Written Answers Nos. 1439-1460
1439. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of private and State residential care settings, by county, in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; the number of children placed in residential care in each of these years indicating the numbers for private and State residential services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19912/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1440. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of secure care placements, by county, indicating the number of private and State run placements in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19913/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1439 and 1440 together.
The latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicates that, at the end of February 2016, there were 6,309 children in care. Of these, 355 (6%) were in a residential placement of which 177 were in a private residential placement.
A child is placed in a residential setting only when they have an identified need that can be met by this service or for an intensive assessment or provision of specialist services. In general, these centres are based in domestic style homes in the community, and staffed by social care workers to attend to the needs of the child. Specialist supports are also made available, as needed, and many centres have specialist skill-sets and therapeutic modalities.
Tusla does not collate data on residential care centres by county, but has provided the following information on the number of residential care centres by region for the years 2014 - 2017 (to date).
|
Number of Residential Care Centres by region 2014 - 2017 |
|||||
|
Year |
Dublin Mid Leinster |
Dublin North East |
South |
West |
Total |
|
Voluntary Residential Care Centres |
|||||
|
2014 |
9 |
13 |
6 |
0 |
28 |
|
2015 |
9 |
13 |
5 |
0 |
27 |
|
2016 |
9 |
13 |
4 |
0 |
26 |
|
2017 |
9 |
13 |
4 |
0 |
26 |
|
Statutory Residential Care Centres |
|||||
|
2014 |
10 |
13 |
18 |
6 |
47 |
|
2015 |
9 |
13 |
15 |
5 |
42 |
|
2016 |
8 |
13 |
14 |
4 |
39 |
|
2017 |
8 |
12 |
14 |
4 |
38 |
|
Private Residential Care Centres |
|||||
|
2014 |
20 |
17 |
15 |
11 |
63 |
|
2015 |
19 |
21 |
21 |
12 |
73 |
|
2016 |
22 |
25 |
25 |
11 |
83 |
|
2017 |
21 |
28 |
25 |
10 |
84 |
Tusla has provided the following information in respect of the number of children in residential care for each of the years 2014 to date. This information is correct as of the last day of each year. Please note that the children in care data for 2015 is not directly comparable with data for 2014 and previous years due to a change in the definition of metrics collected. Figures for 2017 onwards are now collated to include residential placements for separated children seeking asylum.
|
Number of children in residential care at the end of each year (Source: Tusla Performance and Activity Data www.tusla.ie) |
|||
|
Year |
Number of Children in Private/Voluntary Children Residential Centres |
Number of Children in Statutory (Tusla) Children Residential Centres |
Number of children |
|
2014 |
166 |
175 |
341 |
|
2015 |
175 |
168 |
343 |
|
2016 |
168 |
148 |
316 |
|
to end February 2017 |
177 |
178 |
355 |
Special care is where a young person is detained in a secure setting on foot of a High Court order restricting the liberty of a young person. This is an intervention used on an exceptional basis where there is evidence that the behaviour of the young person is such that it poses a substantial risk of harm to his or her life, health, safety, development or welfare unless they are placed in special care. There are three special care centres:- Ballydowd, Co. Dublin; Coovagh House, Co. Limerick, and Gleann Alainn, Co. Cork (a female only unit). It should be noted that Ballydowd has operated at reduced capacity during its refurbishment works. All of the facilities for special care are operated by Tusla. The following table shows the number of children reported by Tusla as being under a special care order and residing in a special care unit for the years 2014 to January 2017.
|
Number of children in Special Care by year (Source: Tusla Performance and Activity Data www.tusla.ie ) |
|||||
|
Year |
Dublin Mid Leinster |
Dublin North East |
South |
West |
Number of children |
|
2014 |
4 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
16 |
|
2015 |
3 |
7 |
2 |
4 |
16 |
|
2016* |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
12 |
|
to end January 2017* |
4 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
11 |
*Capacity reduced at Ballydowd during refurbishment works.
1441. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs when she envisages the records as presented by an organisation (details supplied) will be available in workable format to those persons that need them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19914/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Tusla – The Child and Family Agency that they received over 13,600 records from St Patrick's guild in May 2016. Tusla initially began addressing the waiting list of clients it received from the guild and in September 2016 began to address new referrals related to the guild records.
Tusla offers a full information and tracing service and those who wish to avail of the service should contact their local Tusla National Adoption Services.
1442. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the efforts being made by a company (details supplied) which is a service provider to Tusla to have its rates for its service increased; if it will be brought to a conclusion as soon as possible; the current status of negotiations; and the timeframe for a decision or resolution. [19943/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy's question refers to contractual issues, I am unable to comment. I have referred the question for direct response by Tusla to the Deputy.
