Written Answers Nos. 656-678
656. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 467 of 24 June 2014, the full cost of policing to which she alluded; the cost of all salaries of gardaí brought into the area; and the meaning by the normal course referred to with regard to duties at the Corrib gas project. [29767/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda Authorities that the overall costs of the policing operation for the Corrib Gas project from the commencement of the operation in August 2005 to end May 2014, the date for which latest figures are available, is approximately €16.3 million. A detailed breakdown of costs is set out in the table below.
Corrib Gas operation costs: August 2005- May 2014
|
Overtime and allowances |
€10,032,869 |
|
Travel & Subsistence |
€5,385,714 |
|
Employer's PRSI |
€534,265 |
|
Miscellaneous Expenses |
€359,919 |
|
Total |
€16,312,767 |
The figures provided relate to the costs incurred by An Garda Síochána as a result of the dispute specifically. The salaries of the members assigned to duty at this location are not included as these would arise in the normal course. The term "normal course" is used to describe expenditure which would have to be met in any event and is therefore not consequential of the role of An Garda Síochána at Corrib.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is not possible to provide exact details of the salaries of the members concerned as this information could only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources. However the figure involved is in the region of €3.8 million.
657. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will respond to correspondence in respect of allegations in a legal case (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29769/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand from the correspondence submitted by the Deputy that the person concerned has made a complaint to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. The Ombudsman Commission is an independent body which was set up under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to receive complaints made by members of the public concerning the conduct of members of the Garda Síochána. It is independent in the operation of its functions and I have no role in its consideration of complaints.
658. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 380 if she will specifically address the issue of a meeting with the relatives of Fr. Molloy in view of the fact that their reservations are with the terms of reference for the McGinn report and thus deserve to have their concerns voiced before this assessment is completed. [29780/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, Mr. McGinn's terms reference relate to an examination of the report of the Serious Crime Review Team, which carried out a major review of the original investigation as well as detailed inquiries into the issues raised by and on behalf of the family concerning the investigation. My priority is to allow Mr. McGinn to complete his examination, which is now at an advanced stage. While I am conscious of the range of concerns expressed by the relatives of Father Molloy, including their call for a Commission of Investigation to be established, I think it is important that I would have the benefit of Mr. McGinn's independent assessment, including with respect to the question of any additional inquiry, before engaging further with the family on this matter.
659. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or expected position of residency status in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29843/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned was refused asylum in December 2006 following investigation of his application by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner and, on appeal, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal.
The person concerned was subsequently notified in November 2007 that the Minister proposed to make a Deportation Order and was given the options of leaving the State voluntarily, of consenting to the making of a Deportation Order or of making representations to the Minister setting out the reasons why a Deportation Order should not be made. In addition, the person concerned was notified of an entitlement to apply for Subsidiary Protection which application, along with representations pursuant to Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999, was submitted in December 2007.
The application for Subsidiary Protection was refused in March 2011 and a Deportation order was signed the same month. The person concerned was notified of the making of the Deportation Order in March 2011 and that he was required to present at the Garda National Immigration Bureau on 12th April 2011. The person concerned instituted Judicial Review proceedings before the High Court on 21 April 2011 challenging the Deportation Order and the refusal of Subsidiary Protection. As the matter is sub judice, I do not propose to comment further.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
660. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the legislative provisions, both through Acts of the Oireachtas and statutory instruments that will need to be put in place before the commencement of the British Irish visa scheme for the common travel area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29888/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe implementation of the British Irish Visa Scheme for the Common Travel Area, due to commence roll-out in the autumn, will require a small number of amendments of a technical nature to be made to Statutory Instrument 417/2012 Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order. Work on these amendments is currently in progress.
661. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will outline Ireland's operational arrangements as chairman of the Europol management board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29892/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that during the last Trio of Presidencies of the Council of the EU (Lithuania, Ireland and Greece), Ireland chaired all meetings of the Management Board (MB) of Europol. In this regard, an Assistant Commissioner of An Garda Síochána chaired MB meetings during the three Presidencies in question. This arrangement terminated at the end of the Greek Presidency on 30 June 2014.
662. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the bail Bill will be published; if he will provide details of the measures contained of the Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29920/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe drafting of the General Scheme of a Bail Bill to modernise the law on bail is at an advanced stage in my Department. I intend to bring proposals to Government on the matter soon, having regard to other legislative priorities. It has, unfortunately, not been possible to progress this legislation as quickly as I had hoped due to other legislative imperatives.
While the primary aim of the proposed Bail Bill is to consolidate and update bail law, I will take the opportunity in this legislation to seek, as far as is possible, within the constraints of the Constitution and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, to restructure the law so that it has a focus on the protection of the individual and of the public. The intention is that the new proposals will provide better guidance to the courts on how such protection might be provided.
663. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide an update on the work of her Department in proposing reforms of the family law courts; and if these reforms will be progressed through legislative amendments or a referendum. [29960/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government commits the Government to significant reform of the courts, including the establishment of a family law court structure that is streamlined, more efficient, and less costly. The Government has approved, in principle proposals for reforms to our courts structures in this context having regard to Constitutional requirements.
My Department initiated a consultation process with interested parties in relation to the establishment of family law courts and in that regard hosted a seminar in July 2013 to discuss how such courts might operate. An eminent judge from the Australian Family Court attended the seminar and shared experiences of their system. The outcome of the seminar will feed into the process of designing the most appropriate model of family law courts for Ireland and this is currently under consideration in the Department.
My Department is currently developing a strategy to support the major reform project which this proposal entails and this will include a process of consultation with the judiciary and all relevant stakeholders on all matters including the necessary courts infrastructure and facilities. Central to the reforms of course will be the adoption of the necessary legislative measures to deal with all relevant family law matters including the functions and jurisdiction of the family court. I can inform the Deputy that I intend to publish an outline of the necessary legislation before the end of 2014.
664. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide in tabular form details of increments paid since 2008 in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30534/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
- |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Services Officer |
21 |
25 |
23 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
3 |
|
Clerical Officer |
610 |
576 |
515 |
476 |
415 |
349 |
154 |
|
Staff Officer |
27 |
29 |
23 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
7 |
|
Executive Officer |
326 |
324 |
272 |
248 |
210 |
190 |
66 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
148 |
168 |
121 |
110 |
80 |
60 |
28 |
|
Administrative Officer* |
198 |
219 |
179 |
147 |
151 |
127 |
63 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer* |
144 |
212 |
161 |
147 |
140 |
98 |
52 |
|
Principal Officer |
46 |
43 |
40 |
27 |
33 |
35 |
14 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
* Includes professional and technical equivalents
665. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the national and per county budget for specialist equipment for home care for example specialist beds for the years 2012 to 2014; his plans to change this budget for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29011/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is not routinely available in the Department, therefore I have asked the Health Service Executive to reply directly to the Deputy.
666. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if there are current investigations ongoing into abuse of patients in the psychiatric services; if so, the number of same; the number of investigations into such allegations that are closed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29243/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
667. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding allocated to an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork for each year since the commencement of the project; if his Department obtains a comprehensive financial report each year from the organisation; if the assets are listed in the name of his Department or the orgainsation; if the funding granted by his Department is allocated thereafter on the basis of set guidelines; if his Department is satisfied that these guidelines are being observed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29542/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs previously indicated in my response of June 17, my Department does not provide any funding to this organisation but I understand that the Health Service Executive (HSE) provides funding by way of grant aid and I have referred the Deputy's question to the HSE for direct reply.
668. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if there will be a change in the manner in which parliamentary questions are answered by his Department when the ongoing reform of management and governance of the Health Service Executive is completed in order that he will provide direct reports on matters relating to health rather than continuing to seek to have the Health Service Executive to provide reports on matters raised in a significant number of parliamentary questions addressed to him. [28992/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Health I am accountable to the Oireachtas for the health services but it is appropriate that the Health Service Executive answer directly questions that relate to day - to - day operational matters. The HSE currently responds in this way to around half of the 7,000 parliamentary questions tabled for my answer annually. I can assure the Deputy that ensuring comprehensive, accurate and timely responses to parliamentary questions is a priority for me as part of the reform of the health services.
669. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the cost of completely removing the €2.50 per item prescription charge on medicines for medical card holders [28996/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cost of completely removing the €2.50 prescription charge on medicines supplied to medical card holders under the GMS Scheme would be approximately €120 million per annum.
670. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the projected cost of extending the BreastCheck screening programme to women aged between 65 and 70 years of age in order that these women would receive free BreastCheck screening every two years [29003/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra729.. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the projected cost of extending the BreastCheck screening programme to women aged between 65 and 70 years of age in order that these women would receive free BreastCheck screening every two years.
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 670 and 729 together.
The BreastCheck Programme provides free mammograms to all women aged 50-64. A priority of the BreastCheck Programme at present is to maximise national uptake in the 50-64 year age cohort. It is my intention to extend the upper age range to include the 65-69 age cohort as soon as possible in line with available resources. Details and timing of the costs arising from any extension of the age range will be considered in the context of the Estimates process.
671. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if persons (details supplied) in County Kildare who have for the past number of years been the holder of medical cards and were withdrawn this year will now be granted medical cards under the new discretionary guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29009/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the Government's decision to develop a policy framework for providing eligibility for health services on the basis of medical conditions, the Government recently announced that a medical card or GP visit card is to be issued to a person, with a serious illness, whose discretionary card was refused renewal since the centralisation of medical card assessments.
If the medical card or GP visit card to which the Deputy refers was awarded by way of discretion and was refused renewal in the period from 1 July 2011 to 31 May 2014 following the completion of an eligibility review, a card will issue by the HSE.
The HSE has commenced issuing letters to the persons concerned and this process should be concluded by the first two weeks of July. No action is required on the part of those affected as the HSE will be in contact. If people do not hear from the HSE by mid July, they should contact the HSE on its Lo-Call contact number: 1890 25 29 19. These individuals will be able to access medical card and GP visit card services in the normal manner when they have been advised by the HSE that their medical card or GP visit card is active. The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the specific query raised and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
672. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if Section 26 of the 1985 Nurses Act supersedes section 13(8) of the Act; if he has given approval for changes to quorum requirements for fitness to practice hearings by An Bord Altranais under section 26 of the Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29010/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 26 of the Nurses Act, 1985 states:
“The Board may, with the approval of the Minister, make Rules for the purpose of the operation of this Act and any such rules may, inter alia, provide for the establishment, membership, functions and procedures of committees to assist the Board in carrying out its functions under this Act.” Section 26 states that the Board may, with the approval of the Minister, make Rules.
No Rules were ever made, pursuant to Section 26, in relation to quorum requirements for fitness to practise hearings. As a consequence, any changes to quorum requirements for fitness to practise hearings did not require Ministerial approval.
673. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health his plans to change the eligibility criteria for medical cards for the over 70s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29012/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra709. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Health the reason for the discrepancy in accessing gross and net income for the medical card applicants, whereby over 70s are accessed on gross income and under 70's are accessed on net income. [29244/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 673 and 709 together.
Applications for persons aged 70 years and older can be assessed both on the basis of the standard national assessment guidelines and on the basis of the guidelines for persons aged 70 years or over.
Under the Health Act 2008, automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons aged 70 and over ended on 31 December 2008. Under the arrangements effected by the Act, a revised system of assessment for eligibility was introduced for those 70 years of age and over, based on the significantly higher gross income limits rather than the standard net income thresholds. This advantageous arrangement for persons aged over 70 years has facilitated a much greater share of this cohort qualifying for a medical card compared to the general population as a whole. There are no proposals to change this assessment process.
In the main, persons in the over-70s age cohort do not have the same outlays and expenses as those under 70 years of age who are assessed on a means basis. Under the standard means tested medical card scheme, allowance may be made for rent/mortgage, travel to work and child care costs. Generally, for the over 70s, mortgages have been cleared, children have been catered for and they would not have travel to work related costs.
