Niamh Smyth
Ceist:113. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason a person (details supplied) cannot receive information on funds that the person's family requires. [43157/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWards of Court
Ceisteanna (113)
Freagraí scríofa
As the Deputy is aware, the High Court has jurisdiction in wards of court matters and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998.
However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that when a person is taken into wardship, the President of the High Court appoints a committee, usually one person, and that committee has an important role in relation to the ward's property and personal welfare. In approximately 75% of all cases the ward’s committee is a family member or a trusted friend. However, if no suitable or willing relative or friend is available, or if there is a conflict of interest between the ward and the person who would otherwise have been appointed, the President of the High Court can appoint the General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court to act as committee.
The General Solicitor is the committee in the case referred to by the Deputy. The fact that one is a relative of another person does not, of itself, give one the right to be informed of the financial position of that other person, whether he/she is a ward of court or not. It is, however, open to a family member to apply to be appointed as a committee of a ward by writing to the Office of the General Solicitor.
The Courts Service has advised that detailed statements providing comprehensive financial information are issued to committees on request and a process of issuing high level financial statements to all committees has now commenced and that such statements will issue automatically on an annual basis.
The Courts Service has also informed me that the committee of a ward is involved with the Office of Wards of Court on an ongoing basis in establishing the expenditure needs of a ward. A case officer is appointed to manage the affairs of each ward who is available to meet with the committee initially to discuss the needs and financial arrangements for the ward and is available thereafter as required. Significant purchases or sales such as the sale of a house or lands will not take place without the involvement of the committee.
As the Deputy may be aware, the legislation governing persons who are wards of court dates back to 1871. It has been recognised for some time that reforms were needed to update the law in this area and so the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 has been introduced to provide a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties.
New administrative processes and support measures, including the setting up of the Decision Support Service within the Mental Health Commission (a body under the Department of Health), must be put in place before the substantive provisions of the Act are brought into operation. A high-level Steering Group comprised of senior officials from the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Health, the Mental Health Commission and the Courts Service, together with the Director of the Decision Support Service, is overseeing the establishment and commissioning of the Decision Support Service and this work is ongoing.
Immigration Status
Ceisteanna (114)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:114. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the residency status in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43163/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the processing of the application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy, who currently has permission to reside in the State until 18 March 2018, is ongoing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible.
As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. While most straightforward cases are generally processed within six months, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Refugee Resettlement Programme
Ceisteanna (115)
Clare Daly
Ceist:115. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to continue relocating refugees from Greece in view of the closing of applications for the refugee relocation programme on 26 September 2017. [43177/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) was established by Government Decision on 10 September 2015 as a direct response to the humanitarian crisis that developed in Southern Europe as a consequence of mass migration from areas of conflict in the Middle East and Africa. Under this decision, a programme office was established in my Department to oversee the operational aspects of the programme, which aims to bring in 4,000 vulnerable migrants to Ireland, largely under two different mechanisms, refugee resettlement and asylum seeker relocation.
With regard to the relocation of asylum seekers from Greece, I can inform the Deputy that the Greek component of the programme is unaffected by the expiry of the two Council relocation Decisions as all the actions necessary for Ireland to take its full allocation from Greece have already been implemented by Ireland working in conjunction with colleagues in the Greek Asylum Service and related bodies. Ireland has met its commitment to formally pledge for 1,089 people from Greece by 26 September 2017. 587 of the allocation are already in the State. A further 428 have been assessed and are awaiting transport arrangements, with 34 persons due for arrival later this week. Hundreds more are due to arrive in the coming months. Sufficient missions to fill any quota remaining under this strand of the Programme will be scheduled with the Greek authorities.
By early 2018, Ireland will have admitted its entire cohort from Greece under the relocation programme (1,089) and will have admitted double our original commitment of 520 under the European Commission’s July 2015 Resettlement scheme (1,040). Relocation from Italy has not proven possible within the two-year timeframe of the relocation programme, due to a refusal by the Italian authorities to allow security assessments of candidates on its soil.
Ireland is doing everything it can to give effect to the EU relocation Decisions but as can be seen, these Decisions are unlikely to yield the anticipated numbers for reasons entirely outside of Ireland’s control.
