I welcome the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, to the House and take this opportunity to wish him the best of luck in his new portfolio.
Adjournment Matters
Vaccination Programme
I also wish the Minister the best of luck in his new portfolio, as he has a substantial job to do in that Department.
I wish the raise the issue of those people, particularly children, who have been affected by narcolepsy following the State ‘flu vaccination. A link has been associated with the Pandemrix swine ‘flu vaccination and the condition. I am disappointed with the speed in which the matter is being progressed. Will the Minister update the House on this matter?
I thank Senator Michael D'Arcy for raising this important issue as it provides me with my first opportunity to update the House on this matter. I have only been in my new role a short number of days. I want to take time to talk to people, to listen to what they have to say, to reflect on what I find and then to focus on some achievable priorities. The core aim of the health service is to maximise the health of the population and to allow people to participate as fully as possible in the social and economic life of the community.
First, I acknowledge the impact narcolepsy has both physically and emotionally on the lives of those affected and on their families. Sufferers can experience excessive daytime sleepiness, sudden and temporary loss of muscle tone often triggered by emotions such as laughter, known as cataplexy, intense, vivid and sometimes terrifying hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Many teenagers and young adults also experience emotional distress due to their illness. Dealing day to day with this illness affects not just their lives, but also those of their family members.
Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against certain diseases. Immunisation against infectious disease has saved more lives than any other public health intervention, other than access to clean water. Before vaccines were available, deaths and serious illness caused by vaccine-preventable diseases such as smallpox, polio, TB, measles and influenza, were common. As many vaccine preventable diseases have become so infrequent, people have forgotten the serious nature of these illnesses.
In spite of the obvious benefits that come from vaccination, I must also acknowledge there can be serious adverse outcomes for some people arising out of vaccination. More than 1 million doses of pandemic influenza vaccine were administered during the 2009 ‘flu pandemic. Up to 16 July last, the Health Products Regulatory Authority, the statutory authority for licensing and safety of all medicines including vaccines licensed in Ireland, had received 64 reports which confirm a diagnosis of narcolepsy in people who had previously received pandemic influenza vaccination.
My priority as Minister for Health, and the priority of the HSE, is that the individuals and families affected receive appropriate health care and supports. As a result of work by my Department, the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills, a range of services and supports, regardless of age, are offered on an ex gratia basis. These services and supports, coordinated by the HSE national advocacy unit, are intended to provide that individuals receive tailored assistance to address their specific requirements. It is acknowledged that treatment and individual medical needs may have to be reassessed over time to take account of changes in their condition or circumstances. Consequently, the services and supports provided are reassessed on an ongoing basis to take account of any changes in the individuals' conditions and circumstances.
As Senators may be aware, legal action has been initiated by 15 families alleging personal injury in which they are claiming the development of narcolepsy resulted from the administration of the pandemic vaccine. It would be inappropriate for me to comment further on these cases for legal reasons. I do acknowledge the impact on the lives of these people and families affected by narcolepsy and reiterate my commitment to the ongoing provision of appropriate services and supports.
Approximately 1 million vaccinations were administered and an enormous supply of vaccines was made available to the State from the companies in question. The Government gave a blanket guarantee on the basis that the vaccine was administered off-licence, even though it was administered off-licence at a time when concerns were growing in the Scandinavian countries in regard to the risk of narcolepsy and vaccination. A number of questions need to be addressed, the most crucial of which is why so much vaccine was used. No other country went down the route of blanket vaccinations. How much vaccine was purchased and at what cost? How much was left over afterwards or destroyed at a cost to the State?
I am glad the Minister spoke about the effects on the people who have been impacted. The daughter of one my constituents was impacted by the vaccine. She described the condition like trying not to sleep for 72 hours and then being expected to go about her day's work. I know the daughter and she is a fine young person. There is a grievance for the people involved. I say this in a positive manner so that the Minister might take the opportunity to do something about the issue. Information has not filtered down to GPs about what is supposed to happen to the estimated 64 people who were badly affected. Long-term supports are lacking and, while discretionary medical cards have been provided to those affected, this is at the discretion of the HSE. There appears to be little or no co-ordination or response form the HSE, the Department of Health or the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Early intervention is critical for those who are still at school or studying but the Department of Education and Skills has not provided any special supports. The response of the Department of Social Protection has been particularly poor and inconsistent. The families concerned report that there has been little or no communication between the relevant Departments and those who are affected.
