Adjournment Debate.

National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Dr. Twomey

This matter relates to procedures which have been available on the National Treatment Purchase Fund. The patient was to have this treatment carried out under the fund but the procedure has been cancelled for some reason. I have had a number of complaints from different people in cases where the National Treatment Purchase Fund has not fulfilled its obligations as laid down by Government. The Government seems to be shamefully manipulating public opinion and is preying on the fears and vulnerability of patients. The National Treatment Purchase Fund is not doing its job. It is like the rest of the health service and is adding to the concerns and fears of patients. They are suffering because of the way the Government is managing the health service.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund was intended to focus on patients waiting the longest for procedures, but it has failed to fulfil that commitment in the case of the patient to whom this matter refers. I have chosen this specific case to hear the Minister of State's response. The National Treatment Purchase Fund has failed in its obligations on a number of occasions. It has promised to do this procedure for this patient and others but has not done so. It has stated that it will no longer carry out this procedure.

The 30,000 people who have had procedures carried out under the National Treatment Purchase Fund are the fortunate ones in some respects. However the treatment they have received is exactly the same as that received by the 4 million patients in acute hospitals over the same period. The Government seems to be using the National Treatment Purchase Fund as some form of public relations machine to make themselves look good.

The focus of the National Treatment Purchase Fund should be changed. It is supposed to focus on procedures that prove difficult to be carried out within the health service. The fund should focus on procedures involving more complex surgery or on procedures not commonly carried out in this country, but this is not the case. The NTPF focuses on procedures such as gall bladder, varicose veins and skin biopsies. These are very simple procedures. Reform of the health care services has been promised every year for the past nine years and these procedures should be carried out in the acute hospitals.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund should be used for neurological procedures and neurological surgery. The case to which I refer is a neurological procedure that may lead to surgery at some future date for this patient. This is the way forward for the NTPF. We are all aware of the long delays within the neurological services and the significant delays for neurological procedures. This is an opportunity for the Government to show me and the House what it intends to do for my patient who needs this specific procedure and to give an indication of where its commitment lies.

I hope that the Minister of State's response will not consist of the usual bluff stating the matter is being looked at and giving a lame excuse for the reason this procedure is not being carried out for my patient. I will pursue the matter further if the answer is inadequate.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

I thank Deputy Twomey for raising this matter on the Adjournment of the House. I am replying on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney.

As the Deputy will be aware, operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services rests with the Health Service Executive. This includes responsibility for the provision of pain management clinics. The provision of spinal simulator devices for pain control are provided publicly at a number of hospitals, including St. Vincent's Hospital, Elm Park, Beaumont Hospital and Waterford Regional Hospital. Demand for this service has risen dramatically in the past 12 to 18 months.

Mr. Lowry

In the not too distant past, north Tipperary was home to some of the world's largest industrial companies such as Aventis Pharma, Antigen, Procter and Gamble, Tubex, BSN Medical and large Irish-owned companies such as Irish Sugar.

In the past two weeks a shattering and demoralising blow has been inflicted on the people of Thurles. BSN Medical, which had employed more than 120 people in Thurles before Christmas, announced that it would close by the end of this year with the loss of the remaining 80 jobs. Erin Foods, owned by Campbells, was also put on the market recently. It is hoped that this world renowned brand can be sold as a going concern. However, the intention to sell the company has cast doubt and uncertainty on the future of the plant. Greenvale Animal Feeds, a subsidiary of Irish Sugar, employs more than 60 people in Thurles and now with the closure of Irish Sugar, these jobs are also in doubt.

BSN Medical is a global medical device company and was created as a 50:50 joint venture between Beiersdorf and Smith & Nephew in April 2001. BSN Medical specialises in bandaging and wound care, especially for burn victims. Another US company, Jobst, was the previous owner of the BSN Thurles operation until it was taken over in 1990. The manufacture of medical bandages has been carried out in Thurles for many years and many of the staff at the plant have spent their entire working lives in this factory and have been a very loyal and dedicated workforce. The news that the entire operation will cease by the end of the year is dreadful news for the staff, their families, the town and the economy of Thurles.

I call on the Minister of State to ensure that the US management of BSN Medical offers the current staff facing redundancy the same terms and conditions as their colleagues who opted for voluntary redundancy before Christmas and that every support and resource of the State is made available to these 80 people to assist them in seeking new employment.

