Written Answers Nos. 158-183
158. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 231 of 4 December 2018, 529 of 26 March 2019 and 546 of 8 May 2019, if the assessment of the caseload of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Tribunal which he requested is finalised; if so, the outcomes and actions arising from same; if not, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25788/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed that the assessment of the caseload of the Tribunal will be submitted to me shortly and I will provide the Deputy with a further update at that point.
I can further inform the Deputy that the Law Reform Commission published its fifth Programme of Law Reform on 5 June 2019. A review of the Scheme of Compensation for Injuries Criminally Inflicted is one of the fifteen projects identified in the Programme, which I welcome as an opportunity to examine in detail this long established scheme.
159. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of renting, leasing and hiring office space for his Department including public bodies in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [25919/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe majority of properties occupied by my Department are owned or leased on its behalf by the Office of Public Works (OPW).
I can confirm that the Department has not purchased or leased land during this period. Information in respect of buildings leased by my department is contained in the attached document.
I have requested that all agencies under the aegis of my Department respond directly to the Deputy.
|
Name/Address |
Term of lease |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
1/1/2019 – 30/6/2019 |
|
Department of Justice & Equality Montague Court (Part 2nd Floor) |
10 years 1/11/2006 to 31/10/16 and renewed for 8 years and 7 months from 1/11/16 to 31/5/2025 |
€178,080 |
€178,080 |
€179,267 |
€185,200 |
€185,200 |
€92,600 |
|
Department of Justice & Equality Montague Court (Part 2nd floor and 3rd Floor) |
25 years to 31/5/2025 |
€513,000 |
€513,000 |
€513,000 |
€513,000 |
€513,000 |
€256,500 |
|
O’Higgins Commission of Investigation, Smithfield Business Centre, Dublin 7 |
Rent of office space 6 Feb 2015 – 6 May 2016 |
€88,000 |
€32,000 |
||||
|
Irish Passenger Information Unit, Skybridge House, Dublin Airport |
Rent of office space May 2018 – May 2020 |
€169,552 |
€127,164 |
||||
|
Inspector of Prisons Investigation, Regus, Harcourt Centre, Dublin 2 |
Rent of office space 17/12/2018 – 16/12/2019 |
€3313 |
€41,084 |
160. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she expects the island of Ireland in its entirety to remain an attractive location for foreign direct investment post-Brexit and into the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25841/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIDA Ireland continues to work closely with international clients, from a range of sectors, to mitigate the potential impact of Brexit and to capitalise on any opportunities for additional Brexit-related foreign direct investment (FDI) in the future. In doing so, the IDA has targeted both new-name investors and increased investment from companies already located here. This approach has contributed to record results in recent years and should lead to further investment and job creation in the years ahead.
The Agency has also restructured its global footprint in response to Brexit, with the UK now being treated as a distinct market. The IDA's staff are working hard as well to avail of new investment opportunities from non-traditional target markets. The Agency’s efforts in this context have already yielded positive results, with over 70 Brexit-related investments and 5,000 associated jobs won to date.
Our efforts to win more FDI will be helped, post-Brexit, by our continued status as an attractive destination for overseas firms. Ireland’s membership of the European Union ensures that companies considering an investment here will gain barrier-free access to the EU market. When taken together with other strengths - such as our pro-enterprise environment and our highly skilled dynamic workforce - I am confident that Ireland will continue to be an attractive destination for mobile overseas investment in the years ahead.
161. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the number of whistleblower complaints in her Department since the legislation was introduced in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25652/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Protected Disclosures Act 2014 became operational on 15th July 2014. Since that date, thirteen matters have been raised with my Department as protected disclosures.
The matters raised were dealt with in accordance with my Department's Protected Disclosures Policy, including referral to other Government Departments where appropriate.
162. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the cost of renting, leasing and hiring office space for her Department including public bodies in each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form. [25913/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccommodation for my Department, its Offices and the Irish Auditing and Accounting Supervisory Authority is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) in buildings which are either State owned or leased by the OPW on our behalf. The rental costs are borne by the OPW and therefore the information being sought for these locations is a matter for the OPW. Typically, the Department and its Offices are in shared accommodation, either with other Government Departments, public bodies or the private sector.
