Billy Kelleher
Ceist:329. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health for an update on the implementation of the national dementia strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35749/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraNational Dementia Strategy Implementation
Ceisteanna (329)
Freagraí scríofa
The Irish National Dementia Strategy was launched in December 2014, this delivers on an a commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a national Alzheimer's and other dementia's strategy 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 GP's, 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.
Question No. 330 answered with Question No. 234.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (331)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Ceist:331. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that 24 persons with special needs, who are due to transition to an adult service in 2016, applied for placements in Gheel services; that they are now left with nowhere to go, as the Health Service Executive will not provide Gheel with the appropriate funds to run the service; his views that this is acceptable; his plans to ensure that these persons are properly looked after; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35752/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Government policy is to enable young people with disabilities to develop the skills they will need to live independent lives to the greatest extent possible, and to receive the supports they need in order to achieve this. Additional funding of €12 million, was allocated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to meet the needs of around 1,400 young people who require continuing health-funded supports on leaving school or rehabilitative training this year, of which €6 million has been made available to provide services from September.
Finding the resources and the physical capacity to meet the needs of a growing number of new service users every year is a challenging task. When this year’s support requirements were identified, the cost of meeting those needs in full exceeded the amount available, therefore, an additional €1.5 million was added by the HSE to the overall allocation, making a total of €13.5 million full-year costs available to meet those needs. A further €1.5 million once-off capital funding was also allocated by the HSE for the provision of suitable buildings, premises and accommodation.
In January 2015, a National Project Group was established by the HSE to develop and oversee a national process to responding to the needs of these young people and to ensure a consistent approach is taken across the country to meeting those needs. This initially involved identifying all individuals who would require a day service in 2015. Once individuals were identified and their individualised needs were assessed, the capacity of the existing services to meet those needs was determined. It was not until this process was completed that the number, location and type of additional support needs and resources could be finalised.
The approach adopted by the National Project Group from the outset was that a cost banding structure would be developed to inform the allocation of the available funds. The costing bands were then applied to the identified need in each of the county’s nine regions so that a nationally consistent approach would be applied, which was needs-based as opposed to population-based. Based on this cost-band structure, five support levels were identified and the following amounts were allocated for new placements at each support level: intensive support (€34,000); high (€16,000); moderate (€11,000); low (€7,000) and minimum (€5,000). Most of the placements for those who had applied to attend Gheel Autism Services are in the intensive support category.
I understand from the HSE that most young people have been offered a placement from September which meets their needs. Only a small minority of placements remain to be finalised. In relation to the individuals that had applied to Gheel Autism Services, the HSE indicated that there would be an allocation of €708,000 made available to Gheel to provide the model of day service that they had developed and once off capital funding of €80,000. However, following extensive negotiations with Gheel, it was established that the placements for these individuals cannot be delivered by Gheel within this allocation. The HSE has initiated discussions with two alternative service providers who already provide quality day services to young people with autism and these providers have agreed to develop appropriate service responses for these young people.
Over the coming weeks the HSE will continue to actively work with these service providers and families until placements are finalised for all young people at this important transition point in their lives and they will ensure that resources available for specialist disability services are used in the most effective manner possible.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (332)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:332. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when the endoscopy suite at Roscommon County Hospital will be opened; the reason for the delay in sanctioning the posts to operate the suite; the number and grades involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35762/15]
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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (333)
Marcella Corcoran Kennedy
Ceist:333. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health if additional funding will be made available to the Health Service Executive to provide resources, that is, properties, qualified staff and host families, to clear the backlog of adult special needs persons requiring a permanent home specific to their needs. [35768/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Work is currently underway in the Department of Health in relation to the preparation of budget estimates for 2016. As part of this process, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has submitted an estimate of its proposed expenditure for 2016, including health and personal social services for people with a disability. As discussions on budgetary issues are ongoing with the Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, I am not in a position to comment on the outcome of the process at this stage.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (334)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:334. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of the concerns raised regarding the future of Dunfanaghy health centre in County Donegal, including the need for an upgrade, to avail of facilities such as wheelchair access, disability access and extra space to carry out its clinical functions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35769/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE has responsibility for the provision, maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres. Therefore, this matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
Hospital Staff Recruitment
Ceisteanna (335)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:335. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health in relation to vacant posts not being filled in Letterkenny General Hospital in County Donegal, his plans to recognise the peripherality of Donegal's location and its unique geographical circumstances as part of the process of recruiting hospital staff and retaining them in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35770/15]
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.
