Wednesday, 12 Feb 2014

Written Answers Nos. 202-207

Early Years Strategy Implementation

Ceisteanna (202)

Joanna Tuffy

Ceist:

202. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number and dates of consultations between officials of her Department and officials from the Departments of Health, Education and Skills, Social Protection, Environment, Community and Local Government (Housing), Justice and Equality, and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in terms of input into the early years strategy; her level of satisfaction with interdepartmental and inter-agency co-operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7195/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Early Years Strategy is one of a number of detailed strategies under the National Children and Young People’s Policy Framework 2014-2018 which is nearing finalisation. This will set out the overall principles, vision and outcomes for children and young people and will guide actions across Government over the period 2014 to 2018. I hope to publish the Policy Framework later this year. I expect that the Early Years Strategy will be finalised and published shortly thereafter.

I appointed an Expert Advisory Group, chaired by Dr Eilis Hennessy of UCD, to advise on recommendations for inclusion in the Strategy and their comprehensive report, ‘Right from the Start’, was launched at the end of last year. The recommendations in the report are being considered within my Department.

I held a consultation event at which key stakeholders from a wide range of relevant areas examined the recommendations and considered whether other issues needed to be considered for inclusion in the Early Years Strategy. There is also ongoing consultation and collaboration between officials from my Department and other Government Departments and agencies on matters relevant to the delivery of childcare services. These consultations together with the report of the Expert Advisory Group will contribute substantially to the final draft of the new Strategy. Further discussion will be arranged if considered appropriate before the final Strategy is published.

Child Care Services Funding

Ceisteanna (203)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

203. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is aware of the impact that the delay in the CCS allocations has had on the community sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7199/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs

The Childcare Directorate of my Department implements the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme, with assistance from Pobal in relation to issuing payments.

Community childcare services qualify for funding under the CCS programme on the basis of the level of service they provide and the profile of the parents benefiting from their service. The information provided in the parental declaration forms submitted to my Department is verified by the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and the HSE. This information determines the level of subvention which applies to each individual parent. This information is gathered during a ‘snap shot’ week in the month of October.

Service providers consider their budget and fees policies prior to the ‘snap shot’ week based on the number of children they have in the service and their own requests for information from parents to estimate what subvention level they can apply for. The DCYA also advises that service providers should request this information again from parents during the ‘snap shot’ week.

All service providers receive preliminary payments before the verification process is complete, from which over or under payment may be adjusted at the next payment run, following the verification process.

Following verification, participating services are provided with a list of qualifying parents and confirmation of the subvention level applied to each parent. Parents can appeal if they consider that they are entitled to a higher rate of subvention. Applications for appeal must be submitted within one month of receipt of confirmation of subvention level. Confirmation of subvention levels is usually administered in mid-December, with appeals to be submitted by the end of January.

I appreciate that there was a delay last year in the verification process. Service providers received an extra preliminary payment in December due to this delay. The verification process in this school year issued to childcare providers in January and the closing date for parents to appeal these decisions and to establish their eligibility for the programme is the 28th February.

The appeals process for this year is underway and the outcomes will be communicated to the childcare providers as quickly as possible. While there was a delay in the verification of subvention levels, the appeals process is currently being processed at a quick pace and so, it is anticipated that the complete process will be finalised earlier than other years.

In cases where a decision is required as a matter of urgency, it is always open to the participating childcare service to contact the Childcare Directorate in advance of a formal determination being issued.

It is my intention to review all aspects of the childcare support programmes with a view, inter alia, to ensure that the maximum benefit is provided to parents and children in need of childcare support and that the payment process is streamlined so that providers are in a position to meet their financial deadlines.

Dental Services Provision

Ceisteanna (204)

Derek Nolan

Ceist:

204. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Health the date on which a person (details supplied) in County Galway will have all necessary dental treatment carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6971/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Departmental Bodies

Ceisteanna (205)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

205. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of bodies under the aegis of his Department in respect of Government policy for which he is responsible for answering parliamentary questions pursuant to Standing Order 34. [7003/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

Standing Order 34 directs that questions addressed to a member of the Government must relate to public affairs connected with his or her Department, or to matters of administration for which he or she is officially responsible (including bodies under the aegis of his or her Department in respect of Government policy).

Operational matters for bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the relevant Director/CEO/Registrar. Issues regarding governance, funding for and employment control in the bodies, where relevant, are generally matters for answer by my Department.

A list of the bodies agencies under the aegis of my Department is set out below.

Non Commercial Agencies	-
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Self funding)	-
Dental Council (Self funding)	-
Food Safety Authority of Ireland	-
Food Safety Promotions Board	-
Health and Social Care Professionals Council	-
Health Information and Quality Authority	-
Health Insurance Authority (Self funding)	-
Health Research Board	-
Irish Blood Transfusion Service (Self funding)	-
Irish Medicines Board (approximately 14% exchequer funded, 86% self funded)	-
Medical Council (Self funding)	-
Mental Health Commission	-
National Cancer Registry Board	-
National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (Funded by HSE)	-
National Treatment Purchase Fund	-
Opticians Board (Self funding)	-
Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (Self funding)	-
Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council	-
-	-
Commercial Agency	-
VHI	-

Ministerial Appointments

Ceisteanna (206)

Michael McNamara

Ceist:

206. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of bodies to which he has the authority to appoint board members. [7018/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

I have statutory authority under the legislation which established the following agencies to make appointments to their boards. In some cases I have nominating rights for board members. In others I make the appointments on the nomination of other bodies, in accordance with the establishing legislation.