1443. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the reason for the vast differences in child care orders between towns; if she will address the concern that children in care are subject to a geographic lottery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19981/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, may receive a child into care on a voluntary basis or following an application to the courts. There are a range of orders provided for under the Child Care Act 1991, as amended. I can confirm that Tusla does not hold data on the reasons for the divergences in the granting of care orders by different courts. Decisions on the variation or discharge of a care order are a matter for the relevant Court and I am not in a position to comment on these.
The application for a care order is a serious step and Tusla makes every effort to identify supports or actions that could act as an alternate approach. Tusla engages with parents and children in the preparation of an application for a care order, except where this is not possible or it may not be appropriate under the circumstances. The Court may seek a range of reports or the assistance of a Guardian ad litem before coming to a decision. It may be of interest to the Deputy that the Courts Service provides some data on the activity in the District Courts in respect of applications for care order to the child care law reporting project and this is published on its website, www.childlawproject.ie.
1444. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if transitional services exist for 18 year olds being phased out of State care; her views on whether they are effective in preventing homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19985/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla’s aftercare service provides young people leaving care with the planning and support they need in making the transition to independent living. The Child Care (Amendment) Act 2015 was signed into law in December 2015. It entitles eligible young people to a formal aftercare plan, prepared by Tusla in collaboration with the young person leaving care. In response to this legislation Tusla has introduced a number of new practices. It has developed dedicated aftercare teams, standardised financial supports it offers to those leaving care, and continues to develop inter-agency steering committees to strongly promote co-ordination of these services at local level. Through these measures, young people leaving care are offered a wide range of services from different sectors including income supports, health supports, accommodation and education.
Of the 602 young adults discharged from care by reason of reaching 18 years of age during 2016, 581 (or 97%) were eligible for an aftercare service. Of these, 521 (90%) availed of the aftercare service. It should be noted that engagement with Tusla in relation to aftercare is on a voluntary basis. Tusla has no power to oblige a young person to avail of the support offered. In all 1,389 young adults aged 18 to 20 inclusive were in receipt of an aftercare service at the end of the year. Of these, 803 (58%) were in full time education while a further 442 (32%) were receiving education or training outside of full time education.
In addition to the aftercare planning and supports provided by Tusla, Rebuilding Ireland – the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness commits to ensuring that young people leaving State care who are at risk of homelessness are identified and catered for through appropriate housing and other supports.
Funding is now in place under the capital assistance scheme (CAS) enabling approved housing bodies (AHBs) to acquire residential units to accommodate young people exiting State care. The Department of Children and Youth Affairs is collaborating with Tusla on the development of principles and criteria relating to funding proposals. Where accommodation is provided under CAS, Tusla will provide additional independent living supports, in particular for the most vulnerable care leavers, in accordance with the individual’s pre-agreed aftercare plan. Tusla has also redistributed its protocol on young people leaving State care to housing authorities. The aim of this protocol is to ensure that the necessary measures are in place to prevent homelessness for young people leaving State care.
1445. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if Tusla has held interviews for the position of manager at the Cleary House supervised residential unit in Letterkenny, County Donegal, that has been closed since May 2016. [20065/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
As advised in my response on 2 May, my officials requested the detailed information you were seeking from Tusla as this was not readily available when responding to your question.
Specific recruitment campaigns are an operational matter however, Tusla has since confirmed that interviews were held for the position of manager at Clearly House and a successful candidate has been identified. Tusla informed me that this competition has been placed on hold and it has not progressed further at this time as HR is awaiting instructions from service management in Tusla's West region.
1446. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her position on the establishment of a programme for inter-country adoption with Haiti; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20071/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Adoption Authority of Ireland has responsibility for implementing the Adoption Act 2010, including Ireland's responsibilities under the Hague Convention in relation to inter-country adoption.
Haiti ratified the Hague Convention on 1 April 2014. In May 2014 the Adoption Authority of Ireland accredited Helping Hands Adoption Mediation Agency to facilitate inter country adoption between Ireland and Haiti. Helping Hands applied for accreditation by Institut du Bien-Être Social et de Recherches (IBESR), the central authority of inter country adoption in Haiti. Helping Hands has been formally approved by IBESR to mediate adoptions from Haiti.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has consulted with the Department of Foreign Affairs on consular and diplomatic matters related to Haiti. In March the Adoption Authority of Ireland and a representative from Helping Hands Mediation Agency visited Haiti and the Department is awaiting a report of this visit from the authority.
