Written Answers Nos. 512-532
512. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if an assessment for autism will be arranged immediately for a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21275/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
513. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the case of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21388/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
514. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21390/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning, and childcare matters. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown CCC has been supporting the childcare provider to find suitable alternative accommodation. The CCC has advised the provider of the steps necessary to reregister when they secure new premises and will continue to provide support to the service.
The availability of high-quality Early Learning and Care (ELC) is a key Government priority. My Department monitors ELC capacity on an ongoing basis, with a particular focus on responding to the unmet ELC needs of families.
My Department is progressing a broad range of actions to ensure the supply of ELC and School-Aged Childcare meets demand:
Core Funding, the funding scheme introduced in 2022, allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a growth in capacity. Budget 2023 allocated funding to secure a 3% growth in capacity for year 2 of the scheme, which has already materialised. Budget 2024 also secured funding to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024.
A new Supply Management Unit has been established within my Department to lead on this important work. The development of this function is akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit. The Supply Management Unit is overseeing the allocation of new capital investment. €69 million was allocated to my Department over the period 2023-2025 under the National Development Plan to enable capital investment in the ELC sector. In February, I announced an €18 million capital grant scheme for the ELC Sector. The grant will provide for an immediate increase in affordable ELC places in 2024, and will be specifically targeted in areas in where they are needed most. It will be the first of two significant capital investment schemes, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.
Under the National Action Plan for Childminding, there is a commitment to open up access to the National Childcare Scheme to parents who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders.
515. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of high support disability residential placements available in County Westmeath in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024, in tabular form. [21414/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
516. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of WTE psychologists available to children in Longford within children's disability network teams, in tabular form. [21415/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
517. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if all Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection residing at a location (details supplied) have been served notices that they are to be moved to alternative accommodation by the end of May 2024; what consideration has been given to sourcing alternative accommodation in the local area where many residents have spent two years integrating into local schools, sports clubs, employment and the local community; if he will provide a reason for the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21419/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra518. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth whether his Department has any further plans to accommodate persons at a location (details supplied); if so, to specify who will be accommodated; the number of persons due to be accommodated; the anticipated duration of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21420/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 518 together.
The accommodation provider to which the Deputy refers has decided to cease accommodating Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) and has asked that all of the BOTPs in residence be moved to alternative accommodation. My Department's standard commercial accommodation contract provides that either party to the contract can terminate the agreement at any time with four weeks’ notice and the provider in this case has availed of this right. The BOTPs residing at this location have been given notification of same and will be relocated before the end of the month.
While every effort is made to minimise disruption to BOTPs who must be relocated where contracts end, staying in the local area cannot be guaranteed for BOTPs who continue to require State accommodation. My Department cannot guarantee standard or location at this time, and BOTPs are encouraged to engage with their Local Authority to assess the possibility of finding accommodation in the community if possible.
My Department is currently consolidating the BOTP accommodation portfolio in line with current and future needs. As this work progresses and the portfolio is reduced, remaining within existing localities for BOTPs who must be relocated will become less likely.
Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are entitled to make their own private arrangements including potentially availing of pledged accommodation if they wish, and can avail of some supports to do so. Those wishing to avail of pledged accommodation in any given area should contact the Local Authority in that area or the Irish Red Cross pledge process. The Irish Red Cross can be contacted by email at registerofpledges@redcross.ie or by phoning 1800 50 70 70.
Given the unprecedented level of new arrivals seeking International Protection (IP), and the challenges in providing suitable accommodation, Cabinet has approved an accommodation strategy which includes maximising the occupancy of accommodation under contract to my Department, in its entirety. My Department is actively utilising existing suitable vacancies in the system, where the provider has expressed an interest in assisting with the accommodation of IPs.
The International Protection Procurement Services (IPPS) are currently appraising an offer of accommodation for IPs in the accommodation to which the Deputy refers. Should the offer meet the requisite criteria, it is hoped that a contract can be agreed in the near future. My Department can only confirm use of a premises once a contract has been signed, and will, in the first instance, inform local public representatives and statutory agencies through its Community Engagement Team.
519. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the population base of each children's disability network team based in CHO 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21439/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
520. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to improve rates of pay for childcare workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21490/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recognise that pay in the sector remains low and does not reflect the importance of the work early years educators and school age childcare practitioners do and I am committed to supporting further improvements.
As the State does not employ staff in ELC and SAC services, neither I nor my Department can set wage levels or determine working conditions for staff in the sector.
However, there is now, through the independent Joint Labour Committee (JLC) process, a formal mechanism established by which employer and employee representatives can negotiate terms and conditions of employment including minimum pay rates for different roles in ELC and SAC services.
