Written Answers Nos. 447 - 460
447. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which the Area-Based Childhood Programme 2013-2016 continues to be monitored and implemented by his Department, with particular reference to targeting the specific needs of children, as anticipated by the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14912/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme (2013-2016) is an innovative prevention and early intervention initiative consisting of committed funding for an area-based approach to helping to improve outcomes for children and thereby impacting on child poverty.
The ABC Programme targets joint investment of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and The Atlantic Philanthropies of €29.7m in evidence-informed interventions to improve the long-term outcomes for children and families living in areas of disadvantage. It aims to break “the cycle of child poverty within areas where it is most deeply entrenched and where children are most disadvantaged, through integrated and effective services and interventions” in the areas of child development, child well-being, parenting and educational disadvantage.
As and from 2015, all approved sites are under contract and operational.
The ABC Project Team was set up to oversee the implementation of the ABC Programme. The Project Team is chaired by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and includes representatives from seven other Government Departments, its co-funders The Atlantic Philanthropies, Health Service Executive, Tusla Child and Family Agency as well as the two managing agencies of the Programme, Pobal and the Centre for Effective Services (CES).
CES is responsible for designing and managing the evaluation of the ABC Programme. It is guided and supported in the planning and implementation of the evaluation by the Expert Advisory Group (EAG). The overall approach to the evaluation has been agreed with the Expert Advisory Group. The evaluation of the ABC Programme will adopt a shared measurement framework, identifying common measures to be collected across all ABC sites on core outcomes and implementation processes.
An Interim report synthesising and summarising the aggregated learning from the ABC programme evaluation will be produced mid-2016 and the final evaluation report will be produced in 2018.
An ABC Evaluation Group has been established with representatives from each of the ABC Areas, which will provide ongoing support and advice to CES on the evaluation of the programme with regard to Area and organisational contexts, resources and capacities. This Evaluation Group will aid in identifying evaluation issues and potential practical solutions to these.
448. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which he continues to liaise with Kildare Youth Services in order to ensure the adequacy of funding and resources to meet its requirements with regard to its respective programmes throughout the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14913/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department administers a range of funding schemes and programmes to support the provision of youth services to young people throughout the country including those from disadvantaged communities. The funding schemes support national and local youth work provision to some 380,000 young people and involve approximately 1,400 youth work staff in 477 projects and 40,000 volunteers working in youth work services and communities throughout the country. In 2015, funding of €49.9m has been provided to my Department for these schemes. There has been no reduction in the overall allocation for youth services in 2015 which was a key priority for youth organisations. My Department has notified youth organisations and projects, including Kildare Youth Service, of their 2015 allocations in respect of their youth services. An allocation of €488,200 has been allocated for the projects and services under Kildare Youth Services, which operates under Youth Work Ireland.
As in recent years, national organisations along with the grant administering agencies that administer youth funding, on behalf of my Department, were invited where it was appropriate, to submit proposals to my Department for the reconfiguration of the funding allocations notified to them across projects and funding schemes to better meet local needs. No submission was received in respect of proposals for the youth services in County Kildare.
I am aware of the challenges that the budgetary constraints raise for the youth services throughout the country. Last year, officials of my Department met Kildare Youth Services and have visited their office in Naas to hear about their work and their proposals, for the provision of services in County Kildare. My Department provides funding to Kildare Youth Services under the Special Projects for Youth Scheme in respect of six local youth projects in Athy, Naas, Leixlip, Newbridge, the Curragh and Kildare town and a Youth Information Centre in Naas. In addition, Kildare Youth Hub, Kildare Town has received approval under the 2013 Capital Scheme for the development of a new youth café facility. Officials of my Department continue to be available to meet with youth services to discuss any issues that arise for them in the provision of local services within the budgets available.
449. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide a list of the semi-State commercial companies under the aegis of his Department; the policy of a dividend payment to the Exchequer from each company; the dividend paid by each company to the Exchequer for each year from 2000 to 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14960/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that there are no semi-State commercial companies under the aegis of my Department.
450. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive a decision on an application under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13896/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
451. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13874/15]
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. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
452. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an appointment at St. Luke's Hospital in Dublin 6 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13881/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
453. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [13883/15]
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. If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
454. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the investigation into the case of a person (details supplied) who was a patient at Redwood, County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13888/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra573. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14479/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 573 together.
Our citizens with a disability who are in residential facilities should expect and receive the best quality of care. In introducing a system of registration and inspection, the Government’s aim is to raise standards and to improve the lives of these citizens. The new regulatory system is highlighting issues of significant concern. However it is important to persist with registration and inspection of these facilities to drive reform and improvements in the care and supports provided to people with a disability who are supported by the State. The Health Information and Quality Authority's findings serve as evidence that the regulatory process is necessary and in the interest of protecting vulnerable people in residential services. I can assure you that the safeguarding of vulnerable people is an absolute priority for the Government, Department of Health and for the Health Service Executive.
The Department has asked the HSE to provide the Deputies with a report on the person named in the details supplied with their questions.
455. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason an employee of an organisation (details supplied) in County Galway has not received twilight premium-time payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13905/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra456. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the reason an employee of an organisation (details supplied) in County Galway has not received twilight premium-time payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13906/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 455 and 456 together.
The Deputy's questions relate to an operational matter therefore I have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the matter. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
457. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the waiting time for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 who is on the waiting list for orthodontic work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13923/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
458. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Limerick will be called for orthodontic assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13931/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
459. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth who is currently waiting for an echo-cardiogram; if he will confirm that the waiting time is approximately ten months; the measures being taken to address this unacceptable delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13936/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
460. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be scheduled for dental work. [13938/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
