Written Answers Nos. 150-171
150. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who have died while either in the care of Tusla, or while on the child protection notification system, in each year since the establishment of the Child and Family Agency, including cause of death, in tabular form. [27343/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
151. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who have gone missing while either in the care of Tusla, or while on the child protection notification system in each year since the establishment of the Child and Family Agency; the number who were unaccompanied minors or separated children; and the number who have since been accounted for or located, in tabular form. [27344/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraStatutory and operational responsibility for the delivery of child protection and welfare services is a matter for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy is seeking information in relation to an operational matter for Tusla. Consequently, I have referred the matter to Tusla, and requested that a direct response be provided to the Deputy.
152. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of persons currently in direct provision in Ireland; and the number of whom are children. [27345/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra153. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of people who have died in direct provision since the system was established; the ages of each at time of death; and the cause of death in each case, in tabular form. [27346/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 7 December 2021, the number of deaths which have occurred in direct provision in each of the past ten years; and if the data can be presented in the same manner as in the previous response. [27347/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 152 and 153 together.
As at 16 June 2024, there were 31,222 people accommodated in the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) system as a whole (of whom 7,833 are children) compared with approximately 8,700 people at the end of February 2022.
The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) has a policy on the recording and reporting of deaths of residents in International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centres. As part of that policy, IPAS publishes resident death statistics on a biannual basis with the most recent publication in December 2023.
This information is available on the IPAS website and can be found at the following link:
gov - Statistics on Deaths of International Protection Accommodation Service Residents (www.gov.ie)
www.gov.ie/en/publication/8224f-statistics-on-deaths-of-international-protection-accommodation-service-residents/
155. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to advise a person (details supplied) of the day services available in their area as they have lost both their legs and are reliant on a power chair to get around their house and front garden, and have been informed that the lift on the minibus used by local social services for day visits is not compatible for a power chair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27434/24]
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.
156. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Section 38 organisations funded by the State in 2007; and if the number of Section 38 organisations funded through service-level agreements has increased or decreased since then. [27438/24]
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.
157. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of Section 39 organisations funded by the State in 2007; and if the number of Section 38 organisations funded through service-level agreements has increased or decreased since then. [27439/24]
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.
158. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if the State has purchased a building (details supplied); if so, from whom; how much this building cost; what it will be used for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27460/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn February 2021 A White Paper to End Direct Provision and establish a new International Protection Service was published. The paper set out a new approach for accommodating applicants that seek International Protection (IP) in Ireland and contains three core themes – accommodation, integration and supports. There is a legal obligation on the state to meet the requirements under the EU Recast Reception Conditions Directive to provide accommodation to all who request it.
In 2022 and 2023 Ireland experienced unprecedented numbers of new IP arrivals with over 26,900. To put this in context the total number of applications received in 2022 and 2023 (26,900) is greater than the total received over the preceding eight year period, 2013-2021 (23,369). These very significant arrival numbers have continued in 2024, with 9861 new people seeking accommodation from the state up to the 25th June 2024.
Due the significant increase in arrivals in 2022 and 2023 there was a recognition that the underlying assumptions on which the White Paper was based required re-assessment, as the assumptions underpinning it were based on 3500 new arrivals each year. A review of the timelines and deliverables was initiated.
The review has resulted in the development of a new Comprehensive Accommodation Strategy (CAS) for IP applicants, which Government approved on the 27th March 2024. The strategy seeks to address the current accommodation shortfall, while reforming the system over the longer term to ensure the State will always be able to meet its international commitments. The review highlighted the need to significantly increase the ambition in relation to the overall capacity of the system through a number of new delivery streams.
The reforms will see a move away from full reliance on private providers and towards a core of State-owned accommodation, delivering 14,000 State-owned beds by 2028 – quadruple the previous commitment under the White Paper. This will be supplemented, as required, by high standard commercial providers.
Accommodation in the new strategy will be delivered through the following multi-strand approach:
1. Use of State land for prefabricated and modular units
2. Conversion of commercial buildings
3. Targeted purchase of medium and larger turnkey properties
4. Design and build of new Reception and Integration Centres
5. Upgrading of IPAS Centres
The multi-strand approach focuses on both increasing State owned permanent capacity, and the upgrading of additional contingency accommodation, developed to specific national standards, to build an effective system to meet the new realities of increasing need while enabling the State to discharge its duty to meet the material reception conditions of IP Applicants, according to the guiding principles of the White Paper.
