Written Answers Nos. 278-298
278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the current position in regard to an application for family reunification in the name of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16031/23]
View answerThe application for the person referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department and continues to be processed at this time. All applications are processed in chronological order.
The time taken to issue a decision will largely depend on the quality of the application received and if further documentation is required. My Department will continue to engage with the applicant for any further information that may be required to assist with the processing of their application.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie) which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the residency status of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16032/23]
View answerThe person concerned holds a Stamp 4 immigration permission valid until 11 August 2023.
A Non-EEA national that holds a valid Stamp 4 immigration permission is permitted to study in the State and take up employment in line with the current employment laws of the State. If the permission expires, the right to study or engage in employment also ceases, therefore the person details supplied should continue to renew their permission on an annual basis.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
280. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the residency status with reference to access to education and employment in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16033/23]
View answerThe person concerned holds a Stamp 4 immigration permission valid until 11 August 2023.
A Non-EEA national that holds a valid Stamp 4 immigration permission is permitted to study in the State and take up employment in line with the current employment laws of the State. If the permission expires, the right to study or engage in employment also ceases, therefore the person details supplied should continue to renew their permission on an annual basis.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by email using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the email service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
281. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) on a waiting list can expect an appointment for the stroke speciality programme in the National Rehabilitation Hospital. [15808/23]
View answerReferring to HSE as this is an operational matter
282. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Health the timeline for the payment of the enhanced travel and subsistence scheme for student nurses and midwives in years one to three of their training, whereby each will receive €500 per year; the details of the Departmental circular outlining the details of the enhanced scheme; the number of payments that have been made to date under the enhanced scheme; the number of such payments outstanding; the reason for any delays in making the payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15816/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, following approval by Government on 13th December 2022, I was pleased to announce €9 million in additional supports for student nurses and midwives. €5.4m of which has been allocated to the HSE to introduce an enhanced Travel and Subsistence Scheme for eligible students while attending their supernumerary clinical practice placements.
The Secretary General of the Department of Health issued a letter of sanction to the HSE on February 15th confirming that Budget 2023 provides funding to cover the €5.4 million cost associated with the enhanced travel and subsistence scheme for 2023. It also confirmed sanction for expenditure of €2.4 million to cover arrears of travel and subsistence from September to December 2022. The letter of sanction to the HSE requested that payments that were due to eligible student nurses and midwives be prioritised as a matter of urgency.
The Department of Health also issued Circular 4/2023 to the HSE on February 27th setting out revised arrangements to apply regarding accommodation allowance, the continuation of the travel allowance and the introduction of a subsistence allowance in the form of a €500 meals allowance. These revised arrangements are to take effect from the beginning of the academic year 2022/2023. Circular 4/2023 is linked below for reference.
As the timeline for payment, the number of payments outstanding and the reason for any delays in making the payments are all operational matters for the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on those aspects in particular.
My Department has since been engaging with the HSE in relation to the prompt implementation of the circular and payment of these allowances, and we will continue this engagement.
283. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to ensure that the pandemic special recognition payment which has been transferred to a private agency (details supplied) has been passed on to the relevant staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15818/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
284. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking in response to a disproportionate overrepresentation of a group (details supplied) in the 13 maternal death inquests held between 2007 and 2021 which returned verdicts of medical misadventure. [15819/23]
View answerAs the HSE's National Women and Infants Health Programme leads on the management, organisation and delivery of maternity, gynaecological and neonatal services, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
285. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15821/23]
View answerWe cannot respond to this ePQ until further information as requested by Tracey Phelan, is provided by Deputy Lawless in relation to the individual case. On reciept of same we will request information from HSE.
286. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if more funding can be made available for a resource centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15837/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
287. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of a fair deal application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15840/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly as soon as possible.
288. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1513 of 21 March 2023, if the €750,000 funding announced for trainee counselling psychologists will include support for current trainees who are already undertaking their three-year doctorate programme; if not, if it will just be for first year students beginning in the 2023-2024 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15842/23]
View answer289. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1513 of 21 March 2023, the timeline he is working towards in announcing the details of the €750,000 funding for trainee counselling psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15843/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 289 together.
As the Deputy is aware, €750,000 has been provided in Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology training places. This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to strengthen access to psychology training.
I am focussed on using the funding from Budget 2023 to support counselling psychology students in an equitable way that benefits all students in all years of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology, and that delivers value for money. The structure of this funding is currently being finalised by officials in the Department. The approach will be based on best practice and knowledge gained from other health and social care funded training models.
Further detailed discussions are now taking place between the Department and HSE to progress this. I hope to be in a position to announce the details shortly for academic year 2023-2024.
290. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the ongoing discussions with the HSE and section 39 workers regarding pay scale negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15847/23]
View answerFirstly, I would like to acknowledge the important role that Section 39 organisations and staff play in our health sector. They have a key role in providing services to people with disabilities and older people.
A process of engagement to examine the pay of workers in Community and Voluntary organisations was committed to by the Government in October 2022.
While the Government has committed to a process, it is worth noting that Section 39 organisations are privately owned and run, and the terms and conditions of employment of staff in these organisations are ultimately between the employer and the employee.
The Department notes that this is a cross-sectoral issue and cannot be taken in isolation.
291. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding citizens from outside the European Union who fail the Dental Council’s registration exam twice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15866/23]
View answerThe Dental Council has advised that it obliges any dentist from any country outside the EU (but excluding those countries with whom the Dental Council has a reciprocal recognition agreement) to sit its examination. This examination is set at the level of a graduating Irish dentist and it is mandatory for these applicants to pass the examination to practise in Ireland. Candidates have two attempts to pass the first part (which is mainly theoretical with one clinical test) and three attempts to pass the second part (which is a clinical test). Candidates must pass the first stage to progress to the second stage.
