Written Answers Nos. 355-366
355. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if all documentation associated with the application for naturalisation in the case of a person (details supplied) has been received and processed; whether outstanding information is required; when this might be dealt with and their application for citizenship approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8012/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraBased on the information provided my Department have been unable to locate the application. If the Deputy wishes to provide more information the Citizenship Division will undertake another search for the application.
The Citizenship Division receives approximately 1,000 applications per month and utilises the resources available to maximise processing and reduce waiting times. Applications are processed in chronological order by date received and currently the median processing time for applications stands at 19 months.
The Division are working very hard to maintain as prompt a service delivery as possible, given the volume of applications currently being received.
I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.
356. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Justice for an update on his work to create awareness and availability of restorative justice at all stages of the criminal justice system as committed to in the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024; if there is a timeline for the publication of policy proposals on this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8036/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraRestorative justice is one of a suite of measures available to the criminal justice system. As the Deputy will be aware, at its core, restorative justice aims to enable all those affected by an offence to participate actively in repairing the harm done and to find a positive way forward. It is founded on the principle of consent of the parties to the approach.
Restorative justice is currently delivered by An Garda Síochána, within the Garda Youth Diversion Programme; by the Probation Service with youth and adult offending, pre and post-sentence; and by the Community-Based Organisations that receive referrals at specific points in the criminal justice process.
Restorative Justice is a service that has, for some time, been an important part of the work of the Probation Service. As part of its strategy to further develop capacity to deliver a high quality service in accordance with the Victims of Crime Act 2017, the Service established a National Restorative Justice and Victim Services Unit in 2018.
The Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 looks at the Programme for Government commitment to work with all criminal justice agencies to build capacity to deliver restorative justice safely and effectively. The Review highlights that an appropriate service delivery model is required to promote, support and oversee high quality restorative justice practice at all stages of the criminal justice process, including prevention and diversion. Consideration is also given to the European Rules on Community Sanctions and Measures, and the European Prison Rules.
I can assure the Deputy that this Programme for Government commitment is one of the strategic objectives for my Department.
Five high level actions were identified and outlined in the Justice Plan 2021 and four of these steps have been completed to date.
As part of this work, the Department of Justice commissioned a number of restorative justice experts and researchers to map the delivery of restorative justice in Ireland. The findings were published on a new website in 2021.
Policy options are currently being examined for an appropriate mechanism and process to create awareness and availability of Restorative Justice at all stages of the criminal justice system, with consistency of service ensuring quality in training and practice. My Department is currently developing a policy paper in this regard and intends to publish proposals shortly.
357. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7850/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an administrative matter for the Health Service Executive, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
358. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health the plans his Department has to re-instate mobility allowance or a replacement payment for same. [8024/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017 - 2022, the Department of Transport had responsibility for the continued development of the availability of accessible public transport. The Department of Transport is committed to this in recognition of the importance of such services to the lives of people with disabilities.
Under the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, a Transport Working Group was established to advance Action 104 of the Strategy. The commitment under Action 104 was to ‘lead a review of transport supports encompassing all Government funded transport and mobility schemes for people with disabilities, to enhance the options for transport to work or employment supports for people with disabilities and [to] develop proposals for development of a coordinated plan for such provision. This plan will have regard to making the most efficient use of available transport resources ’.
The Working Group considered proposals to inform the development of a coordinated plan for the enhancement of Government-funded transport and mobility supports available to people with disabilities. The Report will be published on DCEDIY’s website shortly.
Developments which will impact on the policy options include the following:
- The ongoing progress by the Department of Transport in providing accessible public transport nationally and that Department's review of active travel and public transport policy, including accessible public transport;
- The Cost of Disability Study, commissioned by the Department of Social Protection, which will inform policy direction in relation to the provision of adequate supports to meet the needs of people with disabilities, including transport costs; and
- The Department of Finance's review of the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Scheme.
359. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the high incidence of physical and verbal assaults on frontline healthcare workers; if he will take steps to ensure adequate funding for the Health and Safety Authority in order to establish a dedicated health sector unit to oversee workplace safety at all public healthcare facilities; if he will arrange for a full review of security measures at all emergency departments; if he will further arrange for a public awareness programme in this regard in order to reduce such assaults; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8014/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring the safety of employees of the public health service is a priority concern. It is intolerable that our staff have to endure assaults while endeavouring to deliver health services. It is particularly unacceptable that some of these assaults are racist in nature. More than two in every five doctors and nurses employed in the HSE were not trained in Ireland. Without them, we could not provide essential healthcare to our most vulnerable citizens.
I am advised by the HSE that incidents of assaults have reduced since 2018, and I have asked the HSE to provide the Deputy with data in this regard. I have also asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in respect of the operational elements of the question posed by the Deputy that pertain to them.
The Deputy is asking in respect of funding for the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), and in respect of tasking them with establishing a health sector unit with additional duties in this regard. The HSA is under the remit of the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and as such, the Deputy may wish to raise those elements of her question directly with Minister Coveney.
360. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department intends to take following the recent RTÉ Investigates report that showed that up to 12,000 vulnerable people were denied their disability allowances by State actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6069/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised recently regarding the Disabled Persons Maintenance Allowance relate to an extensive period of time, dating back to the 1950s.
The general policy intent and direction with regard to eligibility relating to the DPMA has remained largely unchanged from the 1950s to 1999 i.e. the State would provide for people’s living costs either in kind (through maintenance in a residential facility), or through a cash payment, for someone of no means living in the community, but not both.
It is a long-standing policy position that people in receipt of publicly funded residential care would make a contribution towards the cost of their care and/or maintenance through a charge/contribution.
The Attorney General prepared a report on the matter and this has been published. The report states, among other things, that the AG understands that the policy intent behind the non-payment of DPMA and Disability Allowance to persons in state residential care was that there was a clear and logical distinction between the financial needs of those living in the community in their own homes and those living in a State-provided residential care environment.
The Minister for Social Protection and I will now consider the report and revert to the Government within three months.
361. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Health if there are any plans to review the age parameters for breast check to increase the provision of free examinations to over 70s; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7526/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am fully committed to supporting our population screening programmes which are a valuable part of our health service, enabling early treatment and care for many people, and improving the overall health of our population.
Any decisions about changes to our screening programmes, such as extending the age range eligibility of a cancer screening programme, will be made on the advice of our National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC).
This independent expert group considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
The Committee recently published its Work Programme which includes examination of the potential expansion of cancer screening programmes in Ireland. The NSAC's first Annual Call (2021) for proposals received a significant response with over 50 submissions received. Submissions on expansion of the age range eligibility for breast screening were received from a number of sources, including the BreastCheck programme. The NSAC have asked HIQA to look at the evidence for the expansion of the age range eligibility for breast screening to women between 45 and 74 years of age, and this work has begun.
Under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, a Proposal for an updated European Council Recommendation on cancer screening which includes Breast Cancer was formally approved on 9 December 2022 and published thereafter. The NSAC will consider this recommendation and advise me and the Department of Health on the evidence as it applies to Ireland.
Ireland will also be actively engaged with the significant ongoing collaborative work at European level to take forward the updated Recommendation on cancer screening.
362. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health when the money for the fourth phase of eating disorder team progression will be released from Budget 2023; the CHOs that this will be used for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2321/23]
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.
363. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the €4 million for improving regulatory compliance in mental health in-patient services in alignment with Mental Health Commission regulations, which was announced in the health budget press conference; the way that the funding will be spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2322/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraBudget 2023 contained a €4 million allocation for minor works to improve regulatory compliance in mental health in-patient services in alignment with Mental Health Commission regulations.
As happens each year following the Budget, detailed discussions are progressing between the Department and HSE to improve Mental Health care arising from Budget 2023 and in the context of preparing the HSE National Service Plan (NSP) for 2023. Further detail in relation to this allocation will be agreed as part of the finalisation of the NSP.
364. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health when the Government’s attention was drawn to the concerns raised in the interim report into CAMHS by the Mental Health Commission. [4643/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mental Health Commission published the Interim Report into CAMHS on 23 January last.
