Written Answers Nos. 81-100
81. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Justice for an update on the zero tolerance towards violence against women policy, in particular the progress made in the implementation of actions under the 4 pillars of the Istanbul Convention. [7510/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraZero Tolerance, the Government’s Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), published by Minister McEntee last year, is an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV or the attitudes which underpin it.
The Strategy is built on the four pillars of the Istanbul Convention. The accompanying implementation plan, which runs to the end of this year, sets out 144 detailed actions which are assigned to a number of department and agencies across Government. Subsequent implementation plans will be published annually during the lifetime of the Strategy.
I am pleased to report that progress is being made and that I will publish regular updates on each of the 144 actions.
A key part of implementation will be the establishment of the new statutory Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Agency which will ensure a permanent and dedicated focus on this important area of work. Last week my Department led a co-design workshop with civil society partners and in the coming weeks I will seek the Government's approval for the draft General Scheme of the Bill to establish the Agency. Following approval, the Bill will be drafted as a matter of priority with the intention that the Agency will be established in January next year.
As the Deputy may be aware, the guidance issued from the Istanbul secretariat sets out a recommended standard for the provision of shelter places which this Government is committed to reaching. Over the lifetime of the Strategy we will double the number of refuge spaces, bringing it to 280. This will be the fastest ever expansion of refuge spaces and will take us a significant way towards reaching the recommended Istanbul level.
In order to achieve this ambitious goal, we are working with all stakeholders to put in place the necessary structures and supports to accelerate the delivery of additional refuge accommodation year on year.
Work undertaken to implement the Strategy has already prepared the way for this, including through the development of agreed processes and approaches that will support organisations to deliver the highest standard of refuge accommodation in the most efficient and holistic way.
The Government has agreed to prioritise the delivery of 98 refuge spaces in Sligo, Cavan/Monaghan, Cork City, North Cork, West Cork, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Westmeath, Portlaoise, Balbriggan Longford, Carlow and Offaly. In the initial phase of this work, we expect to have delivered 24 places in Wexford, Dundalk and Navan in 2024.
There has also been significant progress on the legislative front. I am progressing legalisation to double the maximum sentence for assault causing harm to 10 years; introduce standalone offences for stalking and non-fatal strangulation; enact the Sex Offenders Bill to improve the monitoring of sex offenders; and introduce a new Sexual Offences Bill to update the law around consent.
I can assure the Deputy that the Government’s commitment to implementing in full this ambitious Strategy will not waiver and I look forward to shortly bringing forward the legislation to create the new Agency, which will ensure a permanent and dedicated focus on this important area of work.
82. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Justice the actual number of people deported on foot of a deportation order in each of the last 12 months; the number of these that were deported for criminal convictions and or being a threat to the State or not meeting the permission to remain criteria. [7442/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below gives details of the number of people removed from the State on foot of Deportation Orders in the last 12 months. When issued with a deportation order, the person concerned is required to remove themselves from the State. Many people comply with this and leave the country voluntarily. It should be noted that the figures provided consist of a combination of individuals escorted out of the State and those who left of their own accord on being served with a Deportation Order.
In that context, the State is not always informed when an individual, on whom a Deportation Order has been served, leaves the State. It is the practice to update statistics as information comes to light. Statistics are not recorded in the specific manner requested by the Deputy, where criminality is concerned.
During the course of the Covid-19 Pandemic the Government declared a moratorium on deportations for humanitarian reasons, the exception to this rule being in the case of individuals whose conduct in the State was such as to render their deportation desirable.
With the cessation of pandemic related precautionary measures in August 2022, the State has begun to return to a more normalised deportation regime
|
Month |
Total |
Of which unsuccessful IP Applications |
|
Feb 2022 |
6 |
5 |
|
March 2022 |
1 |
1 |
|
April 2022 |
6 |
4 |
|
May 2022 |
25 |
10 |
|
June 2022 |
14 |
2 |
|
July 2022 |
1 |
0 |
|
August 2022 |
32 |
16 |
|
September 2022 |
10 |
5 |
|
October 2022 |
7 |
4 |
|
November 2022 |
11 |
3 |
|
December 2022 |
3 |
3 |
|
January 2023 |
3 |
2 |
|
Total |
119 |
55 |
Questions Nos. 83 to 91, inclusive, answered orally.
92. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his plans to tackle the understaffing of the CDNT services in CHO9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7672/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) were established in Community Healthcare Organisation Dublin North City and County (CHO DNCC / CHO 9) in late September 2021.
CDNTs are experiencing challenges in the recruitment and retention of health and social care professionals.
Unfortunately, while funding has been allocated to fill vacancies, CHO DNCC is experiencing an average vacancy rate of 35%.
Despite the above, the CDNTs in CHO DNCC have increased their caseload by 654 children since reconfiguration.
HSE CHO DNCC Disability Services along with the lead agencies are running a targeted international recruitment campaign for therapists and interviews are ongoing. Concurrently, CHO DNCC have undertaken to increase administrative support to all the CDNTs, to enable existing clinical staff to devote more of their time directly to children and families.
Other initiatives include group work with children and families and ongoing local stakeholder engagement to discuss initiatives for service delivery in 2023 with children and families.
The HSE continues to source therapy assessments and interventions externally via private service providers, using private providers enhancing CDNT capacity to support increased therapy interventions.
Finally, to support retention of staff there is a significant programme of training being rolled out. This will see staff availing of a range of training, based on their personal and team training needs.
Questions Nos. 93 to 95, inclusive, answered orally.
96. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when a date will be provided for the inquiry regarding sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7525/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health if he will advance an inquiry into sodium valproate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7556/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 123 together.
When I met with the patient groups involved with this issue, I supported their call for an inquiry into sodium valproate and I committed to making that happen. The delay in establishing this inquiry is as frustrating for me as for those impacted. During 2022 the Terms of Reference were agreed after close consultation with patient groups. However, after further cross Departmental engagement these needed to be re-drafted to ensure the inquiry could be delivered in a meaningful way within a reasonable timeframe. I am aware that amended Terms of Reference have been prepared, again with input from patient representatives. Steps are being taken within my Department to complete the policy documentation required to support this inquiry and to bring a memo to government seeking approval for the inquiry to commence. Completion of this work is important for me and I am committed to commencing this inquiry as soon as it is appropriate to do so.
This inquiry will be designed to give a voice to patients and their families while looking at the use of sodium valproate in Ireland since it was first licensed. It is important that enough time and resources are invested in completing this work. There are many factors to consider, and I want to ensure that the inquiry established delivers and allows those impacted to tell their story. I am aware that my officials are working to ensure that this will be facilitated.
I would like to inform the Deputy that in parallel to the work on the inquiry a Valproate Stakeholder Group has been established by the Department to assess current systems in place around valproate use in women of childbearing potential. The first Sodium Valproate Stakeholder Group met in November 2022, the next meeting of this group is planned for next month when the date is agreed with all stakeholders. I look forward to monitoring the outcome of the work of this group.
97. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the steps that he and the HSE will undertake to retain newly qualified healthcare professionals in Ireland who are educated in Irish universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7738/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll of our health care graduates from Irish colleges are a key resource to our public health service.
I along with Minister Harris have announced an agreement with Irish Medical Schools to increase the number of places available for Irish/EU students by 200 over the next 5 years. This increases the number of undergraduate places available to 930 Irish/EU student places by 2026.
We are seeking to continue the unprecedented growth in all staff categories which began in 2020 and has continued in 2021 and 2022.
The HSE have a number of initiatives to maximise the candidate pool.
- All nursing and midwifery graduates have been offered permanent contracts in our health service, in advance of their graduation and subsequent registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
- A similar approach is being taken for all health and social care professional graduates in which each will be offered permanent positions following large scale national campaigns. Every support and encouragement are being afforded to these graduates to encourage them towards employment in the Irish health services.
- The Framework for Safe Nurse Staffing and Skill Mix (SSF) is an evidenced based methodology to determine safe nurse staffing levels and skill mix in a variety of care settings across the healthcare system. In 2022 nine pilot sites were chosen to test Phase 3(i) of the Framework.
