Mick Wallace
Ceist:44. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce 24-hour acute services for mental health in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14630/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMental Health Services Provision
Ceisteanna (44)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply. If you have not received a reply within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Assisted Human Reproduction
Ceisteanna (45)
Mattie McGrath
Ceist:45. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the proposals that are currently being formulated by his Department for the regulation of commercial surrogacy; his plans to prohibit this practice; the reason for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14703/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Currently in Ireland, the provision of assisted human reproduction services remains largely unregulated. Nonetheless, surrogacy is being practiced here and Irish citizens are also availing of international surrogacy arrangements abroad. Assigning parentage to these children requires court involvement in the vast majority of cases.
On 17th February this year I received Government approval to draft a General Scheme of a comprehensive Bill, which will regulate all aspects of assisted human reproduction, including surrogacy. Surrogacy will be regulated for the first time, commercial surrogacy will be prohibited, however, the reimbursement of reasonable expenses will be permitted.
Numerous concerns have been raised in relation to commercial surrogacy, namely:
- the commodification of the surrogate’s body and the resulting children;
- the welfare of the children;
- the potential for financial coercion and the risk of the exploitation of financially vulnerable women.
There are concerns that financially vulnerable women would not be fully informed of the possible physical and psychological health risks involved or that they might be willing to undergo risks that they would not otherwise for financial gain.
Following the completion of the draft General Scheme, I intend to submit the Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for pre-legislative scrutiny. In addition, my Department will conduct a widespread consultation on the draft General Scheme during which stakeholders and members of the public will be invited to share their views.
It is my intention that any legislation in this area protects, promotes and ensures the health and safety of parents, others involved in the process (such as donors and surrogate mothers) and, most importantly, the children who will be born as a result of assisted human reproduction. Given the concerns that I have outlined above, permitting commercial surrogacy would not be in keeping with these underlying principles.
Disability Services Provision
Ceisteanna (46)
Finian McGrath
Ceist:46. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the maximum support to all persons with a disability in day and residential services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14655/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to protecting frontline health and personal social services needs for people with disabilities. The Government currently provides funding of approximately €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2015.
The HSE works with voluntary disability service providers to ensure that available resources are used in order to be responsive to the health and personal social services needs of people with a disability.
In 2015, the HSE is seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources and to maintaining a consistent level to that provided in 2014, by providing the following specialist disability services:
- residential services to around 9,000 people with a disability;
- day services to over 22,000 people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- respite residential support of 190,000 overnights for people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- 3.9 million hours of Personal Assistant / Home Support Hours.
Additional funding of €6 million has been allocated in the HSE National Service Plan in 2015 to provide day places for an estimated 1,400 young people finishing school and rehabilitative (life-skills) training. €4m in additional funding has also been allocated in the Plan to deliver an increase in the services for children with disabilities and reduce waiting lists under the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18s) Programme.
A total of 150 people will be facilitated to move from institutions to homes in the community in line the recommendations of the HSE's report "Time to Move on from Congregated Settings -A strategy for Community Inclusion' (2011). This report proposes a new model of support in the community by moving people from institutional settings to the community, over a seven year time frame.
In order to maintain current service levels while supporting people with disabilities to achieve their full potential, including living as independently as possible, a significant change programme involving a realignment and reconfiguration of existing resources is being undertaken by the HSE. The reconfiguration will be in line with the recommendations in the Value for Money and Policy Review of Disability Services and will see new and sustainable models of service being implemented to meet the changing needs of service users, increased demographic pressures and individuals wish for more choice and control.
Civil Registration Legislation
Ceisteanna (47)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:47. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the procedure to be followed in the case of an Irish citizen seeking to marry an undocumented non-EU national who has been living and working in this country for several years and who is in a relationship with said Irish citizen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15118/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Any couple proposing to marry in the State should begin the process by contacting their local Civil Registration Service Office to make an appointment to meet the registrar and provide their marriage notification.
When attending the registrar's office in relation to the notification, the couple must provide the registrar with evidence of their name, address, age, civil status and nationality.
In addition to their personal particulars the couple will be requested to provide details in relation to their proposed marriage such as the intended date of marriage, whether they intend to have a civil, religious or secular ceremony, the proposed solemniser and venue. They will both also have to complete a declaration of no impediment stating that they are not aware of any lawful impediment to the proposed marriage. Additional information is available at http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Getting_Married.aspx.
The Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014 was enacted on 4 December 2014. The Act contains a wide range of provisions which will be commenced on a step by step basis.
Section 15 of the Act provides that where one or both of the people giving notice of intent to marry is not a citizen of an EU member state they must provide information and documentary evidence regarding their immigration status to the registrar.
The provisions of the Act will be put into operation on the basis of an implementation plan involving both procedural and system changes. This work is being progressed as quickly as possible in order that the various provisions of the Act can be commenced.
Disability Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (48)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:48. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the extent to which an application for disability allowance has been investigated or approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15135/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned has been awarded a disability allowance payment with effect from 29 October 2014. First payment will be on 22 April 2015 and any arrears due will follow shortly.
Jobseeker's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (49)
Jack Wall
Ceist:49. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal in respect of jobseeker's allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [14988/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned together with the relevant Departmental papers were received by that office on 24 March 2015 and that the case has been referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Social Welfare Benefits
Ceisteanna (50)
Paul Connaughton
Ceist:50. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason carer's allowance is not a qualifying payment for fuel allowance, in view of the fact that many carers do not reside with the person for whom they are caring, and incur huge additional cost in caring for a loved one; her plans to change this in order that a person in receipt of carer's allowance and no other social welfare payment, and who lives alone but provides full-time care for a person who lives in another dwelling, can receive the fuel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14991/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
To ensure that social welfare payment rates are maintained and targeted it is not possible to have secondary benefits paid to all customer groups – and carer’s allowance is not a qualifying payment for receipt of the fuel allowance.
However, the Government acknowledges the valuable contribution that carers make to society - carers receive significant income supports from the Department (among the highest in Europe) while the means test applied to applicants for carer’s allowance is the most generous in the social welfare system.
I should also point out that under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, exceptional needs payments may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which a person is unable to meet out of his/her own resources – and this may include exceptional heating costs.
Exceptional Needs Payments
Ceisteanna (51)
Lucinda Creighton
Ceist:51. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an exceptional needs payment will be made in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8, who cannot meet funeral expenses in respect of an immediate family member; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15001/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned applied for an exceptional needs payment in July 2013 towards the cost of funeral expenses for his late son. A payment of €850 was made to him. In August 2013 he requested a review of this decision. The Reviewing Officer investigated the case and discussed the circumstances with the person concerned and found that due to the amount of his household income he was not entitled to any further payment and the original decision was upheld. In June 2014 the person concerned was sent written notification of the outcome of the review.
It will be arranged that the person be contacted by the Department to see if further advice, including a possible referral to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), might be appropriate having regard to his circumstances.