I am hopeful that we can move to a place whereby people are satisfied with the response, in comparison to the current position whereby there is nothing but dissatisfaction. It is 13 times more likely that somebody vaccinated with Pandemrix will be affected by narcolepsy. I do not want the State to be liable for funds but if the State is wrong, it is wrong. I would like to see faster and greater movement on the issue. The reason for the court case is because of a lack of movement. It disappoints me that the Government has acted poorly on this occasion.
Unfortunately, I cannot answer the Senator's question on the cost of the vaccines and what was used. I will revert to him if that information is available. As legal cases are outstanding, I am limited in what I can say. I acknowledge his point that the effects are wider than health. They include individuals' education and future employment needs. I can supply a more detailed briefing to provide information that may be helpful to people in terms of the contact person for each region and what is available from the education system, in particular, to support those who are affected.
Voluntary Sector Funding
I appreciate that the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, has only been in his current role for several days but this issue has been well ventilated in the press and in these Houses recently. I am speaking specifically about the loss of €88,000 to the Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association. Under the special scheme for financing national organisations, the association used this money to facilitate a visitor programme. Perhaps it will be able to replace this money from within its own budget but that is not the answer. The bottom line is that it is down €88,000. All of us know the devastating impact of motor neurone disease on anybody who has the misfortune to acquire it. Our colleague, the late Deputy Nicky McFadden, passed away last March as a result of motor neurone disease. I know a number of people who suffer from the disease, as well as several who are no longer with us because of it.
I do not think any fair minded person wants to see a reduction of €88,000 because most people would acknowledge the work that the association does. We need a long-term solution to this problem. The national disability strategy is a good strategy but this cut flies in the face of its implementation. This is a case of the Government governing by the head rather than the heart but there is no logic in the decision because it will have to be rectified. In the long term, I hope that a proper multi-annual approach will be taken.
The Motor Neurone Disease Association exists specifically to support and advocate for people who suffer from motor neurone disease. As it is not going to go away, it has to be supported. Let us put in place a multi-annual programme of funding to support its advocacy, research and visiting work, as well as the assistance it gives to the families of those who suffer from the disease. Approximately 13% of its funding comes from the State, whereas the remaining 87% is raised by volunteers. The taxpayer and the State are getting good for money from its work. I appeal to the Minister to include this issue in his suite of reviews. I understand other organisations, such as the Disability Federation of Ireland, have sought a review. I am on the board of directors of a governing body of another national organisation, the CARA centre in Tralee, which applied for funding under this programme for the first time and was turned down. We need to take a long-term strategic approach based on multi-annual funding so that organisations and their service users are not left in a state of anxiety.
I am pleased to have an opportunity to address the Seanad on the funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, who cannot be here.
The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. A new scheme commenced from 1 July this year. The overall budget for 2014, including both the previous scheme and the new scheme, is €3.1 million. During 2013, a review of the scheme found that it has fulfilled its main objective of providing multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. The review recommended that organisations be required to demonstrate clearly the added value of the work proposed. The effective use of core funding in recipient organisations also requires that robust governance and cost control procedures are in place in those organisations.
The new scheme was advertised for applications earlier this year. Pobal were asked to undertake an assessment of the applications received, given that organisation's significant experience and expertise of both the design of assessment criteria and completion of assessment functions.
Two well-attended information sessions were hosted by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and Pobal during the application process to outline the requirements of the new scheme. Application guidelines were also issued, outlining the scoring process, which included capacity of the organisation, strategic fit, demonstration of need, achievability of the proposal and value for money. Organisations were provided with support in the application process, including a dedicated e-mail address as a preferred contact method to deal promptly with queries, and inquiries were also dealt with by telephone.
Some 157 applications were received by Pobal. Of these, three applications did not meet the basic eligibility criteria. The remaining 154 applications were appraised by Pobal against the criteria as outlined in the application guidance. In order to make funding available to as many organisations as possible within the prevailing resource constraints and taking into consideration the results of the appraisal process, 55 applications were approved for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. The Irish Motor Neuron Disease Association is not one of the organisations been approved for funding on this occasion as it did not achieve a high enough ranking to be funded within the budget available.
Pobal has put in place a dedicated team to deal with any inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed feedback. There is also an appeals process and Pobal has provided applicants with detailed information on this process. As this appeals process is now live, it would not be appropriate for the Minister, Deputy Kelly, or me on his behalf to make any further comment on the funding process or the application of any particular organisation.
