John Brassil
Ceist:196. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the status of funding for disability services (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29004/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraDisability Support Services Funding
Ceisteanna (196)
Freagraí scríofa
The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is guided by two principles: equality of opportunity and improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
The level of funding available for my Department is being considered as part of the national estimates/budgetary process for 2017, which is currently underway. Pending completion of this process, it is not appropriate for me to comment further at this stage.
The Programme for Partnership Government states that the Government wishes to provide more accessible respite care to facilitate full support for people with a disability.
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge
Ceisteanna (197)
Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:197. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Louise O'Reilly den Aire Sláinte an bhfuil iniúchadh déanta ar líon na seirbhísí atá ar fáil trí mheán na Gaeilge laistigh agus lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [29025/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Is í Feidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte atá freagrach as seirbhísí sláinte a sholáthar. Toisc gur le seirbhísí a bhaineann an cheist seo, d’iarr mé ar Fheidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte freagra díreach a thabhairt duit.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (198)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:198. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29048/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Crime Data
Ceisteanna (199)
Ruth Coppinger
Ceist:199. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Health if he will undertake a study of cases of murder-suicide here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29049/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In the first instance, murder constitutes a criminal act and a Garda investigation must take place before any cases of what is later classified as murder-suicide can be confirmed.
Murder-suicide cases in Ireland, as in most other countries, are rare. However, the National Suicide Research Foundation recently confirmed that, since 2004, there have been at least 21 murder-suicide cases in this country. The impact of these events can be devastating, particularly on families and communities.
The National Suicide Research Foundation has also examined the international research literature in the area of murder-suicide. The outcomes reveal that:
- People involved in murder-suicide are most commonly men;
- The average age of the men involved is 40 and 50 years (age range: 19-86 years);
- Fathers rather than mothers are more likely to take their own life or attempt suicide after they have taken the live(s) of their spouse/partner and/or child or children.
Although the available research does not provide information on specific factors associated with murder-suicide, internationally there is consistency with regard to a number of factors that may contribute to an increased risk of the occurrence of these tragic situations:
- 80% of the persons involved in murder-suicide had a history of psychiatric disorders, in particular depression;
- 70% of females and 30% of males had previous contact with a psychiatrist or other mental health care professional;
- Persons involved in murder-suicide show higher rates of prior non-fatal suicidal acts compared to those who take their own lives but not the lives of others;
- 30% of males had recently experienced a decrease in status at work or job loss;
- In 90% of murder-suicide cases involving mothers and in 60% of cases involving fathers, a desire to alleviate real or imagined suffering in their children was reported, for example due to a perceived future of shame without them.
With regard to responding to murder-suicide, in 2011, the National Office for Suicide Prevention published guidelines for responding to situations of murder-suicide and emerging suicide clusters, based on international evidence and best practice. The guideline document underlines a pro-active approach in that each local health area needs to prepare a response plan that can be activated when these very tragic situations occur.
I would also mention that where murder-suicide in general is concerned, it is usually far more complicated than a simple analysis that mental illness is the cause. The murder of a family, particularly where children are concerned, grabs public attention because it is one of the most unthinkable of crimes. It must be remembered that the vast bulk of people who suffer from mental illness are not violent, and the vast bulk of violent acts are committed by people who are not mentally ill. Indeed, people with mental illness are more likely to be the victims of crime - not the perpetrators of crime.
I will raise the question of whether a study into the cases of murder-suicide in this country would be helpful, in the context of other research needs, with the National Office for Suicide Prevention and the National Suicide Research Foundation.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (200)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:200. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of waiting times for the 20-week anomaly scan for expectant mothers in all hospitals that provide this scan, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29053/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
With regard to the specific matter raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (201)
Billy Kelleher
Ceist:201. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29054/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospital Beds Data
Ceisteanna (202)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:202. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if five additional beds allocated to Monaghan hospital in 2013 have been opened; if not, the reason for this; if there are plans for additional allocation of beds to ease pressure on Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda and Cavan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29069/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Public Relations Contracts Data
Ceisteanna (203)
Seán Sherlock
Ceist:203. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health if the HSE has contracts with external public relations firms and consultants; and if he will identify the firms and consultants and their role and the cost per contract entered into for the years 2015 and 2016. [29070/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a question specifically relating to a service matter, I have asked the HSE to reply directly to you.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (204)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:204. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the allegations of institutional abuse and neglect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29071/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has been advised that the patient concerned is receiving ongoing care in hospital pending the availability of a suitable nursing home placement. As the issue raised is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly with any further information that may be available.
Legislative Measures
Ceisteanna (205)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:205. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 604 of 27 September 2016, notwithstanding the genuine reasons for the necessity for a lead in period for Parts 2 and 3 of the Act, his views on whether the delay and failure to publish a timeframe for commencement is having a negative impact on couples who are currently expecting children; the preparatory work being carried out by his Department in respect of these sections of the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29072/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As stated in my answer to the Deputy’s previous question on this matter, Parliamentary Question Number 604 of 27 September 2016, it was agreed that a transition period would be required between the enactment of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015 and the commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of that Act. The advent of this transition period was to help to facilitate the switch to the new regulatory framework, which involves non-anonymous gamete and embryo donation for use in donor-assisted human reproduction (DAHR) procedures.
The introduction of non-anonymous gamete and embryo donation, through the provisions of Parts 2 and 3 of the Act, is in recognition of Ireland's obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that a child has a right to know his or her genetic identity. In order to uphold these rights, through the commencement of Parts 2 and 3 of the Act, it is first necessary for specific preparatory work to be undertaken, for instance, in relation to the establishment and operation of the National Donor-Conceived Person Register and in the preparation of regulations on a range of matters pertaining to DAHR procedures.
An inherent consequence of the transition period is that it defers when the provisions in the Act relating to parentage following DAHR procedures come into force. However, the Act includes specific provisions that deal with the parentage of children who were born as a result of a DAHR procedure before the legislation has commenced.