Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:221. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on correspondence regarding the death of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35742/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGarda Investigations
Ceisteanna (221)
Freagraí scríofa
I have previously met with family members of the victim to whom the Deputy refers and their legal representatives at the time to hear their concerns about aspects of the Garda investigation of the murder of their loved one and their call for an inquiry. This case was one of those inquired into previously by the late Mr. Justice Henry Barron and examined subsequently by a sub-committee of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights.
I have great sympathy for the family in this case. There can be no doubt that the brutal murder of their loved one by a gunman caused them untold grief and that there were unacceptable failings in the investigation of the murder.
I had a review of the material which the family provided to me and other available material regarding this murder carried out and I wrote to the family earlier this year setting out my conclusion that I could not recommend the establishment of a Commission of Investigation in this case and detailing my reasoning in this regard. In summary, in the circumstances where an independent judicial inquiry had already been carried out which focused in great detail on the Garda investigation and found that it could not advance the issues to a conclusive outcome; where an Oireachtas committee had carried out an examination of these same issues, including public hearings, and found also that it could not conclusively address questions relating to the investigation; and where a public apology for identified failings in the investigation was made to the family by former Garda Commissioners and a former Justice Minister, I could not conclude that the issues relating to the Garda investigation could be addressed any more conclusively now than they have been already.
I would note in addition that An Garda Síochána carried out a full review of the original investigation and the original evidence and submitted a file to the Director of Public Prosecutions who directed that no prosecution should be brought.
I regret that my decision in this case is, inevitably, a disappointment for the family. The family has written to me again and asked me to reconsider matters and I am currently in the process of finalising that consideration. I will, of course, communicate directly with the family when that process is completed.
Questions Nos. 222 and 223 answered with Question No. 182.
Ground Rents Payments
Ceisteanna (224)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:224. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current status of ground rents; if those that are still being applied by landlords are subject to the statute of limitations; if she will introduce legislation to enable a referendum to abolish ground rents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35771/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The general position regarding ground rents is that section 2 of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) Act 1978 introduced a prohibition on the creation of new leases reserving ground rents on dwellings. As regards remaining ground rents, Part III of the Landlord and Tenant (Ground Rents) (No.2) Act 1978 contains a statutory scheme whereby the holder of a leasehold interest may, at reasonable cost, acquire the fee simple in his or her dwelling. To date, over 80,000 applicants have acquired freehold title to their property under this scheme. Comprehensive details of the manner in which the fee simple can be acquired under this scheme are available on the Property Registration Authority's website (www.prai.ie). In the case of remaining ground rents, I should also add that a ground landlord is statute barred from claiming more than 6 years arrears of ground rent.
With regard to the abolition of ground rents, the position is that this matter was considered by the All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution in their 2004 Report 'Private Property'. The Committee took the view that a ground landlord's ground rent is a form of property right which is constitutionally protected and that abolition of such rents would be unconstitutional in the absence of adequate monetary compensation. The Committee also noted that where leases were approaching expiry, any legislation providing for the abolition of ground rents would have to provide for the payment of enhanced compensation by the ground tenant. In light of the foregoing, I have no immediate plans to introduce further legislation in this area but operation of the existing law is, however, kept under review by my Department.
Child and Family Agency Remit
Ceisteanna (225)
Seán Kenny
Ceist:225. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to extend the emergency out-of-hours social work service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35266/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency provides a range of services aimed at addressing emergency situations in the area of child welfare and protection. In the main, these emergency situations arise out of hours.
At present, out-of-hours emergency services for children at risk in the greater Dublin area are provided by Tusla through the Crisis Intervention Service (CIS). The remit of the service is to respond to crisis situations in which a child or young person requires immediate placement either due to child protection concerns or accommodation issues. The service is delivered by Tusla's social work service.