Beaumont Hospital Board.

Consultative Council on Hepatitis C.

Dental Council.

Dieticians Registration Board.

Dublin Dental Hospital Board.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland and its Scientific Committee.

Health and Social Care Professionals Council.

Health Information and Quality Authority.

Health Insurance Authority.

Health Research Board.

Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal.

Irish Blood Transfusion Service.

Irish Medicines Board and its Advisory Committee for Veterinary Medicines, Advisory Committee on Medical Devices and National Committee for the Protection of Animals used for Scientific Purposes.

Leopardstown Park Hospital Board.

Medical Council.

Mental Health Commission.

National Cancer Registry Board.

National Haemophilia Council.

National Paediatric Hospital Development Board.

National Treatment Purchase Fund.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.

Occupational Therapists Registration Board.

Opticians Board.

Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland.

Physiotherapists Registration Board.

Pre Hospital Emergency Care Council.

Radiographers Registration Board.

St James’s Hospital Board.

Speech and Language Therapists Registration Board.

Social Workers Registration Board.

Tallaght Hospital Board.

Voluntary Health Insurance Board.

In addition, in my role as Minister for Health, I have made appointments to the following non statutory Boards, which have been established as part of the Health Reform agenda:

Children’s Hospital Group Board

Dublin East Hospital Group Board

Dublin Midlands Hospital Group Board

Dublin North-East Hospital Group Board

South/Southwest Hospital Group Board

University of Limerick Hospital Group Board

West/Northwest Hospital Group Board.

Local Authority Functions

Ceisteanna (207)

Kevin Humphreys

Ceist:

207. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all specific new powers or functions conferred by legislation on local authorities under his remit since June 2009 and a reference to the specific section or regulation in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7033/14]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Health

The information requested by the Deputy is set out below. Local authorities are “official agencies” carrying out functions under a service contract and acting on behalf of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland pursuant to section 48 of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland Act of 1998.

Title of Legislation	Description of new power or function conferred on local authorities	Date legislation passed
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (PURITY CRITERIA ON FOOD ADDITIVES OTHER THAN COLOURS AND SWEETENERS) REGULATIONS 2009 –S.I. 277 of 2009 Regulation 19	These Regulations give effect to Commission Directive 2008/84/EC of 27 August 2008 laying down specific purity criteria on food additives other than colours and sweeteners, as amended by Commission Directive 2009/10/EC of 13 February 2009. Regulation 19 permits local authorities to prosecute summary offences for breaches of the above.	23 July 2009
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (NUTRITION LABELLING FOR FOODSTUFFS) REGULATIONS 2009 – S.I. 461 of 2009 Regulation 24	These Regulations give further effect to Council Directive 90/496/EEC on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs as amended by Commission Directive 2003/120/EC. They also specifically give effect to Commission Directive 2008/100/EC amending Council Directive 90/496/EEC on nutrition labelling for foodstuffs as regards recommended daily allowances, energy conversion factors and definitions, particularly as regards fibre. Regulation 24 permits local authorities to prosecute summary offences for breaches of the above.	26 November 2009
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (EXTRACTION SOLVENTS USED IN THE PRODUCTION OF FOODSTUFFS AND FOOD INGREDIENTS) REGULATIONS 2010 - S.I. 119 of 2010 Regulation 25	These Regulations give effect to Directive 2009/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on extraction solvents used in the production of foodstuffs and food ingredients. Regulation 25 permits local authorities to prosecute summary offences for breaches of the above.	23 March 2010
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (CERTAIN CONTAMINANTS IN FOODSTUFFS) REGULATIONS 2010 – S.I. 218 of 2010 Regulation 32	The principal effect of these Regulations is to provide for the enforcement of the maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs set in Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1881/2006, as amended, and to provide for the enforcement of the methods of sampling, and for the sample preparation and methods of analysis for the official control of the levels of certain contaminants in foodstuffs which methods are set out in the Annexes to Commission Regulations (EC) Nos. 401/2006, as amended, 1882/2006, 1883/2006 and 333/2007. Regulation 32 permits local authorities to prosecute summary offences for breaches of the above.	19 May 2010
EUROPEAN UNION (FOODSTUFFS INTENDED FOR PARTICULAR NUTRITIONAL USES) REGULATIONS 2012 – S.I. 169 of 2012 Regulation 26	These Regulations give effect to Directive 2009/39/EC of 6 May 2009 on foodstuffs intended for particular nutritional uses and to Commission Regulation (EC) No. 953/2009 of 13 October 2009 on substances that may be added for specific nutritional purposes in foods for particular nutritional uses as amended by Commission Regulation (EU) No. 1161/2011 of 14 November 2011. Regulation 26 permits local authorities to prosecute summary offences for breaches of the above.	24 May 2012
EUROPEAN UNION (NUTRITION AND HEALTH CLAIMS MADE ON FOODS) REGULATIONS 2014 – S.I. 11 of 2014 Regulation 34	These Regulations give effect to Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on nutrition and health claims made on foods, as affected by Corrigendum to Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006 and as amended. They also give effect to other EU Regulations establishing a list of permitted health claims made on foods, other than those referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health. Furthermore, they also give effect to numerous EU Regulations on the authorisation of certain health claims made on foods and referring to the reduction of disease risk and to children’s development and health. Regulation 24 permits local authorities to prosecute summary offences for breaches of the above	21 January 2014