I thank the Minister for his detailed reply. I fully accept that it would not be appropriate to interfere with a live appeals process. I understand that the closing deadline for that appeals process was lunchtime last Friday. I hope the appeals officers in these cases will take a fresh look at the overall context of what has been achieved here and will also look at the track record of organisations that have been refused. We are not talking about much money here, but it has a significant effect on the lives of many of our citizens. Sometimes decisions have to be made that are the right decisions. I hope the appeals process will look favourably on cases that are well made and I believe this case stands on its own two feet.
As this case is under appeal, I am limited in what I can say. From discussing the matter with other people, I understand that the funding it has is in place for the remainder of the year, so there is a window of opportunity there. The decision is made by Pobal which is not under the aegis of my Department but under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Of course other factors need to be taken into account. Even an organisation that is doing very good work that might be very well meaning has to have all its accounts in order and all those factors have to be taken into account. As I have said, it is under appeal at the moment and I hope that Pobal will be able to find a solution that will be satisfactory to most people.
Wind Energy Guidelines
Táim an-bhuíoch don Chathaoirleach as ucht an ábhar seo a roghnú ar an Athló, ábhar an-tábhachtach do dhaoine thart timpeall na tíre. I am grateful for the opportunity to raise this subject, which is causing considerable fear and anxiety not just in County Meath, but throughout the country. Last December the then Minister of State with responsibility for housing and planning, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, and the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan, announced a review of planning guidelines under section 28 of the Planning Act in respect of wind turbines and invited a public consultation. Many people were not happy with the Government's guidelines and made their submissions. Since then nothing has happened.
I understand the Department is examining all the submissions and that is taking time. However, on the ground planning applications for wind turbines are being submitted left, right and centre, as part of which the pre-planning process has commenced for a 46-turbine project in County Meath, with each turbine almost 600 ft. high. The danger is, as has happened in other areas in south Meath and Laois in particular, that planning permission will be granted for projects under the guidelines which the Government admits are outdated. Speaking here last week I believe the Minister even said that the current guidelines are outdated and not relevant to the types of turbines that are going in.
I am suggesting, as many others have done, that the Government puts a moratorium in place until it publishes guidelines. It should immediately publish guidelines that will be acceptable to the citizens who have to live in proximity to these turbines. There is unbelievable anger out there. The few Government Deputies who attend meetings will realise the anger about this. There needs to be a moratorium. I cannot accept it cannot be done. I have written proposed legislation to help the process. I believe a moratorium could effectively be put in place using guidelines under the Planning Act. Guidance should be given to An Bord Pleanála and the local authorities that they should not give permission for wind turbines until the Government has made up its mind on the policy.
I am looking for a positive response from the Minister. Based on what I have heard from colleagues, I know the Minister, Deputy Kelly, is examining this issue very closely, but I would like to see a complete change of policy from what has gone on up to now. It is not fair on communities.
I thank the Senator for raising this matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Kelly, who cannot be in the House today.
As outlined during a recent Seanad Adjournment debate on this matter, planning authorities, including An Bord Pleanála must have regard to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government's 2006 wind-energy development guidelines, issued under section 28 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, when assessing and determining planning applications for wind-energy development proposals. These guidelines provide advice to planning authorities on catering for wind-energy development through the development plan and development management processes. The guidelines are also intended to ensure consistency of approach throughout the country in the identification of suitable locations for wind-energy development and the treatment of planning applications for such developments.
A public consultation was commenced in December 2013 on proposed draft revisions to the existing 2006 guidelines, focussing specifically on the issues of noise, setbacks and shadow flicker. These draft revisions propose: the setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future wind-energy developments; a mandatory minimum setback of 500 m between a wind turbine and the nearest dwelling for amenity considerations; and the complete elimination of shadow flicker between wind turbines and neighbouring dwellings.
The Department received submissions from 2,500 organisations and members of the public during the public consultation period and the submissions, which are currently being considered, will be an important input into the final version of the revised guidelines, which will be issued to planning authorities.
Further work is advancing to develop technical appendices to assist planning authorities with the practical application of the noise measurement aspects of the revised guidelines, when they are finalised. It is intended to finalise the revised wind-energy development guidelines later this year and they will then be issued to planning authorities.
The current review of the guidelines is focussed and limited in nature, and only relates to the noise, shadow flicker and proximity elements of the existing wind-energy development guidelines. Therefore, the remaining content of the 2006 guidelines will remain unchanged in the revised guidelines to be issued later this year. In this context, it is not proposed to suspend the granting of planning permissions for wind-farm developments pending the publication of the specific limited revisions to the 2006 guidelines. Planning authorities will be required to have regard to the revised guidelines with effect from their date of issue in subsequent decisions they make on proposed wind-energy developments, with the existing 2006 guidelines remaining in place in the interim.
