Written Answers Nos. 135-144
135. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the percentage of staff in his Department capable of dealing with the public in the Irish language; if there are training programmes in place for staff to improve their level of working Irish; the provision there is for other minority languages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38619/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently 3% of staff in my Department are capable of dealing with the public in Irish. Training has been provided through Gaelchultúr to staff who are interested in improving their level of working Irish. The Department does not provide training in other languages. A requirement for training in other languages has not been identified as an issue for this Department. If this becomes necessary, training would be provided.
136. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated by his Department to organisations not audited directly by the Comptroller and Auditor General; the names of these organisations; the funding allocated to each over the past five years; the process in place to ensure that value for money is achieved and that the funding allocated is audited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38665/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding allocated by my Department to external organisations is provided, in the main, to bodies who are directly audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. These bodies include Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, the Adoption Authority of Ireland and the Office of the Ombudsman for Children.
My Department also allocates funding to a range of schemes in the areas of early years provision and the youth sector. This funding, while not allocated directly to the providers/bodies by the Department, does support a very large number of community, voluntary and other bodies that are engaged in the provision of specific services to children and young people. The granting of this funding also comes within the remit of the C&AG's annual audit of my Department.
137. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health when the mobility allowance will be reinstated, and new applications accepted for it. [38517/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new Transport Support Scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. The Department is seeking a solution which would best meet the aim of supporting people with severe disabilities who require additional income to contribute towards the cost of their mobility needs, while remaining within the available budget and satisfying all legal and equality concerns.
Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme. The proposals seek to ensure that:
- There is a firm statutory basis to the Scheme's operation;
- There is transparency and equity in the eligibility criteria attaching to the Scheme;
- Resources are targeted at those with the greatest needs; and
- The Scheme is capable of being costed and it is affordable on its introduction and on an ongoing basis.
Payments of up to €208.50 per month are continuing to be made by the Health Service Executive to 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance at the time the scheme closed, in February 2013. Any proposals put to Government will seek to take account of this group.
Heads of Bill have now been developed in draft form and are currently subject to detailed legal examination. The approval of a General Scheme and Heads of Bill by the Government will be followed by publication and pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas Health and Children Committee. The Health (Transport Support) Bill is included in the Government Legislation Programme.
138. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a strategy document by a paediatric diabetes working group under the national clinical programme, outlining a model of care based on regional centres of excellence and local outreach clinics with adequate resources, will be launched; why the launch date was changed from 21 October 2015 and later from 4 November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38451/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
139. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of public respite beds available for dementia patients by county and by location, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38452/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
140. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 146 and 156 of 8 October 2015 regarding average orthopaedic procedure waiting times in University Hospital Galway, and the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway, the way he can reconcile the two supplied replies, one of which states the average waiting times were 118 days in 2014 and 109 days in 2015, although the person waited 310 days in 2014 and a further 301 days in 2015 to date, resulting in a total wait of 611 days so far with no expectation of an appointment for a procedure, apart from a nebulous estimate that the person would be contacted in 2016; his conclusion on the disparity between the two replies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38456/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraWith regard to the further correspondence received from the Deputy in relation to this matter, I would like to advise the Deputy that 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.
141. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of qualified nurses of working age living within the State but currently not working within the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38457/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not possible to provide a precise number for qualified nurses of working age currently not working within the health service. In order to practice as a nurse in Ireland one would have to be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Last month there were 63,849 nurses and midwives registered in Ireland compared with 34,852 nurses (WTE's) employed in the public health service at the end of September. However registration does not reflect the available supply of nurses. Many nurses who are registered would not be available for work in the health service. There are a significant number of qualified nurses working in the private health sector and others in sectors of the economy relating to though not involving the provision of nursing care. There would also be a number of nurses living here who would have qualified outside the State and would not be registered with the NMBI and also nurses of working age who qualified in Ireland but are not currently registered.
The OECD has compiled data that show Ireland having 12 practising nurses per 1,000 population compared to an OECD average of nine. These OECD figures are based on data provided by the Central Statistics’ Office Quarterly National Household Survey and are based on the concept of “professionally active” nurses, which means nurses who are actually working in the health system. Notwithstanding the OECD data, it is recognised that filling vacant nursing posts is a challenge at present, in particular filling posts in certain specialist areas.
With a recovering economy, the Health Service Executive is now in a position to offer a wide range of career opportunities for nurses and midwives. There are many initiatives currently underway to improve nursing staff levels throughout the country. These include the retention of 2015 degree programme graduates, offering full time permanent contracts, and a national and international recruitment campaign. In addition the conversion of agency usage to permanent staffing in line with agreed processes is being pursued.
142. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if flexible working hours will be introduced for nurses of young children to facilitate bringing more nurses back into the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38458/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have asked the HSE to respond to the Deputy directly on the specific issue raised. 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.
The HSE is focused on recruiting the levels of frontline staff necessary to ensure that we have safe service provision. It is now in a position to offer a wide range of career opportunities for nurses and midwives. We have about 500 more nurses than a year ago. There are many initiatives currently underway to improve nursing staff levels throughout the country. These include the retention of 2015 degree programme graduates, offering full time permanent contracts, and a national and international recruitment campaign. In addition the conversion of agency usage to permanent staffing in line with agreed processes is being pursued. To date 400 nurses have applied for positions following the HSE’s recruitment campaign in Britain. 112 have accepted posts and further interviews are scheduled.
143. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of critical care beds, by public hospital, at the end of 2014 and in 2015 to date, in tabular form. [38459/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE National Clinical Programme for Critical Care Capacity Census records adult critical care capacity i.e. the commissioned and actual critical care bed stock and critical care staff provided in critical care services in hospitals, and available to care for critically ill adult patients. In relation to the number of critical care beds in each public hospital, 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.
144. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health why a person (details supplied) in County Kildare cannot continue with treatment at a local dentist in Maynooth in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38460/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, it has been 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.