The following table sets out the rental accommodation costs in relation to the other State Agencies under the remit of the Department. The information covers each of the years 2015 to 2018 and to date in 2019 and covers various locations across the country.
|
Agency |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 To date |
|
Competition & Consumer Protection Commission |
n/a |
n/a |
€503,692 |
€602,811 |
€296,967 |
|
Enterprise Ireland |
€3,513,316 |
€3,554,553 |
€3,403,722 |
€3,492,058 |
€1,859,748 |
|
Health & Safety Authority |
€1,137,355 |
€1,137,355 |
€1,137,355 |
€1,137,953 |
€568,977 |
|
IDA Ireland |
€2,636,000 |
€2,366,000 |
€2,371,000 |
€2,421,000 |
€1,156,000 |
|
National Standards Authority of Ireland |
€891,951 |
€891,951 |
€891,951 |
€864,803 |
€405,657 |
|
Personal Injuries Assessment Board |
€188,544 |
€198,544 |
€198,544 |
€188,544 |
€94,277 |
|
Science Foundation Ireland |
€568,412 |
€619,752 |
€619,752 |
€619,752 |
€342,112 |
In 2015 and 2016 the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) occupied premises where the rental costs were borne by the OPW. The CCPC moved to new premises in April 2017 and commenced paying rent and charges related to it.
163. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if the State Claims Agency is providing indemnification to a clinic (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25719/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims, including claims in respect of clinical negligence, on behalf of Delegated State Authorities (DSA’s) including the Health Service Executive.
I understand from the State Claims Agency that the clinic is covered under the indemnification provided to the National Maternity Hospital.
164. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health the number of persons under 21 years of age who have access to the FreeStyle Libre device under the long-term illness scheme; the number of persons over 21 years of age who now have access to the FreeStyle Libre device under the long-term illness scheme in tabular form by CHO and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25633/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
165. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a cost-benefit analysis on the usage of the finger test strips for persons between five and 21 years of age with type 1 diabetes; if it has provided savings since the FreeStyle Libre reimbursement scheme was launched; if so, the details of the savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25634/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the community drug schemes; therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy
166. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the waiting times for atrial fibrillation ablation treatment across all hospitals conducting the procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25637/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the reason for the long waiting times for atrial fibrillation ablation treatment in the Mater hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25638/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra168. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the significant gaps that exist in patient access to ablation treatment for atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25639/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 166 to 168, inclusive, together.
Reducing waiting time for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for Government. Budget 2019 announced that the Government has further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019.
With regards to the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.
169. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 325 of 14 May 2019, when the HSE met with an organisation (details supplied); the timeline on the submission of requested documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25640/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to you in relation to this matter.
170. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 16 April 2019, the funding available for respite for children already used for 2019; and his plans to increase funding. [25641/19]
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.
171. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take regarding the delays being experienced by a person (details supplied) due to HSE guidelines; and if the HSE will be requested to expedite the case. [25648/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
172. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the number of whistleblower complaints in his Department since the legislation was introduced in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25661/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 requires each public body to publish an annual report setting out the number of protected disclosures received in the preceding year and the action taken (if any).
Since the legislation was introduced in 2015 and covering the period 1 July 2014 to 31 December 2018, a total of 60 protected disclosures were submitted to my Department. All were made under Section 6 or Section 8 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. This means the disclosures were not from employees of my Department and instead related to a worker or workers employed in a public body under my Department's remit.
19 of the disclosures, when assessed, did not meet the criteria as set out under the Act.
173. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the number of eye and cataract procedures carried out at the UL Hospital cataract centre, Nenagh, since November 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25668/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2019 announced that the Government had further increased investment in tackling waiting lists, with funding to the NTPF increasing from €55 million in 2018 to €75 million in 2019. The joint Department of Health, HSE, and NTPF Scheduled Care Access Plan 2019 was published on 11th March.
Under the Plan the HSE, in line with the National Service Plan, will deliver 1.155 million elective inpatient and day case discharges at a value of €1.4 billion in 2019. The Scheduled Care Access Plan includes:
- detailed plans from the NTPF to fund 25,000 IPDC treatments, 5,000 Gastro Intestinal Scopes and 40,000 outpatient first appointments.
