Written Answers Nos. 139-148
139. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to delays in processing registration applications at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland for those who were qualified outside Ireland; if so, if there is a reason for the delays; and if this will be addressed given the shortage of nurses at the present time. [55830/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Nurses and Midwives Act, 2011, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is responsible for the regulation of nurses and midwives in Ireland, including the registration of nurses and midwives. During the latter part of 2021, the NMBI had been experiencing an increased volume of overseas registration applications as well as delays in processing applications overall. Following consultation, my Department sanctioned additional resources to deal with the backlog. These have been in place for some time now and timelines for processing applications have significantly reduced.
In 2021 there were 4,546 applications from overseas nurses and midwives and, based on current trends, the NMBI estimates that it will receive just over 6,000 applications in 2022. The increase in applications from overseas applicants seen in recent years continues to be sustained.
So far in 2022, NMBI has issued over 6,200 Decision Letters to overseas applicants. This is well more than double the number issued during the full year of 2021 (2,430) and NMBI expects to have issued over 7,000 by year-end. A Decision Letter is a key milestone for applicants and usually (98% of cases) includes an instruction for the applicant to go through a ‘compensation measure’ to allow them to demonstrate their clinical skills in terms of meeting the standard required in Ireland set by NMBI.
Approximately 80% of nurses and midwives pass their required compensation measures (either an adaptation period or an aptitude test) and convert to a registrant within six months of their decision letter being issued. Following registration, they can join the nursing and midwifery workforce. In the period up to January 2022, 95% of initial applications received by NMBI were incomplete applications. This increases the lead in time for registration as time is lost while individuals gather (and supply to NMBI) the necessary documents and information which had not been supplied initially. As of the end of August 2022, only 55% of applications were incomplete at the point of submission, which is a substantial improvement.
140. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the reason that the National Ambulance Service does not report on call-out times on a county-by-county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55865/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
141. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will request that the National Ambulance Service report on call-out times on a county-by-county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55866/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
142. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report of the time of each National Ambulance Service call-out in County Clare in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55867/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
143. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a report of the average call-out time per month of each National Ambulance Service call-out in CHO3, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55868/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
144. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health the length of time that each of the children referred to and waiting to be seen by Clare children’s disability network team is waiting, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55871/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the case of a person (details supplied) in expediting an appointment for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55894/22]
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.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
146. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of civil servants in his Department who are seconded to State agencies or other public bodies and in receipt of a higher duty or acting allowance; the number who have been seconded for more than ten, 20 and 30 years, respectively; if the higher duty allowance is not pensionable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55767/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine regularly reviews its staffing assignments to ensure that our resources are being used to support our work in the most effective and strategic manner possible. In this regard, consideration is given to facilitating secondment opportunities to support our workforce while also delivering on business requirements.
Currently, there is one staff member in receipt of a non-pensionable higher duty allowance while on secondment from my Department to a State Agency. This officer joined my Department on the transfer of fisheries functions from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in 2007. The secondment assignment predated the transfer and has been in place since that time.
147. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will engage with Coillte with a view to increasing the pension payments for retired workers, given that their pensions have not been increased for many years, and that for some, pensions have not increased since they retired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55711/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and as such is operationally independent from my Department.
Any pension increases granted are at the discretion of Coillte and are subject to the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
A request for such consent is being considered at present.
148. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that Ireland is accepting 134,995 horses for slaughter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55717/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis grossly inaccurate figure was quoted in error in a recent publication by an organisation. The organisation has apologised and undertaken to correct the error in the publication.