Accommodation offering breakdown by 2028:
|
Accommodation Type |
Bed Capacity |
Ownership |
|
Accommodation Type |
Bed Capacity |
Ownership |
|
Reception and Integration Centres and Accommodation Centres, at or above national standards |
Up to 13,000 |
State Owned |
|
In-Community Accommodation for vulnerable persons, at or above national standards |
Up to 1,000 |
State Owned, operated in partnership with NGOs. |
|
Contingency Accommodation, at national standards |
Up to 11,000 |
Commercial Providers |
|
Emergency Accommodation |
Up to 10,000 |
Commercial Providers |
Progress to date in delivery of the strategy has included working with the Approved Housing Body sector to operationalise some in community accommodation. This includes the Augusta Lodge property in Westport. This property, will form part of the strategy to deliver a range of accommodation for vulnerable International Protection applicants.
Due to commercially sensitivities it would not be possible to provide the cost of Augusta Lodge or who the property was purchased from.
159. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the areas in which occupational therapy services have been piloted in schools; whether those pilots have been evaluated; his plans extend the pilot to schools in other areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27464/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for my cabinet colleague, the Minister for Education.
160. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the interventions that will be provided for a child with additional needs (details supplied). [27485/24]
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.
161. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the status the psychology, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy for a person (details supplied). [27518/24]
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.
162. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 555 of 23 April 2024 and 394 of 28 May 2024, when a reply from the HSE will issue; the reason for the delay (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27605/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this question refers to operational matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
163. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27302/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra“As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.”
164. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health the preparations his Department and the HSE are making to ensure that every baby in Ireland is tested for spinal muscular atrophy in the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening Programme, as per his announcement in November 2023; when testing will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27304/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe expansion of the National Newborn Bloodspot Screening (NBS) Programme continues to remain a key objective of mine as Minister for Health, and I am pleased to note that the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) has been actively progressing work in this regard.
NSAC is an independent expert group that considers and assesses evidence in a robust and transparent manner, and against internationally accepted criteria. It is important that we have rigorous processes in place to ensure our screening programmes are effective, quality assured, validated and operating to safe standards, and that the benefits of screening outweigh the harms.
Significant progress continues to be made on the expansion of the NBS Programme. As the Deputy will be aware, last year I approved two recommendations from NSAC for the addition of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to the NBS programme. This will bring the number of conditions screened for as part of what is commonly known as the ‘heel prick’ test in Ireland to 11, once implemented. I would highlight that this will represent a 37% increase achieved under the lifetime of this Government.
I can confirm that work commenced at the start of this year, with ongoing collaboration between officials in my Department and the HSE National Children’s Screening Programme on implementing an ambitious timeline for the introduction of screening for SMA and SCID.
In February of this year, I was pleased to allocate €1.4m of new development funding in 2024 to support the expansion of the NBS programme. This funding will allow for the of testing for both SCID and SMA and represents a significant funding increase in a single year. The announcement further demonstrates my ongoing commitment to reducing the impact of these rare but serious diseases in children and infants. This investment will be crucial to providing additional funds for new equipment, staff recruitment, validation, quality assurance and training to facilitate addition of new conditions to NBS programme.
The introduction of screening for SMA will enable earlier identification and diagnosis, thereby facilitating earlier disease management and treatment. I am acutely aware of how difficult it is for parents, families and children who have received a diagnosis of a rare disease, and how challenging daily life can be for them. Screening will make a real difference to their lives, which is why I am determined to see testing introduced for SMA as soon as possible.
165. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Health how long-Covid and immunocompromised patients can access novavax vaccines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27305/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
166. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons screened by CervicalCheck in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [27313/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
167. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of cases taken against the HSE/letters of claim, for the misreading of smear tests in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [27314/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the SCA that the information below has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS) according to the criteria below and is accurate as of 20/06/2024.
The State Claims Agency received 398 claims related to the Cervical Cancer National Screening Services (NSS) between 01/01/2014 and 20/06/2024. Of these 398 claims, 81 were psychological claims.
|
Year Claim Created |
Number of Claims |
|
2014 |
1 |
|
2015 |
0 |
|
2016 |
2 |
|
2017 |
1 |
|
2018 |
86 |
|
2019 |
52 |
|
2020 |
95 |
|
2021 |
103 |
|
2022 |
39 |
|
2023 |
14 |
|
2024 (YTD) |
5 |
|
Grand Total |
398 |
Table 1: Cervical Cancer NSS Claims Received between 01/01/2014 – 20/06/2024
Definitions:
National Incident Management System (NIMS): National Incident Management System (NIMS): Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”, hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA). An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint. NIMS is the system used by the delegated authorities to fulfil their statutory requirement to report incidents to the State Claims Agency and for their own incident and risk management purposes.