Outside the greater Dublin area, a more limited Emergency Place of Safety Service (EPSS) is provided for the Agency under a commercial arrangement by Five Rivers Ireland. Under Section 12 of the Child Care Act, 1991, a member of An Garda Síochána may remove a child to a place of safety where they have reasonable grounds for believing that there is an immediate risk to the health or welfare of a child. Under the EPSS, An Garda Síochána can access an emergency placement for such children found to be at risk out of hours. The child is placed in a family setting until the following working day, when the local social work service assumes responsibility for the case. The intention is to expand this service so that An Garda Síochána can consult with a social worker out of hours. This is presently not the case outside the greater Dublin area.
I am pleased to confirm that Tusla is establishing the Emergency Out of Hours Service (EOHS) in 2015. The EOHS will incorporate the existing Emergency Place of Safety Service. The key objective of the service is to co-operate with and support An Garda Síochána in the execution of their duties and responsibilities under Section 12(3) of the Child Care Act, 1991.
The EOHS will provide An Garda Síochána with:
- A National Call Centre which will be provided by the Crisis Intervention Service. It will provide social work consultation and advice, and will commence in Quarter 4, 2015.
- Access to a local on call social worker, if required. This service element will also commence in Quarter 4, 2015.
- Placement for children under Section 12 of the Child Care Act, 1991 using the services of a private company (Five Rivers Fostering Service).
The service will be available from 6.00pm to 7.00am, 365 days a year and between 9am and 5pm every Saturday, Sunday and Bank holiday. The service will be coordinated through the National Call Centre.
Child Care Costs
Ceisteanna (226)
Shane Ross
Ceist:226. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to increase funding or provide subsidies for child care to support families where both parents are working, in the upcoming budget; if he considers that such support is necessary, given the extremely high cost of child care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35277/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Funding of more than a quarter of a billion euro is provided annually by my Department towards childcare. All childcare programmes supported by my Department currently provide funding directly to childcare providers, either in the form of capitation or subvention payments. This kind of funding mechanism provides the leverage to progressively build the quality of childcare provision, while at the same time making childcare more affordable.
To deliver the free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, a standard capitation fee of €62.50 per week per eligible child is paid to participating services. To incentivise higher quality, a higher capitation fee of €73 per week is paid per eligible child to services with more highly qualified staff. Parents who qualify for support under this programme can have their annual childcare costs reduced by as much as €2,774 for each qualifying child.
The Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme provides funding to community childcare services to support disadvantaged or low income families, and in the case of full day care, parents can have their weekly childcare costs reduced by up to €95 per week for each qualifying child.
Further childcare support is provided under a number of targeted programmes which support parents returning to the workforce or availing of education or training opportunities. These include the:
1. Childcare Education and Training Supports programme for parents availing of training and education courses;
2. Community Employment Childcare programme for parents in Community Employment schemes; and
3. After-School Childcare programme for after-school care.
For these three programmes, the maximum contribution a parent makes to the cost of childcare is capped at €15 per week for part-time and after-school care and €25 per week in the case of full-day care.
I recognise the difficulties being faced by both childcare providers and parents and I am looking at the question of appropriate supports for child care in the wider context. The Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Early Years and After-School Care and Education, which I established in February this year, has set out a range of options for current and future investment, including options to enhance affordability, options to increase the accessibility of provision and options to build the quality of provision of early years and school age care and education.
I published the report of the Inter-Departmental Group on 22 July to facilitate a further debate within the sector and among parents generally about the value of and priority that should be attached to the various options considered in the report. This process will help inform future decisions in relation to further investment in the early years sector.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Ceisteanna (227)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:227. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will consider a ring-fenced special education needs support fund, accessible at local level through the county child-care committee, to enable children with special needs to attend the early childhood care and education programme; if he is aware that in County Donegal 65% out of 170 children with special needs are unsupported by any form of grant assistance or specialist support at the programme level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33982/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The majority of children with special needs are able to access the free pre-school year, provided under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, in mainstream pre-school services, without the provision of any additional supports. In the region of 67,000, including children with special needs, avail of the free pre-school provision each year.
