Written Answers Nos. 166-176
166. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which he and his Department continue to support a person (details supplied); if it is expected that a breakthrough will be achieved resulting in their release or return here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9008/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government and substantial resources and time are being devoted to it.
The Government is doing everything it possibly can to ensure that the Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our determination to see this young man returned to his home and his family in Ireland as soon as possible.
The Irish Government has been present at and has observed every hearing in the trial to date and will be present at all future hearings. Our Ambassador’s assessment is that, notwithstanding the latest adjournment, the new panel of judges in the case are determined to move the case forward. Hearings in December and January have seen witnesses called and cross-examined for the first time since the trial began.
The reality is that it is the Egyptian authorities that are detaining this citizen, and only the Egyptian authorities can make the decision to return him to Ireland.
The Taoiseach has been in contact directly and personally with Egyptian President el-Sisi on numerous occasions now calling on him to exercise his powers under Egyptian law to resolve this case and return our citizen to Ireland.
For my part, I have availed of every appropriate opportunity to raise this case with my Egyptian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, and I will continue to do so.
I and my colleagues in Government and our officials will continue to do everything possible and appropriate to apply pressure on Cairo on this young man’s behalf both directly and through and with EU and international partners.
167. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the current salary scales for principal, principal higher scale and assistant secretary in the Civil Service; if these grades will attract the €1,000 per annum increase with effect from March 2017; if this increase will apply to the pensions of those grades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8879/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe salary scales sought by the Deputy in respect of the Civil Service grades in question are available at
http://circulars.gov.ie/pdf/circular/per/2013/08.pdf.
The grades of Principal, Principal (higher scale) and Assistant Secretary do not fall to receive the €1,000 annualised payment for the period 1 April 2017 to 31 August 2017. Accordingly the issue of pensionability of this payment for the grades concerned does not arise.
168. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if each Minister of State in his Department has appointed a programme manager or adviser; the date of such appointment; and the remuneration and expenses allowance for each. [8953/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn response to the Deputy's question, a Special Adviser to Minister of State Eoghan Murphy was appointed on 23 September, 2016 and a Special Adviser to Minister of State Sean Canney was appointed on 15 November, 2016.
Details in relation to the remuneration of Special Advisers can be found on my Department's website at the following address
www.per.gov.ie/en/special-advisers-pay.
169. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding turf cutters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9071/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas.
Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s special areas of conservation within the framework of the Habitats Directive. This has included intense and ongoing engagement with stakeholder interests, the farming community, non-governmental organisations and with the European Commission over the intervening number of months since my last reply.
The matter referred to by the Deputy in details supplied will set out how the special areas of conservation are to be managed into the future and how the needs of stakeholders are to be addressed including exploring the options in terms of certain provisions of article 6 of the Habitats Directive. It is intended that the Plan referred to will be published in the coming period, subject to Government approval.
Preliminary scientific investigations at the site have been completed, with more detailed investigations to follow.
170. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if each Minister of State in her Department has appointed a programme manager or adviser; the date of such appointment; and the remuneration and expenses allowance for each. [9529/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that neither of the Ministers of State in my Department has appointed a Programme Manager or a Special Adviser.
171. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Health when a scheme (details supplied) discussed in budget 2017 will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8866/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a Programme for Government commitment which received funding in Budget 2017. I received permission from Government to draft the relevant Bill in December 2016. This new legislation will effectively mean that all children in respect of whom a Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) payment is made will automatically qualify for a medical card and, therefore, no longer be subject to the medical card means test at any point in the future while in receipt of DCA.
The drafting of the legislation is at an advanced stage and will be brought before the Oireachtas as quickly as possible. The HSE has commenced the process of planning for the introduction of the scheme. My objective is that this measure be put into effect as soon as possible.
172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied) with regard to the lack of respite care in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8869/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 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.
173. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the number of Parkinson's groups across the country in receipt of State aid; the amount that an organisation (details supplied) received in State aid in 2015, 2016 and to date in 2017; if any voluntary groups and charities in County Galway are currently receiving State aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8872/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy has clarified that the reference in his question to "State aid" of voluntary groups and charities in County Galway, relates to Health Service Executive funding of such organisations. As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
174. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Health the status of the review of nivolumab; if this drug will be licensed here; the timeframe for completion of the review of the cost effectiveness of this drug in view of the fact that the manufacturer discontinued a compassionate access programme on 30 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8873/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drugs schemes, in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In reaching its decision, the HSE examines all the evidence which may be relevant in its view for the decision (including the information /dossier submitted by the Company) and will take into account such expert opinions and recommendations which may have been sought by the HSE at its sole discretion (for example, from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics).
In considering an application, the HSE will also have regard to Part 1 and Part 3 of Schedule 3 of the 2013 Act. Part 3 requires the HSE to have regard to the following criteria:
1. the health needs of the public;
2. the cost-effectiveness of meeting health needs by supplying the item concerned rather than providing other health services;
3. the availability and suitability of items for supply or reimbursement;
4. the proposed costs, benefits and risks of the item or listed item relative to therapeutically similar items or listed items provided in other health service settings and the level of certainty in relation to the evidence of those costs, benefits and risks;
5. the potential or actual budget impact of the item or listed item;
6. the clinical need for the item or listed item;
7. the appropriate level of clinical supervision required in relation to the item to ensure patient safety;
8. the efficacy (performance in trial), effectiveness (performance in real situations) and added therapeutic benefit against existing standards of treatment (how much better it treats a condition than existing therapies); and
9. the resources available to the HSE.