It is an outrage that almost all of the companies I have mentioned closed in the past seven years under this Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrats Government. Ineffective Government policy has forced hundreds of workers across north Tipperary to search for alternative employment or the nearest dole office.

North Tipperary has not benefited in any way from foreign direct investment since 1997 when this Government first took office. The only semblance of foreign investment is the welcome replacement for the former Antigen by Taro Pharmaceuticals in Roscrea. This Government has presided over the most substantial job losses in Nenagh, Roscrea, and Thurles in living memory. Throughout north Tipperary there are five international industries compared with more than 11 companies five years ago. The number of indigenous Irish industries has dropped from almost 90 in 1993 to fewer than 70 in 2003. When Aventis Pharma in Nenagh closed with the loss of 230 jobs in April 2002, I referred to north Tipperary as an "unemployment blackspot created in the midst of the greatest period of prosperity the nation has known". The Government has done nothing since, in four years, to reverse this. We have had no investment, no research and development funding and no new jobs. This Government has failed the people of north Tipperary.

This Government meddled with existing administrative structures which had a proven track record of success and had delivered to north Tipperary. In recent years misguided ministerial initiatives have left State agencies with responsibility for industrial development and job creation in north Tipperary confused, demoralised and lacking any sense of cohesion or direction.

The number of entrepreneurs and business people visiting north Tipperary has declined dramatically. In a recent parliamentary question, I was astounded when it was revealed that not a single industrialist has visited north Tipperary since 2003. Shannon Development, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland have not organised a single visit for any potential investor to north Tipperary in three years. At a time when investment is locating to other parts of the country, it is inexcusable that the Minister and the employment creation agencies have continuously overlooked north Tipperary.

I am calling on the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to respond to the emerging employment crisis now facing Thurles and north Tipperary. The Minister must take immediate steps to encourage industrialists and investors to locate in north Tipperary.

Acting Chairman (Mr. O’Shea)

The Deputy's time has expired.

Mr. Lowry

I remind the Minister and the Government that the unemployment and job creation problems of north Tipperary are serious and require a specific co-ordinated response. The Minister must radically reverse the current scenario where no investors have visited north Tipperary for three years by implementing pro-active measures to encourage and attract indigenous and foreign investment to north Tipperary.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Killeen)

I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this matter.

I was very concerned to hear that BSN Medical had announced it was to cease manufacturing. I am very conscious of the implications of these job losses for the workers involved and their families, as well as the community in the surrounding area.

The company was established in Thurles in 2001, having initially established operations under a different name in 1976. The operation in Thurles produces custom made orthopaedic garments on a subcontract basis and ships the garments to 28 countries.

In July 2005 the company announced it was to reduce its workforce by 40 people with a voluntary redundancy offer. Then, in December 2005 it was announced the company was being sold.

Earlier this month, IDA Ireland was informed that the company in Thurles was to close with the loss of all remaining jobs and that all production was being consolidated in China. The managing director of the company wrote to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment on 13 April last stating that, following a major manufacturing review, the company had informed its 80 employees that it would be ceasing the manufacture of orthopaedic soft goods at its Thurles plant by the end of 2006. The decision was due to excess manufacturing capacity and the need to maintain cost competitiveness resulting in a change of manufacturing strategy.

The priority will be to find alternative employment for those involved. The role of FÁS, the State training agency, will be particularly important in assisting those who are to lose their jobs. The full range of FÁS services will be made available to the employees concerned, if they wish to avail of these services.

The industrial development agencies are making every effort to secure alternative employment for Thurles and north Tipperary. A central goal for the agencies is the achievement of balanced regional development. Statutory responsibility for the attraction of foreign direct investment to north Tipperary, including the town of Thurles, rests with IDA Ireland. Shannon Development has responsibility for the provision of industrial property solutions in the area. Its role in supporting indigenous enterprise will transfer to Enterprise Ireland under the new mandate granted by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to Shannon Development last year.

Initiatives undertaken by Shannon Development in the provision of property solutions include the development of the Tipperary Technology Park in Thurles and the acquisition of a 29 acre site in Roscrea with a view to developing a business park. These facilities are being actively marketed by IDA Ireland to potential clients through its network of overseas offices. That agency's sectoral emphasis in the mid-west region is on attracting new knowledge intensive projects in information communications and technology, globally traded businesses, medical technologies and life sciences.

