Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a hospital procedure for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55677/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraHospital Appointments Status
Ceisteanna (238)
Freagraí scríofa
Under 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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6th of 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 (239)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:239. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health what immediate weight intervention can be sourced for a person (details supplied). [55678/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under 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.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6th of October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, there may be a delay in the Deputy receiving a reply from the HSE.
Health Services Waiting Lists
Ceisteanna (240)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:240. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health his plans to improve the waiting list for weight intervention in St. Colmcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown (details supplied). [55679/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
It is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care.
The 2023 Waiting List Action Plan builds on the foundational work done in the 2021 and 2022 plans, both of which reversed the annual trend of rising waiting lists.
For 2023, funding totalling €443 million is being allocated to tackle Waiting Lists with €363 million of this being allocated to the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, to reduce hospital waiting lists by implementing longer term reforms and providing additional public and private activity to clear backlogs exacerbated during the pandemic. Bariatrics has been identified as a priority area in the Waiting List Action Plan with additional funding provided to expand this service. The remaining €80 million of the €443 million is being targeted at various measures to alleviate community/primary care waiting lists.
With the funding from Budget 2024 (€407 million), we are taking the next steps in the multi-annual approach towards achieving the vision of a world-class public healthcare system in which everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it, in line with Sláintecare reforms.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (241)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Ceist:241. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health what, if anything, can be done to assist those on Saxenda weight reduction mediation who can no longer obtain their prescription due to non-availability. [55680/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Novo Nordisk, the company responsible for supplying Saxenda, has notified the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) of a shortage of the product from early November until mid-February. Multiple countries, not just Ireland, are affected by this shortage. The company has informed the HPRA that the shortage is due to an unexpected increase in demand for the product and that this issue has affected supply globally. The company has adopted regulatory flexibility and has supplied products initially authorised for another country. The HPRA has no objection to this stock's continued supply until the Irish-authorised packs has resumed. The HSE is aware of the shortage and has provided a temporary reimbursement code for the stock sourced from a different country.
Novo Nordisk has also issued a communication to healthcare professionals regarding the situation and its management, which is also available on the HPRA’s shortages webpage.
Unfortunately, medicine shortages are a feature of modern health systems worldwide which have been exacerbated by recent worldwide events. There are a multitude of reasons why a medicine may not be available including: shortages of raw materials; manufacturing difficulties; sudden unexpected increase in demand; or product recalls due to potential quality issues. Pharmaceutical companies and wholesalers in Europe are responsible for ensuring a consistent supply of the medicines they sell.
Ireland has a multi-stakeholder medicine shortage framework in place, coordinated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), to prevent, wherever possible, and to manage medicine shortages when they occur. The Department of Health maintains regular contact with the HPRA regarding medicines shortages.
Patients who have any concerns about availability of their medication are encouraged to speak to their GP or pharmacist.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (242)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:242. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical cards in the State; a breakdown of the numbers in each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55703/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service 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, 6th of 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.
Medical Cards
Ceisteanna (243)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:243. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the cost of the General Medical Services, GMS, in 2023; how it compares with 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55704/23]
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, 6th of 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.
Mortality Rates
Ceisteanna (244)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:244. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths recorded each year from 2018 to 2023 to date, in tabular form due to sepsis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55705/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service 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, 6th of 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.
Mortality Rates
Ceisteanna (245)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:245. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths recorded each year from 2018 to 2023 to date, in tabular form due to cocaine use-abuse-overdose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55706/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service 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, 6th of 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 (246)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:246. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position on the status of St. Finan's Hospital, Killarney; the annual total cost since its closure, in tabular form for maintaining the property and estate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55707/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the management of the public healthcare property estate, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6th of 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.
General Practitioner Services
Ceisteanna (247)
Robert Troy
Ceist:247. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the strategic review of general practice and if the issues, identified in the Finance Bill 2024 which have adversely affected general practice, have been rectified, specifically regarding GP partnerships. [55712/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As announced earlier this year, the Department of Health with the support of the HSE is to undertake a Strategic Review of General Practice. The Strategic Review has commenced and its work is on going. The review, with input from key stakeholders, will examine the broad range of issues affecting general practice and will set out the measures necessary to deliver a more sustainable general practice into the future. The current contractual arrangements for the GMS will be examined as part of the review.
The Terms of Reference for the review as well as information on the review's Steering Group, in accordance with the Transparency Code, is available from the Department's website. Following its completion, a report will be presented to me outlining the review's key findings and recommended actions.
While the collection of taxes and issues relating to the interpretation of tax law are a matter for the Revenue Commissioners, I am aware of the concerns around the new guidance on the tax treatment of GP's GMS income that has now been issued by the Revenue Commissions.
The guidelines illustrate how GPs’ GMS income should be treated for the purposes of tax under current tax law. To allow GPs and GP practices time to make any necessary adjustments to their arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable tax policy and legislation, Revenue have implemented transitional arrangements up to the end of 2023.