However, persons aged 70 or older who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds may also have their eligibility assessed under the means tested medical card scheme where they face particularly high expenses, e.g., nursing home or medication costs. As I have outlined, this assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses and the qualifying income thresholds under this scheme are lower than over -70s gross income thresholds.
Furthermore, persons aged over 70 years may still be eligible for a medical card where discretion is exercised where they face undue hardship in arranging medical services as a result of medical or social circumstances.
674. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health following the recent investigations and reporting into Fingal Home Care the efforts that been applied to improve the management and monitoring of the service and the quality of care to clients of Fingal Home Care; if the clients of Fingal Home Care have been consulted and communicated with regarding the service and care provided by Fingal Home Care; the changes and improvements that are being put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29013/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
675. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the criteria and amounts for paying for emergency departments; if he will outline all changes to the policies and amounts in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29016/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Emergency Department charge of €100, as set out under the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2013, applies to out-patient services provided at any of: an emergency department; an accident and emergency department; a casualty department; a minor injury unit; an urgent care centre; a local injury unit or any other facility providing similar services. This charge is subject to a number of exemptions under Article 3 including medical card holders and those who have a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner. The charge shall not apply where such an attendance results in a hospital admission. The charge is made only in respect of the first occasion the service is provided in relation to each episode of care.
The amount of the charge has not changed since the 1st of January 2009 when it was increased from €66 under the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2008.
676. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health the funds and schemes that community groups providing support to older persons can apply for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29018/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a National Lottery Discretionary Fund from which once-off grants are paid to community and voluntary organisations, providing a range of health related services. If an organisation wishes to make an application for National Lottery Funding they should send in a formal application. Detailed procedures along with the application form are set out on the Department's website at www.doh.ie
677. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health his views of correspondence (details supplied) regarding mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29019/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra698. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Mental Health Commission Annual Report 2013, Chairman’s foreword in which he states in relation to younger service users, there is still a most unsatisfactory situation whereby children are being admitted to adult units, there were 91 (22.3% of all child admissions) such admissions in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29206/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 677 and 698 together.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are benefitting significantly from the funding provided by the Government to develop mental health services. This amounts to €766 million in 2014, including additional funding of €20 million this year, as part of total additional funding of €90 million made available since 2012 for new service initiatives. By the end of 2014, upwards of 1,100 new posts will be put in place, to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children and to develop other specialist mental health services.
A Vision for Change recommended the establishment of 99 multi-disciplinary Child and Adolescent Mental Health teams to provide acute secondary mental health care in the community. There are now 68 CAMHS teams in place, compared to 54 in 2008. The additional funding in 2012-2014 is being used, in part, to expand and enhance the skill mix of these teams. Around 230 new post were allocated to CAMHS over 2012-13 and recruitment is well advanced. The increasing demands being placed on our Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services were reflected in the 14,000 or so to CAMHS teams in 2013. This was nearly 1,000, or 8% more, than projected in the HSE National Service Plan last year. However, the target of 70% of referrals being seen within 3 months was maintained.
The reduction in the numbers of children admitted to adult acute in-patient facilities has been a focus for HSE Mental Health services for the last numbers of years, and progress in this area has been extensive. In 2008, only 25% of admissions of children to HSE acute in-patient units were to age appropriate facilities. By 2013, this had increased to 68% of admissions, and all efforts are being directed towards reducing this significantly in the future.
It should be noted that the HSE also funds a range of non-statutory agencies, such as Jigsaw which receives about €1.5million annually, on a partnership basis each year to help maximise tailored and flexible services for young people.
In February last, the Department of Education published a guide to developing student support teams in post primary schools. This is an important resource for schools in promoting and protecting students' well-being, and an aid to establishing a team or reviewing an existing team. I would also refer the Deputy to the Minister for Education and Skills regarding implementation of the guidelines "Well Being in Primary Schools", which comes under his aegis, and regarding the issue of supports in schools generally.
The recent annual report of the Mental Health Commission, referred to by the Deputy, will be fully borne in mind by the Department of Health, and the HSE, in the context of further improving policies and services for children and adolescents.
678. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Mayo [29022/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
