Costs
|
The Report recommended that a total of seven in-patient psychiatric units for children ranging from 6-16 years should be developed throughout the country. Project teams have been established in respect of 4 such units.The Report also recommended that priority be given to the enhancement of existing multi-disciplinary child and adolescent psychiatric teams. In 2002 and 2003, substantial additional revenue funding was allocated for this purpose and the appointment of new teams.
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Annual Report of Inspector of Mental Hospitals 2001
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€11,951
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Ongoing.
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Guidelines on Good Practice and Quality Assurance in Mental Health Services (1998)
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€7,485.11
|
Ongoing.
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Acute Hospital Bed Capacity – A National Review
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€37,004
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Report published in January 2002.
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Report of the Working Group on Foster Care
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Print/Design Costs: €0.54m
|
Ongoing implementation.
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Youth Homelessness Strategy
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€0.007m
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Ongoing implementation.
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National Standards on Foster Care
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Still in printing process
|
Ongoing implementation.
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National Standards for Children's Residential Centres
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€4,000
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The Standards in Children's Residential Services outline the criteria against which an inspection is made by the Social Services Inspectorate and other health boards. They offer guidance to those charged with setting up and managing services. They also help existing services to evaluate and monitor their own practices and identify their strengths and weaknesses. All inspection takes place against national standards.
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Springboard Family Support Projects
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Print/Design Costs: €0.031m
|
Ongoing implementation.
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Final Evaluation Report of the Teen Parents Support Initiative
|
The cost of printing the document was €0.015m. The design costs of the document, inclusive of two associate policy papers, was €0.010m. The preparation costs of the document were €0.038m, also inclusive of the policy papers.
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The pilot projects of the initiative have been mainstreamed.
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Policy Paper 1 The Invisible Student Young Parents in Education
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The printing cost of the document was €0.006m and see above for the preparation and design costs.
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The pilot projects of the initiative have been mainstreamed.
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Policy Paper 2 I hadn't a penny A review of State income supports available to young parents
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The printing cost of the document was €0.005m and see above for the preparation and design costs.
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The pilot projects of the initiative have been mainstreamed.
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Feasibility Study relating to implementation of casemix based risk equalisation
|
€174,456
|
Conclusions accepted as indicating significant obstacles to moving to a casemix based system of risk equalisation.
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Name of Report
|
Cost of Preparation/Publication
|
Action Taken to Date
|
Analysis of Child Care Interim Minimum Dataset 1998
|
€8,304.09
|
Ongoing monitoring.
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Analysis of Child Care Interim Minimum Dataset 1999
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€4,736.00
|
Ongoing monitoring.
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Analysis of Child Care Interim Minimum Dataset 2000
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€4,868.00
|
Ongoing monitoring.
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Report of Implementation Group to Implement Standardised Framework for Inter-country Adoptions
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€5,694.78
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Ongoing implementation of standardised framework.
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Ireland a Smoke Free Zone – Towards a Tobacco Free Society
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€11,213
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Enactment of Public Health(Tobacco) Act 2002.
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Forum on Fluoridation
|
€328,100.05
|
Establishment of the Expert Group on Recommendations is in train.
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Audiology Working Group
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No cost
|
Community audiology services have been devolved to the health boards from the Northern Area Health Board since the beginning of this year.
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Report to the Minister for Health and Children: Independent Examination related to the Medical Council and the South-Eastern Health Board (Lynott Report – in relation to Dr. John Harding-Price)
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€7,770
|
Employers required by Minister to implement recommendations via tighter checking policy when appointing doctors.
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Forum on Medical Manpower
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€71,000 (borne by Comhairle na nOspidéal)
|
Overview of medical workforce including career structure, training and service delivery, feeding into current work of National Taskforce on Medical Staffing.
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National Joint Steering Group on the working hours of non-consultant hospital doctors
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€254,000: €125,000 from clients (8 HBs and Vol Hosps); €125,000 by DoHC & balance from HSEA
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Overview of hours worked by doctors, feeding into current work of National Taskforce on Medical Staffing.
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Annual Progress Report of the Monitoring Committee to oversee the implementation of the Recommendations of the Commission on Nursing
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Costs not available
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Three Annual Progress Reports produced and circulated to date.
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The Nursing Midwifery Resource. Interim Report of the Steering Group.
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Costs not available
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Published and circulated in October 2000.
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Nursing Education Forum. A Strategy for a Pre-Registration Nursing Education Degree Programme
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€ 23,221
|
Report implemented.
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Report of the Paediatric Nurse Education Review Group
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€2,122
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Published in 2001.
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All Ireland Public Health and Nursing Steering Group. A Vision Statement.