This process provided the first ever Employment Regulation Orders for the sector and increased wages for over 70% of staff working in services.
I understand that the JLC continues to meet and have submitter to the Labour Court new draft EROs proposing a 5% increase in minimum rates for all grades and the removal of 3 years experience requirement for graduate minimum pay rates.
Outcomes from the JLC process are support by the Government through the Core Funding scheme, which has an allocation for this programme year alone of €287 million and I will again increase this allocation by a further 15%, for the third year of the scheme, to €331 million.
In line with commitments in First 5, in December 2021, I launched Nurturing Skills: The Workforce Plan for Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Age Childcare (SAC), 2022-2028. Nurturing Skills aims to strengthen the ongoing process of professionalisation for those working in ELC and SAC and to raise the profile of careers in the sector. It includes a career framework and commitments to support early years educators to upskill and develop their careers. It also includes commitments to strengthen continuing professional development for staff working in the sector.
I also recently established a sub-group of the Early Learning and Childcare Stakeholder Forum to discuss issues of recruitment and retention with stakeholders in the sector. This group has met on two occasions since December last year and is scheduled to meet again in mid May.
521. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a childcare centre (details supplied), which is community run, currently catering for over 100 children with 26 employees, will be allowed to issue its own fees in order to compete with the public sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21501/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo be eligible for Core Funding for the 2023/2024 programme year, it is necessary for all Partner Services to agree to the Core Funding Fee Management terms and conditions as laid out in the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement, and the fee management guidelines. These terms and conditions require services not to increase the fees charged to parents above what was charged on 30 September 2021. This action is guided by the recommendations of the Expert Group, as approved by Government, to ensure that the introduction of fee management to the sector is done in a sustainable and considered manner.
In Year 1 of Core Funding, some €259 million was allocated under the scheme and 99% of services saw their income increase through Core Funding with 1%, or close to 60 services, receiving top up payments to ensure their income did not decrease for the same level of provision offered.
For the second year of operation, Core Funding increased by €28 million, an 11% increase, to a total of €287m.
Arising from Budget 2024, the Core Funding allocation for year 3 of the scheme will increase by 15% - to €331 million. This will support the delivery of a range of enhancements in Year 3 of the scheme to support improved affordability and accessibility for families, improved pay and conditions for the workforce and improved sustainability for providers. The details of the allocation model for year 3 of Core Funding will be published in the coming weeks.
Increasing the Core Funding budget while maintaining the same level of conditions on fees, will help embed the Core Funding Fee Management system in the sector and prepare the sector for the ongoing development of fee management in future years.
It is a matter for providers to decide whether they wish to withdraw from Core Funding and the associated Fee Management. However, I am confident that given the level of investment in this Scheme, which will increase to €331 million for programme year 3, services should not need to take this step.
I do not want any services to be faced with financial sustainability issues and I am fully committed to working with any such service to support them in delivering early learning and childcare for the public good.
Supports are available from my Department where a service is experiencing financial difficulty or has concerns about their viability, accessed through local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC). Once a service engages with their local CCC they will be able to avail of supports through the case management process.
Through this process, local CCC and Pobal work together to assess and provide support to ELC and SAC services experiencing difficulties. This support can take the form of general operational supports as well as more specialised advice and support appropriate to the individual circumstances of a service. In some instances, financial supports may be deemed appropriate in tandem with the case management process.
Financial supports, which may also be accessed through the case management process, are available to all Core Funding Partner Services, both community and private, who are experiencing financial difficulty, following a financial assessment by Pobal.
Officials in my Department have asked Pobal to make contact with the service’s local CCC, in order to advise them of the supports available to them.
I would strongly encourage any service who would like to avail of advice or supports on a concern regarding their sustainability, to reach out to their local CCC. Contact details for their local CCC can be found at www.myccc.ie
522. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if, in light of the recent report (details supplied), he will outline the timeline for the introduction of socioeconomic status as grounds of discrimination in the Equality Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21565/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of a new equality ground, based on disadvantaged socio-economic status, is being considered as part of my Department's wider review of the Equal Status Acts 2000 and the Employment Equality Acts 1998 (the Equality Acts). This follows a Programme for Government commitment to examine the introduction of such a ground. It is intended that legislative proposals arising from the review will be brought to Government in the coming weeks.
The review of the Equality Acts is examining the operation of the Equality Acts from the perspective of a person taking a claim under its redress mechanisms. It is further examining the degree to which those experiencing discrimination are aware of the legislation and whether there are practical or other obstacles which preclude or deter them from taking an action.