If a candidate fails to pass either part in the requisite number of attempts they fail the examination and there is no other pathway to registration. It is worth noting that a failure to pass means that the applicant is unable to demonstrate the have the competencies that the Dental Council requires of dentists graduating from the Irish dental schools to practise dentistry safely in Ireland.
This process is important to ensure patients receive care from an appropriately qualified dentist.
292. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health what progress has been made to date between his Department and an organisation (details supplied) regarding its request for the inclusion of certified athletic therapists in the CORU regulation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15871/23]
View answer293. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration would be given to the inclusion of certified athletic therapists in the CORU regulation process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15872/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. Seventeen health and social care professions are designated for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. There are currently registers open for ten professions and CORU is continuing the substantial work required to open the registers for the remaining professions.
A number of representative bodies for unregulated professions have approached the Department seeking to be regulated. The issues to be considered regarding the proportionate degree of regulatory force required to protect the public are complex. In light of the various issues to be considered, and in line with ongoing work in the Department of Health, the Health Research Board was requested to carry out research on behalf of the Department to assist in policy development in this area. The report, “National Approaches to Regulating Health and Social Care Professions”, examines the approaches to the regulation of health and social care professionals internationally and is publicly available on the Department’s website (www.gov.ie/en/publication/ea62b-national-approaches-to-regulating-health-and-social-care-professions/ ).
My officials are in the process of drawing from this report and other relevant sources to develop a framework to guide policy on the regulation of health and social care professionals into the future. This framework will be informed by an evidence and risk-based approach to regulation in line with requirements set out in the EU Proportionality Test Directive, which was transposed into Irish law on 19 August 2022 (S.I. No. 413/2022). Further information on the Proportionality Test Directive can be found here: single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/news/services-directive-handbookproportionality-test-directive-guidance-2022-12-22_en
My officials met with representatives of the professional body for athletic therapy on 15 February 2023 to discuss their concerns around regulation and to provide an update on the Department’s plans to develop a future policy framework.
294. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Health if consideration will be given to the provision of additional support staff for CORU in view of the high number of different healthcare profession applications received by the multi-profession health regulator; if there is a need to review the funding and provide additional support in order that necessary registration systems can be set up for a whole range of groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15873/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, CORU is Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. Seventeen health and social care professions are designated for regulation by CORU under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. There are currently registers open for eleven professions and CORU is continuing the substantial work required to open the registers for the remaining professions.
The table below provides an indication of the level of support provided by the Department of Health over the past number of years to assist CORU fulfil its functions as set out under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. As the Deputy will note, substantial public resources have been provided to CORU to recruit more staff into the organisation and provide for the running of the organisation. In 2023, the level of funding provided to CORU under Subhead E1 has increased by 10%, rising from €5m in 2022 to €5.5m. Only this month, the Department sanctioned an additional 13 posts for CORU throughout its various Departments which should assist with both the recognition and registration processes. Sanction of further staffing resources to CORU will be considered in light of available resources and when CORU’s final Strategic Workforce Plan on its future requirements is received.
|
Year |
Number of Professions Regulated |
Total number of staff at year end |
Department of Health Funding - Vote 38 Subhead E1 |
Department of Health Funding - Vote 38 Subhead L (Capital) |
Total Department Funding |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
|||
|
2022 |
11 |
79 |
5,000,000 |
98,993 |
5,098,993 |
|
2021 |
11** |
78 |
4,470,000 |
6,989 |
4,476,989 |
|
2020 |
10 |
62 |
3,250,000 |
189,990 |
3,439,990 |
|
2019 |
10* |
60 |
3,495,000 |
236,211 |
3,731,211 |
|
2018 |
9 |
48 |
3,205,000 |
1,134,890 |
4,339,890 |
|
19,420,000 |
1,667,073 |
21,087,073 |
*Medical Scientist register opened - transition period ended 2021
**Podiatry register opened - transition period ending March 2023
CORU is also in the process of procuring a system which will integrate the processes of recognition of international qualifications and registration for all applicants and which it is hoped will further reduce administrative requirements and timeframes for applicants. This is in addition to other changes, made with the support of my Department, to reduce the time required for recognition of international qualifications and registration with CORU. These initiatives include:
- Introduction of a dual registration process, allowing those applying for recognition of a qualification received outside the state to simultaneously initiate an application for registration;
- Introduction of an online application system for recognition of international qualifications;
- Increased frequency of regulatory decision making (Registration Board meetings);
- Assignment of additional temporary staff resources;
- Transition to a Voice over IP telephone system to ensure effective and efficient phone support to applicants to reduce email traffic which is slower;
- Transition to a new VPN system to improve connectivity and changes in procedures;
- Recruitment of additional expert assessors in ‘under pressure’ professions.
- Changes in staffing and organisation.
I hope this information is of some assistance.
295. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a final date for the remainder of the pandemic payments to be paid (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15876/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
296. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) can be transferred from the children's hospital, Crumlin to Letterkenny University Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15878/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
297. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health what flame retardant specification is being used for materials such as fabric, flooring and fixtures and fittings that are being used in the new children’s hospital; and if he is confident that a higher specification is being used than the cigarette and match test for materials in the new children’s hospital and elsewhere in the health service. [15884/23]
View answerThe National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) has statutory responsibility for planning, designing, building, and equipping the new children's hospital. I have therefore referred your question to the NPHDB for direct reply on the flame retardant specifications used, however, I have been advised that the new children’s hospital is fully compliant with building and fire safety regulations.
298. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the closing of the hydro pool in Galway University Hospital; the steps being taken to reopen the pool; and when it will reopen. [15913/23]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the deputy directly, as soon as possible.