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Costs not available
|
Published in 2001.
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Effective Utilisation of the Professional Skills of Nurses and Midwives – Report of the Working Group
|
€7,524
|
Published in 2001. The pilot programme for the formal training of Health Care Assistants was run in conjunction with the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC).
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National Evaluation of the Role of the Clinical Placement Co-ordinator
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Costs not available
|
Published in 2001. Report implemented.
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Guidance for Best Practice on the Recruitment of Overseas Nurses and Midwives
|
€8,007.70
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Report published in December 2001.
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The Nursing and Midwifery Resource Final Report of the Steering Group. Towards Workforce Planning
|
€59,165.70
|
Report published in September 2002.
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Name of Report
|
Cost of Preparation/Publication
|
Action Taken to Date
|
Proposed Framework for the Development of Clinical Specialism and Advanced Practice in Mental Handicap Nursing
|
Costs not available
|
Report published in October 2002.
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The National Implementation Committee on Pre-Registration Nursing Degree Education
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The total running costs for the National Implementation Committee were €317,000
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The Report was presented to the Minister in December 2002.
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From Vision to Action. Strengthening the Nursing Contribution to Public Health
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Cost incurred by the Department of Health and Children – £937.50 Sterling (€1,306.95) Total cost of publication was £1,875 Sterling (€2,613.91)
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Report published. A conference took place in Dublin Castle on 19th-20th March 2003.
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Research Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery in Ireland
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Costs not available
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Report published in January 2003.
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Interim Report of the Strategic Taskforce on Alcohol
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€16,000
|
An Inter-Departmental Group has been established to examine and co-ordinate the responses of Government Departments to the recommendations contained in the report.
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Impact of Alcohol Advertising on Teenagers in Ireland
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€45,400
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Preliminary work has begun on legislation in relation to alcohol advertising.
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Men and Domestic Violence: What Research Tells Us
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€65,899
|
In March 2003, the Report was passed to the National Crime Council so that it can inform, where appropriate, the Council's National Survey on Domestic Violence and the Report was also placed on the Department's website.
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National Health and Lifestyle Survey – April 2003
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€582,000
|
The second phase of the National Health & Lifestyle Survey (SLÁN/HBSC) was launched on 16th April 2003. The previous phase of this survey, published in 1999, informed various campaigns which are ongoing, including alcohol awareness and healthy eating. The SLÁN/HBSC surveys will be carried out on a four-yearly basis and will inform policy and strategy in health promotion, while identifying trends and monitoring lifestyle and behaviour change among the population. The statistics and data gleaned from the second phase of the SLÁN/HBSC surveys is currently informing the discussions between the Health Promotion Unit and its newly engaged PR and advertising companies in the development of new and revised awareness campaigns on a range of issues and settings.
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The Heart Health Taskforce Progress Report July 1999 – June 2001
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€35,524
|
Both documents are a report on the progress to date of the Cardiovascular Health Strategy since its launch in July 1999. The Cardiovascular Health Strategy is directed by the ‘Building Healthier Hearts' document, which contains 211 recommendations.
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The Heart Health Taskforce Second Report on Implementation of the Cardiovascular Health Strategy July 1999 – September 2002 ‘Ireland's Changing Heart'
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€59,037
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On-going implementation.
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National Strategy for Health Research: Making Knowledge Work for Health – A Strategy for Health Research
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€5,273.22
|
A new board has been appointed to the Health Research Board (HRB). The Statutory Instrument relating to the establishment of the HRB has been amended in order to achieve greater congruence between the composition and work of the HRB and the National Strategy for Health Research. A Head of Research has been appointed to the HRB. On foot of the publication of the National Health Research Strategy, additional funding has been made available to HRB and to health boards to address its implementation.
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Name of Report
|
Cost of Preparation/Publication
|
Action Taken to Date
|
Report on the Regulation of Practitioners of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Ireland
|
€12,951.59
|
The Minister has established a National Working Group to progress the agenda set out in the Report, addressing the important recommendations in order to advise him on future measures for the regulation of complementary therapists.
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Current and Future Supply and Demand Conditions in the Labour Market for Certain Professional Therapies by Dr. Peter Bacon & Associates
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€38,092
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175 additional training places announced by the Minister and his colleague the Minister for Education and Science in May 2002.• BSc in Physiotherapy commenced in UL in 2002 with an intake of 28. Masters programmes in Occupational Therapy (OT) and Speech and Language Therapy (S<) with an intake of 25 in both courses are due to commence in June.• UCC plan to commence a BSc in both OT (25 places) and S< (25 places) in Autumn 2003.• Plans for a similar intake i.e. 25 places each in a BSc in OT and S< are in place in NUIG for Autumn 2003.A concerted recruitment drive for the therapy grades was commenced in 2002 by the Northern Area Health Board on behalf of all the health boards resulting in the placement of additional occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech and language therapists.Legislation to establish a system of statutory registration for a number of health and social care professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists is currently being drafted.
