Written Answers Nos. 381-402
381. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding an application for naturalisation in respect of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26316/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation, such as good character and lawful residence, and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, as well as being a significant event for the recipient, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation as provided for in law is also a major step for the State as it confers certain rights and entitlements, not only within the State but also at European Union level, and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process. In some instances this can be established relatively quickly and in other cases completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
The Deputy may wish to note that queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been established specifically 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 INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
383. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide information on whether there has been an increase in the number of break-ins to taxis; if so, if such an increase could be attributed to the semi-permanent branding, with details, which taxis are required to have; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26432/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested a report from the Garda authorities in relation to the matters referred to and I will contact the Deputy directly when the report is to hand.
384. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he has sanctioned the request by the Office of the Ombudsman for Children for additional staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26229/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to be able to inform the Deputy that my Department has recently conveyed sanction to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children to fill 8 posts.
385. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a freedom of information request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25685/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has not received a Freedom of Information request in relation to this matter. For the purposes of Freedom of Information requests, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which comes under the remit of my Department, is an independent statutory body and is subject to the provisions of the relevant legislation. I have forwarded the details as supplied to Tusla for their attention and direct response.
386. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 195 of 18 June 2015, in respect of an adoption registration fee refund due to persons (details supplied) in County Leitrim, if conditions being applied to funds provided for the Arc Adoption agency by his Department stipulate that adoption registration fee refunds shall not be paid from these funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25695/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has provided transitional funding of €10,000 on a monthly basis to both agencies currently accredited to provide intercountry adoption mediation services since January 2014. While it was understood that this funding would be used for day to day running costs, no specific instruction issued from my Department that states that Arc Adoption cannot use these funds to pay refundable registration fees, which they owe to their clients. My Department made a once off payment of €10,000 to assist Arc in repaying clients that were due their refundable registration fees in July 2014.
I have been made aware that there is an issue regarding these refundable registration fees. The matter is currently under active consideration by my Department.
387. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department has undertaken studies or reviews of the potential impact and revenue implications for his Department of the exiting of Atlantic Philanthropies from grant making in respect of groups that are co-funded by this group and his Department or the Child and Family Agency. [25881/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor more than a decade through its Prevention and Early Intervention Initiative, The Atlantic Philanthropies, sometimes in conjunction with Government and other organisations, has invested over €127 million in 30 partner agencies and community groups running 52 prevention and early intervention services and programmes across the island of Ireland.
The key initiative co-funded by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies is the Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme (2013 - 2017) which builds upon its predecessor, the PEIP programme. The Area Based Childhood (ABC) Programme 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 is co-funded by my Department and The Atlantic Philanthropies on a matched basis with €29.7m being provided over the life-cycle of the programme.
The ABC Programme targets investment 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. 13 Sites were approved for entry into programme and are now operationalising services in their consortia sites.
I am especially interested in the learning yield from the ABC programme and specifically how best we ensure the identification and transfer of this learning into established services and supports for children and young people. With specific regard to this, my Department has established a task-focused group to examine how best to mainstream the learning from the ABC programme in the domains of policy and provision to improve outcomes for children and young people. This Task Group includes representatives from The Atlantic Philanthropies and ABC sites. The Task Group will explore how the mainstreaming of the learning from effective evidence-informed approaches can best be progressed. It is anticipated that the group will provide a succinct discussion paper outlining feasible options relating to the mainstreaming of learning for the consideration of the ABC Interdepartmental Project Team in the last quarter of 2015.
With regard to broader funding provided by The Atlantic Philanthropies, this is a matter for that organisation to consider and I understand that The Atlantic Philanthropies have had specific regard to this issue in their funding provision in recent years.
388. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will ensure funding is reinstated to a group (details supplied) which has been providing valuable support over a wide area in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath for families who have suffered bereavements; if this request will be given urgent consideration as the group made commitments based on the continuation of grant assistance in respect of its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25966/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its establishment, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has been engaged in a comprehensive and much needed programme of reform across our child welfare and protection system. In this regard, Tusla must ensure that it makes the most effective use of its resources in a way that is efficient, equitable proportionate and sustainable.
Tusla's budget is now being directed towards services which are best aligned to those outcomes in Tusla's Corporate Plan, with priority being given to front line services.