Shannon Development, in association with local authorities in the area, is also spearheading a drive to bring high speed Internet access to the region. The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources has recently approved funding for metropolitan area networks to be installed in a number of towns, which should assist in attracting foreign direct investment and indigenous industry.

The Tipperary North County Enterprise Board is a source of support, specifically for the micro-businesses sector. The role of the board is to develop indigenous enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and an enterprise culture within north Tipperary. This is done through both direct financial assistance and non-financial assistance. Subject to certain eligibility criteria, enterprises may qualify for support from the CEB primarily in the form of feasibility, employment and capital grants, while there is a broad range of non-financial supports available such as mentoring, business advice, information, management development and training.

I am confident the strategies and policies being pursued by the development agencies in furtherance of their statutory functions, together with the ongoing commitment of Government to regional development, will bear fruit in terms of additional sustainable investment and jobs for the people of Thurles and the wider north Tipperary area.

Social Welfare Benefits.

Mr. P. McGrath

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me raise this issue and I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Tim O'Malley, who will respond.

Although the case I will outline is one I know well, it is probably a mirror image of many other cases around the country. I have come across similar instances previously and I wanted to raise the issue because of my disgust at the way many of these carers are being treated by the Department.

I want to paint a picture of the circumstances of a person in my constituency with which I am sure the Acting Chairman, Deputy O'Shea, can empathise. I speak of an 82 year old widow living on her own in a house rented from the local authority. As the years go by, she becomes less mobile and more dependent and she has nobody to look after her. Therefore, her daughter, who is living in London, decides that she will do what is right and come home to look after her mother for the necessary period, be that a number of months or years. Her daughter has voluntarily come home to look after her mother.

This 82 year old widow has given good service to the State. She brought up her family to respect the State and get on with their work. She never abused the State or did anything like that. She played her part and was an honourable member of society.

At this time in her life, she should be at the stage where the State is responding to her needs. She would need a home help and sooner rather than later may well need care in a nursing home.

That care, which should be provided by the State, is being provided by her daughter. Having given up her position in London, she came home to look after her mother and applied, in the normal way as an Irish citizen, for carer's allowance. This application, the processing of which took quite a long of time, was met with a refusal.

When we investigated why the application was refused, we were told it was because of means. As this lady had provided all the necessary information, we investigated further and discovered the lady in question has an apartment in London. Having lived there much of her life, obviously she would have acquired an apartment. This apartment is mortgaged. When she came home to live and look after her mother, she could not afford to pay for the mortgage in London — which is quite obvious given that she did not have an income — so she rented the apartment. The rent on the apartment in London is covering the mortgage, which is reasonable in the circumstances.

The Department has told her that because she has this property in London, it must be valued. Even though she receives no income from it, it is because she has this apartment that she is now being refused carer's allowance. Did the House ever hear such a ridiculous scenario? This person gave up her lifestyle, her friends and her position in London to come back and look after her mother, to do what is honourable. What do we do to her when she is providing a service to the State? We give her a kick in the teeth. We say that because she is wise and has her own apartment in London, we will not give her carer's allowance. How ridiculous can we get? I have come across many other such cases. I have met people who have come home from America having lived there for years to look after elderly parents and they are treated in the same way. I am sure the Cathaoirleach has also come across this issue in his constituency.

This is fundamentally flawed, particularly in the way it affects the provision of care. What better care can an elderly person get than the care of his or her own family in his or her home? Why are people being treated like this? Does the Government want to fill private nursing homes or put more people into institutions? I call on the Minister of State to examine this case, which is one of many, in a sympathetic way. I hope, having heard the story, he will empathise with it and will deliver good news.

Mr. T. O’Malley

The debate relates to the social welfare entitlements of a particular individual. Under social welfare legislation decisions on claims or entitlements are made by deciding officers and appeal officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I, as Minister of State, have no role in making such decisions. The person concerned applied for carer's allowance. The principal conditions for receipt of the allowance are that full-time care and attention is required and being provided and that the means test that applies is satisfied. Additionally, the requirement to be habitually resident in Ireland was introduced as a qualifying condition for certain social assistance schemes, including carer's allowance, with effect from 1 May 2004. All applicants regardless of nationality are required to be habitually resident in the State to qualify for the allowance. The basis for the restriction containedin the new rules is the applicant's habitual residence. The restriction is not based on citizenship, nationality, immigration status or any other factor. Each case received for a determination on the habitual residence condition is dealt with in its own right and a decision is based on the application of the guidelines to the particular individual circumstances of each case.

