Written Answers Nos. 335-347
335. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the regional breakdown of the community mental health positions appointed following the budget 2012 €35 million allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2078/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra336. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the regional breakdown of the community mental health positions appointed following the budget 2013 €35 million allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2079/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra337. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the proposed regional breakdown of the community mental health positions appointed following the budget 2013 €20 million allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2080/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 335 to 337, inclusive, together.
This Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services in line with A Vision for Change and is committed in particular to the delivery of more and better quality care in the community. Additional funding totalling €70 million and some 900 new posts have been provided as part of the 2012 and 2013 Budgets primarily to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children and to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness and forensic mental health services in line with A Vision for Change.
Recruitment of the posts approved for both 2012 and 2013 is continuing. As at the end of November, 2013 the recruitment process is complete for 376.5 or 91% of the 414 posts approved in 2012 with a further 17.5 or 4% of posts in the final stages of the recruitment process.
Of the posts approved in 2013, the recruitment process is complete for 137.5 or 29% of the posts, 134.5 or 28% have been accepted and are being processed for clearance and 165 or 35% are at earlier stages of the recruitment or HR process. The posts related to the €35 million allocated in 2013 will continue to come on stream and are targeted to be completed in Quarter 2 of 2014. A tabular breakdown of the current position in relation to 2012 and 2013 posts is shown below.
There are, however, a number of posts for which there are difficulties in identifying suitable candidates due to factors including availability of qualified candidates and geographic location. The HSE's National Recruitment Service is currently working to ensure that the remaining posts will be filled as soon as possible, from existing panels or through competition in the absence of panels, at the earliest opportunity. Options to enable more local recruitment are also being considered where this will assist in filling specific posts. I have received assurances from the HSE that the recruitment process for these posts is being given priority within the HSE.
In Budget 2014, the Government has again re-committed to the continued development of our mental health services in these extremely challenging times, where the options for additional expenditure generally are very constrained. €20 million is being ringfenced for the further development of our mental health services in 2014. This means that, despite serious resource pressures overall, funding of €90m has been made available since 2012 up to end of 2014, which has been specifically ear-marked for mental health and suicide prevention.
This funding will enable the HSE to continue to develop and modernise our mental health services in line with the recommendations of A Vision for Change and will allow for the recruitment of between 250 and 280 additional staff to further enhance our -
- Adult Community Mental Health Teams
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams
- Specialist Mental Health Teams
The HSE is currently preparing a National Mental Health Divisional Plan which will detail further its objectives in 2014 and will include prioritised actions for each Mental Health Catchment Area. Decisions on the regional breakdown of the new 2013 posts will be made following a business case and analysis process. This will ensure that the required professional grades are recruited to fill identified gaps in the service. The recruitment process for these new posts will commence in the first Quarter of 2014, with all posts targeted to be in place by Quarter 4 of 2014.
Progress in Recruitment of 2012 posts per region and initiative as at 30 November 2013
|
NSP 2012 |
General Adult |
CAMHS |
National Counselling Service |
Total |
|
DML |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
63.5 |
54.5 |
3 |
121 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
58 |
47.5 |
3 |
108.5 |
|
DNE |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
65 |
20 |
2 |
87 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
61 |
18 |
2 |
81 |
|
South |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
65 |
40 |
2 |
107 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
59 |
36 |
2 |
97 |
|
West |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
62 |
36 |
3 |
101 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
54 |
33 |
3 |
90 |
|
National |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
255.5 |
150.5 |
10 |
416 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
232 |
134.5 |
10 |
376.5 |
Progress in Recruitment of 2013 posts per region and initiative as at 30 November 2013
|
NSP 2013 |
General Adult |
CAMHS |
Clinical Programmes |
Forensic |
Mental Health Intellectual Disability |
Older Persons |
NOSP |
Total |
|
DML |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
49 |
24 |
10 |
28 |
10 |
24.5 |
2 |
147.5 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
13 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
23 |
|
DNE |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
39.49 |
17.5 |
9.5 |
0 |
10 |
19 |
1 |
96.49 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
12 |
7 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
13.5 |
0 |
38.5 |
|
South |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
45 |
26 |
8 |
0 |
10.5 |
22.5 |
2 |
114 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
17 |
10 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
0 |
39 |
|
West |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
41 |
12 |
8 |
0 |
7 |
26 |
3 |
97 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
21 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
9 |
0 |
37 |
|
NOSP |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
4 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
National |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Posts Allocated |
174.49 |
79.5 |
35.5 |
28 |
37.5 |
92 |
12 |
458.99 |
|
Recruitment process complete |
63 |
24 |
8 |
1 |
6 |
35.5 |
0 |
137.5 |
338. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to the announcement in July 2012 on the recruitment of a number of additional primary care staff, the number that were filled by 31 December 2013; the target month in 2014 for when each of the remaining posts will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2093/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe recruitment process is ongoing in relation to the of 264.5 Primary Care Team posts, which were announced in 2012 and approved in 2013. The position as of 6th January 2014 is as follows:
- 160 posts filled or start dates agreed;
- 51 posts offered / start dates still to be agreed;
- 17 posts in final stages of recruitment (subject to Garda clearance, etc.);
- 36.5 posts recruitment process ongoing (unable to fill in first recruitment campaign).