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Action Plan for People Management in the Health Service
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€5,000 (costs associated with publication were paid for by HSEA and National Partnership Forum)
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Launched on schedule – 7th November 2002. Funding provided for implementation in Letters of Determination to the health boards. Department of Health and Children met with the health boards in December 2002 to ensure priority actions would be commenced. Working Group of agencies with lead responsibility for one or more actions – Health Services Employers Agency, Office for Health Management, the National Partnership Forum and the Human Resource Directors of the health boards – meet regularly to co-ordinate activities and ensure progress is being made across all action areas.
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Report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care
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€7,022
|
The Report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care was approved by Government in the Summer of 2001 and launched by Minister Martin on 4th October 2001. The Report describes a comprehensive palliative care service and acts as a blueprint for its development. There is a commitment that the recommendations of the Report be implemented in the context of the Health Strategy. The Palliative Care Needs Assessment is to be completed shortly, while the Paediatric Palliative Care Needs Assessment is ongoing. The Report of the Expert Group on Specialist Design Guides for Palliative Care Settings is in draft form.
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Protecting Our Future – Report of the Working Group on Elder Abuse
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€9,535
|
This Report was produced by the Working Group on Elder Abuse, following an exploratory study commissioned by the National Council on Ageing and Older People. The Report was launched on the 18th November 2002. Funding of €800,000 has been made available towards the commencement of its implementation.
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Name of Report
|
Cost of Preparation/Publication
|
Action Taken to Date
|
Progress report on the statement of Strategy
|
€4632.00 (Design only)€18,042 for printing
|
This was a printing report only – no follow up action required.
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Report of the sub-group of the National Cancer Forum on the Development of Services for Symptomatic Breast Disease
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€10,805.77
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Since the publication of the report, the Department of Health and Children has been in ongoing consultations with the Health Boards regarding the development of symptomatic breast disease services in their respective regions.Breast cancer is the individual site specific cancer which has received the most investment in recent years. Since 2001, there has been a cumulative investment of €30m in the development of symptomatic breast disease services.The benefit of this investment is reflected in the significant increase in activity which has occurred, with in-patient breast cancer procedures increasing from 1,336 in 1997 to 1,839 in 2001.This is an increase of 37% nationally.Since the implementation of the National Cancer Strategy, approval has been granted for an additional 39 consultant posts with a special interest in breast disease across the modalities of Surgery, Radiology and Histopathology.
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Working Group on Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services
The first report dealt with:
(a) the provision of Child and Adolescent in-patient units and
(b) the organisation of services for the management and treatment of ADHD-HRD.
The report recommended that a total of 7 in-patient psychiatric units should be established throughout the country for children ranging from 6-16 years. Project teams have been established in respect of 4 such units.
The report also recommended that priority should be given to the enhancement of existing multi-disciplinary child and adolescent psychiatric teams. In 2002 and 2003, substantial additional revenue funding was allocated for this purpose and the appointment of new teams.
A second report of the group regarding the provision of psychiatric services for 16-18 year olds was published in June 2003.
Work has commenced on preparation of a report on eating disorders.
Monitoring Committee to Oversee the Implementation of the Commission on Nursing
The Monitoring Committee was established in January 2000. It is responsible for overseeing progress in the implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Nursing. The Monitoring Committee has circulated three annual reports to date.
High Level Committee on Empowerment of Nurses: Agenda for Change
The inaugural meeting of the Committee took place on the 14th March 2000. The work of the Committee is ongoing.
Working Group on the Effective Utilisation of the Professional Skills of Nurses and Midwives
The first meeting of the Working Group took place on the 15th May 2000. The Group reported in May 2001. The pilot programme for the formal training of Health Care Assistants was run in conjunction with the Further Education Training Awards Council (FETAC).
Nursing and Midwifery Research Strategy Group
This Group was established in July 2000. The report was published in January 2003.
Paediatric Nurse Education Review Group
This Group was established in March 2000. The Group reported in December 2000.
The Midwifery Forum
The Midwifery Forum was established in November 2000. The work of the Group is ongoing, there is no report due.