My Department is committed to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to access and benefit from this free pre-school year and has, in addition to the HSE, made various practical efforts in recent years to support mainstreamed provision for children with special needs. These include: more flexible rules regarding access to the free pre-school year, the provision on a limited ad hoc basis by the HSE of funding towards the cost of pre-school support assistants in some areas, elective modules on special needs in mandatory courses for early years practitioners, and various initiatives by City and County Childcare Committees, HSE / HSE funded services, and by Better Start’s Early Years Specialist Service to support providers who need expert advice and guidance. In addition, the on-going reorganisation of disability therapy services into multi-disciplinary geographic-based teams by the HSE under the Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People Programme and the early intervention and support that reconfigured teams provide is of importance in the context of mainstreaming.
Nevertheless, this Government recognises that co-ordination and provision of appropriate supports for pre-school children with special needs could be improved. Accordingly, when I established the Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Early Years and School Age Care and Education, I included in its terms of reference the need to examine how best to provide for children with special needs within mainstream pre-school settings.
To advance this, the Departments of Children and Youth Affairs, Education and Skills, and Health are working together to develop a new model of supports for pre-school children with special needs. My Department is leading the process, with full and active support from the other two Departments and their respective agencies.
An Inter-Departmental Group comprising representatives from these three Departments, the HSE, Tusla, the National Council for Special Education, the National Disability Authority, Better Start and the Dublin City Childcare Committee has completed its work and has made a cross-departmentally supported proposal for the resources required as part of the Estimates process.
Child Care Costs
Ceisteanna (228)
Mick Wallace
Ceist:228. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs his plans to introduce measures in the upcoming budget to ease the financial burden of childcare on parents, particularly in view of the recent figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which show that Ireland has the highest child care costs in the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33035/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Funding of more than a quarter of a billion euro is provided annually by my Department towards childcare. All childcare programmes supported by my Department currently provide funding directly to childcare providers, either in the form of capitation or subvention payments. This kind of funding mechanism provides the leverage to progressively build the quality of childcare provision, while at the same time making childcare more affordable.
To deliver the free pre-school year under the Early Childhood Care and Education programme, a standard capitation fee of €62.50 per week per eligible child is paid to participating services. To incentivise higher quality, a higher capitation fee of €73 per week is paid per eligible child to services with more highly qualified staff. Parents who qualify for support under this programme can have their annual childcare costs reduced by as much as €2,774 for each qualifying child.
The Community Childcare Subvention programme provides funding to community childcare services to support disadvantaged or low income families, and in the case of full day care, parents can have their weekly childcare costs reduced by up to €95 per week for each qualifying child.
Further childcare support is provided under a number of programmes which support parents returning to the workforce or availing of education or training opportunities. These include the:
1. Childcare Education and Training Supports programme for parents availing of training and education courses;
2. Community Employment Childcare programme for parents in Community Employment schemes; and
3. After-School Childcare programme for after-school care.
For these three programmes, the maximum contribution a parent makes to the cost of childcare is capped at €15 per week for part-time and after-school care and €25 per week in the case of full-day care.
I recognise the difficulties being faced by parents and I am looking at the question of appropriate supports for childcare in the wider context. The Inter-Departmental Group on Future Investment in Early Years and After-School Care and Education, which I established in February this year, has set out a range of options for future investment, including options to enhance affordability, options to increase the accessibility of provision and options to build the quality of provision of early years and school age care and education.
I published the report of the Inter-Departmental Group on 22 July to facilitate a further debate within the sector and among parents generally about the value of and priority that should be attached to the various options for further investment, which were set out in the report. I will have specific proposals to make in the context of the Estimates process for Budget 2016.
Preschool Services
Ceisteanna (229)
Robert Troy
Ceist:229. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs for a breakdown of the number of preschool inspection officers employed by Tusla - Child and Family Agency; and of preschools which were inspected in 2014 and to date in 2015, by county. [35574/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Child and Family Agency to respond directly to the Deputy with the most up-to-date information.