The Irish Refugee Protection Programme is working to ensure that all persons selected for relocation and resettlement are transported to Ireland as soon as possible. Officials are currently undertaking a full review of the IRPP to ensure progress continues, with a view to establishing how best Ireland’s remaining obligations might be met and through what channels. The IRPP is on target to fulfil its commitments to Greece. Ireland expects to be an active participant in current and future pledges in respect of refugees and other vulnerable persons in need of protection. The determination of the Government to deliver on our targets remains absolute.
Refugee Resettlement Programme
Ceisteanna (116)
Clare Daly
Ceist:116. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the community sponsorship programme for refugees committed to by the Government in September 2017; the progress towards establishing same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43178/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I presume that the Deputy is referring to PQ 254 of 3 October 2017 wherein I stated that both I and officials in the Irish Refugee Protection Programme were well disposed to working with colleagues in the NGO sector to develop a viable community sponsorship model as a prospective way of furthering Ireland's resettlement programme and fostering links between host communities and new arrivals.
It would be premature to set out details of what a community sponsorship model might look like as there are many potential forms that it could take and no formal model that Ireland might adopt has yet been put to me, never mind finalised. However, I have repeatedly stressed in various fora that I am open to such a model being introduced and excited by the potential of such a model to unleash energy at the level of the community which is where integration really occurs. Both I and officials in the IRPP have met with colleagues in the NGO sector who are working towards developing such a model and officials in the IRPP also have had contacts with officials in other States where such models are in operation.
In terms of progress towards devising such a programme I would say that it is still early days and that any model would need to be carefully examined before implementation. I am open to trialing any model to assess its viability prior to a larger roll-out. The Canadian model is often cited as an example of good practice and it appears to have been highly successful However, that model makes demands of private sponsors which need to be teased out with reference to an Irish context. In my view every such programme has to be adapted to the country in which it is situated and should only require sponsors to take on appropriate responsibilities and not responsibilities which should remain within the purview of the State.
It is too early to say when such a model might be run on a trial basis until a model is advanced that can be considered but I can inform that Deputy that I am hopeful that we can make progress towards this goal in 2018 with a view to developing and rolling out a full community sponsorship programme in the medium term.
Údarás na Gaeltachta Funding
Ceisteanna (117)
Michael Harty
Ceist:117. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on increasing funding for co-operatives and development companies from the current budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43073/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to Gaeltacht co-operatives and development companies in his question.
Údarás na Gaeltachta provides funding to Gaeltacht cooperatives to implement their respective development programmes. This assistance is used mainly to cover management costs and is provided from the annual funding provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta under subhead C7 of my Department's Vote. As Údarás na Gaeltachta is a statutorily independent organisation, the Deputy will understand that An tÚdarás itself determines how best to distribute the annual funding provided to them in the context of the responsibilities assigned to them, including those relating to community development.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of yesterday’s Budget announcement, additional funding of €100,000 has been allocated for expenditure by an tÚdarás on linguistic, cultural and community development in the Gaeltacht in 2018. This brings to €350,000 the additional funding allocated for this purpose over two Budgets. This additional sum will assist in funding Gaeltacht community organisations, and in particular Gaeltacht cooperatives, in 2018.
Údarás na Gaeltachta Funding
Ceisteanna (118)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:118. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the minimum level of maintenance will be increased to be higher than CDP programmes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43075/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to Gaeltacht co-operatives and non-Gaeltacht development companies on the islands in his question.
Údarás na Gaeltachta provides funding to Gaeltacht cooperatives to implement their respective development programmes. This assistance is used mainly to cover management costs and is provided from the annual funding provided to Údarás na Gaeltachta under subhead C7 of my Department's Vote. As Údarás na Gaeltachta is a statutorily independent organisation, the Deputy will understand that An tÚdarás itself determines how best to distribute the annual funding provided to them in the context of the responsibilities assigned to them, including those relating to community development.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as part of yesterday’s Budget announcement, additional funding of €100,000 has been allocated for expenditure by an tÚdarás on linguistic, cultural and community development in the Gaeltacht in 2018. This brings to €350,000 the additional funding allocated for this purpose over two Budgets. This additional sum will assist in funding Gaeltacht community organisations, and in particular Gaeltacht cooperatives, in 2018.