The Commission notified me and the Department in advance of its intention to publish the Interim Report and, and upon receipt of the report on 5th January, provided 10 working days to consider the report. This is the normal advance notification accorded to the Department for reports by the Commission. As 10 working days would have resulted in publication of the report on a Friday, the Department requested that the report be held to the following Monday, to ensure that patients and their families had access to the helpline set up by the HSE, and that they would be able to contact their GPs or relevant CAMHS teams should they have any concerns. This slight delay was therefore taken in the best interest of service users and their families, and with the full support of the Commission and the HSE.
As I have indicated on several occasions recently, I supported the Commission in carrying out their annual thematic report into CAMHS, including the offer of any additional resources required for this. I welcome the Mental Health Commission’s Interim Report, and I especially welcome the focus around service quality and patient safety. I await both the Commission’s Final Report on CAMHS and the completion of the audits now underway by the HSE arising from the Maskey report. Together, these reports will provide robust information to support the improvement of crucial services for children and adolescents across the country experiencing mental health difficulties. The HSE has confirmed to the Department of Health that the issues raised in the Mental Health Commission’s Interim Report are being proactively acted on at national level, to mitigate against risk throughout the system as a whole, and beyond the CHOs reviewed to date.
365. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an need for autism will be carried out in the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5003/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question relates to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
366. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the manner in which it is intended to reduce waiting lists for those potentially suffering from life threatening or life changing condition with particular reference to delays arising in the aftermath of Covid-19, if immediate preparations can be made to address these issues in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6212/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI thank the Deputy for his question.
I recognise that acute hospital scheduled care waiting lists are far too long, and that many patients are waiting an unacceptably long time for care. While these waiting lists have been a challenge for the Irish healthcare system for decades, they worsened considerably during the COVID-19 pandemic, and health services are now dealing with significant pent-up demand. Countries across the world are also reporting increased pressure on healthcare services and associated waiting lists largely due to the unprecedented impact of the pandemic.
In addition to this, unfortunately scheduled care activity is vulnerable when our acute hospitals and healthcare staff are under significant pressure due to surges in demand for unscheduled care. Increased Emergency Department attendances can unfortunately result in some cancellations of elective procedures, and we recognise the impact this will have on patients.
However, during such pressure periods time-sensitive cancer diagnostic and treatment services continue to be prioritised, alongside the urgent care needs of those undergoing cancer treatment.
Despite these challenges, positive progress has been made in Ireland over the past 18 months due to a new multi-annual action plan approach, led by my Department and in conjunction with the HSE and the NTPF, that is turning the tide on rising waiting lists and waiting times.
Waiting lists for scheduled care in our hospitals increased by nearly 60% between 2015 and 2021 creating huge backlogs, but this unacceptable trend has now been halted and waiting lists and waiting times are now decreasing as a result of the interventions funded by our annual action plans.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, which will be published shortly, is the next stage of this new multi-annual approach and builds on the foundational work done through the short-term Waiting List Action Plan which delivered 5.4% delivered September and December in 2021. This was followed by the first full year Waiting List Action Plan for 2022, without which active hospital waiting lists would have increased by 42% to over 1 million people. Instead, c.1.56 million patients removed and c.1.53 million patients added to hospital waiting lists during 2022 – a net reduction of c.30,000 people (4.1%) to c.690,000.
These overall reductions in waiting lists were also complemented by significant reductions in waiting times, with the introduction of new maximum wait time targets. The number of patients exceeding the 18-month maximum wait time target for new outpatient (OPD) appointments decreased in 2022 by c.59,000 (38.5%). The number of patients exceeding the 12-month maximum wait time target for inpatient / day case (IPDC) procedures and gastrointestinal endoscopy (GI Scopes) has decreased by c.3,800 (22.6%) and c.3,500 (86.5%) respectively.
The 2023 Plan allocates €363 million to address acute scheduled care waiting lists, including:
- €240 million in non-recurrent funding to the NTPF and HSE to continue providing additional public and private activity to maintain the momentum of further reducing waiting times and clear the waiting list backlogs exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- €123 million in recurrent funding to the HSE to implement modernised care pathways and to sustainably close the capacity gaps in specialties and hospitals that create unacceptably long scheduled care waiting lists and times.