My Department invited written submissions to a public consultation from 06 July 2021 - 08 December 2021, and was pleased to receive an extensive response. The public were asked for their views on the functioning and accessibility of the Acts; the scope of the current grounds; whether existing exemptions should be modified or removed; and whether the legislation adequately addresses intersectionality. A report summarising the key issues raised in the public consultation was published on 12 July 2023 and can be accessed here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/cafb4-minister-ogorman-publishes-report-on-the-submissions-to-the-public-consultation-on-the-review-of-the-equality-acts/.
523. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if there is any avenue for a person to access a crèche place for their children when all local crèches are at capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21615/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My 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.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning, and childcare matters. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie.
My Department is progressing a broad range of actions to ensure the supply of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Aged Childcare meets demand:
Core Funding, the funding scheme introduced in 2022, allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Under Core Funding, providers delivering ELC for babies and toddlers attract higher levels of funding, given the higher staffing requirements determined by the regulatory ratios for these children. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a growth in capacity for these young cohorts. Budget 2023 allocated funding to secure a 3% growth in capacity for year 2 of the scheme, which has already materialised. Budget 2024 also secured funding to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024.
A new Supply Management Unit has been established within my Department to lead on this important work. The development of this function is akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit. The Supply Management Unit is overseeing the allocation of new capital investment. €69 million was allocated to my Department over the period 2023-2025 under the National Development Plan to enable capital investment in the early learning and childcare sector. In February, I announced an €18 million capital grant scheme for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The grant will provide for an immediate increase in affordable Early Learning and Childcare places in 2024, and will be specifically targeted in areas in where they are needed most. It will be the first of two significant capital investment schemes, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.
Under the National Action Plan for Childminding, there is a commitment to open up access to the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) to parents who use childminders following the extension of regulation to childminders.
524. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the review of transport services for residents at a location (details supplied). [21634/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTemple Spa Accommodation Centre is located 9km east of Moate, located on a small local road so a bus stop for Bus Eireann services would not be an option as there would be no passing buses on this type of road.
To facilitate transport for International Protection (IP) applicants’ residing at the Temple Spa Accommodation Centre, there is a shuttle service contracted seven days a week for trips to and from Moate and Athlone. The service provides a twice-daily pickup and drop off from the centre, Monday to Thursday and Saturday, and once on Friday and Sunday.
Residents who require emergency or incidental transportation can avail of reimbursement of their taxi fares through their local Community Welfare Officer (CWO), once relevant documentation is supplied.
Where non-emergency transportation is required, the shuttle bus service allows residents to access recreational, educational, medical facilities and other services.
525. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 576 of 16 April 2024, where he stated that "the implementation of safeguarding measures for other similar organisations are a matter for these organisations themselves", the reason that a special case is being made for an organisation (details supplied); and if he is aware of the reason the organisation is not in a position to fund this post directly. [21643/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, officials from my Department met with the Commissioner and Interim Chair of the Board of SJAI on 4 January 2024 in relation to implementation of the recommendations made by Dr. Shannon in his Independent Review.
During this meeting SJAI made the Department aware of the need for financial support in order to fund the post of the Safeguarding Lead which is one of the recommendations made by Dr. Shannon in his report.
Due to concerns over the delay in the appointment of this post, I made a commitment to assist with the funding of this critical role. My Department has now finalised a funding mechanism to enable this to happen. SJAI have very recently confirmed with my Department that a Safeguarding Officer has been appointed to the organisation.
This month I am making funding available for the Safeguarding post within SJAI. This funding is once-off and non-recurrent funding for a total of 12 months and sets a precedent neither for continued SJAI support beyond 12 months nor for any other organisation. In these unique circumstances, I wish to ensure that the Shannon Report is implemented in full and without delay.
Officials in my Department met with SJAI on 9 May last to finalise arrangements for the allocation of funding and the process around the Safeguarding post.
My officials have continued to engage with SJAI on a number of occasions since the publication of Dr. Shannon’s report and will continue that engagement in relation to issues raised in that report and, in particular, in respect of support to survivors of abuse.
526. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of full-time permanent residential places for adults with disabilities in County Roscommon, in tabular form, per provider, both utilised and available at present. [21650/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
527. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he is aware of the lack of preschool places in Youghal, County Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21676/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare is a key Government priority. My 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.
My Department funds 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs), which provide support and assist families and early learning and childcare providers with early learning, and childcare matters. The network of 30 City/County Childcare Committees (CCC) across the country are in a position to match children and families to services operating with vacant places and engage proactively with services to explore possibilities for expansion among services, particularly where there is unmet need.
The service made contact with Cork CCC on 24 April after it had been given notice by the primary school where they are located that they would need to vacate the room by the end of June 2024. The service has been located on this site for 11 years and the provider and parents have made a case to the school to remain, however the school require the use of the room for September 2024.