Education Welfare Service Provision
Ceisteanna (230)
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:230. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if his Department has analysed the impact homelessness has on school attendance; the education of pupils; the life of schools; his plans to address these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35589/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Tusla, the Child and Family Agency under the remit of my Department has a general function to ensure that each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education. The statutory Educational Welfare Service of Tusla has a key role to respond to instances where children are not attending school regularly or where there is a concern about a child's educational welfare.
Children whose families are homeless or who are living in temporary accommodation which is a distance from their school are a concern because they may encounter attendance difficulties which can impact on their participation in education and school life.
Tusla has advised my Department that it is working closely with the homeless agencies to ensure that services working with families who are homeless know how to access the educational support services where difficulties arise with a child’s participation in school. New information material on the supports available and how to access them is being developed for distribution to the services. Tusla has been in contact with schools that operate the school completion programme to emphasise the importance of identifying and supporting children whose families are homeless. Parents are being encouraged to share with schools their family circumstances in order that support may be provided to them. Schools have been asked to provide details of their inputs in situations where children need additional support with attendance matters and engagement in the life of the school. Tusla will, then conduct an analysis of information provided by the schools with a view to working closely with them on a coordinated approach to respond to children’s needs.
I am further advised that Tusla has assigned an additional Educational Welfare Officer to assist schools where a number of homeless children are presenting in the Dublin region. Tusla's aim is to provide an integrated response to support children and their families, to prevent attendance difficulties arising, ensure that children continue to participate in education and that they continue to be involved with their school community.
Child Care Services Provision
Ceisteanna (231)
Robert Troy
Ceist:231. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated to individual strands of child care for counties Longford and Westmeath, for each year from 2008 to date in 2015. [35655/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A number of childcare programmes are implemented by my Department to assist parents with the cost of childcare. These include:
- the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme,
- the Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) programme,
- the Training and Employment Childcare (TEC) programmes and
- the Early Years Capital Funding programme.
The following tables give details of the total annual funding allocated to childcare providers in counties Longford and Westmeath under these various programmes since the establishment of Department of Children and Youth Affairs in June 2011 to the present date. The figures for the ECCE programme cover the period from September 2011 which is the first full year that this programme was implemented by this Department.
|
Childcare Education and Training Support Programme |
Longford |
Westmeath |
|
2011/2012 |
483,210.00 |
352,015.00 |
|
2012/2013 |
391,780.00 |
376,005.00 |
|
2013/2014 |
383,900.00 |
376,754.00 |
|
2014/2015 |
363,437.00 |
285,121.00 |
|
Community Childcare Subvention Programme |
||
|
2011/2012 |
1,196,644.00 |
1,714,212.00 |
|
2012/2013 |
1,002,596.00 |
1,362,850.00 |
|
2013/2014 |
957,293.32 |
1,326,041.34 |
|
2014/2015 |
822,713.07 |
1,195,781.06 |
|
After School Childcare Programme |
||
|
2014/2015 |
33,880.00 |
10,031.00 |
|
Community Employment Childcare Pre-school Programme |
||
|
2014/2015 |
116,585.00 |
115,042.00 |
|
Community Employment After School Programme |
||
|
2014/2015 |
36,568.00 |
32,540.00 |
|
Capital Programmes |
||
|
2011 |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
121,847.30 |
75,073.00 |
|
2013 |
29,175.00 |
75,034.00 |
|
2014 |
14,287.00 |
90,261.00 |
|
2015 Strand 1 |
0 |
0 |
|
2015 Strand2 |
18,222.30 |
43,758.00 |
|
2015 Strand 3 |
44,697.60 |
24,300.00 |
|
2015 Strand 4 |
2,271.00 |
7,354.95 |
|
Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme |
||
|
2011/2012 |
1,354,072.40 |
3,297,279.90 |
|
2012/2013 |
1,413,459.30 |
3,202,171.20 |
|
2013/2014 |
1,356,290.00 |
3,308,659.00 |
|
2014/2015 |
1,402,992.10 |
3,393,096.10 |
Child Care Services Funding
Ceisteanna (232)
Robert Troy
Ceist:232. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 465 of 6 October 2015, if he will provide a breakdown of the allocation of funding for community child care services under funding strand 1 of the early years capital programme in 2015; if similar funding will be available for 2016; if so, if it will be at an increased level; and if child care providers will receive advanced notice of this. [35810/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The following table gives details of funding allocated under Strand 1 of the Programme.