While the person concerned satisfies the habitual residence condition, the medical eligibility and provision of full-time care and attention requirements, she did not satisfy the means test applicable to carer's allowance. Under social welfare legislation the capital value of property owned but not personally used or enjoyed, where it is rented to a third party, is assessed as means in accordance with a formula set out in legislation. The property in this case is let and was previously the home of the person concerned but that is not relevant in the context of the means test. Such a property cannot be disregarded as "your own home" in cases where that property is let. Property must be capable of being sold, let or put to profitable use before a capital value assessment is applied. In the case of property that is let, the amount assessed as means is the notional assessment provided for in legislation, not the rental income.

The income assessed as means in this case consists of €930 per week derived from the capital value of the property and income from an occupational pension of €2l8.72 per week. Following the application of the €270 income disregard that applies the person's weekly means equate to a net €878.72, which exceeds the qualifying limit for receipt of carer's allowance. A deciding officer decided accordingly. On 8 March 2006 the person concerned was notified of this decision and the reasons for it and of her right to appeal to the independent social welfare appeals office. Following a review by a deciding officer, the decision remains unchanged. A revision to the existing means test that applies would have to be considered in a budgetary context.

In budget 2005, the respite care grant was extended to all carers providing full-time care and attention. The grant is paid regardless of means but is subject to certain employment-related conditions and the provision of full-time care and attention. On 25 April 2006 the person concerned was notified that she may have an entitlement to the respite care grant for 2006.

Mr. P. McGrath

Does the Minister of State agree that it is ridiculous in this case to take the value of the property into account given that the woman will return to it?

Garda Deployment.

Mr. Blaney

The issue of increasing criminality in Donegal is continuously to the fore and it will not go away unless there is serious intervention from the Government. I witness many crime problems in my constituency in Donegal but, unfortunately, we are not being offered many solutions. With a large part of Donegal bordering Northern Ireland, we are subject to significant additional cross-Border crime. This creates its own problems as it lends itself very well to criminals returning across the Border after perpetrating a crime and, most likely, never getting caught. More effective cross-Border policing is a must to catch the perpetrators of crime. At a time when efforts are being made to re-establish the Assembly and its institutions, I have serious concerns about cross-Border co-operation and the relationship between the Garda in Donegal and its counterpart in Northern Ireland.

Local newspapers are filled constantly with stories of desecrated schools, private property, commercial premises and so on. One wonders where it will all end. We also experience the problems associated with over-consumption of alcohol and drugs, speeding and drink driving. The list is endless. I had a glance through a local newspaper this morning and it contained reports of cars stolen and damaged, a school broken into and windows smashed for the fifth night in a row, an attack on a young woman at the weekend, damage to a new football pitch caused by cars driving on its surface with one of the cars set alight, windows broken in commercial premises, houses broken into and contents stolen, and a malicious fire in another school. That is an incredible list of crimes in one local newspaper in a rural county such as Donegal.

Garda resources and manpower in Donegal is the major problem, particularly along the Border. The crime rate in the county will not reduce until a realistic allocation of Garda resources is provided. We are faced with more sophisticated crime and criminals nowadays and, therefore, we need equally sophisticated personnel and equipment to deal with them. Donegal is largely a rural county and if criminality cannot be controlled in our rural areas, we have little chance of controlling it in our larger cities.

I refer to an incident that happened on Easter Sunday morning involving Councillor Francis Conaghan, who is a former chairman of Donegal County Council. Both his vehicles were stolen that morning and they were used in several crimes. If the perpetrators had not been caught in the middle of one crime, God knows how many other crimes would have been committed. However, the perpetrators escaped and wrecked one of the councillor's cars while the other car was recovered with minor damage. The criminals' spree was stopped by a householder, not the gardaí, in Manorcunningham. When gardaí were called, it took them 40 minutes to respond and by that time the criminals were long gone. When they arrived, the gardaí did not have as much as a lamp to search around the house. That is why I began to question Garda resources. Many items were taken from the house, including a quantity of money. The perpetrators of the crime escaped back across the Border where they were caught by the PSNI. Thankfully, the PSNI were very co-operative with the two individuals involved in this case in Donegal and have been in contact with them many times. This has not been the case with our local gardaí.