1447. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of duty and intake workers under the employment of Tusla in County Donegal for each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form. [20118/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detailed information requested relating to County Donegal is not readily available in my Department. My officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A
I refer to your written parliamentary question (ref: 20118/17, 2 May 2017) - To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of duty and intake workers under the employment of Tusla in County Donegal for each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form.
As advised in my response on 2 May, my officials requested the information you were seeking from Tusla as this was not readily available when responding to your question.
Tusla has since confirmed the number of duty and intake workers under the employment of Tusla in County Donegal for each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017. The information is set out in the table.
|
Year |
Number of duty/intake social workers |
|
2014 |
8 |
|
2015 |
8 |
|
2016 |
6 |
|
2017 to date |
6 |
In 2014 and 2015 there were eight social workers dealing with duty/intake in Donegal. Tusla has advised that after a team restructure, a dedicated intake team was established in Donegal in June 2016. The team is currently staffed by six social workers. Furthermore Tusla has confirmed that staffing requirements and skill mix of the duty/intake team is kept under constant review.
1448. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the cost of the increase in the minimum wage from €9.15 per hour to €9.25 per hour and the cost of sleepovers on assignments from €9.15 per hour to €13.49 per hour will be fully implemented by her Department; if the difference in the costs will be passed on to companies providing specialised services under contract to her Department to enable those companies meet their obligations; if her Department is in negotiations with such service providers at present; if service providers have applied for an increase in rates to meet the rising costs of providing such care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20164/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that there are no contracted services providing sleepovers on assignment or other similar specialist services directly to my Department. In relation to the minimum wage, the Deputy will be aware that the increase to €9.25 per hour came into effect on the 1st January 2017 and that it is a matter for individual service providers to ensure that their employee's hours rates are consistent with this requirement.
I have requested clarification from Tusla - The Child and Family Agency as to whether the issues raised by the Deputy have a bearing on the services provided to the Agency and I will be in touch with the Deputy further on this in the near future.
1449. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the automated online system necessary for the full roll out of the targeted portion of the new affordable child care scheme will be ready early in 2018 as indicated previously in Dáil Éireann (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20167/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe policy paper for the introduction of the affordable child care scheme was approved by Government in October 2016. Since then, officials of my Department and Pobal have been working intensively to plan for the implementation of this scheme.
This is an extremely complex and ambitious project because of all that is involved – legislation, new business processes, data protection and building a new IT system. We will need to integrate data from the Department of Social Protection and the Office of the Revenue Commissioners so that the system can calculate every family’s net income and affordable child care scheme subsidy. We will need to test the IT system rigorously to make sure it works, even in complicated family circumstances. While my officials are working as quickly as possible, I believe it is prudent to take the time to ensure we get the new systems right so that they operate smoothly for everyone. I am therefore reluctant to commit to a definite delivery date at this stage. The affordable child care scheme will be introduced at the earliest possible date, while ensuring that the scheme is fully operational and user-friendly for all concerned.
However, I do not want to delay the benefit of higher child care subsidies for low-income families. For that reason, I recently announced that a number of changes will be made to existing child care schemes that will bring substantial benefits to an estimated 70,000 children and their families from this September. These changes will include a new universal subsidy for children aged from 6 months up to 36 months old (or commencement of the free pre-school programme) and significant increases of up to 50 per cent in targeted child care subvention rates provided under the community child care subvention scheme for children aged from 6 months up to 15 years old . For example, parents availing of full-time child care who currently have their child care costs subsidised by €95 per week under the community childcare subvention – which is the largest of the targeted childcare schemes – will see their subvention rate rise to €145 per week from this September.
1450. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if her Department has developed a privacy impact assessment as part of the establishment of the eligibility assessment system for the universal and targeted child care subsidy; if so, if this has been submitted to the Data Protection Commissioner; and if so, the results of this assessment. [20181/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe planned work processes for the administration of the affordable child care scheme (ACS) will be considered from a data protection perspective, with the imminent EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in mind.
The services of data protection specialists have been secured to undertake an initial privacy impact assessment (PIA) on the planned work processes for the new scheme. This PIA exercise has commenced.
Once the PIA is finalised any recommendations made will be taken into account and a data protection strategy for the delivery and administration of the scheme will be developed.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs intends to engage with the data protection commissioner at the end of May 2017, providing a comprehensive overview of the intended data protection strategy to support the scheme delivery in accordance with data protection guidelines and the imminent GDPR.
The expertise of the data protection specialists will be utilised throughout the delivery of the ACS project, to consider all functional requirements and business processes from a data protection perspective. Data protection policies and procedures will also be developed.