In relation to the issue of language, it is worth clarifying that my Department provides specific funding through Údarás na Gaeltachta for all organisations involved in the preparation of language plans in respect of Gaeltacht islands. Once these plans have been completed and approved by me, specific funding will be allocated to assist each of the organisations with the implementation of those plans. Island cooperatives also have additional sources of income from other commercial projects overseen by them.
In relation to islands outside the Gaeltacht, my Department currently provides annual funding of circa €0.5m to organisations for administrative structures that cover nine islands in counties Mayo, Galway and Cork. The role of these bodies differs significantly from that of Gaeltacht island cooperatives.
Student Grant Scheme Eligibility
Ceisteanna (119)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:119. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on a variation of maintenance grants being paid on the islands in comparison to the mainland (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43076/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the payment of maintenance grants to island-based public servants.
My Department does not pay maintenance grants to island based public servants such as nurses, doctors, teachers and members of An Garda Síochána. Questions in relation to these allowances should be directed to each relevant Department.
Health Services Staff Data
Ceisteanna (120)
Catherine Connolly
Ceist:120. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the number of podiatrists employed by the HSE in Galway city and county; his plans to increase spending on the provision of podiatrist services nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43041/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
HSE Reports
Ceisteanna (121)
Sean Fleming
Ceist:121. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health his views on the report submitted to him by his Department having received the report from the HSE regarding future services at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; if he will meet a group of representatives from Laois County Council and Houses of the Oireachtas Members on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43042/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has been working for some time on a draft plan for a new model of clinical service delivery at Portlaoise Hospital which takes account of the need to develop services at Portlaoise in the context of developing the model of service provision for the entire Hospital Group. The draft plan has been submitted to my Department and it is being reviewed in detail. Once there is an agreed position on the draft plan, there will be further engagement with all interested parties, including representatives from Laois County Council and Houses of the Oireachtas members, to ensure that the needs of patients, staff, the local and wider community are addressed.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (122)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:122. 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. [43046/17]
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.
Reducing waiting times for the longest waiting patients is one of this Government's key priorities. Consequently, Budget 2017 allocated €20 million to the NTPF, rising to €55 million in 2018. In order to reduce the numbers of long-waiting patients, I asked the HSE, in conjunction with the NTPF, to develop Waiting List Action Plans for 2017 in the areas of Inpatient/Daycase and Outpatient Services. These plans have been published and their implementation is ongoing. The Inpatient/Daycase and Outpatient Plans focus on reducing the number of patients waiting 15 months or more for inpatient and daycase treatment or for an outpatient appointment by the end of October. These Plans are utilising both the capacity within the private hospital system through outsourcing, whilst maximising existing capacity in our public hospital system through insourcing within hospital groups.
In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Hospital Consultant Recruitment
Ceisteanna (123)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:123. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when a consultant endocrinologist specialising in diabetes for adults will be appointed to Letterkenny University Hospital; the reason this has not happened to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43047/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Adult diabetes services at Letterkenny are currently provided by a consultant endocrinologist, supported by a locum consultant general physician with a diabetic interest. In order to address waiting lists, additional clinics are provided on a monthly basis. Further, the Saolta Healthcare Group has advised that it is making applications for approval of a second consultant endocrinologist, to serve both adult and paediatrics patients.
In addition the HSE advise that with regard to the recruitment of an additional consultant endocrinologist in Letterkenny University Hospital that the matter has been submitted to the Consultant Applications Advisory Committee and is currently in hand.
I met with the Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland, the HSE and the Saolta Healthcare Group on 28 June 2017 to discuss the current challenges and future development of diabetes services in the North West and I can assure the Deputy of my continued commitment to progressing the development of diabetes care in the North West.
Ministerial Meetings
Ceisteanna (124)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:124. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a copy of the minutes and the agreed actions from a meeting (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43049/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I can confirm that, as Minister for Health, I met with members of the Donegal Diabetes Action Group on 28 June 2017 and have asked officials from the Department to send a copy of the requested minutes to your office.