Services for People with Disabilities
Ceisteanna (336)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:336. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address the issues of persons living with disability; his views on the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation's estimates that living with a disability here can have extra costs ranging from €207 to €276 per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35801/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Department of Health’s overall aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Ireland by: keeping people healthy; providing the healthcare people need; delivering high quality services; and getting best value from health system resources. The core aim of health policy is to improve the health and wellbeing of the people in Ireland including people with a disability. The Department of Health's remit covers the health and personal social care needs of people with a disability. Under the Disability Act 2005 and the National Disability Strategy the provision of income supports and other mainstream supports are the responsibility of a number of other Departments.
The Department of Health currently provides funding of approximately €1.5 billion to the Disability Services Programme through the Health Service Executive's National Service Plan. This funding currently provides specialist disability services such as:
- 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 overnight stays for people with intellectual and physical disabilities;
- 3.9 million hours of Personal Assistant / Home Support Hours;
- therapy service for children with a disability
Funding for specialist disability services in 2016 is included in the discussions on budgetary issues which are ongoing within the Department of Health, with the HSE and with the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (337)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:337. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans to address waiting times for hip and knee replacements for public patients; and if he will confirm that it can take nine to 12 months to receive an appointment to see a specialist. [35803/15]
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.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (338)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:338. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his views that early supported discharge is regarded as an integral part of high quality stroke services; his views that pilot programmes operating in the Mater, Tallaght and Galway University Hospitals have been successful; if he will ensure that these programmes will be expanded by the Health Service Executive in 2016 so that more stroke survivors may begin to benefit from them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35804/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. 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.
Question No. 339 answered with Question No. 234.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (340)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:340. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the response from the Health Service Executive following letters from a solicitor dated 2 July 2013, 27 February 2014 and 28 March 2014 raising very serious concerns regarding a deceased person (details supplied) and how this person was at risk of dying; the direct action taken to address the most extreme concerns raised by the letters, which were forwarded to the executive from the Minister's office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35806/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I understand from the HSE that the Dublin South City area is investigating the issues raised in the letters itemised above and a response may be expected in the near future.
If you do not receive a reply from the HSE within the next 15 working days please contact my private office who will follow up on the matter.
Smoking Ban
Ceisteanna (341)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:341. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the approach he will take on the roll-out of the blanket smoking ban in all Health Service Executive facilities, including facility grounds; if he will not introduce this blanket ban on certain facilities such as mental health facilities, as advised by many mental health workers; his views that many patients with mental health difficulties will be discouraged to engage with services if they are unable to smoke, and given their condition, counselling and patient services should be the executive's priority ahead of the smoking ban; that while overall smoke-free measures are to be welcomed, common sense must be used, and that this particular incentive is counter-productive to the mental well-being of patients. [35807/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A key recommendation from Tobacco Free Ireland is to promote tobacco free campuses for all health care facilities in consultation with key stake-holders. As the Deputy refers to Health Service Executive services and institutions I am referring the matter to the HSE for direct reply.
Prescriptions Charges
Ceisteanna (342)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:342. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his views that the €2.50 surcharge for medication for persons with medical cards is fair, given that some medical card clients are on extremely low incomes and are taking a large amount of medication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35808/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Prescription charges are part of a set of measures introduced by Government in recent years to reduce pharmaceutical drugs expenditure. Medical card holders are required to pay a prescription charge of €2.50 per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family. Prescription charges do not apply to children in the care of the Health Service Executive, asylum seekers living in direct provision, or to methadone supplied to patients participating in the Methadone Treatment Scheme.
There are no plans to amend the prescription charge, however, the charge is frozen at the level set in 2014.