|
Company |
Location |
€ |
|
Rathoe Community Afterschool Group Limited |
Rathoe, Co. Carlow |
€ 306,450 |
|
Newtowncunningham Community Playgroup Limited |
Newtowncunningham Business Park, Monfad Rd, Newtowncunningham, Co. Donegal |
€ 260,557 |
|
Basic Child Care Centre Limited |
New Retail Park, Station Road, Bundoran, Co. Donegal |
€ 225,000 |
|
Dublin West Childcare and Learning Services Company Limited |
St. Ronan's Community Centre, St. Cuthberts Road, Deansrath, Dublin 22 |
€ 250,000 |
|
Finglas Childcare Limited |
1a/2a/3a Church Street, Finglas, Dublin 11 |
€ 585,000 |
|
Caltra Community Playgroup Limited |
Caltra, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway |
€ 199,554 |
|
Tullaghan Community Playgroup Limited |
1 Carberry Coast, Tullaghan, Co. Leitrim |
€ 83,000 |
|
Rathkeale Community Childcare Limited |
Well Lane, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick |
€ 415,713 |
|
K.P. Childcare Limited |
The Community Centre, Irishtown, Claremorris, Co. Mayo |
€ 369,042 |
|
Rockcorry Community Childcare Services Limited |
Boyher, Rockcorry, Co. Monaghan |
€ 86,000 |
|
€ 2,780,316 |
Decisions in relation to the provision of Early Years Capital funding for 2016 will follow the completion of the Budget process for next year and if a further round of capital funding is agreed, I will discuss with my officials the need to have a sufficient lead-in time that would enable services to commence any necessary pre-application work.
Dental Services Provision
Ceisteanna (233)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:233. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health if he will implement Mr. Justice Quirke’s health care recommendations in full, given that the dental profession has confirmed that the redress for women resident in certain institutions cards afford the women no additional benefits to the medical card. [35431/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Eligibility for dental health services provided by the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Act 2015 sets out the primary and community health services available in Ireland, free of charge, effective from 1 July 2015. The women are categorised as High Risk/Priority patients and are entitled to a greater range of dental services than those provided under the standard medical card. The enhanced care provided to them is not limited to services currently available under the Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS) but includes the wider range of services which were available prior to 2010.
Vaccination Programme
Ceisteanna (234, 249, 304, 321, 324, 330, 339)
John Browne
Ceist:234. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health his views that schools are an appropriate environment for providing vaccinations for first year students, some of whom are only in their first few months in their new school; that this is a safe environment for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35717/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:249. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the possible adverse reactions to the human papilloma virus vaccine; if he has evaluated the evidence relating to these potential long-term side effects; the steps he will take to address these issues; if a review has taken place, given the recent decision by the Danish health authorities to cease using this particular vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35351/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn Browne
Ceist:304. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that the human papilloma virus vaccine, Gardasil, was fast-tracked on to the market; the reason it is considered appropriate to fast-track this vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35595/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn Browne
Ceist:321. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health given that it is medically accepted that there will be issues with all vaccines, the supports he plans to put in place for girls who may become injured as a result of receiving the human papilloma virus vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35718/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraJohn Browne
Ceist:324. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health if he will recognise that Pandemrix was at one time considered as safe as the human papilloma virus vaccines, that the benefits outweighed the risks, and the possibility that the many auto-immune reactions being experiences by vaccinated girls are following a similar pattern of neurological disturbances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35743/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:330. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to concerns regarding the Gardasil vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35750/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:339. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to cease dispensing of the human papilloma virus vaccine until after the review, given the growing international uncertainty over the safety of this vaccine, that some countries have suspended its us, and others currently have criminal investigations taking place [35805/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 234, 249, 304, 321, 324, 330 and 339 together.
