Written Answers Nos. 187-207
187. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health his views on the success or otherwise of the Vision for Change target of establishing 129 CAMHS teams nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4642/24]
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.
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.
188. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health his views on whether CAMHS teams should continue to govern themselves independently; his future plans for further cohesion, oversight and accountability from his Department over CAMHS teams; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4643/24]
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.
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.
189. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will comment on a service level agreement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4644/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraGeneral Practitioners that hold GMS contracts for the provision of services to medical card and GP visit card holders, are required under their contract to make suitable arrangements for emergencies outside normal practice hours.
Over 2,500 GPs currently hold a GMS contract, and while they are not obliged to, most GPs participate in GP Out of Hours cooperatives to meet their outside of practice hours service requirements. A robust GP Out of Hours services ensures that, as much as possible, urgent care needs are met in the community and not in a hospital setting.
The ShannonDoc cooperative provides GP out of hours services for Limerick, North Tipperary and Clare. As with the other GP out of hours cooperatives, Shannondoc is a private organisation. However, the HSE provides significant funding to support out of hours co-operative services through service level agreements, with ShannonDoc having received almost exactly €5 million in HSE funding in 2022.
The HSE is in regular contact with all Out of Hours service providers to ensure that these services continue to meet the needs of their local communities.
190. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health to report on the number of children who were refused support from a CAMHS team (details supplied) in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4645/24]
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.
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.
191. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that parents are now being advised not to disclose an autism diagnosis when accessing support from CAMHS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4646/24]
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.
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.
192. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that children with a primary diagnosis of autism are routinely refused support from CAMHS; the threshold or criteria set out in policy that allows these refusals to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4647/24]
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.
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.
193. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will consider reinstating a director of mental health services; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4648/24]
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.
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.
194. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will comment on the need to regulate CAMHS and if that need has been costed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4649/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Mental Health Act 2001, the Mental Health Commission is required to register, inspect and regulate all approved centres, including CAMHS approved centres across the country, with inspections taking place at least once a year.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring all mental health services, both inpatient and community, and both adult and child and adolescent, are fully registered, regulated and inspected by the Mental Health Commission in its role as the independent regulator of mental health services.
Regulation of community mental health services is a key element of the Mental Health Bill, with the new Bill ensuring that the expanded regulatory remit of the Mental Health Commission has an appropriate legal underpinning.
Drafting of the Mental Health Bill is currently being progressed by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, generally in line with the published General Scheme. The Bill received priority drafting in all three legislative sessions in 2023, and priority drafting was granted once again for the current legislative session. Officials in my Department and the Office of Parliamentary Counsel are working intensively to finalise this lengthy, complex Bill as quickly as possible within the coming months.
The publication of the Mental Health Bill remains a priority for me and for the Government and I look forward to introducing the Bill to the Oireachtas as soon as possible after publication. Following publication of the Bill, the regulation of community residents and services, including CAMH services, will be introduced on a phased basis.
The majority of the proposed changes in the Bill are expected to be funded within existing resources, but the regulation of community mental health services will carry an additional cost. Officials in my Department are in discussions with the Mental Health Commission and the HSE to ascertain estimated costs arising from the new Bill and these costs will be detailed ahead of publication of the Bill later this year.
195. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the proposed telehealth option for those awaiting CAMHS support; the timeline for when this option will come onstream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4650/24]
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.
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.
196. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will provide all disbursements of moneys from his Department, national research bodies or HEA, by year and by funding stream, to include but not limited to State grant, fee income, research funding and grants, capital investments, PPP payments, ad-hoc disbursements, and the various transformational funding schemes, in respect of each of the technological universities since 2020, in tabular form. [4356/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information in relation to the disbursements of moneys in respect of each of the technological universities within the scope of the Deputy’s question is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.
197. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail a timeline and schedule of pre-procurement and procurement activities, including any costs defrayed in respect of the three PPP projects contemplated at SETU Waterford since 2005. [4357/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe original third level PPP programme, announced in 2008, included three projects in SETU Waterford; the Engineering and Science building, the Architecture building and the Business and Enterprise building. These projects were suspended in 2010, due to affordability issues, however costs of circa €3m had been incurred on enabling works at that time, such as clearance of the site, demolition works for site access, relocation of temporary prefabricated accommodation, car parking, alterations to pedestrians and vehicular access routes and the diversion and relocation of services such as electricity, gas, data and water mains. Many of these enabling works remain relevant to the new PPP project.