Claim: A claim refers to notification of intention to seek compensation for personal injury and/or property damage where it is alleged the State was negligent. The application may be in the form of a letter of claim, an InjuriesBoard.ie application, or a written/oral request.
Year Claim Created: Official date that the claim was created on NIMS. If a record is first logged to the system as a claim, the "Claim Create Date" and "Create Date" will be the same, however, if a record was once an incident and subsequently transitioned into a claim, the "Claim Create Date" will differ from the "Create Date", with the "Create Date" representing the date the incident was first recorded, and the "Claim Create Date" representing the date the record transitioned to a Claim.
168. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of CervicalCheck smear test samples sent to foreign laboratories for testing in each of the past five years and to date in 2024; and if he can provide this figure as a percentage, in each year, of the number of smear tests carried out by CervicalCheck during that time, in tabular form. [27315/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
169. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who took cases to the CervicalCheck Tribunal; the number of cases settled in that tribunal, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27316/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CervicalCheck Tribunal was established on 27 October 2020 under the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act 2019. Establishment of the Tribunal was finalised with the appointment of the nominated members to the Tribunal with effect from 1 December 2020, implementing in full the recommendations of Mr Justice Charles Meenan on an alternative to the Court process for eligible CervicalCheck Claims.
|
No. of claims received by the CervicalCheck Tribunal |
No. of claims processed |
|
26 |
25 (two claims were combined) |
The number of claims before the CervicalCheck Tribunal
Twenty-six [26] claims (of which two were combined) were lodged with the Tribunal since March 2021.
Twenty [20] claims were lodged by women and six [6] claims were lodged by or on behalf of the statutory dependants of women.
The number of claims resolved by the Tribunal
All twenty-six [26] claims made to the Tribunal have been processed.
Eighteen [18] claims were resolved on the basis of a settlement reached between the parties.
Seven [7] cases were resolved on the basis of a Notification issued pursuant to s. 12 of the CervicalCheck Tribunal Act, 2019. This means that the claimants were notified by the Tribunal that it was not in a position to hear and determine the claim for want of either respondent or third-party consent in circumstances where such consent was either not forthcoming or had been withdrawn.
One [1] case was struck out when an ‘Unless Order’ came into effect.
In a letter dated 31 July 2023, the Tribunal Chairperson informed me that all claims had been processed, and that as such the Tribunal’s core statutory functions had been completed.
Having completed its required administrative work and discharging any remaining obligations conferred upon the Chairperson, Judge Power submitted her resignation as Chairperson of the Tribunal on 18 April 2024 which I formally accepted.
170. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of adverse incidents reported to the national incident management system which related to termination of pregnancy in each of the past six years and to date in 2024. [27317/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the deputy's question relates to a service area I have referred it to HSE for direct reply.
171. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the total number of adverse incidents reported to the State Claims Agency which related to the Health Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018 in each of the past six years, and to date in 2024; for details of the outcomes of claims taken against the State in relation to the Act; the number of claims settled or ongoing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27318/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have referred the part of the question that relates to the number of adverse incidents reported to the HSE, for direct reply to the Deputy.
The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. I have been informed by the SCA that the information below has been extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS).
The SCA has two ongoing claims from persons alleging that their unborn baby was wrongfully diagnosed with a condition sufficient to bring them within the scope of the Health Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy Act 2018. It is inappropriate to provide the years of claims, as to do so could have the effect of identifying individual cases.
Definitions
National Incident Management System (NIMS): National Incident Management System (NIMS): Incidents (which include claims) are reported using the “National Incident Management System”, hosted by the State Claims Agency (SCA). An incident can be a harmful Incident (Adverse Event), no harm incident, near miss, dangerous occurrence (reportable circumstance) or complaint. NIMS is the system used by the delegated authorities to fulfil their statutory requirement to report incidents to the State Claims Agency and for their own incident and risk management purposes.
Claim: A claim refers to notification of intention to seek compensation for personal injury and/or property damage where it is alleged the State was negligent. The application may be in the form of a letter of claim, an InjuriesBoard.ie application, or a written/oral request.