These have been trying times for the Garda Síochána in Donegal. Morale among the gardaí there is at an all-time low and the current Minister will have to do something about it. He has not been in Donegal too often in recent years, but I invite him to come to Donegal and see at first hand the problems that exist. I want to see something done about criminality in Donegal. I want to see resources and morale sorted out in the force in Donegal.

Mr. T. O’Malley

I thank Deputy Blaney for raising this matter. The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda resources, including personnel. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has been informed by the Garda authorities that the personnel strength of the Garda Síochána on 31 March 2006 was 12,439. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 on 30 June 1997 and represents an increase of 1,737, or 16.2%, in the personnel strength of the force during that period.

The number of gardaí stationed in the Donegal division in 2002 was 416, in 2003 it was 424, in 2004 it was 412, in 2005 it was 417 and on 31 March 2006 it was 433. The necessity for the large Garda presence in the border counties has significantly diminished since the Good Friday Agreement. However, there has been an increase in numbers in Donegal from 416 in 2002 to 433 on 31 March 2006. The divisional resources are further augmented by a number of Garda national units such as the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Criminal Assets Bureau and other specialised units.

As part of the accelerated recruitment campaign to facilitate the record expansion of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, 1,125 Garda recruits were inducted to the Garda College during 2005. The college will induct a further 1,100 recruits this year and again in 2007 by way of intakes to the Garda College of approximately 275 recruits every quarter. The first incremental increase of gardaí under the current programme of accelerated recruitment took place on 16 March, and an additional 21 gardaí were allocated to the Donegal division in conjunction with this incremental increase.

In response to the disturbing number of road fatalities in the Buncrana district, a Garda traffic corps unit was established in the district on a pilot basis with effect from 20 October 2005. The unit was in addition to the traffic corps personnel already operating in the Donegal division. An evaluation of this pilot programme has concluded and it has been decided that a dedicated traffic corps unit, with increased personnel, will be based in the Inishowen area. This unit will comprise one sergeant and eight gardaí. The visibility provided by the traffic corps unit has also had an influence on the reduction of certain crimes in the area such as burglary and public disorder.

A number of other initiatives have also taken place in the Donegal division. These include targeted co-ordinated patrolling of priority roads and junctions at prime times, high visibility checkpoints, which have resulted in a 25% increase in the detection of drivers under the influence of an intoxicant in 2006 to date, as well as the reconstitution of the Donegal road safety working group comprising representatives of the Garda Síochána, Donegal County Council, the Health Service Executive and the National Roads Authority.

Proposals have been made by the Garda Síochána to Donegal County Council in response to the fatal collision at Lisfannon on 18 February. Targeted education is an integral part of road traffic policing and a number of initiatives have been undertaken, including a local media campaign on traffic safety issues, a road safety programme in all primary and secondary schools in the Inishowen area, a driver improvement course in conjunction with the courts and ongoing liaison with driving instructors and the Institute of Advanced Motorists. In co-operation with Inishowen Rural Development Limited, the Garda is assessing the training needs of drivers in the area.

All Departments and agencies responsible for dealing with road safety related issues are very aware of the urgent necessity of bringing about a steady reduction in the numbers killed and seriously injured on our roads. Government policy in this area is set out in the Government's road safety strategy for the period 2004 to 2006. The strategy sets out an ambitious range of targets, actions and measures to be achieved.

Concern has been expressed about the adequacy of Garda cover on the Inishowen peninsula. Local Garda management states that there are two 24-hour Garda stations in the Inishowen peninsula based at Burnfoot and Buncrana. In addition, there are 24-hour mobile patrols provided by the divisional traffic and detective units. Garda management is examining the establishment of a rural community policing initiative in north Inishowen. The proposed administrative headquarters for this initiative is Carndonagh Garda station. It is anticipated that this initiative would also provide 24-hour cover for the north Inishowen area. I thank Deputy Blaney again for bringing this matter to the attention to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.10 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 26 April 2006.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Tuesday, 25 Apr 2006