The commitment to the PPP programme has been carried through into the current National Development Plan 2018-2027, within which SETU Waterford has a project in Bundle 2. As the Bundle 2 project is being procured as a bundle (together with four other new build projects across the regions), the costs are only available at a bundle level, rather than at a project specific level. To date, my Department has spent circa €4.659m on Bundle 2, on technical advisor fees, planning fees and design team fees.
Bundle 2 procurement timeline:
September 2020 – Publication of contract notice and commencement of procurement process
June 2021 – Prequalification process complete and tenderers shortlisted
August 2021 – Tender documents issued to shortlisted tenderers
December 2023 – Final tender requested
198. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of additional college places, by higher level institution, provided in each of the areas in medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary since 2020, in tabular form. [4358/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe attached document gives in tabular form the number of additional college places provided, by higher level institution, in the areas of medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary between 2020 and 2023.
It is important to note that the additional places presented in the table for these disciplines in 2020 and 2021 refer to once off places which were a result of the Government's response to Covid 19. The additional places in 2022 and 2023 are permanent additions to the system.
199. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a statement on the original projected costs and now envisaged final total cost in respect of the Cork School of Music and Cork Maritime College. [4359/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraContracts for public private partnership (PPP) projects at the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) and the Cork School of Music (CSM) were awarded in February 2003 and September 2005, respectively. Both contracts were for a term of 25 years post construction. The annually published appropriation accounts for my Department contains a section on the payments of PPP projects. This table lists the operational PPPs currently managed by my Department, including for NMCI and CSM, and includes the cumulative expenditure to the previous year, the expenditure during the year as well as the legally enforceable commitments to be met in subsequent years. The table below includes the relevant information for these contracts from the 2022 appropriation accounts. An updated table will be included in the 2023 appropriation accounts.
|
|
Cumulative expenditure to 31 December 2021
€000 |
Expenditure in 2022
€000 |
Legally enforceable commitments to be met in subsequent years €000 |
Envisaged final total cost
€000 |
|
MTU - National Maritime College of Ireland |
147,525 |
6,758 |
41,992 |
196,275 |
|
MTU - Cork School of Music |
126,832 |
8,445 |
88,946 |
224,223 |
The original PPP contracts include the original projected costs of €182.442m for NMCI and €208.364m for CSM. It is important to note that the original projected costs did not include VAT and the appropriation accounts are VAT inclusive.
The original projected cost for each project was based on an estimated inflation rate applied to the annual unitary payment over the life of the contract. During the life of the contract, a portion of the unitary payment is adjusted annually by an inflation factor to reflect changes in a general inflation index specified in the contract (the Consumer Price Index in the case of the NMCI and CSM contracts). This portion is known as the X-factor. As part of the annual indexation process, the X-factor portion is adjusted by the actual inflation rate over the preceding 12-month period. This may differ from the original estimate of inflation and will result in a different overall cost for the project.
The unitary payments made by the State over the life of the PPP contract include not just the cost of design and construction but also the cost of financing, operating and maintaining the facility (including services such as planned and reactive maintenance, grounds maintenance, cleaning, care-taking, security and waste management). The PPP company must provide a fully maintained facility for the duration of the contract and carries the risk in relation to rectification of any construction defects that occur during the term. If a facility is not available or services are not provided in accordance with the standards set out in the contract, the State is entitled to reduce its monthly payment until the required standard is restored. This means that the PPP company has a strong incentive to deliver a high quality facility and maintain it in good condition. Over the period of the contract, the PPP company has committed to make substantial investments and significant refits to keep the facility in good order. In the case of the NMCI and CSM contracts, direct and indirect resources are employed by the respective PPP companies to operate and maintain the facilities and to ensure that they will be handed back in good condition at the expiry of the 25 year PPP contract. The NMCI contract expires at the end of 2029 and the CSM contract expires in 2032.
200. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a statement on the general decline in student numbers across the technological university sector since the sector was established. [4360/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraA national network of 5 TUs stretches across some 25 campuses, bringing the advantages and potential of university-driven skills and innovation to communities across the country. Higher education access is being provided in a far more balanced regional manner and TUs are driving regional development and socio-economic progress in places with no previous university footprint as diverse as Athlone, Carlow, Castlebar, Clonmel, Ennis, Killybegs, Letterfrack, Letterkenny, Mount Bellew, Rathnew, Sligo, Thurles, Tralee, Waterford and Wexford. My Department and I are committed to advancing the Technological Universities agenda, and in summer of 2023 I introduced the Technological Sector Advancement Fund, providing €50 million to continue to assist our new TUs in their post-establishment phase.
The establishment of technological universities has coincided with pandemic-related disruption to typical enrolment trends. The last four years have been marked by significant fluctuations in enrolments in the higher education sector in general, including the TU sector, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall higher education enrolments in 2022/23 were down for the first time in more than a decade. This has been driven by two key factors. Firstly, there has been a post-pandemic adjustment after a significant increase in enrolments in 2020 which saw enrolments overall jump by 13,270 in a single year. Secondly, strong labour market opportunities encourage individuals to pursue employment rather than education. These are factors that impact the entire tertiary education sector, not merely the technological universities.
Applications to all technological universities have increased in the period from 2020 to 2023. Overall, the number of applications to the sector has increased by 18% in that period.
201. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to explain the nature of the slow and painstaking work in studying and developing of a borrowing framework by his Department for the technological sector. [4361/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2022, funding was approved to assist the Technological Universities (TUs) in developing a student accommodation programme based on a regional needs and feasibility assessment. The Higher Education Authority appointed consultants in June 2023, to oversee and assess the levels of supply and demand for student accommodation across our public higher education institutions (HEIs).
The objective of the feasibility study is to; establish an accurate “as is” account of available student accommodation supply available in private rented units, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) and rent a room schemes; project future supply and demand for accommodation in both PSBA and private rented on a national and regional level and within each Technological University (TU) catchment area; and to ascertain what opportunities are available to meet the future demand for student accommodation through either new-build PSBA, leasing, acquisition or refurbishing/redevelopment of existing sites.
Phase one, a supply and demand analysis, has involved extensive data-gathering across all TUs, Universities and Colleges, comprising a data collection framework, one-to-one meetings with HEI representatives, and a centralised student survey on student accommodation. The comprehensive student accommodation supply and demand framework is currently undergoing analysis and data validation by the Higher Education Authority.
Phase 2 of the study commenced this week. In parallel with the data collection, the Higher Education Authority is overseeing the development of standardised preliminary business case processes and templates. The intention is to develop a programmatic approach to facilitate future TU student accommodation proposals. It is proposed that this will be achieved by using the demand analysis from the data collection process to inform a framework of delivery models and funding options.
This will be informed by the demand analysis data collection process. A number of delivery modes and mechanisms are being examined as part of this process to inform student accommodation programme responses. This will include an assessment a borrowing framework for student accommodation. I am not in a position to pre-empt the outcome of this examination process and any frame work proposal will require approval by Government. My Department and I will work within the parameters of the public spending code to deliver on state supported student accommodation provision.
202. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the annual payments in respect of the loans provided to IT Tralee and Waterford IT since the loan was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4362/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has entered recharge arrangements with respect to emergency funding provided to both IT Tralee and Waterford IT.
As regards Waterford IT, now under SETU, the latest recharge payment was made in October 2023 bringing total repayments to €6.9m. The recharge arrangement with IT Tralee, now MTU, is due to commence in May 2024.
203. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to his forthcoming new Student Accommodation Strategy, if he is proposing the use of public private partnerships for the delivery of student accommodation by the technological universities; given the past criticism of PPPs from a value for money perspective, if his Department conducted a risk analysis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4395/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2022, funding was approved to assist the Technological Universities (TUs) in developing a student accommodation programme based on a regional needs and feasibility assessment. The Higher Education Authority appointed consultants in June 2023, to oversee and assess the levels of supply and demand for student accommodation across our public higher education institutions (HEIs).
Phase one, a supply and demand analysis, has involved extensive data-gathering across all TUs, Universities and Colleges, comprising a data collection framework, one-to-one meetings with HEI representatives, and a centralised student survey on student accommodation. The comprehensive student accommodation supply and demand framework is currently undergoing analysis and data validation by the Higher Education Authority.