- In September 2022, the National Taskforce on non-consultant hospital doctors was established. The purpose of the Taskforce is to put in place sustainable workforce planning strategies and policies to address and improve NCHD experience to support present and future retention of NCHDs in Ireland.
The following initiatives are currently available to graduates
1. Opportunity to work in and across specialty locations
2. Professional Development and mentorship programmes
3. Additional Career pathways: in recent years there has been an increase in Advanced Nurse Practitioner roles and the introduction of an Enhanced Nurse Contract (subject to qualifying criteria)
The HSE have commenced the Recruitment Reform & Resourcing Program to lead out on the development of a Resourcing Strategy to meet the current and future needs of the organisation. A core element of this work will involve enhancing the organisation’s capacity to attract, develop, retain and engage the workforce that will ensure a sufficient domestic supply of health care staff, maximising self-sufficiency within the Irish state for the resourcing and delivery of publicly funded health services for the future.
98. Deputy Gino Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he is aware there are long waiting lists for vasectomies in the public health system in many parts of the State; if he will establish a national contracts and payments system for vasectomies to end the waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7667/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraVasectomy is considered a safe and very effective method of permanent contraception, provided through a quick surgical procedure. Some public hospitals provide this service, with fewer than 50 persons on the hospital waiting lists. However, as I understand most vasectomies are performed in the community by external providers including by trained GPs.
The development of a standard contract for the public provision of vasectomy services by GPs is a component of the HSE streamlining and coordination agenda under the 2019 GP Agreement. Relevant issues such as training and standards will be addressed within the process of developing that contract.
Pending the development of a standard contract, local health areas can and have entered into service arrangements with GPs for the provision of vasectomy services without charge to medical card patients. The HSE’s National Service Arrangement documentation has schedules specific to vasectomy services, helping standardise such arrangements.
99. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which it is intended to address issues raised by the Irish Cancer Society and the HSE in respect of the availability of rapid treatments for certain illnesses, the treatment of which cannot be postponed as well as ensuring the availability of new and orphan drugs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6211/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the National Cancer Strategy 2017-2026, we are endeavouring to provide the best care to patients across the board, including in the provision of new drugs.
The HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicines. This falls under the community drugs schemes. It is in accordance with the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
In 2021, 29 new medicines and 21 new uses of existing medicines and 2 expansions of reimbursement were approved at a year one cost of €34.39 million, with an additional cost of €477m over the first 5 years of those decisions.
In 2022, 30 new medicines and 30 new uses of existing medicines were approved at a year one cost of €15.5 million, with an additional cost of €178m over the first 5 years of those decisions.
This funding provided support for 23 new cancer drugs, and 30 new medicines for the treatment of rare diseases. This will ensure that patients have access to new and orphan drugs. Additionally in 2021 CAR T-cell therapy was introduced in Ireland for the first time, meaning patients no longer have to travel abroad.
I would strongly encourage anyone with signs or symptoms suggestive of cancer to contact their GP for assessment, where they can be referred to diagnosis and treatment, as appropriate.
100. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will consider introducing legislative changes to the Health Act 2007 to codify a definition of residential service to ensure that all individualised services are required to be registered with HIQA in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7673/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraResidential services, including residential respite services, which fall under the definition of registered centres as set out in the Health Act 2007, are registered with the independent regulator, the Health Information and Quality Authority HIQA.
The Chief Inspector does not have authority to inspect or regulate residential services that are not designated centres. HIQA determines which services come within its ambit in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions.
Work is well advanced in the Department of Health on preparing regulation of home care and home support services, in the light of feedback from the public consultation. In addition, the HSE is setting up a multi-stakeholder implementation group for the Report on National Expert Review Group on Home Sharing, 2017, to review what can be done in relation to amending the Health Act 2007 so that Home Sharing has a legal / regulatory basis.
While it is not currently intended to codify the definition of residential service to categorise all individualised services, the Department is examining the most appropriate model for regulation of services to persons with disabilities in the light of HIQA report Exploring the regulation of health and social care services, Disability Services, as well as best practice internationally.