The immunisation programme in Ireland is based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC). NIAC is a committee of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland comprising of experts in a number of specialties including infectious diseases, paediatrics and public health. The committee's recommendations are informed by public health advice and international best practice.
Immunisation is regarded as one of the safest and most cost-effective of health care interventions. The HPV vaccine protects girls from developing cervical cancer when they are adults. The vaccine is available free of charge from the HSE for all girls in 1st year of secondary school. This is in accordance with the recommendation received from the NIAC which indicated that the HPV vaccine should be offered on an annual basis to all girls aged 12. The advice, based on public health considerations and supported by the cost-effectiveness analysis, is that HPV vaccines confer maximum benefit both individually and on a population basis if administered prior to HPV exposure. The vaccine protects against two high risk types of HPV (16 & 18) that cause 73% of all cervical cancers. Vaccinated women and girls will still be at risk from other high risk types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer and will therefore need to continue to have regular cervical smear tests.
In Ireland school based immunisation has been used successfully to vaccinate primary school children for over 30 years to protect children from vaccine preventable diseases and is now reaching the 95% vaccination rate recommended by the World Health Organisation. Vaccinations programmes were extended to second level schools since the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccination programme in 2010 and uptake rates have exceeded the target of 80% for a three dose course in first year girls.
The National Immunisation Office (NIO) provides and updates Guidelines annually for staff who work in the School Immunisation Programme. The NIO continually liaises with the Department of Education in the implementation of the school vaccination programmes and the local HSE vaccination teams work very closely with the school management and staff to minimise disruption. The school based service also provides an additional clinic service where parents can attend with children if there are difficulties with school vaccination.
In Ireland, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the regulatory authority for medicines in Ireland. Gardasil® is a medicinal product which has been authorised for use across the European Union since September 2006 following a positive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) at the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The procedure timelines were not fast-tracked (a US term) or accelerated (the EU term). The procedure started on 28 December 2005, a positive opinion was issued by the EMA's scientific committee on 7 July 2006, and a marketing authorisation was issued by the Commission on 20 September 2006. Allowing for the time period taken by the applicant for responses, the time between start of the procedure and the scientific committee's opinion was 190 days.
While no medicine (including vaccines) is entirely without risk, the safety profile of Gardasil® has been continuously monitored since it was first authorised both nationally and at EU level. This is done by both monitoring of individual adverse reaction reports received by competent authorities across Europe (including the HPRA) and Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) submitted by the Marketing Authorisation Holder (i.e. license holder) for the vaccine on a regular basis.
Up to the 11 September 2015, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has received 901 reports of suspected adverse reactions/events notified in association with the use of HPV vaccines (Gardasil® 899 and Cervarix® 2). The vast majority of reports received by the HPRA regarding both Gardasil® and Cervarix vaccines to date have been consistent with the expected pattern of adverse effects for the vaccines, as described in the product information. Vaccination related events, occurring at the time of vaccine administration, such as syncope (faints) has been among the most commonly reported effects. Other commonly reported symptoms include gastrointestinal symptoms, malaise, headache, dizziness and injection site reactions. Reports of allergic-type reactions including skin rashes, urticaria and flushing have also been received, including isolated reports of more severe hypersensitivity-type reactions.
As part of its monitoring of the safety of medicines, the HPRA operates an adverse reaction reporting system, where healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report adverse reactions they consider may be associated with their treatment, through the range of options in place for reporting (https://www.hpra.ie/homepage/about-us/report-an-issue). All reports received are evaluated and considered in the context of the safety profile of the product concerned, with reports followed up as necessary for further information, that may assist in the assessment of the case. All reports received through the online reporting options receive an acknowledgement and case record number on successful submission of a report. Further information is provided to reporters in respect of any questions/concerns reflected in their reports, in the context of report follow up. In accordance with its reporting obligations, the HPRA provides anonymised details of reports received to the EMA, the World Health Organisation and to the marketing authorisation (i.e. licence) holder for the medicine.
