Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:357. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on a development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51798/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Staff
Ceisteanna (357)
Freagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (358)
Violet-Anne Wynne
Ceist:358. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 9 November 2023, if he will provide an update on the standardisation of additional opening hours for LIUs and MAUs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51799/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A review of HSE Injury Units (IUs) has recently been carried out.
There are currently thirteen IU sites across Ireland, twelve of which operate under acute governance operate on a seven day per week basis. This now includes the service at Monaghan Hospital which opens on a seven day basis since July 2023. The remaining unit is under the governance of the community primary care service and currently operates on a Monday to Friday basis.
Five of the twelve units under acute governance are already operating from 8am - 8pm, seven days a week. The review included a gap analysis to determine the funding and recruitment needed to implement the standardisation of opening hours in the remaining sites. Further analysis is needed regarding the feasibility and prioritisation of resource allocation.
Seven Medical Assessment Units (MAUs) are now included in the NAS bypass protocol and discussions are ongoing regarding the feasibility of extending this pathway (currently confined to Model 2 hospitals) to Acute MAUs where in operation at Model 3 hospitals.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (359)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:359. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health his plans regarding a medical centre in west Wicklow (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51804/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (360)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:360. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Health his plans (details supplied) regarding a health centre in West Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51808/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6 October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
Apprenticeship Programmes
Ceisteanna (361)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:361. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what plans he is putting in place to resolve delays in completion of pipefitting apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51674/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Currently, Phase 2 Pipefitting training is delivered in Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) and Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) by four instructors.
As the Coordinating Providers for the apprenticeship, the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) and SOLAS are actively engaging with the Collaborating Providers and employers of pipefitting apprentices to support increased capacity in the Pipefitting Apprenticeship going forward. It is envisioned that an increase in the number of Pipefitting Instructors will form part of this response.
The current strength of the construction sector is driving increased demand on the apprenticeship system. It is also adversely impacting on the system's ability to recruit additional instructors required to meet apprenticeship training needs. A national recruitment campaign for instructors is planned. This campaign, and a third intake of apprentices each year, will be central in ETBs delivery of additional capacity.
There is a crucial requirement to align training capacity in ETBs with the continued strong demand for apprenticeships, with particular focus on apprenticeships linked to the construction sector. My Department is working closely with SOLAS and the ETBs to continue to increase training capacity, from 13,000 in 2022 to over 16,000 places in 2024 - an increase approaching 25%.
SOLAS, the NAO and the ETBs, together with staff representatives, are continuing to work intensively with my Department to deliver the required additional apprenticeship training capacity to secure the reductions in waiting time, in particular for phase 2 training.
Community Development Projects
Ceisteanna (362)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:362. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional time will be provided in respect of the drawdown of a grant for a project in Kerry (details supplied) to allow for greater consultation with the local community; if so, how much time will be given to the community to complete this process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51782/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In May of this year, together with Government colleagues, I announced details of €50 million in funding for over 880 projects under the Community Recognition Fund.
The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. Projects approved under this funding include enhancement works to community and sports facilities and improvements to recreational amenities such as the provision of lighting and outdoor gym equipment.
The full €50 million was allocated in a single tranche and projects were approved on the basis that they could be completed before the end of 2024. The delivery of this funding is being managed at a local level by each individual local authority. My officials have been engaging with local authorities in relation to the delivery of projects under the Fund, and have extended flexibility as required to ensure the delivery of high quality projects. I have asked my officials to contact Kerry County Council in relation to the specific project referenced by the Deputy in order to discuss appropriate timelines for delivery.
Rural Schemes
Ceisteanna (363)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:363. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects the latest ORIS scheme to be adjudicated upon and allocated; if she will provide a list of eligible projects from County Kerry that have been applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51784/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The Scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding in excess of €106 million has supported more than 1,500 projects across the country.
Earlier this year, I launched the 2023 ORIS with an allocation of €16 million, a €1 million increase on 2022. The deadline for applications under all measures of the 2023 scheme has now passed and the assessment process is ongoing.
A range of applications has been submitted in respect of County Kerry under Measures 1, 2 and 3 of this year's scheme. However, as the assessment process is currently ongoing it is not possible to provide a list of eligible projects at this stage. The successful projects for these 3 measures will be announced in Quarter 1 of 2024.
Earlier this week I approved funding of almost €2.3 million under the ORIS Project Development Measure for 2023. This funding will support preparatory work required to bring large scale outdoor recreation projects to a shovel-ready stage. This investment will ensure a strong pipeline of outdoor amenity projects right across the country in the coming years. The successful projects are included in the announcement, details of which are available on my Department's website: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/df8ae-our-rural-future-minister-humphreys-announces-almost-23-million-to-develop-50-new-outdoor-recreation-projects/
Rural Schemes
Ceisteanna (364)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:364. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be provided for a project in Kerry under the Clár scheme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51796/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period.
CLÁR is designed to support a vast array of projects that will benefit people of all ages and abilities such as astro-turf facilities, playgrounds, sensory gardens, outdoor cinemas, walking tracks and community gyms.
Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures with over €57 million being approved for almost 2,100 projects throughout rural Ireland. In 2022 alone I approved funding of over €12.1 million for over 290 projects across the CLÁR areas.
I launched the 2023 programme in March comprising of three measures. Under Measure 1 grants from €5,000 to €50,000 are being provided to support the development of community and sports facilities, youth clubs, playgrounds, sensory gardens and walking tracks.
I can confirm that 15 applications seeking almost €608,000 have been submitted by Kerry County Council under Measure 1. This includes an application in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy. I expect to make an announcement on the successful projects under Measures 1 in the coming weeks