In parallel with the data collection, the Higher Education Authority is overseeing the development of a standardised preliminary business case process and templates. The intention is to develop a programmatic approach to facilitate future TU student accommodation proposals. This work will be progressed in tandem to the standardised design study for student accommodation to ensure a value for money response to student accommodation. This will be informed by the demand analysis data collection process to provide a framework of delivery models and funding options.
A number of delivery modes and mechanisms are being examined as part of this process to inform programme responses. This will include an assessment of PPP type provision. I am not in a position to pre-empt the outcome of this examination process. My Department and I will work within the parameters of the public spending code to deliver on state supported student accommodation provision.
204. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the progress of new lecturing and research contracts for faculty working in the technological university sector in light of the OECD Report entitled 'A Review of Technological University Academic Career Paths, Contracts and Organisation in Ireland'; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4512/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTechnological Universities have been established to create a step-change in the delivery of higher-level skills, new knowledge creation, venture start-ups and collaborative innovation support for enterprise; and hence to meaningfully expand the higher education sector’s contribution to regional development.
To support the post-establishment development of TUs, the Higher Education Authority and my Department commissioned the OECD to conduct a review of academic career paths, contracts, and organisation design in TUs. I brought this report to Cabinet in December 2022, and it was subsequently published.
The report highlights a range of complex interconnected issues for consideration. These include the academic year basis of contracts, workload defined in terms of instructional hours without systemised recognition of research or engagement, instructional models out of step with international peers, the absence of professorial ranks, and the balance between academic staff and professional, management and support staff.
I am committed to introducing the recommendations of the OECD report, including professorship grades and a revised academic contract in Technological Universities, however it is important that this is done in a considered way, working through the complex range of interconnected issues.
In December, the Taoiseach and I met with the Presidents and Chairs of the technological universities to discuss these priority issues for enabling TUs in their development.
Officials in my Department are continuing to work closely with representatives of the technological universities and other stakeholders in progressing these issues.
205. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be provided with a travel allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4559/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are making enquiries with Kerry ETB regarding the matter and a response will issue to the Deputy at the earliest opportunity.
206. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the Government is carrying out a full review of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, as promised under the programme for Government; the current status of this review.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4583/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014.
My officials are reviewing the existing legislative provisions under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, taking account of recommendations from, inter alia, the Report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Food, Agriculture and the Marine, consultation with stakeholders and experts in the field, and the outcomes of the public consultation undertaken by my Department in 2019. In November I announced the establishment of a Stakeholder Group that will inform decisions regarding any potential legislative change. I anticipate the first meeting of this group will take place in the coming weeks.
Updates to the existing legislation are required and it is proposed that amendments will be made through a Control of Dogs and Dog Breeding Establishment Miscellaneous Bill.
Items under consideration include the possibility for dog control notices, the inclusion of additional breeds in the restricted dogs list and updates to definitions contained in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. However, the issues raised are wide ranging and complex and require in depth analysis and consultation to ensure amendments are not just robust, fit for purpose and implementable but that they also deliver the best outcomes for communities and for dogs themselves. This work will progress throughout 2024.
207. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline her response to the report on the progress on the sustainable development goals 2023, produced by the Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands. [4447/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI welcome the report of the Joint Committee on Social Protection, Community and Rural Development and the Islands on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious framework for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. The whole-of-Government approach being taken in Ireland to the implementation of the SDGs is driving positive progress in achieving the Goals.
A key commitment under the SDG National Implementation Plan involves mainstreaming the SDGs across national policies. My Department’s Statement of Strategy for 2023 - 2025 includes a commitment to align our policies with the SDG National Implementation Plan and to place SDGs at the heart of our policies.
The Committee’s report acknowledges the ongoing work of my Department in proactively embedding the SDGs across a broad range of our key policies, including Our Rural Future, Town Centres First, Our Living Islands and Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A Five-Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland.
My Department will continue to collaborate with colleagues across Government, and with local community structures, to enhance awareness and understanding and build capacity in relation to the SDGs at all levels.
A response to the recommendations made in the report in relation to my Department is currently being finalised and will be submitted to the Joint Committee shortly.