The EMA has commenced a review of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine "to further clarify aspects of their safety profile," although the agency points out that this review "does not question that the benefits of HPV vaccines outweigh their risks ." The review is specifically focusing on rare reports of two conditions, complex regional pain syndrome and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome associated with heart rate increase. Recommendations from the first stage of this review are expected in November. The agency also notes that while the review is being carried out, no change in the use of these products is recommended.
In addition the EMA is currently evaluating data from a new epidemiological study on the safety of human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines, Gardasil® and Cervarix®. The study conducted jointly by the French medicines agency (ANSM) and the French national health insurance fund (CNAMTS) compared the incidence of autoimmune conditions in girls given HPV vaccines with the incidence in girls not given the vaccines. In the meantime, the EMA have advised healthcare professionals that available data does not warrant any change to the use of these vaccines. Healthcare professionals should therefore continue using Gardasil® and Cervarix® in accordance with the current product information.
It has been confirmed by the Danish authorities that they continue to offer HPV vaccination to 12 year old girls as part of the Danish child immunisation programme.
Disease Classification
Ceisteanna (235)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:235. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the implementation of recommendations for dementia patients. [35191/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014. This delivers on a commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a national strategy on Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia to increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and develop enhanced community based services.
The Department of Health and the HSE have agreed a joint initiative with the Atlantic Philanthropies to implement significant elements of the Strategy over the period 2014-2017. This National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme will represent a combined investment of €27.5m, with Atlantic Philanthropies contributing €12m, and the HSE contributing €15.5m.
This programme will promote a greater focus on timely diagnosis of dementia and on the value of early intervention, along with the long-term objective of making people in Ireland generally more aware and understanding of the needs of people with dementia, and of the contribution that those with dementia continue to make to our society.
Key elements of the initiative include:
- the roll-out of a programme of Intensive Home Supports and Home-care Packages for people with dementia;
- the provision of additional dementia-specific resources for GPs, who are the critical and initial point of contact with the health system for those with dementia. The resource material will include training materials and guidance on local services and contact points.etc;
- measures to raise public awareness, address stigma and promote the inclusion and involvement in society of those with dementia.
A Monitoring Group, chaired by the Department of Health, has been established to assist with and advise on implementation of the National Dementia Strategy, including the National Dementia Strategy Implementation Programme. This Group includes health professionals, administrators, researchers and advocates. The Group also includes a person living with dementia and a representative of those who care for people with dementia. The most recent meeting of this Monitoring Group was held on 24 September 2015.
As the delivery of dementia services 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.
Medical Card Eligibility
Ceisteanna (236)
Dara Calleary
Ceist:236. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been granted a medical card for himself only, but not for his dependants as set out under 5.1 of medical cards retention section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35192/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
Legislative Process
Ceisteanna (237)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:237. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health his Department’s preparation for legislation to be brought forward relating to a proposed repeal of the eighth amendment of the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35227/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware article 40.3.3 of the Constitution states: 'The State acknowledges the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother, guarantees in its laws to respect, and, as far as practicable, by its laws to defend and vindicate that right.'
The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act was signed into law by the President on 30 July 2013 and it was commenced on 1 January 2014. The Act received very careful consideration by the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Health and Children, including three days of public hearings. The main purpose of the Act is to restate the general prohibition on abortion in Ireland while regulating access to lawful termination of pregnancy in accordance with the X case and the judgment of the European Court of Human rights in the A, B and C v Ireland case. The Act also creates procedures which apply to the lawful termination of pregnancy. Its purpose is to confer procedural rights on a woman who believes she has a life-threatening condition, so that she can have certainty as to whether she requires this treatment or not.
I am not proposing any amendments to the Act or the 8th Amendment of the Constitution at present. However, I do believe that this matter should be dealt with in the 32nd Dáil.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (238)
Seán Kenny
Ceist:238. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant dermatologists at Beaumont hospital in Dublin 9; the number of persons on the waiting list for related services; the average waiting time to see a consultant; the immediate steps being taken to reduce the waiting times for related services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35268/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.