1451. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the portion of the €37 million extra funding allocated to Tusla in 2017 which has been allocated to improving the emergency out-of-hours services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20564/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides a range of out of hours services to all areas of the country, aimed at addressing emergency situations in the area of child welfare and protection. Out of hours services are currently organised in three structures to deliver services to three areas: the greater Dublin area, Cork city and all other areas. In 2017, Tusla plans to coordinate the three existing out of hours services into a national service.
The aim of out of hours social work services is to ensure that the disruption and upset to which children may be exposed in emergency situations is minimised and the rights of parents and guardians are respected. The merger of existing services into a fully integrated national service will improve the focus and quality of service delivery, provide ease of access, and eliminate confusion regarding service area boundaries.
The additional 2017 funding provided to areas, regions and directorates within Tusla to maintain the existing level of service is approximately €16 million. This will principally be allocated to cover cost pressures in a number of service areas, including funding for emergency out of hours social work services.
1452. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the amount of extra funding allocated to an organisation (details supplied) to shorten the backlog of Garda vetting; when that extra funding was allocated; and the number of early years practitioners that have been cleared of their Garda vetting to date as a result of that extra funding. [20638/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Children and Youth Affairs allocated extra funding of €9,650 to Barnardos to assist in clearing the Garda vetting backlog that had arisen owing to the introduction of e-vetting in April 2016. This extra funding enabled Barnardos to hire 1 extra full time staff member for 3 months from 7 December 2016 to 2 March 2017. At the conclusion of this period the backlog of 1,120 had been cleared.
1453. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the estimated cost to increase both lower and higher capitation rates by €9 to all registered service providers engaging in the free pre school year. [20640/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe actual cost of this proposal would be subject to a number of factors including actual levels of participation, and the number of children subvented at the 'higher capitation' rate - costs increase as the number of higher qualified staff increase. My Department estimates the cost of such a measure to be in the region of €36m per annum.
1454. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of children that were in child residential services in each of the years 2014 to 2016; the number of social care workers and social care leaders that were assigned to their care; and the estimated cost on an annual basis. [20669/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe latest figures from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, indicates that, at the end of February 2016, there were 6,309 children in care. Of these, 355 (6%) were in a residential placement. I have asked Tusla to provide the information requested by the Deputy in respect of the cost and number of social care workers who are providing care in the residential settings, and I will revert when this has been received.
Tusla has published the following information in respect of the number of children in residential care for each of the years 2014 to 2016. Please note that the children in care data for 2015 is not directly comparable with data for 2014 and previous years due to a change in the definition of metrics collected. Figures for 2017 onwards are now collated to include residential placements for separated children seeking asylum.
|
Number of children in residential care at the end of each year (Source: Tusla Performance and Activity Data www.tusla.ie) |
|
|
Year |
Number of children |
|
2014 |
341 |
|
2015 |
343 |
|
2016 |
316 |
A child is placed in a residential setting only when they have an identified need that can be met by this service or for an intensive assessment or provision of specialist services. In general, these centres are based in domestic style homes in the community, and staffed by social care workers to attend to the needs of the child. Specialist supports are also made available, as needed, and many centres have specialist skill-sets and therapeutic modalities.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1455. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the number of persons employed by Tusla in each of the years 2014 to 2016 on an annual basis; and the estimated cost by region and residential care. [20670/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe detailed information requested relating to costs by region and residential care is not readily available in my Department. My officials have requested the information from Tusla and I will forward the reply to the Deputy once I have been furnished with it.
1456. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will ensure a pay agreement reached (details supplied) will be fully implemented as part of the planned unwinding of the FEMPI legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19712/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 27 September 2010 the adjudicator under the conciliation and arbitration scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force awarded an increase in technician pay for army cooks from group 2 to group 3. The adjudicator’s findings cannot be implemented having regard to the provisions of Sections 2 and 5 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act 2009. This adjudication is part of the outstanding adjudication findings covered under paragraph 1.16 of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014. Paragraph 5.3 of the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018, known as the Lansdowne Road agreement, states that “The parties have agreed that any outstanding adjudications as referred to in paragraph 1.16 of the Public Service Agreement 2010-2014 will be reviewed jointly by the parties prior to the expiry of this agreement.” The review mechanism is the subject of ongoing consideration in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
1457. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the status and condition of the purpose built training range in use by Civil Defence at Ratra House, Phoenix Park; if structures at the range have been deemed unsafe; if maintenance and upgrade works are planned at the training range; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19184/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCivil Defence operates a training facility to the rear of Ratra House, Phoenix Park, Dublin. The facility includes an outdoor training range, which contains structures and debris designed to exercise various Civil Defence related scenarios. In this context, the range is a hazardous and potentially dangerous area. The nature of the structures and debris means that the range is unsafe for untrained personnel. The sites on the range are cordoned off to prevent unauthorised or accidental encroachment. The range is regularly used for authorised training, when specialist techniques and skills can be practiced. The health and safety of Civil Defence volunteers is a priority for me. The structures on the range are kept under review by the Department of Defence with maintenance and repairs conducted as required. Two of the structures on the range are currently unavailable for training, as maintenance and repairs are being progressed. This is part of the ongoing upkeep of the training range.