Under the HSE assessment process the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics conducts health technology assessments of pharmaceutical products and can make recommendations on reimbursement to assist the HSE in its decision-making process.
Nivolumab is subject to separate health technology assessments for a number of different indications and as a combination therapy with Ipilimumab for cancer. The health technology assessments completed by the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics to date have not recommended reimbursement; evaluations for the other indications are still ongoing.
The statutory assessment process is ongoing.
175. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if the contract for the construction of the proposed national children's hospital at St. James's Hospital, Dublin has been awarded; the name of the company that the contract has been awarded to; the estimated cost of the contract; if that contract has been officially signed off on by the Cabinet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8876/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the outset I would like to emphasise again that the project to develop the new children’s hospital is an extraordinary opportunity to enhance paediatric services for children. The granting of planning permission in April 2016 for the hospital, satellite centres and related buildings was a huge and very welcome milestone for the project. The first phase of construction (site clearing works) on the site of the new children’s hospital began in August 2016 and will be substantially completed within a matter of weeks.
An internationally recognised design team, supported by an experienced National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and Project Team, are in place to drive the new children’s hospital project and to ensure that the project is delivered in accordance with national policy to optimal design and value for money. They have followed best international design, planning and procurement process at each stage of the project.
The tender process for the main construction works for the new children’s hospital and for the Paediatric Outpatients and Urgent Care centres at Tallaght and Connolly Hospitals has recently concluded. Local and international companies participated in the highly competitive tender process. More than 35 people participated in review panels for the tenders. The tenders were reviewed and measured against a number of technical and financial criteria and were independently peer-reviewed by construction experts with extensive experience of projects of this size and complexity. A preferred bidder - the most competitive - has been selected. However, the contract has not been awarded yet.
While I am not in a position to comment on contract prices at this stage I understand that the final construction elements of the project compare favourably to the costs of international projects of a similar size and scale. It is my intention to bring a Memorandum to Government shortly in relation to costs of the new children’s hospital.
The Department of Health continues to work closely with the HSE, the Children's Hospital Group Board and the Development Board to ensure that we deliver a world class hospital needed and wanted by children, young people, their families and the staff in the three children’s hospitals.
176. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will provide all peer-reviewed evidence to support locating the national children's hospital at the St. James’s Hospital site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8877/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government decision that the new children's hospital should be co-located with St James's on its campus in Dublin 8 was clinically led. In 2006, the McKinsey report, Children’s Health First, recommended that the population of Ireland and projected demand could support only one world-class tertiary paediatric centre, that this should be in Dublin and that it should ideally be co-located with a leading adult academic hospital, to ensure relevant sub-specialty and academic linkages. The McKinsey report recognised the importance for quality of healthcare of having a critical mass of sub-specialist skills in a tertiary centre and stated this could be achieved, firstly, by serving a large enough population to support a full complement of sub-specialists and, secondly, by co-locating with an adult teaching hospital thus enabling access to specialties that encompass both adult and paediatric patients, facilitating clinical and academic “cross fertilisation”, and attracting the top staff.
Reviews since 2006 have reaffirmed the importance of co-location with a major adult academic teaching hospital. In 2011, Minister Reilly established an Independent Review Group to examine the project at the Mater. The clinical aspect of this review was carried out by a team of four Chief Executive Officers drawn from the National Association of Children’s Hospitals (NACHRI) and the Children’s Hospitals International Executive Forum (CHIEF). Their report stated that “co-locating with tertiary adult and maternity hospitals is essential to the development of an excellent paediatric service. This has become best practice internationally and was recognised in the McKinsey report.”
In 2012, following the refusal of planning permission for the project at the Mater campus, Minister Reilly established the Dolphin Review Group to advise on next steps. Their report stated that “Having reviewed the reports already prepared and considered their analysis and opinions, and having also consulted with a wide range of professionals in the field, we are also of the view that co-location is essential and tri-location optimal. We recommend that the Minister remains on this path.” Co-location with an adult hospital is the norm internationally, driven by four major advantages, namely access to adult specialists; access to expensive equipment (such as PET, MRI scanners); research and educational synergies; and facilitation of continuity in the care of the adolescent/young adult with chronic disease. A clinicians' sub-group of the Dolphin Group examined issues relating to clinical specialties and sub-specialties, transitional care for adolescents, and the integration of paediatric health research and education in the new children's hospital. From a clinical and academic perspective, the Dolphin Group identified St James's Hospital as the existing Dublin Academic Teaching Hospital that best meets the criteria to be the adult partner in co-location because it has the broadest range of national specialties and excellent research and education infrastructure.
The Government decision to co-locate the hospital with St James's was announced on 6 November 2012. In identifying the location, the Government considered the report of the Dolphin Group, and detailed supplementary information on cost, time and planning which was subsequently sought from those members of the Group with the relevant technical expertise. The decision was made in the best interests of children, with clinical considerations paramount in the decision.