Following engagement between my Department and the HSE with the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance, the Minister for Finance has brought forward an amendment to the Finance (No.2) Bill 2023 to provide that where individual General Practitioners (GPs) enter into contracts with the HSE to provide certain medical professional services, and provide those services in the conduct of a partnership profession with other individual GPs, the income from those professional services can be treated for income tax purposes as income of the partnership. This legislation is expected to come into force on 1 January next.
My Department and the HSE continue to engage with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance, as well as with the IMO, on this matter.
Medicinal Products
Ceisteanna (248)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:248. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on when the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics will approve the drug Palforzia from a company (details supplied), given that the European Medicines Agency has already approved the drug; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55714/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The HSE has statutory responsibility for medicine pricing and reimbursement decisions, under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013. Therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Services
Ceisteanna (249)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:249. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health to provide an update and timeline for the roll out of peanut oral immunotherapy for children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55715/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is an operational matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6th of 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.
Mortality Rates
Ceisteanna (250)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:250. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths recorded at UHK for each year from 2018 to 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55716/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service 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, 6th of 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 (251)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:251. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding the construction of the new Killarney Community Hospital; if the project is on time and within budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55717/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6th of 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 (252)
Brendan Griffin
Ceist:252. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the up-to-date position regarding the anticipated opening of the new Killarney Community Hospital; how many beds will open; how this will compare with the current number of beds in the existing facilities; if he will provide a history and timeline for the project to date since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55718/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí 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, 6th of 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.
Mental Health Services
Ceisteanna (253)
Mark Ward
Ceist:253. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Health the estimated cost of establishing InterSystems TrakCare at the National Forensic Mental Health Service; the capabilities of this system; if this system will be rolled out across other mental health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55753/23]
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.
Primary Care Centres
Ceisteanna (254)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:254. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in providing new and additional healthcare facilities (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55864/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive (HSE) holds responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres, I have asked the HSE 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, 6th of 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 (255)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:255. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the proposals, if any, there are to extend dermatology services throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55866/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
Hospital Facilities
Ceisteanna (256)
Brendan Smith
Ceist:256. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in advancing a major building project at a healthcare facility (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55874/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of public healthcare infrastructure projects, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday, 6th of 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 (257)
Cormac Devlin
Ceist:257. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if apprenticeships for crèches are being considered; if so, what allocation has been given to the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55456/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A key strength of the apprenticeship model is that it is a demand-led employer-driven approach to meeting workforce and skill requirements in our economy. As such, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by employers in any sector.
New apprenticeship programmes are coming on-stream continuously. These are developed by a consortium of employers and education providers who come together and follow the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) defined proposal process. Through this process, an industry sector identifies a substantial need for skills that the apprenticeship model is suitable to address plus sufficient demand among employers in the sector who will employ apprentices.
My Department is informed by the NAO that, to date, no proposals for an apprenticeship relevant to staff in crèches have been received by them.
Departmental Staff
Ceisteanna (258)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:258. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of WTE vacancies within his Department and are normally filled by staff at the grade of administrative officer and above, as of 7 December 2023, in tabular form. [55604/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The information sought is set out in the following table.
|
Grade |
Number of Vacancies |
|
Secretary General |
0 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
1 |
|
Principal Officer |
0 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
6 |
|
Administrative Officer |
4 |
|
Professional/Technical |
5 |
|
Total |
16 |
Research and Development
Ceisteanna (259)
James Lawless
Ceist:259. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress made in the research and innovation sectors since 27 June 2020; the new initiatives undertaken; and the additional funding provided for them. [55608/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
On 1 January 2021, responsibility for Ireland's research and innovation (R&I) policy transferred from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to my Department. Following extensive stakeholder consultation, I launched Impact 2030 Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy on 18 May 2022. Impact 2030 is a Whole-of-Government Strategy and I have provided an electronic version to the deputy.
Impact 2030 will be delivered through three three-year work programmes; the first multiannual work programme (covering the period 2022 to 2024) was published as part of Impact 2030. This work programme clearly reflects that delivery of Impact 2030 is a collective effort by a range of Government Departments and their Agencies, each of which is responsible for advancing the R&I agenda in the sectors under their remits. My Department plays a central system role, driving implementation of Impact 2030 by bringing together research funding and performing Departments and State Agencies to ensure a cohesive, Whole-of-Government approach.
My Department also funds R&I through three of its Agencies: both the Irish Research Council and Science Foundation Ireland are competitive research funders while allocations to the higher education institutions via the Higher Education Authority underpin Ireland’s R&I system. In 2021, my Department was responsible for the majority (52%) of Government investment in research and development (R&D), with an allocation of €0.5 billion.
Annual Impact 2030 Progress Reports will be published that assess the extent to which each multiannual work programme was delivered in the preceding year, thereby providing ongoing oversight of how Ireland’s research-funding Departments and Agencies are working together to implement Impact 2030. My Department published the first annual Impact 2030 Progress Report on 12 July 2023. I have provided an electronic version to the deputy.