The HSE is striving to have all posts filled as soon as possible in 2014.
339. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of each allocation from his Department’s expenditure budget to registered charities in each of the past three years. [2103/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of National Lottery grants from my Department's Discretionary Lottery Fund, for the past three years, to applicants who provided a charitable status number are listed in the tables provided.
341. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is likely to be offered a surgical procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2168/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
342. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the correct level of support payable in respect of the fair deal scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the amount to be provided by the person's child who is in receipt of social welfare payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2169/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
343. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health the estimated number and percentage of civil servants who are competent to carry out their duties through the mediums of Irish and English in his Department; his views on whether this number is adequate; his plans to increase this number and percentage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2630/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has approximately 10 staff or up to 3 % of the total number of employees who are capable of carrying out their duties through both the Irish and English languages. All written correspondence addressed to the Department in Irish is replied to in Irish and any telephone queries are referred to one of the members of staff competent in Irish.
As the Department does not provide health services directly to the public, I am satisfied that the number of staff in my Department who are competent in Irish is adequate and I have no plans to definitively increase that number at this time although existing staff are afforded the opportunity on a continuing basis to improve their skills in the Irish language.
344. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of consultants or consultancy firms employed by his Department during each of the past five years; the purpose and duration of each of these consultancies or consultancy contracts; the names of the consultants or firms; if he will list architectural consultancies separately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1835/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra347. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will detail, in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of the external public relations firm; his internal Department policy regarding employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1873/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra348. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form a list of all professional fees, including but not limited to legal, consultancy, IT related, advisory, capital, advertising and accountancy; the company name and the amount invoiced between 1 May 2011 and 31 December 2013. [1912/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra355. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a breakdown of amount paid to consultants over the past five years; if he will provide a description of the service provided by the consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2016/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 344, 347, 348 and 355 together.
The information requested by the Deputies is published on my Department's website and can be found at the following link http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/expenditure-external-services.
345. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of any damage to infrastructure during the recent severe weather spell that he has been notified of; and the cost to repair any damage. [1837/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt its meeting on 14 January 2014, the Government considered an Interim Report from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government on the impacts of the recent severe weather.
The interim report contained preliminary estimates from local authorities on damage caused by the storms. In relation to sectors under my responsibility, the Interim Report estimated the damage to roads to be in the region of €20 million. The report also noted damage to Irish Rail infrastructure and buildings, the environs of some lighthouses areas and to some Irish Coast Guard Coastal Unit properties. In the case of Irish Rail, I have been advised that the preliminary estimated costs of remedial and repair works are in the order of €3.1 million. Estimates for damage costs to lighthouse environs, coastal units and other infrastructure are awaited.
The Government has asked local authorities to prepare more detailed costings and plans for repairing storm damage and will consider the matter again next month when these are to hand.
346. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will detail, in tabular form, the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1858/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPhotography costs incurred by my Department are on its website at the link below and this information is updated quarterly.
http://www.dttas.ie/corporate/english/photography-costs
It is the policy of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport that photography costs are kept to a minimum and services are provided in-house by staff. Where services are contracted, best value is sought and a number of quotes are obtained. Services are contracted out on an exceptional basis only.