All Ireland Public Health and Nursing Steering Group
The All Ireland Public Health and Nursing Steering Group was established in 2000. A Vision Statement was launched in February 2001. A second document From Vision to Action, Strengthening the Nursing Contribution to Public Health was published in March 2003. A conference took place in Dublin Castle on 19th/20th March 2003. £937.50 Sterling (€1,306.95) costs were incurred by the Department of Health and Children for the preparation/publication of From Vision to Action, Strengthening the Nursing contribution to public health.
The Working Group on Recruitment and Retention of Nursing Staff in Dublin Area
The first meeting of the Group took place on 24th October 2001. The work of the Group is ongoing.
The National Implementation Committee on Pre-Registration Nursing Degree Education
The Committee was established in February 2001. The Group completed its work, and presented a report to the Minister in December 2002. The total running costs for the National Implementation Committee were €317,000.
Inter-Departmental Steering Committee on Pre-Registration Nursing Education
The Committee was established in February 2001. The work of the Committee is ongoing.
National Paediatric Nursing Advisory Forum
The Forum was established in April 2001. The work of the Group is ongoing.
Best Practice Guidance on International Nursing Recruitment
The Group was established in July 2001. The report Guidance for Best Practice on the Recruitment of Oversees Nurses and Midwives was published in December 2001.
Paediatric Nurse Teacher Working Group
The first meeting of the Group took place on the 24th October 2001. A report was submitted in July 2002.
Special Midwifery Forum
The Forum was established on 16th October 2001, to examine the difficulties experienced by the Dublin Maternity Hospitals in recruiting and retaining midwives. The Forum reported in November 2001.
Nursing and Midwifery in the Community Group (NAMIC)
The Group was established in March 2001. The report is now due in Autumn 2003.
The All Ireland/USA National Cancer Institute Nurses Working Group
The All Ireland/USA National Cancer Institute Nurses Working Group was established in January 2001. The work of the Group is ongoing.
Review Group of the Health Service Care Staff
The Group was established in 2001. An evaluation of the Pilot Programme took place in December 2002. It is estimated that this will cost in the region of £26,000 sterling. A job evaluation of the Nursing Staff Support Supervisors was carried out in the first half of 2002. The costs associated with this are in the region of €5,000.
Mental Health Advisory Forum
The Mental Health Advisory Forum was established in September 2002. The work of the Forum is ongoing. There is no report due.
Taskforce on Assaults on Psychiatric Nurses
The Taskforce was established in May 2002. The report of the group has been submitted to the Minister. To date the cost of convening the Taskforce is in the region of €7,000.
The National Taskforce on Medical Staffing-Nursing and Midwifery Steering Group
The Group was established in December 2002 and a report is expected in July 2003.
Rostered Year Replacement Ratio Project (Nursing Degree Students)
Consultants have been engaged to carry out research into the replacement ratio of nursing degree students while on their rostered year in hospital settings. A report is expected towards the end 2003. The estimated total costs are in the region of €84,000.
Intellectual Disability Advisory Forum
The Intellectual Disability Advisory Forum was established in February 2002. The work of the group is ongoing and no report is due.
Inter-Departmental Committee on Marriage Law Reform
The Inter-Departmental Committee on Marriage Law Reform is due to report in December 2003.
Audit of Structures and Functions in the Health System
The contract for the Audit of Structures and Functions in the Health System, being the implementation of Action 114 of the National Health Strategy Quality and Fairness: A Health System for You, was awarded to Prospectus Strategy Consultants in June 2002. The total cost of the project was €0.514m approximately. The report was published recently.
The Enterprise Liability Advisory Group
The Enterprise Liability Advisory Group is not due to report.
“No Fault” Compensation Advisory Group
The “No Fault” Compensation Advisory Group is due to make a report by the end of 2003.
Inter-Agency Health Care Forum
The Forum was set up to facilitate the ongoing communication between health service providers and managers to improve mutual understanding and co-operation. No formal report is due – participating parties bear their own costs.
Working Group on the National Anti-Poverty Strategy (NAPS) & Health
The Group was established to develop health targets for the National Anti-Poverty Strategy and associated Implementation Framework. The targets developed by the Working Group were submitted to the Department of Social & Family Affairs to be considered as part of the final overall NAPS. The cost was €190,460.
Joint Department of Health and Children/Health Boards Performance Indicator/Service Plans Working Group
The Group was established to develop Performance Indicators and guidelines for strategic implementation plans and standardised service planning. This work is currently ongoing and is not directly funded by the Department.
The National Taskforce on Medical Staffing
The Taskforce was established in February 2002. The Report is being finalised at present. The Medical Education and Training Project Group of the Taskforce produced an interim report in August 2002. The total cost of printing the interim report was €2,090.30.