The first annual Impact 2030 Progress Report shows how Impact 2030 puts R&I at the heart of Ireland’s response to social, economic and environmental challenges and seeks to advance the strategic development of Ireland’s R&I system between now and 2030. The Progress Report shows that, at 31 December 2022, the vast majority of work programme actions were either underway or completed, with a small number not yet scheduled to commence. In addition, the Progress Report also shows that, by 31 May 2023, 29 of Impact 2030 ’s 30 Flagship Initiatives had been well progressed or delivered, with one remaining Flagship Initiative not yet due to start. The Progress Report also includes specific examples of projects that are making a real difference as well as details of new R&I initiatives and associated funding.
My officials are working with research funding and performing Departments and State Agencies to prepare the second annual Impact 2030 Progress Report. Once finalised, this report will be sent to me for approval and I will inform my Cabinet colleagues of my intention to publish the report. It is my intention that each annual Progress Report will be published as soon as possible after it is noted by the Government.
[<a ref="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2023-12-14_pq259-13-12-23_en.pdf">Impact 2030</a>]
[<a ref="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2023-12-13_pq259-13-12-23_en.pdf">Impact 2030b</a>]
Early Childhood Care and Education
Ceisteanna (260)
Mairéad Farrell
Ceist:260. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science given that Minister for Children, Disability, Integration and Youth, has just announced capital funding for crèches to create 90,000 new places, the staffing strategy to service those places; if the €1.5 billion surplus of the national training fund not be used to train early years teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55683/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I am advised by my colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth that the figure of 90,000 places delivered related to schemes operated by his Department and its precursor between 2000 and 2019.
The availability of high quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My colleague, the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth has assured me that his Department monitors early learning and childcare capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families. Last week, his Department announced the Building Blocks – Capacity Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, €45m will be made available over 2024 and 2025 to deliver additional early learning and childcare places. The primary focus of the scheme is to increase capacity in the 1-3 age range for full day or part-time care.
Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028, which Minister O’Gorman launched on 7 December 2021, aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in early learning and care and school-age childcare.
Early years educators, school-age childcare practitioners and childminders play a key role in supporting children’s development and well-being, working in partnership with families. Recognising their central importance for the quality of provision, Nurturing Skills aims to support the professional development of the workforce and raise the profile of careers in the sector.
Commitments in Nurturing Skills are organised under five pillars:
Establishing a career framework;
Raising qualification levels;
Developing a national Continuing Professional Development system;
Supporting recruitment, retention and diversity; and
Moving towards regulation of the workforce.
Successful delivery of commitments under the five pillars will be supported by three "key enablers" that are identified in Nurturing Skills:
Improvement in pay and conditions of employment;
Coordination of the quality support infrastructure; and
Ongoing engagement with the profession.
Nurturing Skills includes an Implementation Plan for the Plan's first three years (2022-2024). The Implementation Plan sets out 57 actions.
Nurturing Skills commits to establishing a Monitoring Committee to oversee implementation. The Monitoring Committee, was established in 2022 and published its first annual progress report for 2022 in March 2023. It will publish its 2023 progress report in the coming months.
Currently, funding is available for those early years educators seeking to upskill through the DCEDIY Learner Fund which, pays educators a small lump-sum bursary (€750) after completion of their course, complementing financial supports available to students attending HE and FE institutions.
However, Minister O’Gorman, announced recently, the introduction of a new Nurturing Skills Learner Fund on a pilot basis. The new Fund, which will run alongside the existing Learner Fund, aims to assist early years educators to pursue early learning and care qualifications that have been approved by the Qualifications Advisory Board (QAB) while continuing to work in the sector in line with commitments in Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care and School-Age Childcare, 2022-2028. In addition, a higher level of post-award bursary contribution will be provided for those completing degrees from 2024, to assist those who are undertaking degrees but are not part of the pilot Nurturing Skills Learner Fund.
For the Deputy's information, I have attached information in relation to Early Childhood and Education Courses in further and higher education. PLC courses in further education are funded from the National Training Fund.
[<a ref="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/debates/questions/supportingDocumentation/2023-12-13_pq260-13-12-23_en.xlsx">Appendix</a>]
Disability Services
Ceisteanna (261)
Róisín Shortall
Ceist:261. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will meet representatives of an organisation (details supplied) to discuss serious funding challenges and its role in the evolving further education and training ecosystem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55813/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Deputy will be pleased to learn that SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, is providing once-off support to address the short-term funding pressures being experienced by Specialist Training Providers (STPs) including the Rehab Group's National Learning Networks (NLNs).
As Deputy will be aware, the Rehab Group's NLNs operating throughout the country offer vocational courses funded by the Education and Training Boards and rehabilitative training programmes funded by the HSE. SOLAS is currently undertaking an independent evaluation of the STPs. The purpose of the evaluation is to generate evidence-based conclusions and propose recommendations about the quality, effectiveness, on-going relevance and overall value of vocational training that is currently delivered and the integration of this training within the wider further education and training provision by ETBs. The evaluation is underway and due for completion by the end of the year.
The FET Strategy FutureFET:Transforming Learning notes that the recommendations arising from the ongoing evaluation of Specialist Training Provision will be implemented over the lifetime of the new strategy, with scope to increase accommodation of people with disabilities in mainstream FET rather than separate dedicated provision.
Once the independent evaluation is complete, its findings will be considered by SOLAS and my Department, in consultation with the specialist training providers. The review of the funding model for STPs going forward will be considered in that context.