I should have wished the Minister well in his new job as Minister for Health. Of course health issues come up regularly with these projects. I am disappointed that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, himself, is not here - I had expected that he would be.
This reminds me of the tax amnesty. The Government gives a signal to let people know they have a few months to regularise their affairs and they will be all right. That is exactly what has happened here. The signal was given in December that the planning rules would be tightened up a small bit - we are hoping that they will go much further because the guidelines are not acceptable. However, developers, who get in before the Government publishes the guidelines, will get their planning permission on the basis of guidelines the Government admits are outdated. That is what is happening at the moment throughout the country. Developers are getting planning permissions straight through.
There is no indication as to when these guidelines will be published. There is no statutory provision for this long public consultation period. The Act states that the Minister may issue guidelines. Why does he not issue guidelines, pointing out that these are different turbines? At 600 ft. they are different from what was available in 2006.
I plead with the Minister, on behalf of the people, to listen and state it is wrong to allow outdated planning guidelines. We are supposed to be in favour of proper planning and development, but we are openly stating if planning permission is applied for and we have not published the guidelines the applicant will get through the gap. It is completely wrong. The Minister should bring this back to Cabinet. It is driving people mad throughout the country, and rightly so because it is so unfair.
I totally note the Senator's comments and I know it is a big issue. It has been raised with me as I have travelled throughout the country, and as recently as last week Deputy McEntee spoke to me about it. It is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and I will pass on the Senator's comments to him.
Education and Training Boards
I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy Damien English, to the House. It is his first time to come before Seanad Éireann and I congratulate him on his new portfolio and wish him the best of luck.
I thank the Cathaoirleach for accepting this Adjournment matter which I tabled. I know there were huge demands from other colleagues. I join the Cathaoirleach in warmly welcoming to the House the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English. His appointment is well-received and long overdue. I wish him well in his role as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills.
Last year, 33 VECs were replaced by 16 education and training boards, ETBs. These were given full responsibility for the planning and delivery of education and training in their areas. As a result of the amalgamation, five ETBs have no training centre located within their jurisdiction. These are Cavan and Monaghan ETB, Laois and Offaly ETB, Kildare and Wicklow ETB, Tipperary ETB and Kilkenny and Carlow ETB. Cavan and Monaghan ETB has submitted detailed proposals to the Department of Education and Skills centred on the following provisions being put in place by 1 January 2015: apprenticeships training, contracted training, community training, the migration of IT systems, staffing requirements and budget transfer.
The former FÁS training centre located in Dundalk, County Louth was transferred to Louth and Meath ETB on 1 July. Cavan and Monaghan ETB chief executive, Mr. Martin O'Brien, and Mr. John Kearney, the education officer, have been attempting to communicate with Louth and Meath ETB regarding the transfer share of the training budget and the associated staffing since early May. However, to date none of the communication efforts initiated by it with the chief executive of Louth and Meath ETB have been reciprocated. I understand the training manager of the Dundalk training centre has indicated his refusal to present an overview of training being delivered in the Cavan and Monaghan region. This reluctance by Louth and Meath ETB to engage with Cavan and Monaghan ETB runs contrary to agreement protocols arranged by the Department of Education and Skills and SOLAS.
For Cavan and Monaghan ETB not to deliver its own training runs contrary to all national policy on job creation. In specific terms, the impracticality of Louth and Meath ETB delivering training in the Cavan and Monaghan ETB area will ensure that further education and training growth potential will not be fully achieved, and will result in job creation not being maximised in counties Cavan and Monaghan. It will also result in the benefits of the national apprenticeship programmes not being fully realised in Cavan and Monaghan, and the facilities of Cavan Institute and Monaghan Institute not being fully maximised. It will also result in a lack of proper quality assurance systems and financial control frameworks for further education and training delivery in the Cavan and Monaghan region.
I understand Cavan and Monaghan ETB has requested the Department to appoint a facilitator to assist the engagement process between Cavan and Monaghan ETB and Louth and Meath ETB but nothing has happened in this regard to date. The board of Cavan and Monaghan ETB takes this matter very seriously and has made it clear to me, and to Deputies Brendan Smith and Joe O'Reilly who have raised this issue in the Lower House, that it will not tolerate not having a budget to help it provide training in its jurisdiction. The board has written to the Taoiseach seeking a meeting with him, such is the seriousness with which it takes this matter. I look forward to hearing the reply of the Minister of State.
I thank the Cathaoirleach for his kind words. I could become a regular visitor here.