Medicinal Products Reimbursement
Ceisteanna (125, 146)
Clare Daly
Ceist:125. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health his plans to ensure that the HSE provide funding to make kuvan available to persons suffering with PKU. [43058/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:146. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the reason the drug kuvan for the treatment of phenylketonuria is not available for reimbursement here in view of the fact that it is widely available worldwide; if consideration has been given to fund kuvan, weighing up the significant beneficial outcome in long-term health improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43162/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 146 together.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines under the community drug 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 and will take into account such expert opinions and recommendations which may have been sought by the HSE, including, for example, advice from the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE).
Sapropterin (Kuvan) was previously considered under the national pricing and reimbursement processes in 2009. At that time insufficient evidence was available to support the pricing and reimbursement application submitted by Merck Serono for Kuvan.
In December 2015 Merck Serono advised the HSE that the market authorisation for Kuvan was transferring to Biomarin in 2016. The HSE met with the new market authorisation holder Biomarin in May 2016 and was advised that it would be submitting a health technology assessment dossier in relation to Kuvan.
The NCPE assessment of the Biomarin dossier was completed on the 15 September 2017 and the NCPE did not recommend Kuvan for reimbursement as it was not deemed cost effective.
The HSE assessment process is ongoing and the HSE will take into account any relevant expert advice when making its decision, in line with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Primary Medical Certificates Applications
Ceisteanna (126)
Mary Butler
Ceist:126. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if an exception can be made in the case of a person (details supplied) who was recently refused a primary medical certificate on the basis of the strict medical criteria laid down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43067/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy's question relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (127)
Martin Ferris
Ceist:127. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) can expect to have cataracts removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43074/17]
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.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (128)
Eamon Scanlon
Ceist:128. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the construction of a footpath at a primary care centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43079/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (129)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:129. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery in Beaumont Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43082/17]
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 National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
Nursing Staff Data
Ceisteanna (130, 131)
Mary Lou McDonald
Ceist:130. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in nine new district public health nurses being appointed to Dublin north west CHO area nine; when these nurses will be in situ; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43098/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMary Lou McDonald
Ceist:131. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the number of patients attended to by the public health nurses in CHO area 9 by LHO area; the number of public health nurses in each; and the number of unfilled public health nurses positions and public health nurses on extended leave in these areas [43099/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
As these questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for them to be referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (132)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:132. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will address a matter (details supplied); the steps he will take regarding the issues raised; the timeframe in which the issues raised will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43101/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Letterkenny and Sligo University Hospitals provide essential high-quality hospital care to patients in the North West. I can assure the Deputy of the continued commitment to develop services in both Hospitals, including those for patients with diabetes.
Adult diabetes services at Letterkenny are currently provided by a consultant endocrinologist, supported by a locum consultant general physician with a diabetic interest. In order to address waiting lists, additional clinics are provided on a monthly basis. Further, the Saolta Healthcare Group has advised that it is making applications for approval of a second consultant endocrinologist and an advanced nurse practitioner post in insulin pump therapy, to serve both adult and paediatric patients.
With regard to paediatric diabetes services, an insulin pump therapy service commenced at Sligo University Hospital in early 2015, with outreach clinics delivered at Letterkenny. However, in mid-April the consultant paediatrician with a special interest in paediatric diabetes post in Sligo became vacant and the Saolta Healthcare Group has advised that it is actively engaged in recruiting a replacement.
Pending completion of the recruitment process, consultant paediatricians at Sligo and Letterkenny Hospitals have undertaken additional training and development to maintain provision of the paediatric insulin pump therapy services at both Hospitals. Further, additional support to these services has now been arranged with another Consultant, currently practising within the Saolta hospitals.
Provision of a Diabetes Centre at Sligo Hospital is included in the Capital Plan and HSE Estates advises that planning permission for this Centre has been granted with construction scheduled to commence by year end 2017 and to be completed by Q3 2018.
I met with the Donegal Branch of Diabetes Ireland, the HSE and the Saolta Healthcare Group on 28 June 2017 to discuss the current challenges and future development of diabetes services in the North West and remain committed to progressing the development of diabetes care in the North West.