The provider has been unable to locate a new location for their service for September 2024. The CCC has looked at some potential sites and are supporting parents to find alternative spaces in the locality. Cork CCC maintains regular contact with the provider for support.
My Department is progressing a broad range of actions to ensure the supply of Early Learning and Care (ELC) and School-Aged Childcare meets demand:
Core Funding, the funding scheme introduced in 2022, allocates funding for providers based on the cost of delivery. Though only in operation since September 2022, initial analysis shows that this new funding scheme has given rise to a growth in capacity. Budget 2023 allocated funding to secure a 3% growth in capacity for year 2 of the scheme, which has already materialised. Budget 2024 also secured funding to invest in a further 3% capacity growth from September 2024.
A new Supply Management Unit has been established within my Department to lead on this important work. The development of this function is akin to the Department of Education’s Forward Planning Unit. The Supply Management Unit is overseeing the allocation of new capital investment. €69 million was allocated to my Department over the period 2023-2025 under the National Development Plan to enable capital investment in the early learning and childcare sector. In February, I announced an €18 million capital grant scheme for the Early Learning and Childcare Sector. The grant will provide for an immediate increase in affordable Early Learning and Childcare places in 2024, and will be specifically targeted in areas in where they are needed most. It will be the first of two significant capital investment schemes, to be delivered in 2024 and 2025.
528. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21686/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to inform the Deputy that my officials have asked the aegis bodies under my Department to respond directly to you on this matter.
529. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of pets which have been brought to Ireland from Ukraine in each month since the invasion; and the cost to the State in relation to this in each of those months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21715/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, my Department continues to work as part of the whole-of-Government response with a focus on providing access to emergency temporary accommodation to those fleeing the conflict who request it, in line with Government policy.
In the initial stages of the response, my Department assisted where possible with the accommodation of pets with their owners when Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) requested emergency temporary accommodation. This only included pets that travelled with BOTPs into Ireland and who presented to CityWest Transit Hub or at Rosslare Port.
The Deputy may also wish to be aware of erroneous commentary recently suggesting that large sums were spent by my Department on facilitating the accommodation of pets. That inaccuracy appears to have been based on an assumption that every pet arriving in Ireland (as recorded by Department of Agriculture and Food) stayed in State-provided accommodation and there was a cost incurred for every pet. This was not the case.
In November 2022, as part of the evolving response to the humanitarian crisis, a decision was taken that my Department would no longer assist BOTPs with accommodation with their pets.
Following this decision, as contracts were renewed, accommodation providers were informed that my Department would no longer pay for the accommodation of pets or other ancillary services. Any arrangement for the accommodation of pets would be a matter for the provider and BOTPs to agree. My Department no longer pays for pet accommodation.
The specific information sought by the Deputy is not available. It is not possible to estimate how much was spent on accommodation for pets as the invoices sent to my Department did not always differentiate between costs associated with pets. It is also not possible to provide a monthly breakdown of the number of pets accommodated in State supported accommodation and the cost associated to this. My Department had no role in monitoring the arrival of pets from Ukraine and would just have been made aware of their presence if their owners requested emergency temporary accommodation.
530. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if a report, believed to have begun in June 2022, into 11 allegations of abuse at a disability centre (details supplied), will be made public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21741/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
531. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide data on a series of issues (detail supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21768/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe data requested by the Deputy is not available.
The Department does not rent accommodation, but enters into a contract to provide accommodation related services for International Protection (IP) applicants. Payment information is not collated by accommodation type in the manner outlined by the Deputy.
In relation to service providers contracted by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) to provide accommodation services to International Protection (IP) applicants, the Department publishes reports on all payments over €20,000.These are published, once per quarter, on gov.ie
(www.gov.ie/en/collection/dfdadb-department-of-children-and-youth-affairs-purchase-orders-for-20000-o/)
Offers for the provision of accommodation services for international protection applicants can be submitted through a central offers portal at IPPS@equality.gov.ie
532. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if any international protection applicants have been referred to the National Infectious Disease Isolation Facility in Portrane for treatment of scabies who are unable to isolate in their own environment to contain spread to others; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21780/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Resident Welfare Team within the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) addresses cases or outbreaks of Infectious Diseases within IPAS Centres in accordance with the IPAS Infectious Disease Protocol (Public Health). This question seeks information regarding any International Protection applicants that have been referred to the National Isolation Facility for treatment of scabies, rather than those living in IPAS accommodation who required referral.
IPAS are of the understanding that persons may have been referred to the National Isolation Facility from a group who were occupying tents outside the International Protection Office (IPO). As IPAS cannot confirm this, or indeed the exact numbers, this question has been referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for response.