As a Minister of State.
Last week I was sitting in the Gallery wondering if I would ever be here and now I am. I also thank Senator Wilson for his kind comments. I appreciate them. It will be nice to work with him on matters such as this, which affect us all.
I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline the position on the planning for training provision in the Cavan and Monaghan area from 2015 onwards. The Further Education and Training Strategy 2014-2019 was published by SOLAS in April and sets out a way forward for the sector. One of the key initiatives in the strategy is the production each year of an integrated further education and training service plan. The first of these plans was produced this year and is available on the SOLAS website.
The annual planning process will be informed by an analysis of need in each ETB area and includes engagement with key stakeholders. A comprehensive analysis of available statistical data will be undertaken to help to determine regional and local course types, with the focus on providing market-led education and training opportunities, while also supporting early school leavers and others who are further away from the labour market. The reform of the further education and training sector envisages a key role for ETBs in the future delivery of further education and training in an integrated manner. Part of this involves the transfer of training centres from SOLAS to ETBs. A total of seven training centres and their staff transferred to ETBs on 1 January 2014, and the remaining 12 training centres transferred to the seven ETBs on 1 July 2014. Each training centre, including the training centre in Dundalk which provides training services within the functional area of Cavan and Monaghan ETB, will come under the ETB in whose functional area the centre is located. A total of five ETBs, including Cavan and Monaghan ETB, will not receive a training centre, as the Senator outlined. There has been, and certainly should have been, extensive discussion on this matter between the ETBs, SOLAS and the Department. I note the Senator's concerns that there was not proper consultation or that this is the prevailing view. I will check into this and ensure this happens.
While recognising that the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 provides for all ETBs to have training functions, the paramount consideration for the Department is the continuity of training services for learners. An agreed position for 2014 is in place, whereby ETBs with training centres retain primary responsibility for training and continue to provide services to areas which do not have training centres. A process is under way to consider the position for 2015 and beyond and a number of options are being examined. As part of this process, the Department received a proposal on 24 June from Cavan and Monaghan ETB regarding the delivery of training in Cavan and Monaghan for 2015 onwards. I note the Senator's concern that there has not been proper consultation, a meeting has not taken place and that a facilitator is being sought, so I am glad to inform the House that as it stands, a meeting between the CEOs of Louth and Meath ETB and Cavan and Monaghan ETB has been agreed with a view to planning for training provision in Cavan and Monaghan from 2015 onwards. This meeting is expected to take place shortly. Both parties and SOLAS have also agreed that a representative from SOLAS will attend the meeting, having regard to the experience and knowledge of SOLAS in this area. We will watch this space and ensure the meeting happens and see how it goes from there.
The Department will await the outcome of this meeting before considering this matter further and will keep in contact with those concerned. I am confident that whatever decision is arrived at, the new ETB service planning process will ensure that Cavan and Monaghan ETB is well served with further education and training options developed on a fully informed basis for 2015 and beyond.
I thank the Minister of State for his very comprehensive reply.
If there had been extensive discussion between the two ETBs on the matter then there would have been no need for me to table an Adjournment matter this afternoon. It is serious when one education training board, in effect, refuses to communicate with another on a matter of budget and personnel. It is unfortunate that this matter has reached the stage of being raised in both the Dáil and the Seanad in order for the people of Cavan and Monaghan to get fair play from the larger ETB. This is a delicate matter for the Minister of State because part of the ETB we are having difficulties with is responsible for the provision of training in his county, along with the provision of education.
I welcome his statement that a meeting has been arranged between the CEO of Louth-Meath and the CEO of Cavan-Monaghan. I hope the matter will be progressed in an orderly and speedy manner. I look forward to a positive outcome for the Cavan and Monaghan education and training board.
We have been informed that there have been extensive discussions and engagement, which there should have been. The Senator has put it on record here that the opposite is the case, so I will check it out.
I thank the Minister of State.
People must work together to maximise resources, and the Senator's county colleagues started the process. It is important that there are discussions and the initiative is implemented correctly, thus allowing everyone to have their say. We want to bring the service back to the user, and maximising resources will help to prepare people for a job, which is key. I will check out the situation and make sure negotiations have taken place correctly, as in the past. More importantly, I will ensure that the meeting happens soon and we get the proper outcome. I hope a proper working relationship will result that will deliver the services needed across the board. The Senator is correct in stating that the situation affects my county and his county. I will take an interest in the matter and keep an eye on the process.
I wish everyone a very happy summer holiday.
The Seanad adjourned at 4.25 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday, 31 July 2014.