Springboard Family Support Pilot Projects Monitoring Committee
• Published review reports on:
(a) Family Well Being and Family Policy; A review of research on benefits and costs, June 2001.
(b) Fathers and Families; research and reflection on key questions, December 2001.
(c) A guide to what works best in family support services in vulnerable families, October 2000.
• Springboard; promoting family well-being through family support services, December 2001.
Cost of preparation/publication: €0.031m and implementation is ongoing.
Teen Parents Support Pilot Initiative Monitoring Committee
Two thematic papers produced by the Committee in October 2001 and an evaluation report was published in October 2001. The cost of preparation/publication for all three documents was €0.074m and Pilot Projects have been mainstreamed.
Steering Group on Review of Family Support Services
Report not applicable.
Working Group on Foster Care
The report was published in May 2001. Preparation and design costs were €0.54m and implementation is ongoing.
Working Group on the Review of the Child Care (Pre-School Services) Regulations, 1996 and (Amendment) Regulations, 1997
The Group are due to report later this year.
Steering Committee to Oversee the Development of the Social Services Inspectorate
Report not applicable.
The National Committee on Standards in Children's Residential Homes
Standards were published in September 2001. All inspections of statutory and non-statutory children's residential centres are made against these standards.
The National Committee on Standards in Special Care
Standards were issued to health boards in October 2001.
Working Group to develop Guidelines on the Use of Single Separation in Special Care Units
Guidelines issued to health boards in April 2003.
Senior Managers Resource Group (on the development of high support and special care units)
Report not applicable.
Working Group to Develop Standards in Foster Care
Standards published in April 2003. Standards are still in printing process and implementation is ongoing.
Social Services Inspectorate Process Committee
Report not applicable.
Group to Examine Foster Care Payment Scheme Incorporating Orphan's Payments
The report was completed in December 2002. There was no cost of preparation/publication. As a result of the Group's deliberations, the Foster Care Allowance Scheme was amended as and from 1st April 2003 in line with the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Foster Care and representations received from the Irish Foster Care Association.
Steering Group in Youth Advocacy Pilot Project NAHB
Report not applicable.
Expert Group on Elder Abuse
This report was produced by the working Group on Elder abuse, following an exploratory study commissioned by the National Council on Ageing and Older People. The report was launched on the 18th November, 2002. Funding of €800,000 has been made available towards the commencement of its implementation.
Working Group on Carers Needs Assessment
Not yet reported.
National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care
The report of the National Advisory Committee on Palliative Care was approved by Government in the Summer of 2001 and launched by Minister Martin on 4th October, 2001. The report describes a comprehensive palliative care service and acts as a blueprint for its development.
There is a commitment that the recommendations of the report be implemented in the context of the Health Strategy.
The palliative Care Needs Assessment is to be completed shortly, while the Paediatric Palliative care Needs Assessment is ongoing. The report of the Expert Group on Specialist Design guides for Palliative Care Settings is in draft form.
The Working Group on Carers Needs Assessment is ongoing.
Cost €7,022.00.
Expert Group on Specialist Design Guides for Palliative Care Settings
Not yet reported.
Paediatric Palliative Care Needs Assessments
Not yet reported.
Palliative Care Needs Assessments
Not yet reported.
National Environmental Health Action Plan (NEHAP)
Draft report circulated for consultation 2002.
Towards a Tobacco Free Society
Final report March 2000.
Cost €11,213.
Medical Expenses Directive Advisory Group
Licence Application Review Group (Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876 (as amended).
Influenza Pandemic Committee
Established in May 2000. The committee submitted “A Model Plan for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness” to the Department of Health and Children in September 2002. The report of this Group is currently in the final stages of editing and is expected to be produced shortly.
The Expert Committee-Contingency Planning for Biological Threats
Established in October 2001, under the chairmanship of Professor William Hall, Director of the Virus Reference Laboratory (VRL). The work of this committee is ongoing.
Expert Group on Vaccine Safety
Established in November 2002 under the chairmanship of Professor Kingston Mills. This group is due to report later in 2003.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome(SARS) Expert Group
Established in March 2003 to monitor the SARS situation as it developed and to advise the Minister of the measures required to deal with this syndrome. The work of this committee is ongoing.
Commission on Assisted Reproduction
Established in March 2000, with the following terms of reference: “To prepare a report on the possible approaches to the regulation of all aspects of assisted human reproduction and the social, ethical and legal factors to be taken into account in determining public policy in this area”. The commission is expected to report later in 2003.
Expert Review Group on Radiotherapy Services
The report of this Group is currently in the final stages of editing and is expected to be produced shortly.
Unless indicated otherwise the members of the above committees/groups were not paid for their time or for production of a report (where relevant).