- It is also projected that for ten identified high volume procedures, including cataracts, all clinically suitable patients waiting more than 6 months will be offered treatment in 2019.
These 10 procedures account for over a third of the active inpatient day case waiting list and represent 60% of NTPF planned activity in 2019.
At the end of July 2017, the number of people waiting for a cataract procedure was 10,024. Under the Inpatient Day Case Access Plan 2018, Cataracts were one of the specialties targeted by the NTPF and by end December 2018, the number of patients waiting had fallen to 6,440, a reduction of 36%. The number of patients waiting for a Cataract procedure at the end of May 2019 had further reduced to 5,655 with 481 patients waiting over 9 months. This represents a reduction of 3,890 or 89% when compared to July 2017, when there were 4,371 patients waiting over 9 months for a cataract operation.
Under the 2019 Scheduled Care Access Plan, all clinically suitable patients waiting longer than 6 months for a cataract procedure will be offered treatment funded by the NTPF.
In relation to the number of cataract procedures carried out at the Nenagh Cataract Centre since November 2018, I have asked the HSE to investigate the issue and respond to you directly.
174. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will have surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25669/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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, since 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 the Deputy directly.
175. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the use of one of two properties (details supplied) for use as a respite care facility. [25671/19]
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.
176. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be given a date for a hip replacement operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25674/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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, since 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 the Deputy directly.
177. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if additional resources will be provided to the HSE to eliminate the long delays for persons being reimbursed for costs incurred in having surgery under the cross-border directive; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such delays are causing undue hardship to persons and families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25675/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE is responsible for the operation of the Cross Border Directive and the management of staffing levels for the HSE Cross Border Directive (CBD) office is an operational matter for the HSE. I have, therefore, asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
It should be noted that the numbers of persons availing of the Directive has been increasing steadily for a number of years with a corresponding increase in the workload for the CBD office. I am aware that the HSE is currently considering a business case, and other interim steps, to address the issues which have arisen with regard to the processing of reimbursements.
178. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Health the location in which a person (details supplied) can obtain a motorised wheelchair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25680/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
179. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 146 of 10 April 2019, when the HSE capital plan for 2019 will be finalised and approved by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25694/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is continuing to work with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Health Service Executive in a process to finalise as soon as possible a multi-annual Capital Plan for the HSE, which will include capital projects to be funded in 2019 and beyond, having regard to the available capital funding and the number of large national capital projects currently underway.
The HSE Capital Plan will determine the projects that can progress in 2019 and beyond having regard to the available capital funding, the number of large national capital projects currently underway, the cashflow requirements attaching to each project and the relevant priority.
Projects that are currently in construction and are contractually committed will not be affected.
Once the HSE has finalised its Capital Plan for 2019, it will then be submitted to me for consideration.
180. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are 102 ambulance stations nationally; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 94 of these stations operate on a 24/7 basis, 52 weeks a year, 365 days per year; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that the other eight stations operate on a 24-hour basis, six-days a week and a 12-hour basis for the other day 52 weeks per year; his views on whether in the interests of public health all 102 ambulance stations should operate on a 24/7 basis, 52 weeks per year, 365 days per year; his plans to bring about the change in the operation of the other eight stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25695/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the queries raised by the Deputy relate to service issues, I have asked the HSE to reply to you directly.
181. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will be considered for community living as matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25700/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
182. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of drug detox beds provided directly by the HSE; the number provided by the voluntary sector; the number of persons waiting for same at the end of May 2019; the number waiting by categories (details supplied); the number admitted to such beds in 2018 and to date in 2019; and the average length of stay in 2018 and to date in 2019. [25701/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra183. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Health the number of drug rehabilitation beds provided directly by the HSE; the number provided by the voluntary sector; the number of persons waiting for same at the end of May 2019; the number waiting by categories (details supplied); the number admitted to such beds in 2018 and to date in 2019; and the average length of stay in 2018 and to date in 2019. [25702/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 183 together.
As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