1458. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 634 of 28 March 2017, if he will consider reintroducing a mechanism whereby the issuing of a 1916 medal can be re-examined and make the necessary statutory amendments to facilitate the re-examination of these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19349/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 1916 Medal was approved by Government in 1941. It was awarded to persons who were awarded 1916 military service under the Military Service Pensions Acts, or to those who did not apply for a pension but who satisfied the Minister that they would have been awarded 1916 military service if they had applied under the Acts. In relation to the case in question, the board of assessors (comprised of senior old IRA officers and chaired by a judge) appointed under Section 3(1) of the Military Service Pensions Act 1924 (the 1924 Act), examined the application of the person in question for the purpose of making a report to the Minister for Defence as to the military service of the applicant. The board reported its findings to the Minister for Defence and on foot of that report the Minister decided on 4 January 1927 that a certificate of military service could be granted in respect the period 1 April 1920 to 30 September 1923 (including service in the National Army) but not in respect of the 1916 period. An appeal was made to the then Minister for Defence in 1928 to have the case re-opened but this appeal was unsuccessful.
In 1942 the person in question applied for a 1916 Medal but it was found that while he had a certificate of military service under the 1924 Act it did not cover the relevant period in 1916. The person in question was, however, awarded the Service Medal (1917-1921) with bar, in respect of his service.
The power given to the board of assessors in Section 3(6) of the 1924 Act to re-open any or all of their findings (as amended by Section 2 of the Military Service Pensions Act 1930) was removed by the Military Service Pensions (Amendment) Act 1949. Under the 1949 Act applications under the 1924 Act could only be re-examined where the Minister had refused to issue a certificate of military service to an applicant; however, the applicant in question was issued with such a certificate in 1927.
The matter has been examined and investigated by senior officials on a significant number of occasions on foot of representations received but in the absence of any statutory powers it is not possible, nor would I consider it appropriate, to reopen the findings of the board of assessors. The board of assessors was required under Section 3(2) of the 1924 Act to “examine all applications...make such enquiries, summon all such witnesses, and take all such evidence whether on oath or otherwise”. As the Deputy will appreciate the person in question and all members of the Old IRA and witnesses to the events of 1916 are deceased.
The approach to assessment of military service was an extremely comprehensive one with an appeals mechanism by which individual cases could be re-opened and any additional evidence provided. It would not be possible over one hundred years after the time in question, and many decades since these processes concluded, to improve on this work which is now a matter of history, although I recognise that it is very important history and of keen concern to the relations of those involved. In the circumstances, I have no plans to bring forward any legislative proposals in relation to the matter.
1459. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the remaining number of Lariam tablets held by the Defence Forces is fewer than 200; and if when exhausted, the stockpile of Lariam will be replaced with a safer alternative anti malaria drug. [19479/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra1466. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the estimated cost of replacing Lariam with Malarone or Doxcycline to be used for overseas troops on an annual basis. [19547/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1459 and 1466 together.
As I already outlined to the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 694 and 695 on 4 April last, I am advised by the military authorities that drugs are purchased on a demand basis under the four year framework agreement on the supply and pricing of medicines. This agreement is between the Irish pharmaceutical healthcare association (IPHA) and the HSE. There are no plans at this time to withdraw lariam from the range of anti-malarial medications available to the Defence Forces.
The Deputy will be aware that the choice of medication for overseas deployment is a medical decision made by the medical officers in the Defence Forces, having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member. The cost of the anti-malarial medication prescribed is not a factor in this decision making process.
1460. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of Air Corps pilots grounded without formal disciplinary proceedings being issued within the past 12 months for being intoxicated on duty. [19480/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Defence Act 1954–2007 defines ‘intoxicant’ as any alcohol, drug, solvent or any other substance or combination of substances. I have been informed by the military authorities that there are no Air Corps pilots removed from flying duties without formal disciplinary proceedings being issued within the past 12 months for being intoxicated on duty. Where disciplinary matters arise, the relevant military authorities deal with the matter in accordance with the disciplinary procedures set out in the Defence Act and the regulations made thereunder.