The service referred to by the Deputy was in receipt of funding from Tusla but unfortunately, Tusla is not in a position to continue to fund this service.
Tusla very much appreciates the work undertaken by the group in question over the years.
389. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the work of the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures policy consortium; the number of meetings held to date; the work programme for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25968/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetter Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020) is the overarching national policy framework which comprehends the age ranges of children and young people from 0-24 years. It was launched by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in April 2014.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures provides for a robust implementation infrastructure to oversee implementation. The Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium is the keystone of the implementation framework, and is responsible for having oversight of cross-government implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures and its constituent strategies.
The Consortium is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, with a Deputy Chair from the Department of the Taoiseach. Its membership comprises high level representation at Assistant Secretary level from all other Government Departments whose policies have an impact on children and young people. It also includes senior representatives from the HSE, Tusla, An Garda Síochána, the City and County Managers Association, the Chair of the Children and Young People’s Services Committees National Steering Group, as well as the Chair and three rotating members of the Advisory Council.
Meetings of the Consortium were held in April, July and November 2014, and April 2015. The next meeting of the Consortium is scheduled for 1st October 2015.
In terms of the work of the Consortium: in November, the Consortium approved a draft of the Implementation Plan for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, and endorsed the five cross-sectoral priorities which form the basis of the work-plan for 2015. These are set out in the following table.
|
Lead |
Identified cross-sectoral priority |
|
Department of Social Protection |
Child poverty reduction |
|
Department of Health |
Complete and implement the National Physical Activity Plan. |
|
Department of Children and Youth Affairs |
Prevention and early intervention |
|
Department of Children and Youth Affairs (with Department of Education and Skills and Department of Health) |
Inclusion of children with additional needs in early years education |
|
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government |
Cross-Government and Interagency collaboration |
At the most recent meeting of the Consortium, the Consortium was updated on the progress on the development of the first annual report on Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures. The Consortium also had the opportunity to consider the progress on the National Strategy for Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision Making (launched in June 2015), as well as the National Youth Strategy (scheduled for launch later this year).
I am pleased with the progress of work to-date of this crucial grouping within the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures infrastructure and will ensure that this group continues to fulfil its key role of overseeing and driving this significant and ambitious whole-of-government policy framework for our children and young people.
390. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if, as provided for in the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures strategy, an annual progress report has been published; if not, when he expects such a report to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25969/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetter Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020) is the overarching national policy framework which comprehends the age ranges of children and young people from 0-24 years. It was launched by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in April 2014.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures is supported by a significant and robust implementation infrastructure comprising key groupings. Through the establishment of the Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium, cross-Government commitment and accountability for shared actions will be achieved. The Consortium oversees the implementation of the Framework which emphasises an outcomes-focused approach and cross-Government coordination. This is monitored through regular reporting, planning and review to ensure progress and momentum over the course of the Framework.
In the development of the Implementation Plan for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, all Government Departments and Agencies with lead responsibility for commitments in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures were asked to set out the specific actions which they would be undertaking in 2014, 2015 and 2016 to achieve each of their commitments. They were also asked to provide a comment on the desired outcome for 2017 for each commitment.
By their nature, the commitments in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures vary considerably in scope and scale. Some are ongoing business for Departments and Agencies, while others represent new initiatives. Some are straightforward and readily actionable, while others require considerable planning, development and cultural change. Some are specific to very small groups of children and young people, while others are universal – impacting on over a third of the population of Ireland.
In preparing the annual report for Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures the Implementation Team in my Department has requested that all Departments and Agencies report on their work in the first year of implementation on all 163 commitments in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures.
To ensure a dynamic overview of progress, the Annual Report will also contain commentary from all Departments with lead responsibility for commitments in Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, as well as the chairs of key groups in the implementation infrastructure, including the chair of the Advisory Council and the Chair of the Children and Young People’s Services Committees National Steering Group.
A draft of the annual report was presented to the high level Sponsors Group in June 2015. The annual report is currently being finalised prior to being circulated to the Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium and presented to the Senior Officials Group and Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform in the coming weeks. Subject to Government approval, I intend that the annual report will be published on my Department’s website and circulated to key constituent groupings within the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures infrastructure.
391. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the work of the Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures advisory council on children and youth; the number of meetings held to date; the work programme for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25970/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBetter Outcomes, Brighter Futures: The National Policy Framework for Children and Young People (2014-2020) is the overarching national policy framework which comprehends the age ranges of children and young people from 0-24 years. It was launched by the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, and then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in April 2014.
Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures is supported by a robust implementation infrastructure. As this significant policy framework impacts on all of society, it is imperative that the community and voluntary sector have a strong role in its implementation. This is achieved through the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council provides a forum for the community and voluntary sector and independent experts to engage with the Children and Young People’s Policy Consortium and its constituent elements to actively inform and support the implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures. The Council consists of four constituent groupings with representatives from the following sectors: Early Years; Children; Youth; and independent experts.
The Advisory Council was the final piece of the implementation structures to be established. The Council is chaired by Dr Owen Keenan, and their first meeting was held on 5 November 2014. The second was held in December 2014, where the Sponsors Group presented the cross-sectoral priorities for 2015 to the Sponsors. Subsequent meetings were held in January, February, April and June 2015. In April, drafts of the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision Making, and the National Youth Strategy were presented to the Council, and in June the Council discussed another significant DCYA-led policy initiative in Children and Young People’s Services Committees.
The Advisory Council are convening regularly as they work towards establishing their role within the overall implementation process. The Council has been requested to consider a number of issues towards supporting the implementation process, including:
- How the Council, and broader civil society, can contribute to the implementation of BOBF
- Inform, along with other constituent groupings, the identification of priority areas for 2016 which could be considered and agreed with the Sponsors Group before being approved by the Consortium
- How key messages of BOBF implementation can be communicated to the wider community and voluntary sector.
The Council has recently decided to form two subgroups to progress the issues of:
- prevention and early intervention
- child poverty.
These two subgroups will be co-convened by members of the Council and with officials from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Social Protection to progress these significant issues, before reporting back to the Council in September.
Finally, I welcome the engagement of the Advisory Council in supporting the implementation of Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures in their respective sectors; and look forward to the advancement of a the work of the Council in collaboration with my Department.
392. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the value for money review of youth programmes since the publication of the report in December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25971/15]
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. In 2015, funding of €49.93m has been provided to my Department for these schemes.
Three of the targeted funding schemes, the Special Projects for Youth scheme, the Young People’s Facilities and Services Fund, and Local Drug Task Force projects scheme, were the subject of a recently completed Value for Money and Policy Review. The schemes support the provision of youth services for young people who are at risk of drugs, alcohol misuse, early school leaving, homelessness or who are living in disadvantaged communities. In 2015, expenditure on the schemes will amount to €34m. The review involved an in-depth scrutiny of a complex area to do with the impact youth service provision has in young people’s lives. Overall, the review found that the youth programmes can provide a significant contribution to improving outcomes for young people, and should be considered for on-going public funding.
The review makes a number of recommendations for the future operation of the youth schemes and their development in the years ahead. It recommends that the three schemes be replaced with a single, targeted, evidence-based and outcomes focussed scheme designed to secure the optimal outcomes for young people and their communities. It sets out guidance as to how services may be developed to better meet the needs of young people in the target cohort and how demographic information and CSO data about local areas should be part of the programme design.
My Department has initiated a detailed consultation process with the youth sector and providers of youth services about the review's findings and recommendations. To date, consultations have taken place at regional meetings for youth services in Cork, Sligo and Dublin City and County. Further consultations will take place over the summer months. My Department is committed to working collaboratively with the youth sector interests in the development and implementation of the new programme over the next two years.
The Department is developing an implementation plan to progress the reforms over the period 2015 – 2016. A project team has been set up in my Department to oversee this work. I intend that the reforms will be progressed in the context of the new National Youth Strategy which is nearing completion.
393. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the recently announced youth employability initiative by his Department; when he expects the scheme to be open for applications; the criteria for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25972/15]
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 by the voluntary youth sector. The work of the voluntary youth work sector, in the provision of these services, has a significant contribution to make to the Government’s jobs agenda including the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. Many youth organisations are working closely with relevant Government Departments and delivering measures to implement the Youth Guarantee for young unemployed people.