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (343)
John McGuinness
Ceist:343. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a preschool special needs assistant will be provided for a child (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [35812/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, provides for a free pre-school year to eligible children in the year before they commence primary school. The objective of this scheme is to support early learning in a formal setting in advance of starting school. I understand that certain flexibilities are built into the scheme in an effort to accommodate children with special needs, such as an overage exemption, or waiver, for children with special needs who do not meet the age criteria and the option to avail of the free pre-school year over two years.
The Health Service Executive has no statutory obligation to provide assistant supports for children with special needs wishing to avail of the free pre-school year. However, the HSE does work at local level and in partnership with the relevant disability service providers to address individual needs as they arise. This is done, for example, by funding special pre-schools that cater specifically for children with disabilities. In some limited cases at local level, disability services have also facilitated children with a disability to attend mainstream pre-schools by providing assistant supports where possible and where resources are available. The provision of such pre-school assistant supports should not be confused with Special Needs Assistants who are funded by the Department of Education and Skills to support children with special educational needs in primary and post-primary school settings.
The Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures children and young people's policy framework that has been developed by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs contains a commitment to develop a plan for the inclusion of children with a disability in mainstream pre-school and early years settings. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has lead responsibility for the implementation of this commitment and has recently concluded an intensive process of deliberation and consultation on the matter in conjunction with my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. Work is ongoing to develop an appropriate model of supports to facilitate the full participation of children with special needs in the ECCE Programme.
Within this context, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the individual case he has highlighted. 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.
Dublin-Monaghan Bombings
Ceisteanna (344, 363)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:344. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will support the calls on the British Government to release the files on the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. [35371/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Brendan Smith
Ceist:363. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of any recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Ms Theresa Villiers, concerning the motions passed unanimously by Dáil Éireann in 2008 and 2011 in relation to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974, with particular reference to access to files or papers held by the British authorities regarding these atrocities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35781/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 363 together.
The Government fully supports the all-party Dáil motions of July 2008 and May 2011 urging the British Government to allow access by an independent international judicial figure to all original documents in their possession relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.
I have raised this issue with the British Government on a number of occasions, including most recently on 8 October, and have received assurances from the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland that the British Government continues to actively consider how it can respond to the Dáil motions.
The Taoiseach also raised the Dublin and Monaghan bombings with British Prime Minister David Cameron on 18 June, underlining the Government’s continued support for the Dáil motions.
Passport Controls
Ceisteanna (345)
Paul Murphy
Ceist:345. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 483 of 10 February 2015, and the contradictory information on the Department website (details supplied), if he will confirm whether the passport card is valid for travel to Switzerland. [35223/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 5 October I launched the passport card which will facilitate travel by Irish citizens within all thirty countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area. Last week, my Department, through the Embassy in Berne, received confirmation from the authorities in Switzerland that they will also accept the passport card for travel. Our website has been updated accordingly.
Trade Agreements
Ceisteanna (346)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:346. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on the current trade status with Japan; if this trade continues to grow; if Japanese companies are, or will be, involved in any public private partnership projects in the new capital programme; the value of this trade to the Irish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35228/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Ireland has a strong trading relationship with Japan which has been growing in importance in recent years to the extent that Japan was our 10th largest trading partner in 2014.In 2014, exports in merchandise trade were €1.760 billion and imports were €1.761 billion. The equivalent merchandise trade figures for 2013 were exports of €1.7 billion and imports of €1.04 billion; and in 2012 exports were €2.1 billion and imports were €0.73 billion. Trade in services figures for 2014 are not yet available from the Central Statistics Office, but in 2013 services exports were €2.45 billion and imports were €0.84 billion. The equivalent trade in services figures for 2012 were exports of €2.49 billion and imports of €0.89 billion.
The new capital programme: ‘Building on Recovery: Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021’ was launched on September 29 and is primarily under the remit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. It has a budget of €27 billion over the 6 years of the Programme, and all projects will have an open and competitive procurement process.
Both national and international companies will be permitted to tender for Public Private Partnership projects which are part of the Programme. These have a combined value of around €500 million, and will be developed in the Justice, Education and Health sectors as part of the new capital programme.