My Department, in consultation with the youth sector, has developed a 'Youth Employability Initiative’. This builds on existing youth work initiatives that increase the employability of marginalised young people in the 15 to 24 age group. My Department has compiled a mapping report which has gathered information about the innovative youth work activities and programmes underway in the sector that contribute to youth employability objectives. This new initiative will target the hardest to reach young people who are at risk of becoming NEET (i.e. not in employment, education or training) for intensive support. My Department has secured €600,000 via Dormant Accounts funding for the new initiative. It will shortly commence discussions with the Education and Training Boards, youth officers and other youth sector stakeholders with a view to rolling out the initiative in 2015. The overall objective is to increase young people’s employability, enhance their acquisition of key competencies and transferable skills and aid their progression to employment, education or training. Dedicated youth workers will be central to the coordination and management of the individual projects at local level.
My Department is developing a National Youth Strategy for 10 to 24 year olds. It will be a universal strategy for all young people and will aim to be responsive to issues which impact on young people’s lives, such as youth unemployment. The Strategy will, inter alia, set out objectives that young people are equipped to participate in the labour market through opportunities to enhance employability skills and acquire attributes that complement formal learning and training qualifications. It is anticipated that the Strategy will be available shortly.
My Department continues to work closely with the Departments of Education and Skills, Social Protection and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, to identify in what ways, the youth sector can contribute to shared policy objectives to address youth unemployment and the Youth Guarantee and in the context of the Action Plan for Jobs.
394. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will provide an update on the implementation of the National Quality Standards Framework for the youth sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25973/15]
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.
Ensuring quality service delivery is an ongoing priority. My Department is progressing and supporting the implementation of quality standards initiatives in the youth area. This will help ensure an improvement in good practice, that these services and projects are outcomes focussed and that the young people involved are deriving the maximum benefit from being involved. The National Quality Standards Framework for youth work applies to all staff-led youth work organisations, services, projects and programmes funded by the Department. All youth work services and youth organisations funded by the Department are now applying these standards.
A set of best practice standards for volunteer led youth clubs and groups, such as Scouting Ireland and the Irish Girl Guides and others was introduced by my Department in 2013. The aim of these standards is to support 1,600 clubs with some 10,000 members in creating and providing quality programmes and activities for young people in safe and supportive environments. The implementation of quality standards and the best practice guidelines is being supported by a Quality Standards Training and Resource Development Group, which involves experienced youth workers and other experts. Its task is to develop the resource materials and training to support the voluntary providers of youth services throughout the country. The introduction of the quality standards has been welcomed by the national youth organisations and local services. My Department has plans to further develop the quality standards and the supports for the voluntary youth services to implement them in the context of the new National Youth Strategy, which will be available shortly.
395. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the way his Department plans to implement the European Council recommendation on the validation of non-formal and informal learning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25974/15]
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 €49.93m has been provided to my Department for these schemes.
An estimated 43% of young people between age 10 and 24 years are engaged in various non-formal learning (youth work) activities and programmes provided by voluntary youth organisations. Young people’s participation in youth work activities is important for personal and social development. Involvement in youth work activities can help young people to develop their social skills and acquire competencies such as self-motivation, good communications, critical thinking and problem solving skills. Participation in youth work programmes also enhances young people’s connection with and contribution to their community and assists them to be responsible and active citizens.
My Department is developing a National Youth Strategy for 10 to 24 year olds. It will be a universal strategy for all young people and will aim to be responsive to issues which impact on young people’s lives, such as youth unemployment. It will seek to improve outcomes for this age cohort across five national outcome areas; active and healthy, learning and development, safe and protected, economic security and opportunity and connected, respected and contributing to society.
The National Youth Strategy will set out objectives to enhance young people's competencies, skills and attributes that complement formal learning and training qualifications. The priority actions in the new National Youth Strategy to be progressed over 2015 - 2017 include the development of a national system in line with the EU Council Recommendation of 2012 on the validation of non-formal and informal learning. The preparatory work for the proposed system will be undertaken in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including the youth sector.
396. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 268 of 19 May 2015, if he will ensure that a reply from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is provided for this Deputy as soon as possible. [25994/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I noted previously it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the individual circumstances of the particular case. My earlier reply also outlined the general conditions that would attach to the preparation and supports for after care plans that are available from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. I have made enquiries with Tusla and I will revert with their reply shortly.
397. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will approve a grant application for funding under the early years capital programme, strand II, in respect of a child care centre (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [26150/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of €7 million is being made available under the Early Years Capital Programme in 2015. Of this funding, €5 million is being made available for grants specifically for community/not-for-profit early years services. This funding will provide for the allocation of capital grant aid in the region of €500,000 for significant upgrades of services such as major refurbishment or relocation to new premises. Grants of up to €50,000 for essential maintenance, or works undertaken to improve the energy performance of community/not-for-profit services are also being provided. The remaining €2 million is being made available for both private and community/not-for-profit services to access grants of up to €500 for quality improvement measures, specifically in the area of upgrading IT facilities.
I understand that the early years childcare service referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for funding to Pobal, who is administering this Programme on behalf of my Department. Pobal has commenced the process of appraising all of the applications and applicants will be advised of the outcome in due course.
398. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason a café (details supplied) in County Longford has not been included in the most recent round of funding. [26170/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe case raised by the Deputy refers to a youth café project that applied for inclusion in the 2013 Youth Café Capital Scheme. In 2013, €1.5m in capital funding was made available to my Department for a Youth Café scheme. Pobal assisted my Department with the application and evaluation process for the programme. In all 95 applications with proposals were received and some 30 proposals for new youth café facilities around the country were approved for funding. These projects are now working with Pobal to develop their projects to the next stage of development.
An application for funding was received by Pobal in respect of the Attic Youth Café. The application was one of several identified as not eligible for the scheme by Pobal, on the grounds that it was not a new Youth Café, which was one of the application requirements. Officials from my Department met with the project’s sponsors and undertook to engage with the relevant stake-holders and to carry out an examination of all aspects of the Attic's application for funding. The examination is now completed and the outcome will be conveyed to the project’s sponsors in the coming weeks.
Youth cafés offer young people a safe, alcohol and drug free space, for recreation, non-formal learning and youth activities. Over the period 2011 to 2013 capital funding made available to my Department has supported the development of some 100 youth café facilities throughout the country. While my Department does not have available to it a new capital fund for the development of youth cafés in 2015, the development of youth café facilities will continue to be a priority should further capital funding become available to my Department in future years.
399. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his views on issues raised by Foróige in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26218/15]
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. This was an important priority for the voluntary youth organisations that have a key role in the provision of quality youth work services for young people.
In 2015, funding of €6,945,538 has been allocated by my Department to Foróige to support the provision of services for young people including the local services provided by Foróige for young people who are at risk of disadvantage. This total does not include local youth clubs grants, funded by my Department, but allocated to local clubs under schemes administered by the local Education and Training Boards. It does not include funding provided to Foróige with respect to Garda youth diversion projects or funding from other state agencies such as the HSE.
The €6,945,538 Foróige is receiving in funding in 2015 is comprised of: €2,551,737 under the Youth Service Grant Scheme, €1,658,828 under the Young People Facilities and Services Fund (1 & 2) and €2,734,973 under the Special Projects for Youth scheme.
Over the period 2013-2014, my Department has also provided funds to support Foróige's Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) programme. In 2015, Foróige will receive €775,000 for the programme from my Department under the Dormant Accounts Fund scheme.
In recent years, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, as with all government departments, has had to find savings in line with the requirements of the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure, 2012 to 2014. Under the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure savings and efficiencies of the order of 18.75% were required in relation to youth funding programmes. Having regard to these savings requirements, my Department tried to ensure that, in the determination process for the funding allocations, the front line youth services, particularly those for the most vulnerable young people were protected in so far as was possible from the impact of any necessary reductions in funding.
I and officials of my Department regularly meet with the voluntary organisations that provide services to young people including Foróige. Officials of my Department recently met with the Chief Executive Officer of Foróige and the Assistant CEO to discuss the organisation's progress in developing BBBS and future plans for initiatives to support young people.
The question of additional funding for Foróige will be considered in the context of the resources that are made available to my Department in the Estimates and Budgetary process and my Department's priorities for the future development of the services for young people, in line with the new National Youth Strategy, which will be available shortly.
400. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department has taken in response to the increasing global health threat presented by emerging zoonotic diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus which emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and which, although it is more limited than the previous SARS-CoV, has a much higher mortality rate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25908/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMiddle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Typical MERS symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is common, but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, have also been reported. Severe illness can cause respiratory failure that requires mechanical ventilation and support in an intensive care unit. Approximately 36% of reported patients with MERS-CoV have died. The virus appears to cause more severe disease in older people, people with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic diseases such as cancer, chronic lung disease and diabetes.
Although the majority of human cases of MERS have been attributed to human-to-human infections, camels are likely to be a major reservoir host for MERS-CoV and an animal source of MERS infection in humans. However, the exact role of camels in transmission of the virus and the exact route(s) of transmission are unknown. Between April 2012 and 26 June 2015, globally, 1355 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS-CoV including 483 related deaths have been reported to WHO.
There is an ongoing outbreak of MERS-CoV in South Korea. Up to 26 June, a total of 180 MERS-CoV cases, including thirty (30) deaths have been reported to WHO from South Korea and one case has been reported in China. Although the MERS-CoV cluster in South Korea is the largest observed outside of the Arabian Peninsula, the cluster remains limited to patients, visitors to patients and healthcare workers in a few healthcare facilities, and close relatives of the cases who were visiting the health facilities where the cases where admitted. The pattern noticed in Korean hospitals corresponds to what had been observed in Saudi Arabian hospitals, when extended transmission in hospital occurred following the admission of one case. This resulted in ‘super-spreader’ situations, amplified by the absence of triage in emergency rooms.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) of the HSE acts as the focal point in Ireland for receipt of international alerts on communicable disease from the World Health Organisation under the International Health Regulations and also as focal point for early warning on emerging infectious disease threats in Europe as part of the European Early Warning and Response System (EWRS). These systems are monitored 24/7 by HPSC. In addition the European Centre for Disease control provides rapid risk assessments of emerging infectious threats including zoonotic diseases. These risk assessments are analysed and disseminated by HPSC as appropriate.
The HPSC has sent three recent alerts to clinicians in relation to MERS-CoV - on 2 June, 8 June and 17 June. The main points to note for clinicians/public health at this time are:
1. Continued clinical vigilance and awareness of the possibility of MERS Co-V in patients presenting with severe acute respiratory infection who have recently been in contact with healthcare services in South Korea and also those who have returned from the Middle East (the index case in the South Korean outbreak had a history of travel to the Middle East prior to illness onset). Note the possibility of atypical presentations in persons with immunosuppression.
2. The importance of eliciting a travel history from the aforementioned patients with severe respiratory disease cannot be overemphasised.
3. The prompt, systematic and strict implementation of infection prevention and control measures for such patients presenting in healthcare facilities is essential to interrupt transmission and to prevent health care-associated infections from MERS-CoV. See infection prevention and control guidance on HPSC website at http://www.hpsc.ie/A-Z/Respiratory/CoronavirusInfections/Guidance/.
Additional information and documents are available on the HPSC website.
The Scientific Advisory Committee of HPSC in 2005 established a Vector borne Subcommittee to monitor emerging threats posed by insect vectors. This Subcommittee remains vigilant for vector borne disease and, most recently has published a Ranking of Likelihood of Emergence of Selected Vector borne Diseases in Ireland (available on the HPSC website). This document and the work underpinning it, feeds into the ongoing threat assessment of European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control into vectorborne diseases.
In addition the Department of Foreign Affairs has issued travel advice on its website for those travelling to Middle East and to South Korea.
401. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Health if Irish nuns and priests who are engaged in missionary work abroad are entitled to a medical card for the months they return to Ireland between missions; if not, the reasons for same; if those over 70 years of age will be entitled to the over 70s general practitioner visit card when it is introduced in August 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25686/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health Act, 1970, as amended, eligibility for health services is based primarily on residency and means. A person living in Ireland for at least one year is considered by the HSE to be 'ordinarily resident' and is entitled to either full eligibility (medical card) or limited eligibility for health services. Persons who are ordinarily resident in the State and who have attained the age of 70 years will qualify for the over-70s GP visit card, when introduced.
People who have not been resident in Ireland must satisfy the HSE that it is their intention to remain for a minimum of one year in order to be eligible for health services.
402. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards and general practitioner visit cards as of 1 June 2015; and the number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [25688/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe following table provides the medical card and GP card figures as requested by the Deputy.
|
- |
1st June 2015 |
|
Card Type |
No. of Cards |
|
Medical Cards |
1,733,639 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
87,207 |
|
GP Visit Cards |
164,087 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
39,468 |
